Page 4 - Accumulating, Preserving, and Passing Wealth | Stifel

What Can an Estate Plan Do for You?
Recognizing that every situation is unique,
an individualized estate plan can address
a number of planning objectives:
• Preserve the value of your estate;
• Provide for the current management of your assets
and affairs;
• Manage your assets and affairs for you and your heirs
in the event you become disabled or incapacitated;
• Maximize what you transfer to your beneficiaries;
• Reduce or eliminate probate;
• Minimize the transfer taxes you must pay, including
federal and state estate taxes; and
• Provide for ongoing management of assets for
your spouse, children, or grandchildren.

Once you have developed a list of your planning objectives, the next step is to build a team of professionals to assist
you in the planning process. An estate planning attorney will be a key member of the team and will help you select
the tools necessary to achieve your objectives. He or she will also draft the documents required to implement your
plan. You may also include a tax professional as part of the planning team to assist with any tax-related issues that
may arise. Your Stifel Financial Advisor will also be an integral part of the process, as he or she knows your personal
financial situation and can provide the investment knowledge and expertise to help you pursue your goals. Finally,
you may involve a corporate trustee in your planning team as a current or successor trustee.

At Stifel, we strive to serve as a resource to our clients. Estate planning can be confusing. We want to help you
understand your options so you can make informed decisions. You have worked hard to get where you are. We
have created this guide to estate planning to educate you about the estate planning process and how it can help you
accumulate, preserve, and pass your wealth in the manner you desire.

What Is a Will?

Creating a will is often the first step many take when creating an estate plan. A will is simply a legal document that
provides instructions outlining how you would like your assets administered and distributed at your death. The
primary reason for creating a will is to provide the testator (the person creating the will) the opportunity to control the
distribution of his or her estate at death. If you die without a will, you die intestate, and the intestacy statutes of your
state will govern how your assets are distributed.
What can a will do for you?

By creating a will, you can accomplish several personal and financial objectives. A will can plan for specific bequests
to certain individuals or charitable organizations. It can also provide for the establishment of a testamentary trust for
the ongoing management of assets for a surviving spouse or other heirs. Through a will, you can nominate a guardian
for minor children. You can also select the person or entity you would like to handle your estate by naming an
executor or personal representative who will be responsible for carrying out your wishes as expressed in your will.

It is important to remember that a will is only operative at your death. For this reason, a will does not address lifetime
concerns, such as planning for the management of your assets in the event of incapacity. A properly drafted will can
detail your wishes and allow you to control the distribution of your estate.

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