An estate consists of all your assets including, but not limited to your financial accounts, life insurance, pensions, stocks, bonds, annuities, bank accounts, credit union accounts, business interests, real and personal property, even your future inheritances.  An estate plan lets you better manage and preserve your estate and have better control over tax implications to allow you to pass more to your heirs.  It's not just about the money, sometimes it's about protecting your children from themselves by making sure they receive assets under your rules, not theirs.  Estate planning is very personal and can be as simple or as complex as needed.  As estate planners, we take a team approach and work with estate attorneys, tax consultants, and other professionals that specialize in very specific areas, all to help keep you in control.