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Estate Planning for Millennials

Estate planning may seem like a distant concern for millennials who are focused on building careers, paying off student loans, and navigating the early stages of adulthood. However, this crucial financial step is not just for the older or wealthy individuals. An estate plan is an essential tool that can protect your assets, secure your legacy, and ensure your wishes are followed in the event of incapacitation or death. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the importance of estate planning for millennials, outline the essential documents involved, and emphasize the need for a basic estate plan that includes a will, power of attorney, and healthcare directives.

 

Why Estate Planning Matters for Millennials

 

As a financial planner, I often encounter young clients who assume that estate planning is unnecessary because they don’t have significant assets. However, estate planning is about more than just wealth preservation. It’s about taking control of your future and ensuring your wishes are respected in various circumstances.

Here are some reasons why estate planning is important for millennials:

Peace of Mind: An estate plan offers security and clarity in the event of unforeseen circumstances. It ensures that your assets are distributed according to your wishes and that your loved ones are cared for after you’re gone.

Avoiding Legal Disputes: Without proper estate planning, your family may face lengthy and expensive legal battles over your assets, leading to emotional distress.

Control Over Healthcare Decisions: Estate planning allows you to make decisions about your healthcare in advance, ensuring that your wishes are followed if you become incapacitated.

Reducing Tax Burden: A well-crafted estate plan can help minimize the tax burden on your heirs, allowing them to inherit more of your hard-earned assets.

 

Essential Estate Planning Documents

 

There are several types of documents involved in estate planning, but every individual should have at least a basic estate plan in place. This plan should include:

Will: A will is a legal document that outlines how you want your assets distributed after your death. It also allows you to name a guardian for your minor children and an executor who will manage your estate.

Durable Power of Attorney: This document grants authority to a trusted individual to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. It ensures that your bills are paid, investments are managed, and other financial decisions are made on your behalf.

Healthcare Directives: These documents express your medical care preferences if you’re unable to communicate them yourself. They typically include a living will and a durable power of attorney for healthcare.

Other documents that you may consider, depending on your needs and circumstances, include:

Trusts: These legal arrangements allow you to transfer assets to a trustee who will manage them for the benefit of your chosen beneficiaries.

Beneficiary Designations: Ensure that your beneficiaries are up to date on your retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other financial assets.

Letter of Intent: This non-legal document provides guidance to your executor or trustee regarding your personal preferences and desires for the distribution of your assets.

Digital Asset Inventory: A list of your digital assets (such as social media accounts, online banking, and email) and instructions for their management after your death.

Estate planning is an essential financial task that millennials should not overlook. By creating a basic estate plan that includes a will, power of attorney, and healthcare directives, you can secure your future, protect your loved ones, and ensure that your wishes are followed. Consult with a financial planner or an estate planning attorney to help you create an estate plan tailored to your needs and circumstances. Remember, it’s never too early to take control of your financial future.


Millennial Wealth Management

Millennial Wealth Management is a fee-only registered investment advisor in Colorado. We educate and advise millennials and their families in the Denver and Boulder area, as well as other states virtually. As millennials, we understand the financial choices our generation is faced with, from navigating your first home purchase or tackling student loans. Our mission is to help our generation stop worrying about money.

Copyright Millennial Wealth Management, 2020.