For many, the phrase “Estate Planning” sounds as though it is something only the ultra-wealthy need to do. In truth, every family, no matter their net-worth, could benefit from an estate plan.

According to a 2026 study by Trust & Will, the majority of Americans believe that all adults should have a will or estate planning documents in place, yet most report that they currently do not have such documents in place. End-of-life planning can seem morose, depressing and even a little scary. Despite these natural feelings about facing our own mortality, estate planning is a critical aspect of managing your assets and protecting your family, which is why it’s surprising that the majority of people are unprepared for the inevitable.

While the idea of Estate Planning can sound daunting, when broken down into smaller components it is a much more manageable undertaking and one that can save you and/or your family from undue stress and confusion in thefuture. Let’s take a look at the key areas of estate planning.

None of us really like to think about our own mortality or the possibility of being unable to make decisions for ourselves. This is exactly why so many families are caughtoff guard and unprepared when incapacity or death does strike. Knowing you have a properly prepared plan in place – one that contains your instructions and will protect your family – will give you and your family confidence in your future. This is one of the most thoughtful and considerate things you can do for yourself and for those you love.

This presentation presents an overview of estate planning. It is not intended to provide full disclosure. It is not intended to give tax or legal advice. Any comments about tax treatment simply reflect an understanding of current interpretations of tax laws as they relate to estate planning and life insurance. Tax laws are always subject to interpretation and possible changes in the future. It is recommended that you seek the counsel of your attorney, accountant, or other qualified tax advisor regarding estate and life insurance taxation as it applies to your particular situation. These pages depict certain estate planning options. This presentation simply shows the effect that the demonstrated option(s) may have on your estate and potential estate taxes, based on certain assumptions of the value, growth, and disposition of your estate, detailed in the presentation and provided by you. All references to the present or future value of death benefits and cash values of pre-existing life insurance policies are based on the information you have provided for purposes of this analysis. They should not be construed to be the actual present or future values of the death benefits or cash values available in those life insurance policies. For a detailed projection of policy values of a given life insurance policy, please contact the company that issued the policy(ies) in question.