18 Oct 2021 Arkansas PBS Foundation shares resources for estate planning

CONWAY — The Arkansas PBS Foundation is joining other Arkansas organizations in a public awareness campaign highlighting National Estate Planning Awareness Week, which spans Oct. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 24.

Arkansas PBS Foundation will provide residents with free estate planning booklets. The booklet will allow the user to start organizing their financial assets and thinking through their personal goals. Any person who would like to receive this free booklet may contact Karen Cooper at 800-662-2386 or [email protected].

Estate planning is one of the most overlooked areas of personal financial wellness. It has been estimated that more than 57% of adults in the U.S. do not have any estate planning documents such as a will or trust to protect themselves or their families in the event of sickness, accidents or untimely death, despite the fact that 76% viewed them as important. Proper planning can help to avoid unnecessary expense and financial hardship for heirs.

“Public television has long served as an advocate for financial literacy,” Arkansas PBS Foundation CEO Marge Betley said. “Estate planning is a critical component of the financial health of most adults.”

In 2008, Congress passed a resolution proclaiming the third week in October as National Estate Planning Awareness Week to help the public understand what estate planning is and why it is such a vital component of financial wellness.