DON’T DELAY Why You Should Update Your Estate Plan Annually
Facts About Estate Plans Despite how important estate plans are, only about 30% of Americans have a plan in place. They usually create an estate plan when a major life event inspires them to put one in place: Maybe they have a major health scare, experience the death of a loved one, or go through either a marriage or a divorce. While these sorts of events can serve as the inspiration to create an estate plan, they are also great reasons to update an existing estate plan. Accounting for Life Events You might be wondering why updating your estate plan each year is so important. To put it simply, life events can impact how your inheritance is divvied up among your beneficiaries and, depending on your wishes, may do so in a way that is against what you want. For example, let’s say you get a divorce but still want your ex-spouse to receive a portion of your inheritance. By default, your ex-spouse could be cut out of your inheritance entirely; if you want them to receive a portion of your estate, you will need to account for that in an update to your estate plan. If you have a new grandchild, or if your beneficiary’s marital status changes, those events will similarly need accounting for in your estate plan. Do not let your estate plan stay out-of-date for too long. Failure to account for major life changes can result in your wishes going unaccounted for — and your beneficiaries suffering as a result.
Estate plans, like the homes and properties they account for, need regular maintenance to remain relevant and helpful. Every year, we experience a number of significant life events; think of when you or your beneficiaries marry, move, receive other inheritances, become estranged, or reenter your life. These changes need to be reflected in your estate plan if they are to accurately represent your wishes upon your passing. An outdated estate plan can result in unanticipated difficulties and shortcomings, which can only be alleviated through regular, annual updates.
Ultimate Baked Ziti
Ingredients
• 1 (16 oz) package of dried ziti pasta • 1 onion, diced • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
• 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes • 1 cup ricotta cheese • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese • Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. 2. Cook ziti according to package instructions. 3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the onion and garlic until softened. 4. Add marinara sauce and diced tomatoes, stirring to combine. 5. Stir in the cooked ziti and season with salt and pepper. 6. Transfer mixture to baking dish. 7. Top with ricotta and mozzarella cheese and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
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