Trusts -- do you really need to have one?

[frugal-one]

I researched this a few years back and determined it was unnecessary for our situation. We have only one child and can put all financials into either Paid on Death (POD) or Transfer on Death (TOD) with our child as beneficiary. Our home title can be transferred on death too to avoid probate. The only thing that cannot are the vehicles (some states allow vehicles to be transferred upon death too). A will would handle the transfer of vehicles and indicate child could pay bills and receive all assets (including digital). End of life or funeral arrangements could be spelled out.

Plan on taking all to an attorney who will check to see that everything is in order.

Wondering if I am missing something? I continually talk to people who are doing trusts. I think if there is only one beneficiary it is a waste?????

[Teacher Terry]

WE don't feel a trust is necessary and between us we have 5 kids. However, our estate is very modest and if we live long enough there will not be much left except for the house unless we decide to sell at some point and move into an apartment or condo.

[iris lilies]

I researched this a few years back and determined it was unnecessary for our situation. We have only one child and can put all financials into either Paid on Death (POD) or Transfer on Death (TOD) with our child as beneficiary. Our home title can be transferred on death too to avoid probate. The only thing that cannot are the vehicles (some states allow vehicles to be transferred upon death too). A will would handle the transfer of vehicles and indicate child could pay bills and receive all assets (including digital). End of life or funeral arrangements could be spelled out.

Plan on taking all to an attorney who will check to see that everything is in order.

Wondering if I am missing something? I continually talk to people who are doing trusts. I think if there is only one beneficiary it is a waste?????

We have a trust. in my state that is the latest fashion.

Our assets will be divided amoung ten people and entities. I want to cash it all out and distribute the cash to these entities. A trust was the cleanest vehicle for that scenario.

I am glad you will talk with an attorney because he will have ideas for you to think about, contingncies that you may not have thought about. You can also check your assumptions with an attorney.

[Teacher Terry]

IL: you seem reluctant at times to spend $ on things that make sense like a new roof. You will be leaving your $ to 10 people that will have no trouble spending it for you. It seems to me that you are having difficulty leaving behind the savings muscle. I am not saying you should blow $ but really it seems like this may be a issue for you.

[frugal-one]

We have a trust. in my state that is the latest fashion.

Our assets will be divided amoung ten people and entities. I want to cash it all out and distribute the cash to these entities. A trust wad the cleanest vehicle for that scenario.

I am glad you will talk with an attorney because he will have ideas for you to think about, contingncies that you may not have thought about. You can also check your assumptions with an attorney.

I have already talked/interviewed a few attorneys. One, when giving advice, I asked why would I do that when this would work.... actually sputtered. He wanted to charge over $1,000 for something that obviously was not needed.

Guess I don't understand what is fashionable has to do with a trust? The answer should be as you indicated that it was the best for your scenario!!

[iris lilies]

IL: you seem reluctant at times to spend $ on things that make sense like a new roof. You will be leaving your $ to 10 people that will have no trouble spending it for you. It seems to me that you are having difficulty leaving behind the savings muscle. I am not saying you should blow $ but really it seems like this may be a issue for you.

Not fixing the roof has little to do with money. Oh my IF ONLY it were the money. I would write a check today for up to $50,000 to fix the roof were it entirely my roof.

But this will make you happy: After 30 years, we are buying new kitchen countertops. Today we went shopping and
I think we will pull the trigger tomorrow. I am spending $6,000 to get an upgraded version of what I have now, plain jane light grey neutral countertops, but in quartz.

I loved quartzite but it was twice as expensive so at $12,000 that was too rich for us, even in this Trump economy.

You are dead wrong about my wish to leave money behnd. I subscribe to the Die Broke philosophy and plan to spend as much as is reasonable while still keeping money for my old age. It is likely we will revamp our will in ten years and name only one or two entities as recipients because we will have less money. Because we spent it!

This will and trust in effect today covers our unexpected, sudden death and it is appropriate for right now.

[iris lilies]

I have already talked/interviewed a few attorneys. One, when giving advice, I asked why would I do that when this would work.... actually sputtered. He wanted to charge over $1,000 for something that obviously was not needed.

Guess I don't understand what is fashionable has to do with a trust? The answer should be as you indicated that it was the best for your scenario!!

A trust is the best vehicle for us. It is good for many others. If it isnt necessary for you, so be it.

