Estate & Legacy Planning

Essential documents · Beneficiary planning · Probate · Estate taxes · Retirement document checklist

Estate planning is one of the most commonly overlooked parts of retirement preparation. Most people focus on savings and income — but who inherits your accounts, who makes medical decisions if you can't, and how your assets transfer at death matter just as much. These guides explain the key concepts clearly so you can have informed conversations with your estate planning attorney.

Educational content only. These guides explain general concepts. Laws vary significantly by state. Consult a qualified estate planning attorney for legal documents and personalized advice.
Essential DocumentsBeneficiary PlanningEstate Planning BasicsChecklists

Essential Documents

Every adult — especially those in or approaching retirement — should have these legal documents in place. They protect you during incapacity and ensure your wishes are carried out.

HealthcareHealth Care ProxyWho makes medical decisions if you can't? What a health care proxy covers, how it differs from a living will, and how to choose an agent.Read guide →HealthcareLiving WillDirects your medical care when you cannot speak for yourself. Covers life support, resuscitation, feeding tubes, and end-of-life preferences.Read guide →LegalLast Will & TestamentDo you need a will? What it covers (and doesn't), how it works with beneficiary designations, and what happens if you die without one.Read guide →LegalDurable Power of AttorneyAuthorizes someone to manage your finances and legal affairs during incapacity. Covers financial POA, what "durable" means, and how to choose an agent.Read guide →LegalLiving Trust vs WillWhen a revocable living trust makes sense vs. a simple will — probate avoidance, privacy, cost, and who actually needs a trust.Read guide →

Beneficiary Planning

Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance, and bank accounts override your will entirely. Getting these right — and keeping them updated — is one of the most impactful things you can do for your heirs.

BeneficiariesBeneficiary Designations ExplainedHow beneficiary designations work, why they override your will, primary vs. contingent, per-stirpes vs. per-capita, and the most common mistakes.Read guide →Inherited IRAInherited IRA RulesSECURE Act 10-year rule, eligible designated beneficiaries, RMD requirements for inherited accounts, and Roth vs. traditional inherited IRA tax treatment.Read guide →ChecklistBeneficiary Planning ChecklistA step-by-step checklist for reviewing and updating beneficiary designations on all your accounts — IRAs, 401(k)s, life insurance, and more.Use checklist →

Estate Planning Basics

Understanding how assets transfer at death — through probate, beneficiary designations, and trusts — helps you make informed decisions about your estate plan.

ProbateProbate ExplainedWhat probate is, how the process works, how long it takes, what it costs, and which assets go through probate (and which don't).Read guide →EstateEstate Planning Basics for RetireesBeneficiary designations, step-up in basis, revocable trusts, TOD/POD accounts, inherited IRA 10-year rule, and gift strategies.Read guide →GiftingTransferring Assets to ChildrenAnnual gift exclusion, lifetime exemption, 529 superfunding, UGMA/UTMA accounts, and strategies for passing wealth to the next generation.Read guide →

Checklists

Use these checklists to make sure nothing falls through the cracks before — and during — retirement.

ChecklistRetirement Document ChecklistEverything you need to gather and organize before retirement: Social Security, Medicare, legal documents, beneficiary designations, financial accounts, and more.Use checklist →ChecklistBeneficiary Planning ChecklistStep-by-step review of beneficiary designations across all your accounts — the single most important and most commonly neglected estate task.Use checklist →

See how estate planning fits your retirement picture

Run your retirement projection to understand your income, account balances, and withdrawal strategy — the foundation for any estate plan.

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