Estate Planning
Most of us spend a life time accumulating assets, for various reasons – retirement funding, desire to leave a legacy for loved ones or a favorite charity – the reasons are different for each of us.
One area of our finances that too many of us neglect is taking steps to arrange for the orderly, efficient distribution of our assets upon death, conserve them from Federal and State taxation, as well as probate expense, and provide liquidity for expenses. A poorly planned estate strategy can be very costly to heirs, and result in drawn out settlement of the estate.
Nearly everyone needs to do some kind of estate planning. Unfortunately, because of perceived complexities in designing an estate preservation strategy, and concerns over costs of doing so, all too often the default strategy is to do nothing.
Even with a simple estate, worse case scenario, should one die intestate (without a will), the state generally decides upon distribution of assets.
For larger estates, transfer taxes on death can devastate a legacy, without adequate advanced preparation.
The goal of our Estate Conservation Team is to help our clients – and their families – avoid the inefficiencies, cost and anguish created by a poorly planned strategy. While neither MetLife, nor it’s representatives, provide legal or tax advice, we do co-ordinate our work with local providers – attorneys and cpa’s – to design and adequately fund efficient and cost effective estate conservation and transfer strategies.
MetLife also offers a variety of insurance products specifically designed to help fund estate conservation strategies.
Our process starts with a series of questions:
- What do you want to accomplish?
- Where are you now?
- What are the basics?
- What could get in the way?
- What strategies are available and appropriate for your situation?
If you need answers to these questions, you should meet with a local member of our Estate Conservation Team, or attend on of our Estate Conservation workshops.
Our website offers newsletters, articles and e-seminars to assist you in gathering your thoughts about your estate. To talk with a local member of our Estate Conservation Team, please register on line for one of our seminars, or e-mail jbentubo@metlife.com
MetLife of Central Florida– bringing together local and national professionals and resources, coordinated by a local MetLife Estate Conservation Team Member, to accomplish your estate conservation goals.
MetLife does not provide tax or legal advice.
|
