Most people have heard of “will” and “trust” but not many are clear on the differences between the two. Both are important estate planning tools which serve different purposes, and they can work together to create a complete estate plan.
A will is a document with which you can express your intentions and give instructions on how your estate is distributed upon your demise.
On the other hand, a trust is a legal arrangement between a settlor and a trustee, which shows assets which are set aside for a trust for the trustee to manage for the benefit of others (the beneficiaries).
You can elect someone who you trust to handle your affairs and your estate as an executor.
If you don’t have a legally binding will, the state will decide who gets what.
A will establishes legal guardianship of your children if they are still minors so you will have a piece of mind.
You can amend your will at any time.
Reduce stress and headache for loved ones. A will that clearly outline your wishes for funeral arrangements and property distribution will reduce confusion and family disagreement during a stressful emotionally difficult time.
Expedite the legal process. It is generally faster and less costly to settle an estate with a valid will. Reducing legal fees protects the value of your property and savings to be passed to beneficiaries.
To manage and control the spending and investments to protect beneficiaries from poor judgment and waste.
To protect the trust assets from the creditors.
To protect premarital assets from division between divorcing spouses.
To set aside funds to support the settlor when incapacitated.
To manage closely held business assets for planned business succession.
80% of Singaporeans owns a flat. Due to property price going up, these property can worth from few hundred thousand to a million. So it’s crucial to have a will to distribute the asset without any disagreement among your children.
Over the years, the cost of making a will has gone down drastically. A simple will today can be as low as $300.
Making a will today is not as complicated as in the past. A simple will only takes less than an hour.
When setting up a trust, you should perform an inventory of your assets. These should include any real estate, family heirlooms, savings and investment.
There are 3 stakeholders when you create a living trust: you (the creator) and the trustee, the successor, and the beneficiaries. The trustee is legally bound to ensure all assets are managed and distributed in accordance with the creators’ terms.
People name themselves and their spouse as initial trustees. This allows them to maintain autonomy over the assets placed withint he trust during their lifetime (provided they are mentally competent to manage their own affairs) If they become incapacitated, and cannot manage the assets themselves, your co-trustee or a successor trustee will step in for you.
It’s important to choose the successor trustee of your estate carefully. If you are concerned your children aren’t up to the task, it is possible to appoint a professional fiduciary as your successor to distribute assets according to your wishes.
A revocable trust allows you to manage your assets and change or dissolve the trust at any time for any reason at your own discretion. As the trustee, you have the total control over the assets which means you can exchange, sell or invest them at any time.
With the vast expertise of financial solutions TFA provides, you can be assured that you will be getting the best plans/solutions that will cover all the gaps in your portfolio.