How To Pass On Your Wealth, According to Experts
How To Pass On Your Wealth, According to Experts
Andrew Lisa Thu, January 12, 2023
It’s hard to imagine that anyone looks forward to planning how their stuff will be divvied up after they die. But taking the time to ensure a smooth transfer of wealth could be your final act of selflessness — and your posterity will certainly be grateful for your efforts.
“Having a well-thought-out plan prepared in writing by an estate planning attorney is essential,” said estate planning and wealth transfer attorney Robert E. Kabacy of Kell, Alterman & Runstein, L.L.P. “Without a plan, even though statutes define how an estate is handled, heirs are sometimes left with questions.”
Questions are just the start of what can go wrong if you neglect to make arrangements.
A poorly planned transfer of wealth can saddle your beneficiaries with high fees, unnecessary tax obligations and, worst of all, foster infighting, resentment and prolonged legal battles among your heirs.
The good news is that a little bit of planning can prevent all of those unfortunate outcomes and enshrine your legacy for generations to come.
If Nothing Else, Write a Will
The most basic tool in the wealth-transfer process is a will, which provides a record of your wishes. Without one, the state — and your heirs — are left guessing.
“A will is used to designate how you want your assets distributed to your surviving loved ones upon your death,” said estate planning attorney Tim Hurban of Hurban Law. “If you die without a will, state law governs how your assets are distributed, which may or may not be in line with your wishes.”
Create a Written Inventory of Your Assets
Every will is only as good as the chronicling of assets that goes with it.
“The single most important thing you can do to insure that your wealth is passed onto your loved ones is to keep an inventory of your assets somewhere,” said Tim Hewson, CEO and co-founder of U.S. Legal Wills. “In your will, you typically refer to ‘my estate,’ and it is the responsibility of your executor to gather up that estate and distribute it to your beneficiaries according to the instructions in the will.”
The problem, according to Hewson, is that executors often have no idea what or where your assets are. That’s why it’s crucial to create a detailed record that includes the information, account numbers, logons and passwords needed to access them.
“A generation ago, our parents may have had two bank accounts and a monthly statement sent to them in the mail,” Hewson said. “Today our assets are distributed all over the place, including in online accounts.”
Consider a Trust To Add Clarity and Reduce Cost
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