'Essentials of Estate Planning' offered April 23 in Woodridge
"Failing to plan is planning to fail."
Sometimes attributed to Benjamin Franklin, sometimes to others, the root of the pithy saying isn't nearly as important as whether you heed its wisdom.
With "Essentials of Estate Planning," a retirement expert will be at the Woodridge Public Library on Monday, April 23, to fill this vital gap in individuals' knowledge of end-of-life preparation.
Greg Kurinec of Bentron Financial Group begins his free one-hour presentation at 6:30 p.m. at the library located at 3 Plaza Drive, Woodridge.
Anyone with questions about program registration can contact the library at (630) 487-2581. The library is online at woodridgelibrary.org and the registration link is www.woodridgelibrary.org/essentials-estate-planning-money-smart.
In the session, Kurinec will cover the estate planning process from beginning to end, including the need to plan, the most common planning techniques and the documents involved. The class will also explain the difference between a will and a trust while providing attendees an understanding of probate, wills, power of attorney for healthcare, power of attorney for financial matters, living trusts, and guardianship appointments.
By the end of the session, attendees will have gained a thorough understanding of the steps they need to take to protect their spouse and heirs.
The presentation is being held in conjunction with Money Smart Week, a public awareness campaign from April 21-28 that is designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances. The campaign was launched in 2002 by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; more information about the week is at www.moneysmartweek.org.
Kurinec began with Bentron, based in Downers Grove, in 2004. He has helped people at or near retirement through investment advising, estate planning, risk management and watching out for their overall financial well-being.
A lifelong resident of Orland Park, he is a graduate of Purdue University's College of Consumer and Family Sciences, having earned degrees in Financial Planning and Counseling, as well as Selling and Sales Management.
In addition to his "Go to Greg" column, which has appeared in the Naperville Patch, Kurinec has served as an expert source and been quoted in publications ranging from Consumer Affairs and Insure.com to FINS Finance and MySuburbanLife.com.
In 2012, after his mother, Jeanne, lost her life to cancer, Greg and his two siblings founded "Jeanne's Journey for Hope" to help other families battle the disease in its many forms. Since then, the foundation has raised more than $75,000 to help families pay hospital and medical bills or as income replacement if the disease has resulted in a loss of employment.
Bentron Financial Group can be reached at (630) 505-8375 and is online at www.bentron.com.