Our attorney actually set up a trust dor our recipients to cover contingincies that are unlikely but possible. That isnt something I especially care about but if it were my child in that situation, I would be more interested. The trust holds money for the recipient and protects it should they be at the wrong end of a lawsuit.

The preparation of our trust and will cost well over $1,000.

[Teacher Terry]

Glad that you have a plan to spend it! See what happens when we make assumptions about people:))

[bae]

My mother-in-law and father-in-law have both passed away during the last 2 years. Each had a trust set up.

This has made things *so much easier* for me in dealing with their estates. Dozens of pesky trips/phone calls/arguments to deal with the business of shutting down someone's financial life are so much simpler.

[iris lilies]

Glad that you have a plan to spend it! See what happens when we make assumptions about people:))

The business of a changing will is interesting. Both attornies we worked with strongly suggested we explain to our heirs who we have named and why. See, we dont have children and we have what some would consider a nice pot of money and I guess some people would have their nose out of joint to not be on the receiving end. Or? They said this conversation staves off challenges.

But Nope, I am not doing that because our list of heirs will change, I can almost guarantee it. I dont want to dangle the idea that “you are in my will” only to remove that person later. I have one particular person in mind for whom this whole issue would be a problem in our relationship.

I was extremely perturbed at the Edward Jones company because they wanted social security numbers for our heirs and I did not want to ask these people for their SS number. I considered yanking our account because of that. The other brokers didnt require it.

Oh I forgot, our attoney also figured tax advantages so that is another reason to use an attorney who specializes in wills and trusts and elder law. But frankly, I dont much care about tax avoidance stratgies for anything left upon my death.

[iris lilies]

My mother-in-law and father-in-law have both passed away during the last 2 years. Each had a trust set up.

This has made things *so much easier* for me in dealing with their estates. Dozens of pesky trips/phone calls/arguments to deal with the business of shutting down someone's financial life are so much simpler.

That was my main goal—make it as easy as possible for those left behind. If our assets are maximized is a purely secondary concern.

I believe changes in my state and probably others over the past dozen years allow a revocable trust to be an easy thing to set up, maintain, and carry out. I wouldnt be surprised if one could do it without an attorney, but thats not something I would attempt without professional advice.

[ToomuchStuff]

My understanding (IANAL) is a trust has benefits if your estate is of or over a certain size, as well as if you wish your estate to have ongoing donations/charity efforts. I have a friend whose estate would not require a trust, if they didn't wish the money to feed their pet causes.

[BikingLady]

My mother-in-law and father-in-law have both passed away during the last 2 years. Each had a trust set up.

This has made things *so much easier* for me in dealing with their estates. Dozens of pesky trips/phone calls/arguments to deal with the business of shutting down someone's financial life are so much simpler.

Exactly! We went right to the Attorney afterward and set ours up. It will be redone eventually as we realize our son who is disability will need finer tuning of his part so he will have end less stress afterwards.

[frugal-one]

My mother-in-law and father-in-law have both passed away during the last 2 years. Each had a trust set up.

This has made things *so much easier* for me in dealing with their estates. Dozens of pesky trips/phone calls/arguments to deal with the business of shutting down someone's financial life are so much simpler.

When my MIL was put into assisted living I set everything up as mentioned above. It took one month for everything to be settled. The main thing is to avoid probate. DH is an only child too so this should work in our scenario too.

[Gardenarian]

Everything we have is going to our daughter, but we have set up a trust so she will not have to deal with legal hassles once we're dead.
I really don't know how much difference it will make.

We own quite a bit of real estate and I think it would be sensible for us to start selling it off in about 10 years, or if our health goes into decline. That was a long drawn out thing when my mom died, selling off all the property, cars, boats, etc.

Minimalists have the edge here, for sure.

[ToomuchStuff]

One thing to note, laws do change. I have a couple of friends (siblings), who co-own a restaurant together, after their mother passed. Everything else was set up with someone else's name either as a co-owner or TOD. TOD is a relatively recent thing in my state, and nobody really thought about their mothers vehicle. The sister tried to get it in her name, after someone hit her car (and the brother/executor doesn't care), however, that is the only piece they have to go to probate about.

[jp1]

Ugggh. Cars and probate. I had to reopen my 8 year dead mother’s estate when my dad died because the state i live in’s dmv wouldnt acknowledge the JTWROS (joint tenancy with right of survivorship) that was stated on the title (from another state) that named both my parents as the owners.

