Wondering what to give your loved ones this holiday season? An estate plan is the gift that keeps on giving! Planning provides direction and clarity to your loved ones both while you are alive and after you pass away. Though planning can seem stressful, by failing to plan, we unfairly pass this stress onto loved ones who are left to make difficult decisions for us. Estate planning really does not have to be painful. Often, the hardest part is getting started. To help out, NerdWallet provides 7 simple steps to getting started with your estate plan:

1. Take inventory of your tangible and intangible assets.

2. Contemplate how you would like to utilize your assets and estate plan to protect your family.

3. Select individuals to manage your personal and medical decisions should you become incapacitated.

4. Check beneficiary designations on insurance policies as well as retirement, investment, and other accounts.

5. Understand how and if estate taxes may apply to your situation.

6. Consider hiring a professional to assist with your plan.

7. Plan for the present, but expect to revise in the future.

Though joy and estate planning are unlikely synonyms, the holidays are the perfect time to think about protecting and honoring our loved ones. Best wishes for a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Looking for some reading material to pass the time as you travel this holiday season? Kiplinger’s comprehensive guide to estate planning provides a solid base of information for those thinking about creating or updating an estate plan. Consider discussing some key topics from Kiplinger’s guide with family and friends over the coming months:

• Does your existing estate plan still makes sense given your present situation in life and the current climate of estate tax law?

• Should you utilize a trust to handle asset distribution, protect your privacy, or avoid the probate process?

• What type of information could you share with your family members regarding your estate plan to ease tension and establish expectations?

• How should your assets be divided (equally or unequally) among your loved ones and when should those distributions be made?

• Should you make lifetime gifts to decrease the amount of assets you hold at the time of your death and to take advantage of the annual gift tax exemption?

Safe travels, and happy planning!

School is out and summer is finally here!  For many, that means it's time for a long-awaited vacation away from home.  Whether you are heading to Disney World, taking a cruise, or relaxing at a nearby lake this summer, make time to review your estate plan before you take off.  Below is a quick and easy checklist to make sure your plan is ready to go:

1. Review Beneficiary Designations - If you have a will, you have probably designated beneficiaries to receive your probate assets (meaning assets that will pass through the probate process instead of automatically) if you pass away.  Keep in mind that non-probate assets such as retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other financial assets may include beneficiary designations as well.  Transfers to these beneficiaries will occur almost automatically and outside of the probate process upon your death.  Take a quick look at your probate and non-probate beneficiary designations to make sure your assets will transfer according to your current wishes if something happens to you.

2. Update Powers of Attorney - It is important to make sure you have powers of attorney established in the event that you are in an accident and need someone to make medical or financial decisions on your behalf.  If you have not established powers of attorney and something happens to you, a court will intervene to appoint someone to handle these decisions on your behalf.  This process can be expensive and time consuming for your loved ones.  Planning ahead will save time, money, and headaches for everyone involved.

3. Designate a Guardian - If you have young children, you will want to make sure you have made a guardianship appointment in your will.  If you do not select an individual to take over guardianship of your children in the event of your death, a court will make a selection instead.  Additionally, you will want to select a trustee to manage any assets you plan to pass to young children should something happen to you.  This includes assets passed by will, or through life insurance polices, retirement accounts, and other non-probate assets.

4. Make Documents Accessible - Before you leave for vacation, store your estate planning documents in a safe place, and let your loved ones know where they can be found and how they can be accessed if necessary.  A lost or hidden estate plan will be of no use to anyone.

5. Don't Wait! - You have spent months or even years planning and saving for your vacation, so why put off updating your estate plan until minutes before you leave?  Updating your estate plan doesn't have to be arduous - get started today!

Have a safe and happy 4th of July weekend!