| Submitted By: | | | | complicate the demanding task of settling your estate. |
| David Grimaldi | | | | This is especially true because the time following a |
| Morgan Stanley | | | | death is often emotionally difficult. |
| Financial Advisor | | | | You might want to look into the benefits of naming a |
| Madison Avenue Location | | | | trust company or other corporate fiduciary as your |
| (866)651-8625 | | | | executor. Organize your paperwork and files. If you do |
| You've spent years growing your wealth and building | | | | not provide your executors and beneficiaries with all |
| your estate, so it is just good sense to plan to protect | | | | the paperwork or files pertaining to your property, |
| your assets and pass them on to your beneficiaries | | | | assets and wishes, improper distribution and |
| according to your wishes. When you're ready to sit | | | | management of your estate may result. |
| down and develop an estate plan, keep these tips in | | | | Update your estate plan. Updating your estate plan |
| mind. | | | | from time to time is important so that it is implemented |
| Write a will. If you do not have a will when you die, the | | | | exactly according to your wishes. You will want to |
| law of your state may then determine what happens | | | | update your estate plan when there are changes in |
| to your estate, your assets and any minor children. In | | | | your family (births, marriages, divorces, deaths, etc.), |
| addition, even if you have a Will, the estate | | | | when the value of your estate significantly increases |
| administration process, usually governed by probate | | | | or decreases, when tax laws change, if you move to |
| court, can be slow, sometimes expensive and open to | | | | another state or if your business or career changes. |
| the public. | | | | Be sure to consult your tax and legal advisors before |
| Fund a living trust. Follow through if you set up a living | | | | making any tax-related or legally related decisions. And |
| trust. Until you transfer ownership of property or | | | | during the estate planning process, don't forget to |
| assets to it, the trust is not worth any more to you or | | | | involve your financial advisor in investment-related |
| your beneficiaries than the paper it's printed on. | | | | issues. |
| Unfortunately, many revocable living trusts are set up | | | | For More Information If you'd like to learn more about |
| but are never funded. | | | | Developing an Estate Plan, please call (866)651-8625. |
| Re-title "JTWROS" property. Joint-Tenancy-With-Right | | | | +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ |
| of Survivorship titling of assets may reduce flexibility in | | | | These materials are provided free of charge for |
| estate planning. Although probate is avoided at the first | | | | general informational and educational purposes to our |
| joint owner's death, estate-tax saving opportunities | | | | brokerage clients. These materials do not take into |
| may be limited. Use both spouses' estate exemption | | | | account your personal circumstances and we do not |
| amount. Leaving all property and assets to a spouse | | | | represent that this information is complete or applicable |
| may avoid estate taxes at the death of the first | | | | to your situation. We may change these materials at |
| spouse, but it wastes the estate tax credit of the | | | | any time in the future without notice to you. We are |
| "first-to-die." A credit shelter trust can allow each | | | | not providing you with investment, tax or legal advice. |
| spouse's estate exemption amount to be utilized, thus | | | | You should consult your own tax, legal, investment or |
| sheltering more assets from estate tax liabilities. | | | | other advisors to determine whether the analyses in |
| Re-title ownership of life insurance policies. Most life | | | | these materials apply to your specific circumstances. |
| insurance policies are owned by the insured, causing | | | | Particular legal, accounting and tax restrictions |
| the policy's face amount to be included in that person's | | | | applicable to you, margin requirements and transaction |
| estate at his or her death. Policy owners may consider | | | | costs may significantly affect the structures discussed, |
| giving policies directly to the beneficiary or transferring | | | | and we do not represent that results indicated will be |
| the policies to an irrevocable life insurance trust. Either | | | | achieved. We are not offering to buy or sell any |
| strategy could help reduce estate taxes. | | | | financial instrument or inviting you to participate in any |
| Choose an appropriate executor. Naming an | | | | trading strategy. Investments and services are offered |
| inexperienced family member as executor could | | | | through Morgan Stanley DW Inc., member SIPC. |