The only upside to this was that i crossed the golden gate bridge 4 times during the 7 week period when i had no license plates. Since we have no toll booths, only license plate toll collecting, i felt like i was at least getting something in return for the hassle.

[Simplemind]

My dad passed this last Sunday from this dreadful flu. I am so glad my parents put everything into a trust and made me trustee. My mom had dementia and after she died 6 years ago it became apparent that my dad did too. I was able to do a lot these past 6 years to liquidate the assets. In the past few days it has been a blessing over and over to have everything in place and easy to deal with.

[Float On]

Sorry for your loss Simplemind.

[rosarugosa]

Sorry about your dad, Simplemind.

[flowerseverywhere]

My dad passed this last Sunday from this dreadful flu. I am so glad my parents put everything into a trust and made me trustee. My mom had dementia and after she died 6 years ago it became apparent that my dad did too. I was able to do a lot these past 6 years to liquidate the assets. In the past few days it has been a blessing over and over to have everything in place and easy to deal with.


So so very sorry. Your post should remind everyone to have their affairs in order.

[mamalatte]

To Posters who are talking about using a trust to simplify things -- you mean you already put all your assets in a trust NOW, while you are alive, right?

Because, if your Will instructs that certain assets go into a Trust when you die, that does not "avoid probate," correct?

[flowerseverywhere]

That was my main goal—make it as easy as possible for those left behind. If our assets are maximized is a purely secondary concern.

I believe changes in my state and probably others over the past dozen years allow a revocable trust to be an easy thing to set up, maintain, and carry out. I wouldnt be surprised if one could do it without an attorney, but thats not something I would attempt without professional advice.
A very good thing to do as well if you don’t want people squabbling about stupid things. Not telling anyone is great too. It will be a nice surprise for somebody, no matter what the size. We have kids so they are co owners of our safe deposit box , know our attorney and have copies of the wills and medical directives. No drama, no angst.

[frugal-one]

My dad passed this last Sunday from this dreadful flu. I am so glad my parents put everything into a trust and made me trustee. My mom had dementia and after she died 6 years ago it became apparent that my dad did too. I was able to do a lot these past 6 years to liquidate the assets. In the past few days it has been a blessing over and over to have everything in place and easy to deal with.


Very sorry to hear of your loss!!!

This is a good point and a question to ask .... everything transfers at death. So if a person is mentally incapacitated would financial power of attorney allow the person to liquidate assets???? hmmm

[iris lilies]

To Posters who are talking about using a trust to simplify things -- you mean you already put all your assets in a trust NOW, while you are alive, right?

....

Not necessarily ALL. It depends on the type of financial instrument and property. For instance:


We have changed ownership to the Trust for some financial instruments.

We have Transfer on Death beneficiary deeds for real estate.—not really, this is wrong 1/19/2018.

We have TOD naming the Trust for our vehicles.

We have named each other as primary beneficiaries, and all heirs as secondary beneficiaries for other financial instruments.

We have a Will for everythng that cannot be transfered with a title such as household goods.

One size does not fit all.

I dont know the answer to your other question.

edited to add: i was wrong about our real estate. it is owned by our Trust.

[Simplemind]

Power of attorney only goes so far. Even though I was a trustee I had to have two doctors letters saying that my dad was no longer able to make financial decisions. Those letters were used for all real estate transactions. Power of Attorney is only good while they are alive. Once dead, everything better be in order. I just found a life insurance policy that my dad took out in '46. He didn't marry my mom until '55. They are pulling up the paperwork but if he did not change the beneficiary to my mom when he married her they told me the assets would go to the state and I would have to scoop it up from Oregon Department of State Lands Unclaimed Property division. Make sure your ducks and beneficiaries are in a row. That one got by me and I work with people on after death planning.

[catherine]

Power of attorney only goes so far. Even though I was a trustee I had to have two doctors letters saying that my dad was no longer able to make financial decisions. Those letters were used for all real estate transactions. Power of Attorney is only good while they are alive. Once dead, everything better be in order. I just found a life insurance policy that my dad took out in '46. He didn't marry my mom until '55. They are pulling up the paperwork but if he did not change the beneficiary to my mom when he married her they told me the assets would go to the state and I would have to scoop it up from Oregon Department of State Lands Unclaimed Property division. Make sure your ducks and beneficiaries are in a row. That one got by me and I work with people on after death planning.

