Important Estate Planning Documents to Know

Important Estate Planning Documents to Know

For many, a strategy for estate planning is a must-have at any stage in life. This ensures that your wishes on how to handle your wealth, health, and children are carried out after your demise or a medical emergency that leaves you incapacitated.

Having the proper documents in place makes it easier, faster, and less expensive for your wishes to be executed.

Here are the most common — and important — estate planning documents to know about, create, and routinely update throughout your life.

Typical Estate Planning Documents

Last Will and Testament

The foundation of your estate planning checklist is your last will and testament. This legal document essentially lets you list your instructions on what to do with your assets after you die.

Your will also names an executor, who is the individual you choose to carry out your final wishes. It should be someone you trust who can handle major financial responsibilities, since they’ll be tasked with navigating both your family and financial institutions.

When you make a will, you’ll specify who will take possession of your assets that don’t have a beneficiary assigned. You can also outline your funeral preferences and other final wishes.

If you die without a will, the state takes over and names a representative on your behalf to handle the distribution of your property. The court could name your spouse or close family member to handle the job, or it could choose a public trustee if no one agrees to the job.

The probate process takes a long time, and your family typically won’t be able to access any of your accounts until an executor is named. That’s why it’s best to get started on your estate planning documentation as soon as possible.


💡 Quick Tip: We all know it’s good to have a will in place, but who has the time? These days, you can create a complete and customized estate plan online in as little as 15 minutes.

Letter of Intent

A letter of intent is another component of your estate planning checklist that allows you to leave an explanation to your loved ones. You can compose an emotional letter if you want, or stick to information that will make the transition easier for your family.

The letter of intent is a good place to list details like your bank accounts, passwords, and other important information your executor or family members may need. For instance, you may have joint accounts with your spouse. But if you’re the one who manages that money or is responsible for certain shared bills, you can explain how to handle those ongoing expenses moving forward.

Also include the physical locations of important documents and assets, like property titles, jewelry, or art.

Recommended: The Difference Between Will and Estate Planning

Beneficiary and Guardianship Designations

Your will documents should include designations for account beneficiaries and, if applicable, a guardianship for any minor children.

Some financial accounts require that you list a beneficiary; others do not. A standard checking account probably doesn’t require you to list a beneficiary, but you can likely volunteer to add one.

IRAs and life insurance do require you to add a beneficiary, regardless of the size of your account or policy.

While you do need to fill out the paperwork directly with the financial institution, you can also list your beneficiaries in your will documents to make it easier for your executor to access everything. Be sure to update beneficiaries if major life events occur, like divorce, the death of a spouse, or a birth.

Speaking of babies, you also need to designate a guardian for any dependents. You’ll need to include their names and birthdates and explicitly name the person or persons you wish to be their guardian should you die. If you’re in a two-parent household, the guardianship only goes into effect if both parents die.

Each state has its own way of handling minors if you pass away without naming a guardian. The court will likely pick a close family member to serve in the role, but it’s always better to make the decision on your own — especially if you have tense family dynamics.

Recommended: New Parent’s Guide to Setting Up a Will

Advance Medical Directive

An advance medical directive is a way to clarify your health care wishes in case you become medically incapacitated.

As part of this legal document, you can first name a durable power of attorney for health care. This basically hands over decision making to the person of your choice. It’s best to have conversations before any medical issues arise so they understand how you would prefer to move forward in certain health situations.

You can also include instructions for specific treatments in your advance medical directive. In what is known as a living will, you can list your stance on individual treatments and how your health care professionals should move forward in each scenario. For instance, you may include “do not resuscitate” orders or how you’d like organ donation to be handled (if at all).

Check your state laws on how to correctly instate an advance medical directive or living will. It’s also important to provide copies to your doctor and family members so that they have your wishes on hand.

If you are about to undergo a major medical procedure, you may be prompted to fill out an advance medical directive form before it takes place.

Power of Attorney

Another type of legal document to include in your estate planning checklist is power of attorney. It’s similar to a power of attorney for health care, but with much broader impact.

It lets you choose an individual to make all types of decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, including financial and living decisions.

You can opt to give someone general power of attorney, and that person will simply act on your behalf moving forward. Or you can grant someone individual power of attorney, which only lets them act on your behalf during specific situations that you include in the legal document.

A power of attorney becomes dissolved in a few situations. First, it automatically goes away if you die and the other directives of your will (including the executor) go into effect. It also automatically ends if you get divorced and your spouse had power of attorney for you.

Alternatively, if the person with power of attorney dies or becomes incapacitated, then they’ll no longer be able to fulfill their duties. A court can also invalidate the power of attorney document.

Just like any other role you assign in your estate planning documents, picking the right person to have power of attorney can have a major effect on your life. It’s best to choose wisely and have open conversations about your wishes if you could no longer take care of yourself.


