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As you get older one of the most important tasks on your to-do list is to create and manage your estate plan. By establishing an estate plan, you are ensuring that you have power over your estate and the distribution of your assets instead of a court appointed by the state.

Planning for the future will help your relatives have a concise, clear-cut plan of what to do to honor your wishes, and can be helpful in making sure all of your assets are in one place.

Here are some helpful tips for managing your estate plan:

Create An Inventory of Assets: Start by making a list of everything that physically belongs to you, such as your car, house, etc. You should also include your bank statements, account information, mortgage/loans, and any other financial assets.

It’s important to remember to include your digital assets as well when making your inventory. Digital assets may include photos, videos, as well as login information to your email, social media accounts, and financial institution passwords.

All of these assets will be shared with your attorney and passed on to your beneficiaries upon the execution of the estate plan.

Draft Up a Will: A will puts into words who you want your physical assets, such as property, distributed to. A will is important because it decides who gets control of your assets after you have passed, instead of the state government taking them over.

It is important when drafting up a will that you make your wants clear and concise so that there is no confusion when it’s read and enacted. Wills typically name family members as the beneficiaries of the estate, however, you may choose whoever you see fit. Your attorney will read the will to your beneficiaries when the time comes.

Choose Beneficiaries: One of the most important aspects of managing an estate plan is to choose and notify your beneficiaries. The beneficiaries are those who will inherit your estate, and benefit from it. You may choose multiple beneficiaries, including a primary one and a secondary one, as well as a trusted adult if your beneficiary is a minor.

There are no rules for choosing your beneficiaries. You may choose a spouse or children if you have them, but you do not have to. It is ultimately your decision as to who inherits your estate.

Communicate Your Plan: Tell your beneficiaries ahead of time that you have chosen them, so they know what to expect when they receive a call from your attorney to go over the will. This will also give them time to plan for their own futures and honor any wishes you had for them.

Keep Your Plan Up To Date: Things change, and your estate plan may as well. To keep your plan up to date, meet regularly (every three to five years) with your attorney to go over your trust, and make any changes that you find necessary. If a beneficiary changes, make sure to address that, as well as if you have any additional assets to report.

At Southgate at Shrewsbury, we want all of our residents to feel safe and protected when it comes to their will and physical and personal assets.

Check out these additional resources on estate planning in Massachusetts:
● Trust & Will Massachusetts
● Free MA Estate Planning Checklist
● MA Laws About Trusts & Estates

Article Resources:
● https://www.schwab.com/estate-planning/estate-planning-checklist
● https://www.americanbar.org/groups/real-property-trust-estate-wills
● https://www.metlife.com/stories/legal/tips-successful-estate-planning/
● https://trustandwill.com/learn/beneficiary

Spring is officially here, which means that the weather is nice enough to get outside and explore! Here at Southgate at Shrewsbury, we encourage residents to get out and about during the nicer days of the year to boost physical activity and discover the beautiful landmarks and museums that the great state of Massachusetts has to offer. If you’re thinking of taking a day trip, consider these helpful tips and possible locations for your next spring adventure:

Downtown Amherst: Visit Downtown Amherst for a day out on the town! The downtown area has dozens of businesses and restaurants to pop into, with fine and casual dining options. Spend the day shopping and exploring the mile-long route. There are also options for hiking, biking, as well as arts and culture options like the Amherst History Museum and the Emily Dickinson Museum.

The Berkshires: Located near the Norman Rockwell Museum, The Berkshires is the perfect place to spend a spring day outside! Take a look at breathtaking waterfalls, take a walk through the Ashintully Gardens, or go on a longer trek at the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. The options are endless at The Berkshires! If you’re interested in paying the area a visit, go to their website for more information on planning the perfect spring day!

Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art: The MASS MoCA is located in North Adams, Massachusetts and open Wednesday through Monday 10am-5pm! In addition to planning a regular visit, you can also choose to go on a day where specific events and exhibitions are occurring. The MASS MoCA has accessibility options for guests who use wheelchairs, need vision assistance, or have a service animal that accompanies them.

