Protect what matters. Make your wishes clear.
A plain-English guide to estate planning, retirement and Medicare, for you and the people you love.
Wynn CollinsLegacy Estate and Insurance
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Today's promise to you
This isn't about expecting the worst. It's about making things easier for the people you love.
- Clear informationPlain words, real examples, no legal jargon.
- No scare tacticsNobody needs to be frightened into planning.
- No pressureYou leave with ideas and a checklist, not a sales pitch.
Hi, I'm Wynn Collins.
Estate planner and insurance producer, and founder of Legacy Estate and Insurance in Knoxville, Tennessee.
- 30 yearshelping families with trusts, retirement income and Medicare
- All 50 statesI work with families wherever they live
- A real personWhen you call, you talk to me, not a call center
Where are you today?
Raise your hand for each one. No wrong answers, and no one will ask for details.
Most Americans haven't finished their plan.
- 24%of U.S. adults have a will
- 13%have a living trust
Source: Caring.com and YouGov survey of 2,500+ U.S. adults, January 2025
Imagine your family had to step in tomorrow.
What would you most want them to know first?
- Who should be called?
- Where are the important papers?
- Who understands your wishes?
- What do you want protected?
The big picture
Estate planning covers more than your things.
- Your propertyWho receives your home, savings and belongings, and how.
- Your careWho can speak with doctors and make health decisions if you can't.
- Your decisionsWho can pay bills and handle money matters if you need help.
If you don't decide, the state decides for you.
- State law picks your heirsbased on how closely relatives are related, not on your wishes.
- Probate courtA public court process. In Tennessee, creditors get four months from the published notice, so an estate can't close sooner.
- Your family waitsAccounts can be frozen and decisions delayed while the court works.
Source: Tennessee creditor claims: T.C.A. § 30-2-306
A will and a trust are not the same thing.
A will
- Says who receives what, and who's in charge
- Names a guardian for minor children
- Usually goes through probate court
- Becomes public record
A living trust
- Holds your property under written rules
- Can help manage things if you can't
- Property in a funded trust generally avoids probate
- Stays private
Many families use both: a trust at the center, and a short will as a backstop.
A trust only controls what you put in it.
Picture a beautiful, sturdy box with your family's name on it. If you never put anything inside, it protects nothing.
- Retitle the houseA new deed puts it in the trust's name. You keep living there.
- Retitle accountsBank and investment accounts move into the trust's name.
- Update beneficiariesWhere it fits, so forms and trust work together.
Real life, real choices
Meet Pat: organized, but not sure what's missing.
Pat has a home, savings, two grown children and a folder of old paperwork. What should Pat do first?
A small mismatch can cause a big headache.
Beneficiary forms usually win over a will. If they don't match, the form decides.
- CheckRetirement accounts, life insurance, annuities and payable-on-death accounts.
- CompareDo the names still match your wishes? Is an ex-spouse still listed?
- ConfirmMake sure your documents and forms work together.
Planning matters before anyone inherits.
A sudden illness can leave everyday questions unanswered.
- Health careWho can speak with your doctors and decide for you, if you can't?
- Money mattersWho can pay your bills and manage accounts if you're in the hospital?
- AccessCan the people you trust find what they need, safely?
Has any of this happened since your plan was made?
Tap or raise a hand for each one that's true for you.
Myth or fact?
Myth or fact? Vote before the reveal.
“I'm not wealthy, so I don't need a plan.”
Show the answer
Myth. Planning covers your care, who decides for you, and your family's wishes, not just money.
“My family knows what I want.”
Show the answer
Myth. Conversations help, but banks and doctors need the right signed documents.
“A will keeps my family out of probate.”
Show the answer
Myth. A will is usually carried out through probate. A funded trust generally avoids it.
“Once it's signed, I'm done forever.”
Show the answer
Myth. Laws, families and savings change. Plans need a check-up.
“My beneficiary forms can override my will.”
Show the answer
Fact. That's why forms and documents need to match.
Retirement and Medicare
Where retirement plans quietly leak.
- The bridge to 65Retiring before Medicare starts means paying for health coverage in between.
- The premium cliffMedicare Part B and D premiums rise once income crosses set limits, even by one dollar.
- Market drops early onA big loss right as withdrawals begin can shorten how long savings last.
Three Medicare windows to know.
- Around your 65th birthdayInitial Enrollment: 7 months, the 3 before your birthday month, the month itself and 3 after.
- October 15 – December 7Open Enrollment: anyone with Medicare can change plans for January 1.
- January 1 – March 31Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: switch plans or return to Original Medicare.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
Make it manageable
Five steps you can take this week.
The Legacy Family Binder
One place for every important paper, so your family knows exactly where to look.
- Trust, will and powers of attorney
- Health care directive
- Insurance policies and annuities
- Accounts and beneficiaries list
- Key contacts and advisors
- Final wishes and personal notes
Here's how it works.
- TalkA relaxed conversation about your family and your goals.
- Free reviewWynn looks at your current plan, documents and coverage.
- Put it in placeTrust documents, coverage and savings, each in the right order.
- Check in yearlyLife changes. Your plan should keep up.
Turn uncertainty into a clear plan.
Bring your questions, even if your papers are old, incomplete, or you're not sure where to start.
You'll talk to a real person. Every call and message goes to Wynn herself.
What would you like to feel clearer about?
- Ask anythingWhat part of planning feels confusing or easy to put off?
- Keep it privatePlease don't share account numbers or medical details in a group.
- Talk one-on-oneQuestions about your situation are best in a private, free review.
Educational information, not legal advice.
- Legacy Estate and Insurance is not a law firm and does not give legal or tax advice. Laws vary by state and change over time.
- This workshop is general education. For legal or tax questions about your situation, consult a licensed attorney or tax professional.
- Annuities are insurance products, not bank deposits, and are not FDIC insured. Guarantees depend on the issuing insurance company. Surrender charges and taxes may apply.
- We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.