
AAR31 - What is a Will?
The Investing for Beginners Podcast - Your Path to Financial Freedom
When to use a trust versus a will
Hosts compare wills and trusts, advising trusts for complicated assets and recommending attorneys for trusts.
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In this episode of At Any Rate, Evan Raidt and Dave Ahern break down the basics of wills—what they are, why they matter, and how they can save your loved ones months of stress if something unexpected happens. Dave shares why he set up his will after a health scare, plus a real story from his banking days that shows how messy things can get when someone passes without a plan.
They also walk through practical options for creating a will, why you should keep beneficiaries updated on your accounts, and how to store and share your documents so your family can actually find them when it counts.
Topics Covered:
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What a will actually does
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The real-world mess that happens when someone dies without a will
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How to get a will
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Storage & access
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The 3 tiers
Timestamps:
00:00 Why this “boring” topic matters
01:45 Why Dave got a will (health scare)
02:33 What a will is & what it covers
04:41 Why wills prevent confusion and family conflict
06:40 Real story
09:05 Why this is about protecting your loved ones (not you)
11:15 Leaving money to a charity
12:50 Where to get a will: DIY, attorney, or LegalZoom
15:35 The “bare minimum” step
17:55 What banks may require
20:40 How to store your will safely
24:30 The 3 tiers explained
Resources Mentioned
Free monthly budgeting spreadsheet: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/budget/
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Remember, financial freedom is built one smart move at a time. Keep it simple, keep it steady, and at any rate, we’ll see you next time.
Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening.
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