At this point in the year, many of us are abandoning our New Year’s resolutions, but there’s still hope…
by Chris Flynn, Attorney
Well, we’re a few months into 2016, which means we’re also past the point where many people have abandoned their New Year’s resolutions. (I’ve started eating cheeseburgers again despite the 15 or 25 pounds I’d planned to lose this year.)
Estate Plan Organization
A common resolution in the beginning of the year is to “get organized.” I have file cabinets at home that I’ve been mindlessly throwing documents into for years. I keep meaning to clean them out. I know they hold important papers, but can’t imagine trying to actually locate any one of them. With no immediate need to know where specific paperwork is, it’s always easy to put it off for another day instead of taking a couple hours to make sure the big things are in place.
And sadly, if I never do take care of those file cabinets? My family will be left to dig through the piles of junk I’ve gathered over the years trying to figure out what’s important and what’s been left for them.
Would it help your children to know where stuff it? To easily know what bank accounts, investment accounts and insurance policies you own? To get things handled quickly and privately and as automatically as possible when you die?
We can help with this! In just a few meetings, you can know what you have, where your accounts are, where your assets are going when you die, and have it all in one place so that you or your loved ones can access it whenever it’s needed
When you set up a trust with Edwards Group LLC, you’ll leave with The Red Binder. In it, we’ll have all the documents needed to ensure easy administration of your accounts and assets during your disability or after your death.
The Red Binder
Some of the contents of The Red Binder include:
• A Trust, stating what happens with all of your assets upon your disability or death.
• A Will, ensuring that any “straggling” assets get handled in accordance with your trust.
• Powers of Attorney, ensuring that the right people (of your choosing) have the ability to help you when you need it.
• End-of-life and burial wishes, so your family knows what you want and can avoid disputing it later.
• A summary of your plan and a summary of your assets.
In our office, Senior Asset Coordinator Laura Peffley (pictured above with clients), is constantly helping clients get their assets consolidated into one trust. If you simply have an account statement or can print one, she can usually work with that. If you can’t find a deed to your house, she can help you track it down. And ultimately, we can map out a plan together to ensure all of your assets go where you want, when you want.
Procrastination is the Enemy of Estate Plans
Even if you’ve already abandoned some of your resolutions at this point in the year, we can still help you tackle this one today. Procrastination is the single greatest threat to an effective estate plan. Don’t put it off any longer. Planning protects those things most important to you, and we make it easy to take the first step with the following options:
- Attend a free workshop. Our monthly workshop, Aging With Confidence: 9 Keys to Wise Planning & Peace of Mind, is a great way to get started with effective planning.
- Give us a call at 217-726-9200. Tarina, our Client Coordinator, loves helping people and answering their questions. In fact, she was a client before she ever started working at Edwards Group, so she has a unique perspective that many find helpful.
- Schedule an Initial Meeting. If you know you’re ready to get started and want to stop putting it off any longer, just give us a call to schedule a 45-minute meeting where an attorney will review your concerns and goals. The attorney will also help you understand the unique risks that your family faces. By the end of the meeting, you should understand your planning options, what they will cost and if Edwards Group is the right firm for you. Clients find this meeting to be very valuable in helping them understand their options.
Get back on board with getting organized by calling us at 217-726-9200 to RSVP for a workshop, ask questions or schedule an Initial Meeting.