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A will is an important part of an estate plan, but it may not control many of your most significant assets, such as retirement accounts, life insurance, and jointly held property. This article explains why reviewing beneficiary designations and creating a more comprehensive estate plan can help ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes.

Most people understand, at least in theory, that they should have an estate plan. They know they probably need a will and they may have heard the word "trust" mentioned in a financial article or across a dinner table. And yet the majority of American adults have never actually sat down and done the work.