The statistics are rather alarming. In 2005, 50 percent of Americans had a will; today, only 32 percent of us have one. Meanwhile, only one in three Americans over the age of 55 has a durable power of attorney, and a mere 41 percent of this same demographic has advance health care directives. Why is this? According to statistics culled from a range of sources, Americans lack estate plans for the following reasons: 47 percent say “they haven’t gotten around to it” 29 percent t

Many people believe that estate planning is only for elders. The truth is that younger folks, including millennials, can benefit from having an estate plan of their own.   Millennials are generally defined as individuals born between 1981 and 1996—that is, people between the ages of 29 and 45. This is the age at which many people start families of their own. If you have a child, you should at the very least have a last will and testament. It allows you to name a guardian for

When it comes to estate planning, beneficiary designations are a critical yet often overlooked detail. These designations determine who will receive your assets, such as retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and bank accounts, upon your death. Keeping them current is vital to ensuring your wishes are honored and your estate plan functions smoothly. Many people don’t realize that beneficiary designations take precedence over other estate planning documents, such as wil