This is Optimal Finance Daily, a simple estate planning checklist for a challenging topic.

By Scott Span of Financialfinesse.com.

What does your current estate plan look like?

If you said you don't have an estate plan, you're probably wrong,

because the state you live in actually has a plan for your estate

if you die without a will, trust, or other crucial documents. If your line of thinking is,

what estate, I'm overwhelmed by debt, or I'm single with no kids, or I'm young and just getting

started in my career, understand that everyone has an estate and needs an estate

plan to make sure your individual, family, and financial goals are met once you die. Just a few

simple steps can help you maintain control and protect the people and organizations that matter

most to you. Here's a simple estate planning checklist to help

get you started. Step 1. Establish meaningful goals. What do you want your estate plan to accomplish?

Are you concerned about choosing an executor or a guardian for your children? It's charitable giving in your future plans.

Are you seeking ways to avoid probate? Give your estate plan more purpose and meaning by asking

yourself these same questions and writing down a list of the things that are most important to you.

Then schedule time for you to take action and avoid making the

mistake of not having a basic estate plan in place. Step 2. Get organized. Have you ever been

late for something important and spent time frantically searching your house for that elusive

set of keys? Not fun. Imagine searching for a family

member's bank account information, investment and retirement account statements, will, or key to a

safe deposit box without any instructions or guidance during a time of grief. It always makes good sense

to take time to get our financial affairs organized, no

...