A collection of estate planning strategies and tips

Estate planning should be part of your financial plan regardless of your income. A bit of pre-planning might lead to greater control and security of your legacy.

Articles to help with estate planning

Review your estate planning checklist

This handy estate planning checklist can provide thought-starters for tasks involved with planning your estate.

Questions about Social Security survivor benefits

Who is eligible for Social Security survivor benefits? We break down what survivor benefits are, explain how to claim survivor benefits and identify who qualifies.

Charity comparison: Where does your money go?

Is there a guideline to know if a charity is legitimate? Use these tips to find out more about charitable organizations and where your money goes.

When should I update my estate plan?

Marriage, death and divorce are, of course, reasons to update an estate plan. We review other times to review what's included in this financial document.

What is a will and why do you need one?

Having a Will can give you peace of mind knowing your requests will be followed with many important aspects such as your children, the choice of executor, and any special bequests.

Types of wills and trusts

What are the differences between a basic will, pour-over will, tax-saving will, living trust and more? Learn more about wills and trusts in this informative article.

Life insurance planning

Benefits of owning a life insurance policy to cover your final expenses

Final expense insurance (or burial insurance) can help relieve the burden of funeral planning. We'll explore details of guaranteed issue life insurance.

What determines the cost of life insurance?

How do life insurance companies determine rates? And who pays more for life insurance? We break it down.

Life insurance basics

Understanding life insurance, what it is, how it works and the different types can help you decide which life insurance policy is right for you.

Articles to help plan your retirement

What to know before setting up a trust for children

Trust for children: Learn how trusts for minors work, explore common trust types, understand trustee responsibilities and review key steps for setting up a trust.

How to help plan for healthcare in retirement

The average medical expenses in retirement are often greater than many people realize, but planning can help mitigate the unexpected.

Calculate how long to pay off a Home Equity Line of Credit

Use this calculator to help determine the number of months necessary to repay a home equity line of credit in order to meet your financial goals.

Financial planning and investing articles

Managing financial affairs for someone else

As you age, you may be wondering: Is it OK for another person to pay my bills? There are steps to take to ensure your financial security later in life.

Financial goals by age: a decade-by-decade approach

Help meet your financial goals and stay on track for retirement with these age-based saving tips.

What is the difference between a will and a trust?

Wills and trusts are an important part of estate planning. Wherever you are in the planning process, know your options.

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with State Farm® (including State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates). While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. State Farm is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.