Many investors go to great lengths to take care of their financial responsibilities.
Hopefully, when these goals are reached, the responsible investor will have accumulated enough wealth to pass along to heirs or to a favorite charity. It may be surprising to learn that much of your wealth may not reach those whom you intend. That's because without proper planning, estate taxes could take as much as 55 percent from your estate. Estate planning was once considered necessary only for wealthy individuals, but today many people can benefit from an estate plan. A simple will and a life insurance policy may not be enough.