Your Estate Plan Is Probably Broken (Fix These 5 Things in Q1 2026)

A clean slate year deserves a clean estate plan. We kick off 2026 by pairing a smart investing filter—ask "How does it go wrong?"—with a step-by-step review that keeps your family out of probate and your intentions front and center. From misspelled beneficiary names to solo-titled checking accounts and houses that slipped out of the trust after a refinance, we unpack the quiet mistakes that create the loudest problems and show you exactly how to fix them.

We walk through the core documents most families need: a revocable living trust and pour-over will for after you're gone, plus an advance healthcare directive and durable financial power of attorney for the moments when you're alive but unable to act. You'll learn how beneficiary designations override wills and trusts, when to use spouses as primaries and trusts as contingents, and how to navigate blended families, multiple trusts, and amendments without tripping over old paperwork.

We also get practical about titling: joint ownership vs. trust titling, transfer-on-death designations, and the county-level deed work that quietly determines whether your estate is private and timely or public and delayed. Beyond documents, we talk people and philosophy. Choosing a trustee is more than an honor—it's a responsibility—so we share criteria to select the right person, why parents may no longer be the best option, and how to pass your human values to a trustee who can apply good judgment.

We weigh rigid distribution schedules against flexible, need-based standards that support education, health, and real opportunities without fueling self-sabotage. Then we close with storage and access: digitize, use a fire-resistant safe, share locations, and equip your trustee and agents with your attorney's and advisor's contacts so the first calls are easy.

KEY TOPICS:
Asking "How does it go wrong?" as an investment filter
Correcting beneficiary names and titling errors
Why beneficiary designations override trusts
Primary vs contingent beneficiaries with intent
Selecting trustees who can actually serve
Recording deeds into the trust after refinance
Advance healthcare directives and durable POAs
Digitizing and storing documents for fast access

Ready to get organized? Set a Q1 date to review beneficiaries, confirm titling, re-record deeds if needed, and refresh your directives and POAs.

Find Du Charme Wealth Management here:
https://ducharmewealth.com

Phone:
[phone]

[00:00:00] Disclaimers And New Year Focus
[00:06:03] Beneficiary Name Errors And Fixes
[00:13:05] Primary vs Contingent And Blended Families
[00:20:26] Distribution Design Without Harm
[00:30:28] Where To Store And Share Documents
[00:36:48] Final Checklist And Calls To Connect

DISCLAIMER:
Information presented on this program is believed to be factual and up-to-date, but we do not guarantee its accuracy, and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. Discussions and answers to questions do not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice, but are limited to the dissemination of general information. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the options presented. Encompass More Asset Management LLC is a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements.