We’ve been in the estate planning business for quite a while, and many regrets that we see firsthand have to do with heirlooms, possessions or those intangible things that are lost when a loved one dies – like Grandma’s peach cobbler recipe that she never wrote down.

We created this worksheet to help prevent the pain and regret that comes with the permanent loss of vital information when a person dies.

You’ve taken one very important step, BUT you still need to take action. Take 30 minutes to fill out this form. Go down the worksheet item by item, and as you do think about the information you have about that item that no one else may have.

A free report on the dangers and pitfalls of giving money or property to your children while still living

Many people think that giving their house to the kids is a good strategy for getting help with the exorbitant costs of long-term care. There are definitely better ways to plan for the costs of aging.

• Giving your house (or money) to your kids may not achieve what you think it will.
• Giving away assets while still living can wreak havoc on everyone’s taxes.
• Signing over any sort of property can severely limit your choices in the future.
• A “nest egg” trust is a great way to avoid the pitfalls of signing your house or property over to your kids.

Things can be quite overwhelming when a loved one passes away. Download this checklist to help you know what needs to be done right away, what DOESN’T need to be done right away, and what should be done within 30 days of death.

Pre-planning for your funeral is such an important step for your family and yourself. We’d like to help you with this often overwhelming process. That’s why we’ve created the Funeral Planning Guide.

When you download this free resource, you’ll find helpful advice, answers to common questions, and a workbook that will help you gather all the information you’ll need to successfully put together a funeral plan.

In the first part of the guide, you’ll learn about the 5 Levels of Funeral Planning, as well as answers to the following questions:

Should I pre-plan my funeral?
What is a “Disposition of Remains”?
Should I pre-pay for my funeral?
Are there risks involved with pre-paying?

In the second part of the guide, you’ll find the Workbook. This portion contains detailed, fill-in-the-blank sections that will help you gather and organize your planning info in one place.

Sometimes, instead of using a trust, people will use a life estate deed to try and protect a house or farmland. This means they deed the land to their kids but reserve the right to still use the house or the farm as long as they are living. It seems like a nice, simple solution — and a cheaper alternative to a trust — however they do not always work as advertised.

It is vitally important that you review all your beneficiary designations (life insurance, 401(k)s, etc.) every 2 years, or sooner in cases of births, deaths, marriages, divorce, job changes or retirement. Download this free resource to help you keep track. Many people think they have an effective plan in place, only to be derailed by overlooked beneficiary designations!

It’s a common misconception that trusts are only for the wealthy. However, a nest egg trust is designed for regular, hardworking folks who have saved a bit for retirement. Many families who want to protect assets and plan ahead for future aging and care are deciding that a nest egg trust is the right tool for them. A nest egg trust is an irrevocable trust that protects your hard-earned savings and also helps you qualify for care benefits if you need some form of long-term care. To learn more about nest egg trusts, download this FREE resource.

Many parents think that “adding their children’s names to their bank account” is an easy way to be sure their kids can help if something unexpected happens, but it can cause some unintended consequences. Legally, what you are doing is naming a child as a joint owner of the account. This can have big legal implications that you might not intend. Despite friends or bankers telling you it’s a good idea, this sort of “coffee shop” legal advice can cause big problems down the road. To learn more about what can go wrong with this strategy along with two possible solutions, download this FREE resource.