Guiding Your Loved Ones through Tough Times: Estate Planning Considerations.

Wills and powers of attorney are two components of effective estate planning. Financial professionals are in a privileged position to identify roadblocks that prevent clients from establishing these critical components of an estate plan. When a client or loved ones are ill, incapacitated, or pass, these documents help guide individuals and families through tough times. This column provides a brief overview of the current landscape of wills and powers of attorney in the United States and how financial professionals can assist clients and their loved ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]