 Fundamental Estate Planning
at The Sundvick Legacy Center
Perhaps one of the most important reasons to
create an estate plan is to pass on your values and beliefs. Clients
often think that estate planning is just about how to divide their
property after they pass away. Others think that estate planning is just
about saving taxes. And still yet others think it is just about "documents"
such as wills and trusts.
Good estate planning should also focus on
taking care of you while you're alive and provide you with optimum
flexibility in the event you become disabled, so you can indirectly
retain "control" to a limited extent.
Our clients agree that estate planning is
about:
- Maintaining control of your property while alive.
- Taking care of you and your loved ones if you're disabled.
- Giving what you have to whom you want, the way you want, and
when you want.
- Saving every last tax dollar, professional fee, and court cost
legally possible.
Sundvick Legacy Center strives to provide
caring and compassionate client service. We want our clients to know
that we're here to take care of them rather than sending them out the
door with "documents."
Every situation is different, and each
unique situation presents its own estate planning challenges. We
encourage you to explore these topics, beginning with an overview of
fundamental estate planning and some (all too common) mistakes. Then
delve more deeply into specific challenges that may affect you and your
family such as planning for minor children, blending families, estate
planning challenges unique to women, and taking care of our beloved pets
in the event that we can no longer do so ourselves. Each link leads to
an easy-to-understand presentation on the topic. Feel free to use the
integrated functions to print any page, bookmark it to return later, or
forward a copy to your friends, family members or financial advisor.
 Estate Planning 101
What is estate planning? If you were to
ask 10 adult Americans this question, you would likely get 10 different
answers. Most erroneously think estate planning is limited to arranging
for the ultimate distribution of their assets at life’s end. Due partly
to this confusion and partly to procrastination, it is little
wonder that six out of 10 adult Americans have no estate plan at all.
Learn more about the
lifetime process of Estate Planning.
 Common Estate Blunders
When you hear the words estate
planning, what images come to mind? Do you see beautiful, tanned
people with incredible wealth, living in enormous mansions, riding in
shiny limousines and boarding private jets? If so, then you are only
partially correct. In reality, everyone has an estate worth planning.
Some are just more complex than others.
Here are some basic
estate blunders common to princes and paupers alike.
 Planning for Minor Children
It is an unfortunate fact of life:
airplanes plummet, trains derail, ships sink and automobiles crash. What
happens when a tragedy claims both parents of minor children? While
every parent expects to rear their minor children to adulthood, life may
throw any of us an unexpected curve ball in the form of a fatal injury
or illness. Are you, and your children, prepared?
Learn how to protect your children in the event of the unthinkable.
 Estate Planning Challenges for Blended (or Step) Families
Are you re-married (or planning to
re-marry) and attempting to blend families? Unfortunately, too little
attention has been paid to the critical Life & Estate Planning
challenges of blended families. These challenges include disinheriting
your ex-spouse, protecting your own children, providing for your new
spouse and minimizing your estate taxes.
Learn more about the estate planning challenges of blended (or step)
families.
 Women & the Law
Traditionally, women have been the
nurturers in our society. Depending on how family is defined for her, a
woman may care for a husband, children, pets, parents or even in-laws.
While she is busy meeting the needs of others, a woman may forget to
take care of her own needs ... even needs as fundamental as her own Life
& Estate Planning. Learn the Life & Estate Planning steps every women should take to
protect herself (and her loved ones).
 Pet Trusts
An estimated 500,000 pets are euthanized
each year by shelters and veterinarians when their owners predecease
them. Do any of your closest friends have feathers, fins or fur?
Consider this: If something untoward were to happen to you today, what
would happen to your feathered, finned or furred friends tomorrow?
Learn how your
estate plan can ensure the ongoing care of these beloved family members.
Your first estate planning consultation is
complimentary. Some people find scheduling their initial consultation is
a bit intimidating, as they wonder what documents they will need to
locate and bring along. At The Sundvick Legacy Center, we try to make
the process as simple and convenient as possible. When you are ready to
schedule your initial consultation, please visit our
Estate Planning Consultation
page for tips on how to prepare for your Estate Planning
Consultation.
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