Personal PlanningEstate Planning: Protect What You've Built
Wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, and powers of attorney — the documents your family needs before they need them.
Talk to a ProfessionalEstate planning is one of the most consistently delayed financial tasks. Nobody wants to think about death or incapacity, so most people put it off until it's too late. But the consequences of dying without a plan fall entirely on the people you love most.
A basic estate plan isn't as complicated or expensive as most people assume. For many families, a will, a healthcare directive, a durable power of attorney, and correctly named beneficiaries on all accounts are sufficient.
Trusts, while more complex, can help families avoid probate, reduce estate taxes for larger estates, and provide more control over how assets are distributed. The Blueprint covers when a trust makes sense and when it doesn't.
What you need to know
Will vs. trust
A will names who gets what after you die — but it goes through probate, which is public and can take months. A revocable living trust can avoid probate, keep your affairs private, and be more flexible.
Beneficiary designations
Your retirement accounts and life insurance policies pass to whoever is named as beneficiary — regardless of what your will says. Outdated beneficiary designations are one of the most common estate planning mistakes.
Powers of attorney
A financial POA lets someone manage your finances if you're incapacitated. A healthcare directive (or living will) tells doctors what you want if you can't communicate. Both are essential.
When to update your plan
Major life events — marriage, divorce, birth of a child, significant change in assets — all require updating your estate documents. A plan that was correct 10 years ago may no longer reflect your wishes.
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