Customer Reviews

The Inheritor's Handbook: A Definitive Guide for Beneficiaries (Bloomberg Personal Bookshelf (Hardcover))

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a potential beneficiary, I found this to be a very helpful and very readable primer on estate planning, the legal issues, and the emotional fallout that can occur as a result of inheritances. The advice given is all good. The appendices and lists of other contacts are very good. I was disappointed, however, that the author did not include any discussion on: the importance of titling of assets to aid in the estate planning; and how election of beneficiaries for insurance policies, retirement accounts, trusts, and financial accounts can affect the estate plan.

If you're looking for solid guidance as an executer or fiduciary, go elsewhere. "How to Settle and Estate" is the better choice. The handbook gives a scant 7 pages of practical advice on what to do if/when someone close has died. Things like: Contact the funeral director, determine your parent's wishes concerning the funeral, ascertain whether your parents have already paid for their funeral, notify friends, locate the original copy of the will - - you get the idea. I was very disappointed especially given the glowing reviews provided by others.

Most books on estates and trusts are simply clueless in dealing with anything except for numbers and laws, as seen from the perspective of someone setting up a trust.

This book views the subject as a set of human issues, from the perspective of a trust beneficiary.

Though there are no other books on this subject matter to compare this one with, I thought that it did the job well.

This book is very well written and organized without being "over legal." My recently deceased Father, who was an attorney speciallizing in Estate Law, always down-played Trusts (although he set one up for himself.) From this writing, I now see why they are not for everyone. I plan to purchase a copy for each of my siblings, as our Mother ages, to keep us on the same "wavelength."

This book is well-written and is split into sections for persons who may inheret, persons who's loved ones have died, and persons who have already inhereted. It discusses how to approach parents to determine what plans they have made, and what to do if they do not want to discuss their plans. It explains what a person should do in setting up "his" own estate, and discussing it with children. It lists a large number of resources (support groups, financial, philanthropic, and psychological advisors, and extensive printed materials). If you plan to leave money to anyone, or any entity, this is a good book to read.