Wills & Trusts
An estate plan in three parts
A complete plan brings several documents together, so your family is spared court delays, paperwork and stress.
Documents we explain
- Living wills and healthcare directives
- Revocable and irrevocable trusts
- Special needs trusts
- Last will and testament
How we help
- Work alongside estate attorneys
- Keep documents in step with your finances
- Check beneficiary designations
- Review your plan as life changes
Why it matters
How our team helps
Estate planning works best when your legal documents and your financial plan match.
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Working alongside estate attorneys
We work alongside experienced estate attorneys, who prepare your documents, so the legal and financial sides of your plan move together.
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Complete alignment
Your trust, beneficiary designations and accounts are checked against what you actually own, so they match.
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Regular reviews
Your plan is updated as your family grows, laws shift or major life changes occur.
Your estate plan
How the pieces fit together
Three documents, each with its own job: your care, your assets and your children. Choose one to see how it works.
Your total estate plan
Living will
What it does
Sets out your preferences for medical care, end-of-life treatment and life support if you become unable to speak for yourself. Also called a healthcare directive.
Why it matters
It spares your loved ones the burden of making difficult medical decisions for you during a crisis.
- When it applies
- During your life, if you cannot decide
- Probate
- Not applicable
Key components
- Advance directive Records your care preferences, such as resuscitation, ventilators and pain management.
- Healthcare power of attorney Appoints a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf.
Living trust
What it does
Holds title to your assets, such as real estate and accounts, while you keep control of them during your lifetime.
Why it matters
Assets in the trust generally pass to your heirs without probate, the court process that can be lengthy, public and costly, so they arrive sooner and more privately.
- When it applies
- During your life and after death
- Probate
- Generally avoided for assets in the trust
Common types of trust
- Revocable living trust Flexible, and can be changed at any time during your life. Often used for the everyday transfer of assets.
- Irrevocable trust A permanent structure, used for purposes such as estate tax planning, protection from creditors or specialized care needs.
- Special needs trust Provides for a family member with a disability without affecting their eligibility for government benefits.
Last will and testament
What it does
Names who receives your remaining personal property, and names guardians for your minor children.
Why it matters
Without a will, state law decides who inherits your belongings and who raises your children.
- When it applies
- After death
- Probate
- Goes through probate, and becomes public record
Working with a trust
- Pour-over will Directs any assets left outside your trust into it after your death, so nothing is left out of your plan.
At a glance
Living will, living trust and will
| Feature | Living will | Living trust | Last will and testament |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Medical decisions and care | Financial assets and property | Guardianship and who receives your property |
| When it applies | During your life, if you cannot decide for yourself | During your life and after death | After death |
| Avoids probate? | Not applicable | Generally, for assets held in the trust | No, a will goes through probate |
| Kept private? | Yes | Generally | No, it becomes public record in probate |
| Names guardians for children? | No | No | Yes |
Our team
Meet who’s here
Licensed financial professionals, guided by WFG and WSB expertise, here to walk you through each step.
Meet the Full Team-
Dr. June Magallanes
CEO
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Ms. Lorraine Go
Senior Marketing Director
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Aileen Marie Mapalo
Senior Marketing Director
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Mary Carmel Elizon
Senior Marketing Director
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Michael Damot
Senior Marketing Director
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Sheila Albelda
Senior Marketing Director
FAQs
Answers to questions we hear often. They explain how things work; your own situation is worth a conversation.
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What is probate?
The court process that settles an estate after death. It can be lengthy, public and costly. Assets held in a living trust generally pass without it.
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What is the difference between revocable and irrevocable trusts?
A revocable living trust can be changed at any time during your life and is often used for the everyday transfer of assets. An irrevocable trust generally cannot be changed once it is set up, and is used for purposes such as estate tax planning, protection from creditors or specialized care needs.
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What is a special needs trust?
A trust that provides for a family member with a disability without affecting their eligibility for government benefits.
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What happens without a will?
State law decides who inherits your belongings and who raises your minor children.
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How often should my plan be reviewed?
Whenever your family grows, laws change or a major life event happens, and from time to time in between.
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Do you prepare legal documents?
No. Yosemite Gold Financial Center does not provide legal advice or prepare legal documents. We work alongside experienced estate attorneys, and help keep your documents in step with your financial plan.
Talk it through with our team
For one-on-one questions, a Complimentary Financial Check-Up is a good place to start.
Book an AppointmentLearn alongside others
Our financial literacy workshops are listed on our calendar, and organizations can request one of their own.
See the Workshops
Resources & tools
Free tools to see your numbers clearly
No sign-up, no cost. Enter a few numbers, answer a few questions, and get a clearer picture before you ever sit down with Dr. June.
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Savings Calculator
See how steady deposits and compound interest work together to grow your savings over time.
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Debt Roll-Up Calculator
Map out a debt snowball: clear one balance, then roll that payment into the next until every debt is paid.
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Risk Profile Questionnaire
Nine quick questions to help you understand your own comfort with financial risk, and your ability to take it.