CONTACT US
Enter your Name, Email Address and a short message. We'll respond to you as soon as possible.
Trevor A. Farrington, LUTCF®, RICP®
Regional Vice President
Financial Advisor
Equitable Advisors, LLC
93 Worcester Street, Suite 103
Wellesley, MA 02481
Phone: 617-407-2684
May/June 2025
Estate Planning: More Than a Will
Your will is a basic estate planning document that specifies how you want your assets distributed when you die and names a guardian for any minor children. Additional essential documents most people should have include: a financial power of attorney, which gives someone the ability to make financial decisions for you, and a health care proxy, which designates another person to make health care decisions on your behalf, when you are not able to do so yourself.
Your Personal Representative
You will have to name a personal representative (formerly called executor) in your will to carry out your final wishes. The person you choose will be responsible for cataloging assets, paying final bills, settling debts, overseeing your financial and investment accounts, and distributing property. Settling an estate can be complex and time consuming, so you want to be sure the person you name is willing and able to undertake this task.Making a Choice
What are some things you should consider when naming a personal representative? Think about whether the person you want to name will have the time to devote to settling your affairs. Someone with a young family or a demanding work schedule may not be a good choice. And, if cataloging items in your home and arranging for their disposal or distribution would be necessary, you might want to select someone who lives close to you.Avoid Arbitrary Choices
Choosing your personal representative based on arbitrary factors, such as the age or gender of one of your children, may not be a wise decision. Consider more than birth order if you plan to appoint a child. While you can name multiple children to serve as co-representatives, doing so may or may not lead to disagreements and delays in settling your estate.Naming an Institution
If you don't have family members or friends who are experienced enough in financial matters to undertake the tasks of a personal representative, you might consider naming an institution as representative, or as co-representative with a loved one. However, most institutions charge a hefty fee for this service and may not accept the position unless your estate is fairly large.An estate planning attorney can help you explore all your options.
GE-7657055.1(2/25)(Exp.2/29)
Duly registered and licensed financial professionals offer securities through Equitable Advisors, LLC (NY, NY 212-314-4600), member FINRA,SIPC (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI & TN), offer investment advisory products and services through Equitable Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor, and offer annuity and insurance products through Equitable Network, LLC (Equitable Network Insurance Agency of Utah, LLC in Ut; Equitable Network of Puerto Rico, Inc.). Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/D/V. Equitable Advisors and its associates and affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal adviceor services. Representatives may transact business, which includes offering products and services and/or responding to inquiries, only in state(s) in which they are properly registered and/or licensed. Your connection to this website does not necessarily indicate that the sender is able to transact business in your state. The information in this website is not investment or securities advice and does not constitute an offer. For more information about Equitable Advisors, LLC you may visit https://equitable.com/crs to review the firm's Relationship Summary for Retail Investors and General Conflicts of Interest Disclosure.
GE-6572038.1 (4/24)(Exp. 4/26)
www.equitable.com
Check the background of this investment professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck
Equitable Advisors, LLC and LTM Marketing Specialists LLC are unrelated companies. This publication was prepared for the publication’s provider by LTM Client Marketing, an unrelated third party. Articles are not written or produced by the named representative.
The information and opinions contained in this web site are obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but their accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The publishers assume no responsibility for errors and omissions or for any damages resulting from the use of the published information. This web site is published with the understanding that it does not render legal, accounting, financial, or other professional advice. Whole or partial reproduction of this web site is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.