Beyond Will Power
This article is for subscribers only.
A will is usually the first estate-planning tool that people think about. Less obvious is the need to write a detailed letter telling the survivors how you want your affairs to be handled. You can find what must be included in this letter, among other helpful hints, in a free pamphlet from the Financial Planning Assn. entitled "Thinking the Unthinkable: What Everyone Needs to Know About Estate Planning" (800 647-6340; fpanet.org).