Estate Planning Education

Trusts aren't complicated.
They're just unexplained.

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Compare Quiz Scenarios Data Myths

Side by Side

Trust vs. Will — see the difference

The same life event, two very different outcomes. Toggle to compare.

Revocable Trust ✓
✓
Probate
Completely avoided — assets transfer immediately
✓
Timeline
Assets available to family the same day
✓
Privacy
100% private — nothing becomes public record
✓
Incapacity
Successor trustee steps in immediately
✓
Business
Operations continue without interruption
✓
Cost
One-time setup fee — pays for itself
vs
Will Only
✗
Probate
Required — court supervises everything
✗
Timeline
6–18 months before assets distribute
✗
Privacy
Becomes public record — anyone can see
✗
Incapacity
No protection — family needs court order
✗
Business
Assets frozen — operations may halt
✗
Cost
3–7% of estate value lost to probate fees

What probate really costs on a $500K estate

$449
AethosTrust
one-time setup
$15K–$35K
Probate cost
(3–7% of estate)
6–18 mo
Time your family
waits for assets

Sources: American Bar Association, Caring.com 2025 Wills Survey

Self-Assessment

Do I need a trust? Find out.

Check the statements that apply to you. Your score updates in real-time.

I own real estate (even one property)
I have children or dependents
I own or co-own a business
I have retirement or investment accounts
I want my estate to stay private
I own property in more than one state
I have a partner or spouse I want to protect
I have life insurance policies
0 of 8
Check your answers
Select the statements that apply to your situation.

Two Paths

What happens with vs. without a plan

Same life event — two very different outcomes for your family.

⚠️

Something happens to you

An accident, illness, or death. Your family is in crisis — and your finances are frozen.

⏳

Probate begins

A court opens your case. Your will (if you have one) becomes public record. Attorneys are hired. The clock starts — 6 to 18 months.

🔒

Assets are frozen

Bank accounts locked. Business operations stall. Your family can't access funds to pay mortgage, bills, or even funeral costs.

💸

Fees pile up

Court fees, attorney fees, executor fees. 3–7% of your estate's value disappears — on a $500K estate, that's up to $35,000 your family never sees.

📢

Everything becomes public

Your assets, debts, beneficiaries — all public record. Creditors, distant relatives, and strangers can see and contest it.

🛡️

Something happens to you

The same event — but your trust is already in place. Your successor trustee is named and ready.

⚡

Your trustee steps in immediately

No court needed. No waiting period. Your chosen person takes over management of your assets that same day.

✅

Bills get paid, business runs

Mortgage, utilities, payroll — all handled. Your business operations continue without interruption. Your family has what they need.

🔐

Everything stays private

No public filings. No court records. Your family's financial details remain completely confidential.

💛

Your wishes are carried out

Assets distribute on your terms — to the people you chose, on the timeline you set. Your legacy is protected.

Who Needs This

Find your scenario

Different lives, different risks. See what's at stake for someone like you.

🏢

The Founder

You've built something from nothing. Your business is your largest asset — and your most vulnerable. Without a trust, a single event can undo years of work.

✗
Without a trustYour business goes through probate. A judge — not your partner — decides what happens to your shares. Operations can freeze for months.
✗
The real costForced dissolution lawsuits are among the most common litigation against entrepreneurs. Your LLC alone doesn't protect against this.
✓
With a trustYour successor trustee manages your business interest immediately. No court, no freeze, no forced sale. Your team keeps working.
💼

The Young Professional

You've got a 401(k), maybe an LLC, and a career that's accelerating. You think you're too young for this. Statistically, you're exactly who needs it.

✗
The myth"I'm too young" is the most expensive mistake in estate planning. A 35-year-old has a 50% chance of disability before 65 — this isn't about death, it's about life.
✗
What you don't knowYour 401(k) beneficiary designations may override your will. Your LLC needs a succession plan, not just an operating agreement.
✓
Start early, pay lessA trust set up now costs a fraction of probate later — and it grows with you through marriage, kids, property, and business expansion.
👨‍👩‍👧

The Growing Family

Your children change everything. Who raises them? Who manages their inheritance? Without a trust, a court decides — and it may not match what you'd want.

✗
Without a trustA court appoints a guardian — possibly someone you wouldn't have chosen. Inheritance goes to minors at 18 with no conditions or oversight.
✗
The probate problemYour spouse may only receive a portion of the estate under intestacy laws. The rest splits among children — even if they're toddlers.
✓
With a trustYou name the guardian. You control when children receive inheritance — at 25, 30, or in stages. Your spouse gets immediate access. Everything stays private.
🏠

The Real Estate Investor

Multiple properties, possibly across state lines. Each one is a separate probate case waiting to happen — unless they're in a trust.

✗
Multi-state nightmareEach property in a different state triggers a separate probate proceeding. That means separate attorneys, separate courts, separate fees — in every jurisdiction.
✗
Frozen portfolioDuring probate, properties can't be sold, refinanced, or managed. Tenants, maintenance, mortgage payments — all in limbo.
✓
One trust, all propertiesA single revocable trust holds your entire portfolio. No matter how many states, one structure handles everything — immediately and privately.

By The Numbers

The estate planning gap

These aren't abstract figures. They're the reality for millions of American families.

0%

Americans without a will

0%

Americans who have a trust

0%

Adults with zero estate documents

0%

Average probate cost as % of estate value

0 mo

Average months probate takes to resolve

0%

Chance a 35-year-old becomes disabled before 65

Sources: Caring.com 2025 Wills Survey · Trust & Will 2025 Estate Planning Report · AARP · U.S. Social Security Administration

Myth vs. Reality

Flip to see the truth

Click any card to reveal the reality behind the most common estate planning myths.

Myth
"Trusts are only for the wealthy"
Click to flip
Reality
Probate costs 3–7% of your estate. On a $300K estate, that's $9K–$21K. A trust pays for itself by skipping probate entirely. If you own a home, it's math — not luxury.
Myth
"I'm too young to need a trust"
Click to flip
Reality
A 35-year-old has a 50% chance of becoming disabled for 90+ days before 65. Estate planning isn't about age — it's about having something worth protecting. Start now, pay less.
Myth
"A will is enough"
Click to flip
Reality
A will goes through probate (6–18 months), becomes public record, and does nothing for incapacity. A trust avoids all three — plus keeps your business running.
Myth
"Trusts are too complicated"
Click to flip
Reality
You put assets into a structure you control, name who manages them if you can't, and name who gets them when you're gone. Our intake takes 10 minutes.
Myth
"I'll lose control of my assets"
Click to flip
Reality
With a revocable trust, you're the trustee, the beneficiary, and in full control. You can change, dissolve, or update it at any time. Nothing changes about how you use your money.
Myth
"My family will figure it out"
Click to flip
Reality
Without a plan, the state decides everything. Your spouse may only get a portion. Unmarried partners get nothing. Children may get assets at 18 with no oversight. A court, not your family, controls the outcome.

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