A well-designed plan can make your dreams live on even after your death. If you don't have a plan, your family might not know what your dream was. Or even if the dream was known, it may not be realized because a big chunk of your money and property is being spent on legal fees and taxes that could have been saved if you had understood the rules and had a plan in place.

Wills, trusts, probate, annuities, and retirement plans are all tools you can use to leave your own legacy — for your family, friends, and possibly your community. You will soon learn what tools you have to work with and how to use them to their maximum effect. While some of these tools are designed to help after you are gone, some of them will help you accumulate or retain more while you are living. Learn the rules, and let your dreams live on!