Personalizing Your Will: More Than Just a Legal Form
by Sequoia Financial Group
by Sequoia Financial Group
A will isn’t just a legal document; it reflects your values, relationships, and priorities. Personalizing it ensures your wishes are clearly understood and carried out in a way that feels authentic to you and your loved ones. (See Your Will: Your Wishes, Your Legacy for more information on wills.)
Ideas for Personalizing Your Will
While a will primarily outlines how your assets will be distributed, it can also:
- Include charitable gifts to causes you care about.
- Provide specific bequests for sentimental items, like a family heirloom or piece of art, to loved ones who will appreciate them most.
- Outline pet care, including naming a guardian and setting aside funds.
Common Misconceptions About Revising Your Will
Many people think it’s set in stone once their will is written. In reality, life changes, and so should your will. Marriage, divorce, births, deaths, asset changes, or even evolving relationships may all warrant updates to your will. Another misconception is that revising a will is a complicated or costly process. In truth, with the proper guidance, updates can be straightforward and help avoid confusion or disputes later.
Why Personalization Matters
A personalized will goes beyond asset distribution; it helps reduce ambiguity, makes sure your loved ones understand your intentions, and can even strengthen family bonds by making your legacy more meaningful. It’s not about making your will longer; it’s about making it clearer and more reflective of who you are.
Keep It Current
Review your will every few years or after significant life events. An outdated will can cause unnecessary complications, while an updated one ensures your wishes will be honored exactly as intended.
Next Steps
Your estate plan is one of the most personal documents you’ll ever create. Your Sequoia Financial Group team can help you align your will and all your estate planning documents with your values, goals, and current life circumstances. Let us guide you in creating a plan that’s truly yours.
The tax and estate planning information offered by the advisor is general in nature. It is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or tax advice. Always consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific legal or tax situation. Clients requesting tax return or estate preparation services are referred to a commonly-held affiliate, Sequoia Tax Services or a third party and not Sequoia Financial Group.
The views expressed represent the opinion of Sequoia Financial Group. The views are subject to change and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results. This material is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Stated information is derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sources that have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness. While Sequoia believes the information to be accurate and reliable, we do not claim or have responsibility for its completeness, accuracy, or reliability. Statements of future expectations, estimates, projections, and other forward-looking statements are based on available information and Sequoia’s view as of the time of these statements. Accordingly, such statements are inherently speculative as they are based on assumptions that may involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Investing in equity securities involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. While equities may offer the potential for greater long-term growth than most debt securities, they generally have higher volatility. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Investment advisory services offered through Sequoia Financial Advisors, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Registration as an investment advisor does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Your financial advisor does not provide legal advice and has contracted the services of Wealth.com to provide a digital estate planning solution for its clients. Client may accomplish their estate plans by using and relying only on the services offered through Wealth.com. Wealth.com is not a law firm and is not practicing law. That said, all legal documents created with Wealth are legally valid in all 50 US states and Washington D.C. Wealth.com was designed and is maintained with care by attorneys who used to practice at the top trust & estate law firms in the US.
Fed Cut Boosts Equities to New Records