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Planning Glossary

Plain-English definitions for common financial, retirement, and estate planning terms.

Glossary

Beneficiary Designation

A legal naming of who receives an account or policy at death.

Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA)

A document authorizing someone to act on financial matters for you if you cannot.

HIPAA Authorization

A release allowing designated people to receive your medical information.

Probate

Court-supervised process to settle an estate and transfer certain assets after death.

Revocable Trust

A trust that can usually be changed during your lifetime and can help avoid probate when properly funded.

RMD (Required Minimum Distribution)

Minimum annual amount that must be withdrawn from certain retirement accounts after a specified age.

Step-Up in Basis

Tax basis adjustment of inherited assets to fair market value at death under current law.

Titling

The legal form of ownership for an asset (individual, joint, trust, entity, etc.).