Beneficiary designations beat your will
Retirement accounts and life insurance pass by designation, not by will. An out-of-date form is the single most common reason money goes to the wrong person, and it happens even when the will is perfect.
Free tool
Estate Readiness Checklist
Tick what you already have in place. The checklist weights each item by how much damage it causes when it is missing, and shows exactly what to fix first.
Tick what you already have
Your readiness score
0
At risk
Fix these first
- • I have a current will
- • Beneficiary designations are current
- • Financial power of attorney in place
- • Healthcare directive in place
Where estate plans actually break
Incapacity comes before death
Most families need a financial power of attorney and a healthcare directive years before they need a will. Without them, a court appoints someone.
Documents nobody can find do not work
An inventory of accounts, property and digital assets — with the executor knowing where it lives — often saves more money and time than any tax structure.
Keep it current automatically
Wealth Vista tracks documents, beneficiaries and heirs and flags what has gone stale — see estate and legacy planning.
Sources and further reading
The assumptions behind this tool are drawn from public, primary sources. Check them yourself:
- IRS — Estate tax
Current federal thresholds and filing requirements in the US.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — Managing someone else's money
Official guides for powers of attorney, trustees and representative payees.
- USA.gov — Wills and estates
Plain-language government guidance on wills and probate.
Frequently asked questions
See where you stand — free
Get your Vista Score in a couple of minutes, then decide whether you want the full retirement and estate plan.
Wealth Vista is software, not a fiduciary. Professionals remain responsible for advice delivered to their clients; consumers should consult a certified professional before acting.