Get exclusive content, expert tips, and industry news that will help you keep up to date

Succession Planning

Articles

How To Plan Your Estate: A Guide to Succession Planning

Succession planning, we will walk you through everything you need to know to ensure your loved ones are taken care of after you are gone.
89 / 100

Succession planning is a subject that is rarely discussed since most people do not like to think about their mortality, let alone plan for it.

But the fact is, if you do not have a succession plan in place, your loved ones will be left scrambling to figure out what to do when you are gone.

That is why it is important to start planning your estate now – even if you do not have many assets yet.

In this definitive guide to succession planning, we will walk you through everything you need to know to ensure your loved ones are taken care of after you are gone.

What Is Estate Planning, And Why Do You Need It a Succession Planning?

Succession planning is an important tool for anyone who owns a business or other type of property.

It allows you to plan for your estate’s future in terms of financial and legal matters.

Succession planning ensures that your family or other beneficiaries will be taken care of in the event of your death.

In addition, succession planning can help you to avoid costly probate proceedings.

Probate is the legal process of settling an estate after someone dies.

If you do not have succession planning, your estate will likely go through probate, which can be lengthy and expensive.

Thus, it is vital to have a succession plan in place to protect your assets and ensure that your loved ones are taken care of after you die.

Who Needs Estate Planning?

Many people believe that estate planning and wealth planning are only for the wealthy.

However, this is not the case. Everyone can benefit from having an estate plan in place.

An estate plan is simply a set of instructions for what should happen to your property and your dependents after your passing.

Without an estate plan, the government will likely determine how your assets will be distributed, which may not be in accordance with your wishes.

In addition, an estate plan can help to provide financial security for your loved ones in the event of your death.

For example, if you have young children, you can use an estate plan to appoint a guardian who will take care of them if you can no longer do so.

Estate planning and wealth planning is an important step that everyone should take, regardless of age or wealth.

How To Get Started an Estate Plan and Succession Planning?

  1. Make an inventory of your assets.

Start by listing all your belongings, including everything from your home and car to your bank accounts and investments.

This will help you determine which assets you will need to include in your estate plan.

  • Account for your family’s needs.

Next, consider your loved one’s needs and what you will want to leave them after you are gone.

This might include cash, property, or even a specific item such as a car, jewelry, art, or collectibles.

  • Establish your directives.

Now it is time to decide who will manage your estate and carry out your wishes after you’re gone.

Depending on your situation, you may choose an executor, a trustee, or both.

  • Review your beneficiaries.

Make sure you have named the people who should inherit your assets after you die.

If you have not already named beneficiaries, now is the time to do so.

You can name specific individuals or a class of individuals.

For example, you could appoint your future children as beneficiaries.

  • Note your state’s estate tax laws.

Estate taxes can be quite complex, so it is important to understand how they will impact your estate plan.

In some countries, there is no estate tax, while others have exemptions that allow estates up to a certain value to pass through without taxation.

  • Weigh the value of professional help.

Even if you are comfortable creating a basic estate plan on your own, it is always a good idea to consult with an attorney or financial planner before finalizing anything.

They can help ensure that your plan meets all legal and financial requirements and that it will work best for you and your family.

  • Plan to reassess

Estate planning is not a one-time event; it should be revisited periodically as your life changes and new laws are enacted.

The Estate Planning Must-Haves

When creating an estate plan, there are a few key elements that you will want to make sure to include.

  1. Will/trust.

A will is a document that dictates how your estate should be distributed after your death. A trust is a document that appoints a trustee to hold and or manage assets for the benefit of beneficiaries.

  • A durable power of attorney.

A durable power of attorney allows you to designate someone to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated.

  • Beneficiary designations.

You will also want to name beneficiaries for your bank accounts, investment accounts, and life insurance policies.

  • Letter of intent.

A letter of intent is a document that outlines your wishes for end-of-life care and funeral arrangements.

  • Healthcare power of attorney.

A healthcare power of attorney allows you to designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated.

  • Guardianship designations.

You may also want to designate guardians for your minor children if both parents pass away simultaneously.

The importance of each of these elements will vary from person to person, so it is important to speak with an estate planning lawyer to create a plan that meets your specific needs and circumstances.

Estate planning, wealth planning, and succession planning are crucial to ensuring that your wishes are carried out after you die or become incapacitated.

While it may seem daunting, estate planning can be relatively simple if you take the time to understand your options and choose the right people to help you.

With a little bit of planning, you can rest assured knowing that your loved ones will be taken care of and that your affairs will be handled according to your wishes.

Please contact us if you have any questions about succession planning or would like help creating an estate plan. We would be happy to assist you.

If you are interested in reading more about us, access our blog.

How To Successfully Plan Your Estate: A Definitive Guide to Succession Planning

Keeping it in the family

The Importance of Family Offices for wealth management

The Family Deed….a starring role

Family Offices & Succession planning: Responsibilities and Risks

4 aspects of How to Protect your loved ones against unforeseen events

5 Best practices to safeguard your legacy

Choosing an advisor for wealth management

Estate planning process vs COVID-19

We invite you to subscribe to our Youtube channel, where you can find videos on topics of interest in corporate and fiduciary matters, among others.

Get exclusive content, expert tips, and industry news that will help you keep up to date.

Let's work together

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Choose the area that you are interested in:
Checkboxes
Checkboxes (copy)