Your heirs deserve as much of your estate as possible.

Many people think that estate planning is only for the very wealthy; but that isn't true. When you die, the government calculates the value of everything you own, including:

• Your home and other real estate you own.
• The face amount of any personal or group life insurance policies in your name.
• Savings, investments, retirement plan assets or Social Security benefits.
• The value of any personal property such as cash, furniture, jewelry and automobiles.
• Your share of a business.

Once the value of all of your assets combined exceeds the amount exempt from federal estate taxes -- $2,000,000 through 2007 and 2008 -- you have an estate tax problem. What part of you estate would you want your family to liquidate in order to pay your estate taxes?

With a proper estate plan, you can:

• Ensure financial security for you and your family during your lifetime and after your death.
• Pass on your estate - wholly intact -- to your heirs and according to your wishes.
• Reduce or eliminate taxes, administrative expenses and delays in the transfer of your estate.
• Have the liquidity to cover your taxes, debts and expenses.

But without a good estate plan:

• State law will determine who inherits your assets.
• The court appoints administrators for your estate.
• You may pay unnecessary taxes and expenses.
• The court appoints a guardian for your children.
• Your family could be forced to sell your assets to pay your estate taxes.

Learn more:

• Who needs estate planning?
• The estate tax bite
• Estate planning process
• Transferring your estate