Cape Cod: Cape Cod is a famous location across the country, and for good reason due to all of the beautiful sights to discover there! Consider going on a nice day to visit the beach or take a driving tour of the different lighthouses. Getting out to look at the water and embrace the cool winds that accompany it is the perfect way to spend a spring afternoon with friends or family members.

Whatever you decide to do or wherever you choose to go, make sure your spring days are spent making memories and going on adventures with the people you love or new friends! Leaving your home to explore can be a great way to boost your mental and physical health, so plan a day trip today! And if you prefer to stay close to home, Southgate at Shrewsbury has tons of options for you to explore!

It’s tax season, which means that most Americans are currently in the process of filing their taxes or awaiting their tax returns. As returns and updates about your taxes begin to come in, it’s important to be aware of possible mail fraud from companies and scammers claiming to be the IRS.

If you suspect that you are a victim of identity theft or fraud, make sure to contact your bank and the actual IRS immediately. Having your social security number compromised can be incredibly dangerous, and must be reported as soon as possible in order for you to get the proper help you need.

The IRS website states that they never “initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text or social media to request personal or financial information, call taxpayers with threats of lawsuits or arrests, call, email or text to request taxpayers’ Identity Protection PINs.”

Here are some steps to stay safe against mail fraud:

Learn the signs: There are many signs that someone may be trying to steal your identity or tax return. These include, but are not limited to: getting a piece of mail about your taxes that you did not request, being unable to file because of a duplicate social security number, a letter that states you owe more than you were previously told, mail that suggests you created an online account that you did not create.

If any of these things happen to you, you should report it immediately by either contacting the sender, or reporting the sender by contacting your bank, accountant, or the IRS.

Protect yourself: In order to prevent mail fraud, it is important that you do not give your address, social security number, or any other personal information to strangers or online forms. Make sure to keep your passwords up to date, and pick passwords that are hard to guess and unique.

Take action: If you receive suspicious mail claiming to have information about your tax returns from someone who claims to be the IRS and requests something from you, report it immediately. You can report mail fraud to the USPS directly, and reach out to the official IRS to let them know you believe your information has been compromised. If you are unsure about whether the mail you received is fraudulent or not, contact your accountant or tax service provider for confirmation.

At Southgate at Shrewsbury, we want all of our residents to feel safe and to be aware of the uptick in fraudulent letters as you await your tax returns. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to someone and ask for help. Mail fraud and identity theft is unfortunately common, but it can be caught and stopped if you know the signs and how to protect yourself.

There seems to always be an overflow of pets, especially dogs and cats in humane societies and animal shelters. All pets need homes and love from potential human owners, but adult animals are often overlooked in favor of younger kittens or puppies. These adult pets need someone attentive and loving to care for them in their last few years, and are typically low maintenance and make great cuddly companions.

Smaller pets are great if you’re looking for a furry friend who won’t take up too much space, and is easy to take for walks and fit into a carrier or kennel. There are many more benefits when it comes to adopting an older, smaller animal, such as:

Physical health: Adopting a senior dog or cat will allow both you and the animal to get more physical exercise. Taking a small dog for a walk once or twice a day is a great way to fulfill your pet’s needs, but also helps your own physical health. Dogs in particular need to be walked and exposed to the outdoors, so having a small companion asking to go for a walk is an easy excuse to get up and go outside for a few minutes each day.

Mental health: Having something or someone to care for is important, and having a small, adult pet is the perfect example. This furry companion will count on you to feed it and take it for walks, but otherwise will provide you with love and affection to make your days and nights better. Having a pet is wonderful because you both will rely on one another and become true friends and companions.

Pet friendly environment: Southgate at Shrewsbury is a pet friendly establishment, and we encourage residents to own pets if they desire. When you adopt a new pet, you may even make a friend among fellow residents who also care for animals. This is a great way to bond with other people and socialize both you and the pet.

If you’re looking to add a new addition to your living space, consider adopting a senior animal. These low maintenance adult pets need care just as much as younger pets, and would love for your home to become theirs. When choosing a pet to adopt, consider your own needs as well, and make the decision to adopt an animal that is right for you and your life as a resident of Southgate at Shrewsbury.