A solid investment portfolio is definitely a great start for retirement, but don’t sleep on the planning side of things — it’s just as crucial. Here’s the thing: proper planning can seriously impact how comfortable and stress-free your retirement years actually are. The problem? A lot of folks heading into retirement focus way more on building their nest egg than figuring out what happens to their money later. The numbers tell the story: 78% of adults 65 and older have retirement accounts or traditional pensions. But here’s the kicker — 56% of U.S. adults haven’t set up any estate planning at all.
So what exactly is estate planning? It’s basically you mapping out what should happen to your stuff, money, dependents, and medical decisions if something happens to you. Then you create all the legal documents and arrangements to make sure it actually happens the way you want. Think wills, power of attorney documents, and more. It’s like your personal instruction manual for managing your finances and health decisions when you can’t do it yourself anymore.
The 2024 Study of Wealthy Americans talked to over 1,000 people with at least $3 million to invest. Among the older folks surveyed, 54% had the three main estate-planning docs: a will, a living will or healthcare directive, and a durable power of attorney. Here’s the upside: having your own estate plan puts you in a totally different league than the average retiree. You’ll show solid financial smarts, and honestly, you’ll make things way easier for your loved ones down the road.
How much does estate planning actually cost?
Worried about what getting an estate plan might cost you? The good news is there’s something for every budget. If you’re thinking basic — a will, a living trust, and an advance healthcare plan — the National Council on Aging says you’re looking at a minimum of $1,215 ($15 for a will, $1,000 for a living trust, and $200 for the healthcare plan). You can actually tackle some of these yourself with minimal help. But if you want the full package with a power of attorney, expect to start around $2,000. Given that the typical household head aged 65 to 74 has a net worth of about $409,900, this shouldn’t break the bank for most retirees.
That said, going cheap doesn’t always mean going smart. Your costs can climb depending on a bunch of things — where you live, how detailed your plan needs to be, whether you hire a lawyer or go solo, and how tricky your situation is. An attorney will charge more upfront, but they’ll make sure nothing gets missed, which could save your family serious money later. Really complex estates can easily run you $5,000 or more. If you’re trying to watch your wallet but aren’t super confident about your state’s laws, here’s a solid move: DIY what you can, then have a lawyer give it a once-over.
