What you need to keep in mind when reviewing your Will this holiday season
The end of the year is finally upon us, and it is important to use this time wisely
to evaluate your estate planning, which includes your Wills and Trust affairs, as part of long-term
financial planning.
“We owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to make sure that our estate planning affairs are in order. This will also help you to avoid leaving your family stressed and frustrated about how to manage things going forward. More
importantly, change is inevitable, and we all have to plan for it while we still have the opportunity.”
says Matlhodi Leteane, Head of Operations, FNB Fiduciary.
According to Leteane, estate planning could be as simple as having a valid Will in place.
“This would allow you and your family several benefits, such as being able to appoint heirs of your choice,
nominating a guardian for your minor children, and making a provision for a trust to protect any inheritance,”
she says.
If you already have a Will in place, Leteane also offers useful tips on what you need to consider when
reviewing it this holiday season:
• Outdated beneficiaries: It is important to update the beneficiaries listed in your Will as
relationships with some beneficiaries may have become obsolete or some may have passed on.
When one of your beneficiaries passes away before you do, you will need to find a substitute
beneficiary. It is also important to make sure that, if you have beneficiaries with special needs,
their inheritance needs to be in a specially drafted trust to protect them and keep them eligible
for tax preferential treatment from the South African Revenue Services.
• Consider the tax implications: it is important to understand and also explain the different taxes
to be considered in the execution of your Will and testament to your loved ones. Forgetting to
consider minimising the estate tax or life insurance taxes can be a big mistake that might leave
your beneficiaries with little or nothing after your estate taxes are paid before anything is
distributed according to your wishes.
• Get the right advice: It’s good to do things on your own, but at times there are certain things
that you will need to get advice and confirmation on, especially with your Will and Estate plan.
Consider regular consultation with your bank, advisor, or other estate executors who will ensure
that your estate plan and any changes you have are properly drafted.
“Estate planning can be intimidating at times, but with good advice from a qualified and reputable
institution, you can avoid unnecessary anxiety. Institutions such as FNB have qualified experts to
help customers with their estates,”
she concludes.