THINK BEYOND THE BASICS WHEN GETTING YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER.

You’ve worked hard to save and build your nest egg. We understand that you want to protect it and preserve it for the ones you love and will someday leave behind.

Some straightforward tasks — such as updating your legal documents — will help you get your affairs in order and ease your loved ones’ transition after you’re gone. But it’s also important to make other less obvious decisions that can have a dramatic impact on what you leave and how you leave it.

Let’s start with the basics.

Set up an appointment with an attorney who specializes in estate planning. Wills, medical and financial powers of attorney, and living wills are among the basic legal documents that

should be a part of your plan. Your attorney can also help ensure your assets are titled correctly and appropriate beneficiary designations are in place. Laws change and so do your goals and plans, so it makes sense to review these documents periodically, especially after you’ve moved to a new state or experienced a significant life event, such as a death or birth in your family.

Beyond those legal arrangements, make sure you put together a letter of instruction that details your various accounts, relationships (lawyer, CPA, etc.), special wishes and even password information for your social media and online accounts.

Communicating your intentions and plans can make the transition easier for your family and