Leave a Legacy
Estate planning essentials — wills, beneficiary designations, and tax-efficient wealth transfer to the people you love.
Estate planning is not just for the wealthy. Anyone with assets, dependents, or healthcare preferences needs a will, updated beneficiary designations, and a healthcare directive. Without these documents, courts and state law determine what happens — not you.
For higher net-worth individuals, the tax angle matters more: estate tax thresholds, stepped-up basis for taxable accounts, charitable giving strategies through donor-advised funds, and trust structures can significantly affect how much of your estate reaches your heirs versus going to taxes.
Action checklist
Work through the steps in order. Progress saves in this browser, without an account.
Get organized
Start here
The starting point for any estate plan.
Tool: Net Worth TrackerIt directs who gets what — not the courts.
They override your will and are easy to forget.
Make it tax-efficient
Next steps
Heirs may inherit appreciated assets with little or no capital-gains tax.
Tool: Capital Gains CalculatorGive more while owing less in tax.
Tool: Tax Health ScoreLarger estates may need trust and gifting strategies.
Keep it current
Ongoing
Covers decisions while you're still alive.
Marriages, births, and deaths all change the plan.
Tools to leave a legacy
Free calculators and assessments selected for this goal.
- 1Net Worth TrackerKnow exactly what you have — the starting point for any estate plan
- 2Capital Gains CalculatorUnderstand stepped-up basis and the tax advantage of holding appreciated assets to death
- 3Tax Health ScoreIdentify charitable giving strategies and estate planning tax opportunities
- 4Retirement PlannerUnderstand what excess assets you're likely to leave — plan distributions accordingly
Recommended reading
Have a specific question?
The AI Financial Tutor gives an educational answer to a finance question in about a minute. For example: “I'm 62 years old with about $1.5 million in assets including retirement accounts and a home. What estate planning steps should I take to pass assets to my children efficiently?”