One of the people on my neighborhood FB group was just asking about Power of Attorney, and apparently there is a difference between Power of Attorney and Durable Power of Attorney. According to one of my neighbors: "Durable refers to when person is incapacitated..gives full power instead of limited power"

Sorry if this has already been brought up--haven't read many of the previous posts.

[iris lilies]

While I am sure every one here is too smart to make legally enforeable decisions based on info from this forum, I woould like to remind all that state laws differ. What is true in my state may not be true in your state.

[Teacher Terry]

When my MIL died with a will we published for creditors for 2 weeks and then a piece of cake to dispose of her stuff. Same with my Mom in another state. Unless you have significant assets a trust doesn't make sense.

[iris lilies]

When my MIL died with a will we published for creditors for 2 weeks and then a piece of cake to dispose of her stuff. Same with my Mom in another state. Unless you have significant assets a trust doesn't make sense.

I dont th Nk that is true necessarily, but whatever. I am all for making it easy.

[frugal-one]

I dont th Nk that is true necessarily, but whatever. I am all for making it easy.

I agee with TeacherTerry. If there are few beneficiaries and assets can be TOD or POD and a will is properly done ... I don’t see the need for a trust. I just found a seminar to take on the subject and will let you know afterwards if this is the case.

[frugal-one]

Just found this and think it would take care of cars and other things that are not TOD or POD?

Here in Wisconsin the form is called a Transfer by Affidavit, and can be used when a person dies owning $50,000 or less in probate assets. Probate assets are assets that have no label or beneficiary form on them indicating who gets them at the owner's death. Probate assets are distributed via will, or if no will, via state statute. All states are different, but Wisconsin is not alone in having a simple procedure to oversee the distribution of a small estate without the formality (and length and cost) of a probate proceeding.

[iris lilies]

Just found this and think it would take care of cars and other things that are not TOD or POD?

Here in Wisconsin the form is called a Transfer by Affidavit, and can be used when a person dies owning $50,000 or less in probate assets. Probate assets are assets that have no label or beneficiary form on them indicating who gets them at the owner's death. Probate assets are distributed via will, or if no will, via state statute. All states are different, but Wisconsin is not alone in having a simple procedure to oversee the distribution of a small estate without the formality (and length and cost) of a probate proceeding.


We likely have less than $50,000 in probate assets since we dont have a lot of “stuff.”

I wont argue for anyone to set up a trust, I am indifferent to what others do and everyone has unique situations. One thing against a Trust is that we are taking a ***ton of time to populate the Trust. But realistically, that time investment would have had to be done by our Executor if not by us. My primary reason for even having a legal vehicle to disburse assets is to MAKE IT SIMPLE for those coming after us. Some of that depends on how efficiently and timely probate court is able to act in our jurisdiction.

For those of you with assets that are simple to control, and for those with obvious heirs—children—seems like a Will wouldnt be necessary at all. Your state defines where your assets go without even a Will, so why bother with that?
Just something to think about.

[frugal-one]

I think it is always necessary to have a will. This will cut down time to get things done because it is spelled out. The whole purpose is to avoid probate and the wait it takes to get everything completed. A will also is a place to list digital assets and allow bills to be paid.

Here is some information from a local attorney's website that easily explains a few things.

Fill out Direct Transfer forms. If the asset has a label that says "it goes to my daughter upon my death" it goes to her, outside of probate, no matter what a will might say. The transfer is direct, avoids the probate fee, and is usually faster than probate (which can take up to a year or more to be complete). These labels can be placed on: life insurance, retirement accounts, bank accounts, real estate (via a transfer on death deed); and brokerage accounts.
Create a Trust. The granddaddy of avoiding probate is the living revocable trust. Essentially a wicker basket designed to hold assets during your life, and then distribute them to beneficiaries sometime after you have died. This direction avoids the probate process, but requires the creation of a trust, accomplished through writing a trust agreement which addresses who is in charge, what they can do, etc. And it requires the title to the asset be changed to the name of the trust. If not, the asset is not in the trust. More clients than not find this process too daunting, and opt for probate and its fee instead.
The creation or update of a will, trust or other end-of-life documents can become complex quickly. And it is not always a large net worth that creates complexity.

[iris lilies]

I think it is always necessary to have a will. This will cut down time to get things done because it is spelled out. The whole purpose is to avoid probate and the wait it takes to get everything completed. A will also is a place to list digital assets and allow bills to be paid.

Your state’s intestate laws are just as “spelled out” for your assets.

