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Why Do People Put Off Doing Estate Planning, When So Much Is At Stake?
Here are some tips provided by the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils:

When it comes to planning a party, most people are sticklers for details. They make sure they have enough food, the right music and the perfect theme; yet when it comes to estate planning, the majority of Americans fail to take the steps necessary to protect their assets.

"There are many reasons people put off estate planning, the primary one being no one wants to think about their own mortality, but if you don't, your family will suffer the consequences," says Michael W. Halloran, a director with the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (NAEPC), an organization made up of professional estate planners and affiliated Councils.

The National Association of Council’s primary mission is to educate the public about the importance of planning ahead. Halloran recommends the first step you take is putting a planning team together. "Don't think you can do it all yourself," he says. "There are just too many details to worry about."

Some of those details may include writing a will, setting up a trust,

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Romney is on a roll after big win in Nevada - Los Angeles Times
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNEu-mO089aobli_ZwHvsYRXCunlqQ&amp;url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-nevada-caucuses-20120205,0,3397649.story"><img src="//nt0.ggpht.com/news/tbn/zMWVsfHZlGw8QM/6.jpg" alt="" border="1" width="80" height="80" /><br /><font size="-2">Los Angeles Times</font></a></font></td><td valign="top" class="j"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br /><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1" /></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNEu-mO089aobli_ZwHvsYRXCunlqQ&amp;url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-nevada-caucuses-20120205,0,3397649.story"><b>Romney is on a roll after big win in Nevada</b></a><br /><font size="-1"><b><font color="#6f6f6f">Los Angeles Times</font></b></font><br /><font size="-1">Coasting to an easy victory over his GOP rivals in the Nevada caucuses, Mitt Romney keeps his focus on President Obama as the nominating contest moves to Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri. Mitt Romney greets supporters in Las Vegas after winning <b>...</b></font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNH7RhGh5Sx5A-mGSEW3ct0Y1VlJHA&amp;url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203937504577203902139190894.html?mod%3Dgooglenews_wsj">Romney Wins Nevada Caucuses</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>Wall Street Journal</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNHsz3syzhQvLsBdKj8y99n0s9eX5Q&amp;url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/05/troubles-abound-at-special-las-vegas-caucus/">Troubles abound at special Las Vegas caucus</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>Fox News</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNFE-onk4o-Yfw3YUgyeEFbr-mhTKg&amp;url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g5tgjr6DQOrFkAxrmMg1bTa_VrsA?docId%3D9b71b68457d341d6a4e67598e727cf18">Troubles abound at special Las Vegas caucus</a><link rel="syndication-source" href="www.ap.org/9b71b68457d341d6a4e67598e727cf18" /><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>The Associated Press</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1" class="p"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNEzzUm-WNmK0LzyxsPfBqCXb1qmiw&amp;url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/05/us-usa-campaign-idUSTRE80Q2AQ20120205?feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DtopNews%26rpc%3D71"><nobr>Reuters</nobr></a>&nbsp;-<a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNF1ZYEl972C8O9jcXXZEKRfFYVD2A&amp;url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-05/romney-wins-nevada-caucuses-while-gingrich-pledges-to-press-on.html"><nobr>BusinessWeek</nobr></a>&nbsp;-<a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNGZmjsQxEdCF6aOcf8i5zkem8u92w&amp;url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72457.html"><nobr>Politico</nobr></a></font><br /><font class="p" size="-1"><a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=d1jOQTdyHEQCLeM3uQ0LI9MBg1jCM&amp;ned=us&amp;topic=h"><nobr><b>all 5,697 news articles&nbsp;&raquo;</b></nobr></a></font></div></font></td></tr></table>
Russia, China veto UN plan for Syria - Reuters
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNEMey5K7zKn-7HhzjL3mD0XrW0fvA&amp;url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9061975/Text-of-the-UN-resolution-on-Syria-which-Russia-and-China-vetoed.html"><img src="//nt0.ggpht.com/news/tbn/QHgS49nv5_dsAM/6.jpg" alt="" border="1" width="80" height="80" /><br /><font size="-2">Telegraph.co.uk</font></a></font></td><td valign="top" class="j"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br /><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1" /></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNEDVxufuLnc_V9Rm3kc2sFJ2ktotQ&amp;url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/05/us-syria-idUSTRE80S08620120205?feedType%3DRSS%26feedName%3DtopNews%26rpc%3D71"><b>Russia, China veto UN plan for Syria</b></a><br /><font size="-1"><b><font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font></b></font><br /><font size="-1">By Louis Charbonneau and Patrick Worsnip | UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia and China vetoed on Saturday a UN resolution that backed an Arab plan calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to quit, stalling global efforts to end his bloody crackdown <b>...