Keeping a plan current
A Winning Game Plan
Across the country, families are gathering for Friday night lights, Saturday college rivalries, and Sunday afternoons spent cheering on their favorite teams.
·4 min readKeeping a plan current
Year-End Estate Planning Checklist: Wrap Up the Year with Confidence
The end of the year is a time to tie up loose ends and make sure we’re prepared for what’s next. At Cain, Cain & Janik, we encourage clients to finish the year with a confident step forward, using our year-end estate planning checklist to create a foundation of security for the future.
When our client Jim first came to us for help, he wanted a simple will. But after his wife’s unexpected diagnosis, he realized a full estate plan could help ensure his family’s well-being. Now, Jim’s estate plan provides him with a sense of calm as he heads into the new year, knowing his family’s future is on solid ground.
Here’s how to make sure your estate plan is ready for whatever lies ahead:
1. Confirm Your Key Documents Are Current
As Jim learned, estate plans must evolve to keep up with life’s changes. Review your will, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives to ensure they reflect your current wishes and family needs. Major changes in family or finances are always worth a double-check.
2. Check Beneficiary Designations
From retirement accounts to life insurance, reviewing your beneficiary designations prevents unintended outcomes. Jim updated his policies to ensure his children were taken care of, providing a lasting gift that goes beyond simple possessions.
3. Consider Year-End Tax Moves
Take advantage of any year-end tax benefits, like charitable donations or annual gifting. Not only does this bring peace of mind, but it can also help you maximize financial benefits before the year’s end.
4. Enroll in Our Maintenance Membership
Our Maintenance Membership keeps your estate plan up to date, so you don’t have to worry about missing important changes. Jim joined our membership, which ensures his plan is reviewed regularly—a gift that keeps on giving.
Our special offer: Schedule a consultation and become a client before year’s end and your trust will be maintained at no additional charge through our Estate Planners for Life™ Maintenance Program through January 1, 2026.
There’s no better way to close out the year than by knowing your future is protected. Take control and plan ahead today by contacting our office for a free consultation.
More from Insights
Keeping a plan current
Keeping a plan current
How Our Client Update Program Helps Protect What Matters Most
One of the biggest misconceptions about estate planning is believing there is such a thing as a finished estate plan. People often think of estate planning like installing a roof: once it is done, you can stop thinking about it.
·5 min read
Keeping a plan current
Why Don’t All Firms Do It This Way? The Importance of Maintaining Your Estate Plan
After months, or maybe years, of putting it off, you've met with an estate planning attorney, signed your documents, and created a plan to protect your family.
·6 min read
Practical estate planning guide
The 7-Step Family Protection Workbook: Will Your Estate Plan Work When Your Family Needs It Most?
The workbook helps you clarify what you want your plan to accomplish, identify possible gaps, prepare the right people, and decide what to do next, whether this is your first revocable living trust-based estate plan or you are reviewing an old one.
Separately, you can subscribe to A Matter of Trust, a weekly newsletter from Tamara featuring practical estate-planning guidance, thoughtful reflections on family and legacy, and other estate planning ideas worth passing along. Sign up for one or both.
- The 7-Step Family Protection Workbook: free, a one-time download
- A Matter of Trust: a letter from Tamara about once a week, with workshop dates before they fill
- Written by Tamara, not by a marketing department