And “a place to list digital assets and allow bills to be paid out” ? Huh? Just make a list for assets, digital or real or otherwise.

Name your child as TOD owner of bank account to pay bills.

Done. No will necessary. Just sayin’.


Here is some information from a local attorney's website that easily explains a few things.

Fill out Direct Transfer forms. If the asset has a label that says "it goes to my daughter upon my death" it goes to her, outside of probate, no matter what a will might say. The transfer is direct, avoids the probate fee, and is usually faster than probate (which can take up to a year or more to be complete). These labels can be placed on: life insurance, retirement accounts, bank accounts, real estate (via a transfer on death deed); and brokerage accounts.
Create a Trust. The granddaddy of avoiding probate is the living revocable trust. Essentially a wicker basket designed to hold assets during your life, and then distribute them to beneficiaries sometime after you have died. This direction avoids the probate process, but requires the creation of a trust, accomplished through writing a trust agreement which addresses who is in charge, what they can do, etc. And it requires the title to the asset be changed to the name of the trust. If not, the asset is not in the trust. More clients than not find this process too daunting, and opt for probate and its fee instead.
The creation or update of a will, trust or other end-of-life documents can become complex quickly. And it is not always a large net worth that creates complexity.

[Teacher Terry]

We have a will. i would not go without one.

[SteveinMN]

I'm sorry about your dad, Simplemind.

[iris lilies]

Also, an estate attorney will carefully consider tax strategies. Now, that may not be important to anyone. It isnt especially important ro me,
But I dont have kids and so am not as emotionally tied to heirs as some of you are.

[Teacher Terry]

I hope I live long enough to spend my $. We helped our kids when they needed it. I had my kids young so we will be seniors together:))

[frugal-one]

Your state’s intestate laws are just as “spelled out” for your assets.

And “a place to list digital assets and allow bills to be paid out” ? Huh? Just make a list for assets, digital or real or otherwise.

Name your child as TOD owner of bank account to pay bills.

Done. No will necessary. Just sayin’.

In previous discussions with an estate attorney, I was told that it is imperative to document in a will digital assets. Many times bills cannot be paid unless it is spelled out.

Think what you will. Let's agree to disagree!

[jp1]

What are digital assets?

[frugal-one]

What are digital assets?

Here is a digital cheat sheet on how to create a digital estate plan. It explains.

https://www.everplans.com/articles/digital-cheat-sheet-how-to-create-a-digital-estate-plan

[iris lilies]

We dont have digital assets that create income, but we certainly do have data everywhere. We have recorded the password to our main computer and have a written record of passwords to most of our social media accounts. In the pure sense the content of those social media accounts are not mine, so they are not technically assets. Zuckerburg owns my Facebook content, for instance.

I have thought about this is some detail, and
I do not care if my Facebook page lives on forever, or if it is deleted. So many other social media sites will simply become inactive if I die.

For financial records, I expect our Executor to interact with those holding companies, banks and brokerage firms, in an analog way.

But certainly key passwords that provide access to digital sources you want managed should be recorded in the estate documentation. I think the key piece here is “you want managed.” As I said, I dont care about 95% of it.

edited to add: I do not keep important or private information in the cloud and if it all disappears, or is all unaccessible upon my death it is no big deal. I have 1,000 photos in Cloud storage, but no one wants them, they simply are not important.

[jp1]

Interesting. I had given absolutely zero thought to what would happen to my facebook account after I died. When friends have died their pages either remained or their family had them closed. Since I won't be around I don't much care which way mine goes. And like iris lily, I don't have any financial assets that have any financial value or much else stored online. The main password for my computer, as well as my password vault password are written down and stored in a spot where they will be found after I die. Those are the "keys to the kingdom" as every other of the 116 passwords I have are stored in the vault. Not that most of the 116 accounts will have any importance after I'm dead. I mean really, no one is going to be interested in logging into my Headset Parts Unlimited account...

[LDAHL]

The terms of our will set up a trust for our minor daughter in the event my wife and I die at the same time. Between insurance, pension, investment accounts and real estate, it's enough for her upkeep, education and probably a decent nest egg around the time she hits thirty. One guilty pleasure of the process was deciding the various ways we could impose our will on her from beyond the grave. A gap year in Europe? Not on my cold dead dime, my darling.

