Estate Planning Basics
August 14, 2025
What Is Estate Planning?
Think of estate planning as a way to make important decisions in advance about your finances, your health, your family, and your legacy.
At its core, estate planning is about protecting what matters most: your loved ones, your pets, your home, and your future.
An estate plan typically includes:
- Plans for who will make decisions if you're unable to
- Protections for children, dependents, or pets
- Instructions for who gets what if something happens to you
- Tools to avoid legal proceedings (like probate)
It’s not just about having money or property. It’s about making sure your wishes are known and honored, and that your family isn’t left to guess or struggle.
What’s a Will?
A Will (short for Last Will and Testament) is a legal document that outlines:
- Who should receive your belongings (like your house, car, or heirlooms)
- Who should care for your kids or pets
- Who you want to carry out your wishes (called an executor)
Wills are a great fit for people who:
- Want to name guardians for children or pets
- Don’t have complex assets or major estate tax concerns
- Prefer something straightforward and affordable
What’s a Trust?
A Trust is a bit more advanced than a Will. It still lets you decide who gets what, but it can also:
- Skip probate court, which saves time and stress for your loved ones
- Offer more privacy, since Wills become public record
- Give you more control over how and when your assets are distributed. For example, “My child gets access to their inheritance at age 25”
Trusts are a great fit for people who:
- Own property in multiple states
- Have children from multiple relationships
- Want more privacy and control
- Have moderate to large assets (but you don’t need to be rich!)
Not sure which plan is right for you?
Most estate planning platforms (including ours!) start with a quick quiz to help you figure out what’s best for you.
Get started in 5 easy steps:
- Visit Affinity’s website and navigate to the estate planning
- Take a short 2-3 minute quiz to help match you with a plan
- Pick the plan that best fits your needs
- Completed a guided, self-paced questionnaire
- Your personalized Estate Plan will be ready in 10 business days, then all you need to do is notarize the documents at your convenience
Then, rest assured that your loved ones and your legacy are protected.
Estate planning is about making thoughtful choices today, so your loved ones aren’t left with questions tomorrow.
The best part?
As an Affinity member, you have access to unlimited support to help you every step of your estate planning journey.
Have questions?
Call our support team M–F, 9 AM–5 PM at (908) 373-8243