Foundations, Documents & First Decisions

Phase 1 focuses on estate planning basics, including wills, beneficiaries, guardianship decisions, and executor responsibilities.

Estate Planning Series – Phase 1

Phase 1 of the Estate Planning Series introduces the core concepts every family needs to understand before making decisions about wills, trusts, or long-term planning. This phase focuses on clarity—explaining what estate planning actually involves, why it matters at every stage of life, and what happens when plans are incomplete or missing altogether.

Rather than rushing into tools or documents, Phase 1 helps you understand the why behind estate planning so every decision that follows is informed, intentional, and aligned with your goals.

What You’ll Learn

Phase 1 builds the foundation for the rest of the Estate Planning Series by focusing on understanding, not execution.

Topics in this phase include:

• What estate planning actually means and why it matters
• How wills and trusts differ—and when each is used
• The real consequences of having no plan in place
• Why a will is still necessary, even if you have a trust
• How beneficiary designations work and why they override other documents

Each article prepares you to move forward with confidence—so later decisions about trusts, authority, and protection make sense.