[beckyliz]

Everyone should have a will at the very minimum. Even if you have all assets titled with beneficiaries, with joint owners or with transfer or payable-on-death, you may receive assets later on when you are not able to set up the designations the way you want them (inheritance after you become incapacitated, for example, or die in an accident where there are insurance proceeds paid to your estate).

Also, if you have beneficiaries or joint owners or TOD/POD designations, you have to remember to change them when or if that other person predeceases you. Read the forms - what happens if the beneficiary predeceases? Does it go to his/her heirs? Back to your estate?

[jp1]

And everyone should review their will/trust documents on some sort of regular basis (annually, every two years, something...) for the same reasons beckyliz mentions. My dad's uncle had established a trust but it wasn't current in terms of his assets at the time that he and his wife passed away, so almost a third of the estate went to a lawyer to clean things up, and took almost 1 1/2 years before the remaining assets got distributed.

It's also easy to forget an asset when designating beneficiaries. I recently realized that I'd never set a beneficiary for my HSA. It's not a large part of my assets, there's only about $10,000 in it, but nonetheless, I'd still prefer that it go to SO rather than my sister if I pre-decease him. And years from now it will likely be more than just $10,000 (unless, of course, I have some long drawn out final illness).

[LDAHL]

And everyone should review their will/trust documents on some sort of regular basis (annually, every two years, something...) for the same reasons beckyliz mentions. My dad's uncle had established a trust but it wasn't current in terms of his assets at the time that he and his wife passed away, so almost a third of the estate went to a lawyer to clean things up, and took almost 1 1/2 years before the remaining assets got distributed.

It's also easy to forget an asset when designating beneficiaries. I recently realized that I'd never set a beneficiary for my HSA. It's not a large part of my assets, there's only about $10,000 in it, but nonetheless, I'd still prefer that it go to SO rather than my sister if I pre-decease him. And years from now it will likely be more than just $10,000 (unless, of course, I have some long drawn out final illness).

That is absolutely true. We waited five years between reviews, and it was amazing how much had changed in our situation.

[frugal-one]

Recently received a newsletter from estate planning attorney that previously checked our plan for completeness. The newsletter mentioned putting copies of all beneficiary forms in estate binder in case they should be lost/misplaced by entity where money is held. Interestingly, when checking Vanguard I can find beneficiary forms for each of our individual accounts but not for those held jointly. Needless to say, I am calling Vanguard on Monday.

[iris lilies]

Recently received a newsletter from estate planning attorney that previously checked our plan for completeness. The newsletter mentioned putting copies of all beneficiary forms in estate binder in case they should be lost/misplaced by entity where money is held. Interestingly, when checking Vanguard I can find beneficiary forms for each of our individual accounts but not for those held jointly. Needless to say, I am calling Vanguard on Monday.
That is creepy to contemplate, that our brokerage accounts misplace our beneficiary data. But I suppose it is possible.

[razz]

That is why I keep my assets consolidated with one CU institution and we review every year at least. i go to the same accountant every year to do my taxes, maintain my financial records and review any changes. I kept my will very simple to two children equally and their spouses and the grandchild.

Nothing elaborate, just very simple. No debts.

I even have both kids on my iPhone as my emergency contacts in case I am unable to make decisions and my neighbours and my kids have each other's phone contacts.

I keep monitoring these types of threads to ensure that I am not overlooking anything.

[iris lilies]

Ugh IF ONLY I could have one financial institution! Hell I would be pleased getting our number down to 3.

It won’t happen while DH is still alive. For instance when his father died we inherited accounts at two more Edward Jones offices. In the same damn town! Cwazy! Eventually we will be able to close out one of these.

[frugal-one]

There is no way we could/would have one financial institution. We keep cash that needs to be easily accessible local and would never consider investing at a bank or credit union. Their interests are to sell you products that have large fees, loads etc. We would also never do business with an Edward Jones type of place for the same reason. YLMV. We have 3 places where money is stashed and easy to maneuver.

[GeorgeParker]

For instance when his father died we inherited accounts at two more Edward Jones offices. In the same damn town! Cwazy! Eventually we will be able to close out one of these.What is preventing you moving both accounts to the same local office, or combining them into a single account?

[iris lilies]

What is preventing you moving both accounts to the same local office, or combining them into a single account?
Account #1 holds DH’s family trust which will be paid out one of these days when the lawyers get it straight. Then is will be closed so there is no point in changing something that will end.

Account #2 is the corporate partnership account DH and his siblings will have.That will go on for a while, out of state from us.

And then there is our own .Ed Jones account.