Hi Everyone,
Happy Wednesday!!! This week we're going to talk about shaping up in the New Year.
I've had a bunch of people ask me what are some quick things that they should do in the New Year to make sure their affairs are in order. Well, here are my top three:
Update your beneficiary designations: We've talked about this before but it's SO IMPORTANT and it's something that's so simple to do in the New Year. Please be especially cognizant of your beneficiary designations if you've recently married, had a child, or are going through divorce. Please also contact me if you're considering designating a person with special needs as a beneficiary. You don't want to deprive somebody of their government benefits simply because they inherited some money. There are planning tools you can utilize to prevent this from happening.
Plan for the disposition of your digital assets. All of us whether we realize it or not have a completely separate digital life. These digital lives can be especially important when you're thinking about sites such as Shutterfly or Facebook. Make an inventory of all of your digital assets and the passwords associated with each account and put it in a place where a loved one knows how to access it. Digital Access has become so important that many states are passing legislation permitting legal right for your executor, a/k/a personal representative in Massachusetts, to access your social media and other digital accounts.
Set up an appointment with an estate planning attorney: If it has been a few years since you've updated your estate plan or have yet to start the process, the time is now to get your affairs in order. All of my clients receive a free estate plan review every three years. Why? Because life changes and your current estate plan should reflect your families current needs. Encourage your friends to either set-up an initial appointment or review what they already have in place. This is particularly important if you've recently experienced a significant change in life circumstances.
Complete these three things you're already starting off 2014 in pretty good shape!
Until next time.
Wishing you and your family a safe journey, Amy