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The Most Important Kind of Planning
Life events are often a trigger for some sort of planning. College, weddings, first home, and children to name a few. We choose to plan for these events, but there is an important part of life planning that often gets put on the back burner - estate planning.
Planning for the unexpected - no one likes to think or talk about it. Here are 5 things that should be a part of your plan:
1. Prepare a Will. It's important that it's done right. Do yourself a favor and work with an attorney to prepare your will. Your personal circumstances will determine the intricacy of the document. Make sure your executor and or trustees know where to find the document. They should also have the information on all your life insurance policies.
2. Update your will. Periodically meet with your attorney to discuss any changes to the document.
3. Health Proxies are critical for you and your children. It's important to have others available to make medical decisions in the event of a common accident. Choose wisely. Pick someone that can make pressure decisions in the event of an emergency.
4. Custody Plans are not something that you'd want to consider, but it's part of that long list of responsibilities as a parent to make sure they are taken care of in your absence.
5. Review Life Insurance. Take stock of all your life insurance. Make sure it supports the plan set forth in your will. Make all policy information available to your attorney, trustees and executors.
These five simple steps will help move estate planning off the back burner and you'll be better for it.
Regards,
Edward P. Hackett, CIC CRM
Vice-President
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 Taking Your Coverage to College 
Take a trip to Target and you'll see college bound children working the aisles with mom or dad. The question we get a lot is, "is all that covered?" Yes, the homeowners coverage provides coverage for personal property worldwide.
There are a couple of things to be aware of when it comes to your student's belongings.....
Laptops have a tendency to disappear, fall off bunk beds or drown in a puddle of soda (notice I said soda). We recommend that you schedule laptops so you can have all-risk coverage at no deductible.
Liability coverage will follow junior at college. However, if they sign a year long lease at an off campus apartment, you should secure tenants insurance. Liability will follow you for as long as you are a resident of the household. Year long leases will be called into question that residency status if there is a loss at hand. Better to be safe than sorry.
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