Why millennials need estate planning

It is not uncommon for a person in their 20s or 30s to think that a will or a trust is only something that people in their parents’ or even their grandparents’ generations need. The truth, however, is far from this. While most people die later in life, accidents can happen at any time and a person may become disabled at a young age and unable to take care of their obligations or affairs even if they are still alive. An estate plan is simply smart insurance in a way.

NerdWallet notes that as more millennials become parents, the need for them to  engage in estate planning grows. A clearly identified plan including named guardians for what will happen to their children should they die is something every parent should have. This is not a decision to be taken lightly. Simply saying that a grandparent will raise a child is not enough. A plan should also identify financial support for the to-be guardian.

ThinkAdvisor encourages millennials to give consideration to what might happen if they were to be involved in a tragic accident. Who would be able to  make medical decisions on their behalf if they could not do it for themselves? This is another thing that can be identified in a good estate plan.

Documenting online identity and login information should also be done so that the appropriate person or persons would have access to these accounts in the event of a death. Beneficiaries for work-sponsored 401K plans and life insurance policies should also be updated and reviewed regularly.