</b></font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNG-dg9K2xwkWuxnbP-ntHXWy4gHmw&amp;url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-05/russia-s-un-veto-on-syria-gives-assad-license-to-kill-.html">Russia&#39;s UN Veto on Syria Gives Assad &#39;License to Kill&#39;</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>BusinessWeek</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNETYWxLUnaKTTbDqSaqPrVaKf8Gyg&amp;url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2b019f4e-4f1d-11e1-bc30-00144feabdc0.html">US &#39;disgusted&#39; with Syria peace plan veto</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>Financial Times</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNEwTtxdBxKa_xrqk7SzHMgueW7eIA&amp;url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-syria-violence-20120205,0,7429845.story">Russia, China veto new UN resolution on Syria</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>Los Angeles Times</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1" class="p"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNF7pX_xMvOvzs4E6E3MgSug04jfqQ&amp;url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/syrian-activists-200-dead-government-assault-15512221"><nobr>ABC News</nobr></a>&nbsp;-<a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNEdyW1vO5wC0FGaBQel42WaSHF4sw&amp;url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57371608/russia-china-veto-un-resolution-against-syria/"><nobr>CBS News</nobr></a>&nbsp;-<a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNFJNwyY6Tb6_le1FnFe9coTMsW0QQ&amp;url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16892728"><nobr>BBC News</nobr></a></font><br /><font class="p" size="-1"><a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=d-6mS6XlUiCaYsM_f6NOjC1t1j3qM&amp;ned=us&amp;topic=h"><nobr><b>all 6,294 news articles&nbsp;&raquo;</b></nobr></a></font></div></font></td></tr></table>
XLVI could be last chance for Giants' Coughlin to secure revered place in NFL ... - ESPN
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNGK97zEIif0SnOOuqRTv2aqsJztnA&amp;url=http://www.tsn.ca/nfl/story/?id%3D386980"><img src="//nt3.ggpht.com/news/tbn/E0rEyNwVlHOfZM/6.jpg" alt="" border="1" width="80" height="80" /><br /><font size="-2">TSN</font></a></font></td><td valign="top" class="j"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br /><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1" /></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNEuov_E0G3gSH76k2ZJ7KfySvyrIw&amp;url=http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/7541993/super-bowl-2012-new-york-giants-coach-tom-coughlin-secure-place-nfl-history"><b>XLVI could be last chance for Giants&#39; Coughlin to secure revered place in NFL <b>...</b></b></a><br /><font size="-1"><b><font color="#6f6f6f">ESPN</font></b></font><br /><font size="-1">By Ian O&#39;Connor INDIANAPOLIS -- In the early hours of his first Super Bowl Sunday, Tom Coughlin had to deal with an all-out blitz of grandkids. They barged into his hotel room a little after 7 am, 90 minutes after he woke up, and started drawing <b>...</b></font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNFGWRGKIFtCrAsuAtesqfutUGMNow&amp;url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/super-bowl-xlvi-week-in-indianapolis/2012/01/30/gIQAG7dlqQ_gallery.html">Super Bowl XLVI week in Indianapolis</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>Washington Post</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNGR2ezDELfBvI8o_Txnlu8H5G-bxw&amp;url=http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/other_nfl/view/20220205in_rematch_ny_plays_with_full_deck_more_complete_offense_with_nicks_bradshaw/srvc%3Dsports%26position%3Dalso">In rematch, New York plays with full deck</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>Boston Herald</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNEJakadcrWY_42S3TWGS5V7mT-Ljg&amp;url=http://www.suntimes.com/sports/10404211-419/giants-going-overboard-with-underdog-talk.html">Giants going overboard with &#39;underdog&#39; talk</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>Chicago Sun-Times</nobr></font></font><br /><font size="-1" class="p"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNGSe1u9NqdSXuMSb9hzhjJLYSwehw&amp;url=http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120205/OPINION03/202050314/With-thick-Super-Bowl-resume-Tom-Brady-has-filled-out?odyssey%3Dmod%257Cnewswell%257Ctext%257CSports%257Cp"><nobr>The Detroit News</nobr></a>&nbsp;-<a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNEdSsSQo0bOTKb-r5BCtAouZR9DBg&amp;url=http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/02/04/3712106/super-bowl-xlvi-not-a-giants-patriots.html"><nobr>Fort Worth Star Telegram</nobr></a>&nbsp;-<a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;fd=R&amp;usg=AFQjCNGpiV1sFdGd26HfpBH6TKM5WEWDAw&amp;url=http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/articles/2012/02/05/20120205super-bowl-xlvi-new-england-patriots-bill-belichicks-legacy.html"><nobr>AZ Central.com</nobr></a></font><br /><font class="p" size="-1"><a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dMoAuNVQtUQAZGMKnO8v0L9Hw3LvM&amp;ned=us&amp;topic=h"><nobr><b>all 4,617 news articles&nbsp;&raquo;</b></nobr></a></font></div></font></td></tr></table>


appointing a guardian for young children , naming a beneficiary and dividing up assets. Among the professionals you should consider hiring to help you make decisions, a state certified attorney or specialist (EPLS); a certified public accountant (CPA), practicing in the area; a chartered life underwriter (CLU); a certified financial planner (CFP); a chartered financial consultant (ChFC); a trust officer; and an accredited estate planner (AEP).

