08/05/2026
**POD (Payable on Death) and TOD (Transfer on Death) designations are great estate planning tools.**
They can help certain bank and investment accounts transfer directly to your beneficiaries and often avoid probate.
**But they don't answer important questions like:**
• If you have multiple children, who gets what?
• Should your children receive everything at once or over time?
• Who manages their inheritance until they're financially responsible?
• How can you help protect their inheritance from divorce, creditors, or lawsuits?
• What if you have a blended family?
• What happens if you become incapacitated and can no longer manage your finances?
**That's where a Revocable Living Trust comes in.**
A Living Trust works **with** your PODs and TODs—it doesn't necessarily replace them.
It gives you greater control over **how, when, and to whom** your assets are distributed while also planning for incapacity and helping create one complete estate plan for your family.
**Follow me for simple estate planning tips to help protect your family, your home, and your legacy.
