“If you do not have an estate or financial plan, you are not alone. Statistics show that many Americans do not have a proper estate or financial plan. “It is estimated that 120,000,000 Americans do not have up-to-date estate plans to protect themselves and their families in the event of sickness, accidents, or untimely death,” informs the NAEPC Education Foundation’s news release for National Estate Planning Awareness Week. A survey from 2010 by Lawyers.com found that “[o]nly 35% of Americans now report having a will and only 21% have a trust arranged.” A more recent survey by EZLaw affirmed these numbers. It found that “only 44% of Americans report that they currently have any estate planning documents.”

LP2

These statistics are dismal, but they carry good news. They show that many people have an opportunity to improve their lives by having proper estate and financial documents in place. The costs to the affluent and middle class in wasted dollars and hours of emotional hardship can be minimized with proper planning and action, informs the NAEPC Education Foundation news release.

Estate and financial planning might be new and unfamiliar to you. The staggering costs of nursing home care ($132,000/year on average) may frighten you. It all might sound overwhelming. But with a little education, it is no longer unfamiliar. And by taking a step-by-step approach, it is no longer overwhelming. [Excerpt from “Declining Health Is Scary: Estate And Financial Planning Can Protect You”, Forbes.com]