The only things that are for certain are death & taxes. In your lifetime, if you have been fortunate to acquire something of value and you have decided to leave it to a person and/or an organization after your death then you are engaging in estate planning.

The smooth transition of assets from one person to another person or group. This can be in the form of life insurance, automobiles, homes and investments such as: stocks and/or bonds etc.

In most communities, where it has proven difficult to break the poverty syndrome where there is generation after generation of poverty, Estate planning represents the best chance to change things.

It can be best described, as a relay race where you have run your course and the baton is passed to another runner who is more energetic and in some cases faster and can make-up ground that may have been lost or in some cases increase the advantage(s), therefore, positioning the next runner for even greater success.

Never squander your advantages, if you are in a fortunate position to and nice enough to leave something of value to the ones that will be left behind after your death, please factor-in funeral expenses, upbringing of young children and/or grandchildren.

Some people are generous enough to leave money etc. to organizations such as a church, school, a neighborhood organization and/or any number of qualified charities.