Here are some tips to help you put together a plan that will give you and your family some peace of mind:

  • Draw up a will. Dying without one increases costs, takes away control of your family's assets and adds stress for your family.
  • Keep all your valuable papers together such as insurance policies, wills, bonds, investment records, birth certificates, marriage certificates and social insurance numbers. Be sure your family knows where they are; don't leave a game of "hide & seek."
  • Review your life insurance policy and keep your program up to date. It is the most cost effective way to create the cash to pay bills and provide income.
  • If you have insurance, consider a named beneficiary if it is appropriate. If you name your estate it could slow down receipt of monies to pay bills and provide income. Having the proceeds paid to the estate increases executor's fees and gives one more opportunity for the proceeds to go to the wrong people.
  • Explore leaving property and investments as "Joint with rights of survivorship" so ownership can be changed with the least cost, "red tape" and time delay.
  • Keep some of the assets "liquid" so that there is cash to pay bills upon death. If not, this takes away the flexibility to preserve the value of the estate and to avoid a forced sale of assets.
  • Suggest to your potential survivors that they seek advice and do postmortem tax planning. If you've done a good job of creating your estate, your family will need competent advisors to help manage the assets.
  • Annually, fill out a Net Worth Statement showing a detailed list of what your assets are, where they are and their current value. Do an Income Statement showing all current income sources, but also a list of the type of income and amounts which continue after death.

Once you have your plan in place, make sure you discuss with your family or professional advisors how you want your estate to be distributed. Don't keep everybody in the dark until the end. For more information about estate planning, log onto the National Association of Estate Planners and Council’s Web site, www.naepc.org




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estate planning news:



New York sues banks over electronic mortgage system (Reuters)
Reuters - New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on Friday sued three major U.S. banks, accusing them of fraud for using an electronic mortgage database that resulted in deceptive and illegal practices.NY's Schneiderman sues banks in foreclosure effort (AP)
AP - New York's attorney general on Friday accused some of the nation's largest banks of deceit and fraud in using an electronic mortgage registry that he said puts homeowners at a disadvantage in foreclosures.Goldman to face mortgage debt class-action lawsuit (Reuters)
Reuters - Goldman Sachs Group Inc was ordered by a federal judge to face a securities class-action lawsuit accusing it of defrauding investors about a 2006 offering of securities backed by risky mortgage loans from a now-defunct lender.If Japan Is Our Worst-Case Scenario, We're All Right (The Motley Fool)
The Motley Fool - In 1991, former MIT dean Lester Thurow wrote that "If one looks at the last 20 years, Japan would have to be considered the betting favorite to win the economy honors of owning the 21st century."Analysis: Obstacles high for more mortgage prosecutions (Reuters)
Reuters - Despite the determination of President Obama to take Wall Street to court for the financial crisis, prosecutors face an uphill struggle to win more convictions like the two they scored on Wednesday against former Credit Suisse Group AG mortgage traders.Rate on 30-year mortgage falls to record 3.87 pct. (AP)
AP - The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell this week to a record low, the ninth time that has happened in the last year. Even with the cheapest rates in history, the housing market remains depressed.3 investments for an era of low interest rates (AP)
AP - The Federal Reserve is making it increasingly hard for investors to earn anything, unless they're willing to accept plenty of risk. Ben Bernanke and his Fed are playing the role of adviser, encouraging Americans to get a little more adventurous by shifting savings out of low-yielding bonds and putting it to work in stocks.Wynn's 4th-qtr profit up 67 pct as revenue climbs (AP)
AP - Wynn Resorts Ltd. said Thursday that revenue growth in its Macau and Las Vegas casinos and a sizable income tax gain helped drive profit up 67 percent in the last three months of 2011.Sallie Mae will credit $50 fee to suspend payments (AP)
AP - Private student lender Sallie Mae is changing how it handles a fee it charges struggling borrowers who seek to temporarily suspend payments.Summary Box: Sallie Mae changes policy on loan fee (AP)
AP - THE NEWS: Private student lender Sallie Mae is changing how it handles a fee that struggling borrowers must pay to temporarily suspend payments.Mortgage rates for the past 52 weeks, at a glance (AP)
AP - Mortgage rates for the past 52 weeks, at a glance

Strategies used to direct property to the proper beneficiaries, to minimize tax liability and other costs, and to arrange for property management in the event of physical or mental disability.