💡 Quick Tip: It’s recommended that you update your will every 3-5 years, and after any major life event. With online estate planning, changes can be made in just a few minutes — no attorney required.

The Takeaway

Estate planning documents dictate a person’s wishes about how to handle their wealth, health, and children upon their incapacitation or demise. Making an estate plan is a good idea as it can minimize the delays, expense, and loss of privacy of the probate process.

When you want to make things easier on your loved ones in the future, SoFi can help. We partnered with Trust & Will, the leading online estate planning platform, to give our members 15% off their trust, will, or guardianship. The forms are fast, secure, and easy to use.

Create a complete and customized estate plan in as little as 15 minutes.


Coverage and pricing is subject to eligibility and underwriting criteria.
Ladder Insurance Services, LLC (CA license # OK22568; AR license # 3000140372) distributes term life insurance products issued by multiple insurers- for further details see ladderlife.com. All insurance products are governed by the terms set forth in the applicable insurance policy. Each insurer has financial responsibility for its own products.
Ladder, SoFi and SoFi Agency are separate, independent entities and are not responsible for the financial condition, business, or legal obligations of the other, SoFi Technologies, Inc. (SoFi) and SoFi Insurance Agency, LLC (SoFi Agency) do not issue, underwrite insurance or pay claims under LadderlifeTM policies. SoFi is compensated by Ladder for each issued term life policy.
Ladder offers coverage to people who are between the ages of 20 and 60 as of their nearest birthday. Your current age plus the term length cannot exceed 70 years.
All services from Ladder Insurance Services, LLC are their own. Once you reach Ladder, SoFi is not involved and has no control over the products or services involved. The Ladder service is limited to documents and does not provide legal advice. Individual circumstances are unique and using documents provided is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice.


Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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New Parent's Guide to Setting Up a Will

New Parent’s Guide to Setting Up a Will

Starting a family comes with an entirely new set of responsibilities. One of the most important, yet frequently overlooked, necessities is setting up a will. This crucial document outlines tons of important details should you pass away, including what happens to your child.

Estate planning for parents can be broken down into just a few digestible steps. Here’s everything you need to think about, plus tips on how to organize all of your documents.

Estate Planning for New Parents

1. Draft a Will

About 67% of Americans don’t have a will. Setting up a will can be simpler than it seems. A will is a document that outlines how you want things handled after you pass away, including distribution of assets and how any minor children to be cared for.

While some people with complex investments and multiple properties may want to hire a lawyer for help, younger, healthy individuals can seek out online services that can walk them through the steps to make a will and sometimes have no initial cost.

Then, you can follow the execution instructions, which typically include signing your will in front of eligible witnesses. Check your state’s individual requirements. Sometimes, you must have your will notarized in order to become valid. Many banks and public libraries offer this service for free.

If you’re married, consider drafting a joint will with your spouse. This gives you the ability to plan for different scenarios, like what happens when one spouse passes away versus both passing away at the same time. Remember to regularly update your will whenever a major life change occurs, like having another child or adding new major assets.


💡 Quick Tip: We all know it’s good to have a will in place, but who has the time? These days, you can create a complete and customized estate plan online in as little as 15 minutes.

2. Choose an Executor

When you’re setting up a will, you’ll need to choose an executor. This is the person responsible for handling the legal and logistical aspects of disbursing your assets. They are also responsible for filing any remaining taxes and settling your debts.

Consequently, your executor should be someone you trust and who has the ability to handle the tasks involved. This is especially important when you have young children because the executor’s ability to tie up your finances will impact your kids’ inheritance.

Once you choose an executor, let them know that you’ve chosen them. Give them a quick rundown of what to expect, and also let them know where to find your will and other relevant documents.

3. Name a Guardian

When you start having kids, you also need to name a guardian to care for them if you pass away before they reach legal adulthood. There are a lot of things to consider when making this important decision.

First, think about the potential guardian’s ability to care for children. Are their grandparents too old to take care of them? Does the guardian live far away from other friends and family who could serve as a support system?

Also consider their financial capabilities and their ability to manage any assets you leave to help pay for your kids’ expenses.

Finally, think about your values and who would raise your children in a way that’s similar to your own parenting style. Also realize that your kids will be going through a tough time, so their guardian would ideally be someone whom they trust and would provide emotional comfort.

If you have more than one child, make sure you name a guardian for each one, even if it’s the same person. That means you need to update your will every time you have a new baby. Be as explicit as possible when naming a guardian; for instance, if you pick a sibling and their spouse, name both individuals as coguardians.

4. Set Up the Right Accounts

Some types of accounts may help you pass on your assets without having to pay as much in taxes. It’s an important part of the estate planning process and can help you maximize the amount of money you’re able to pass onto your kids. A trust fund can protect the money from being spent too quickly, either by the guardian or your children themselves.

You can implement safeguards as to how much money can be taken out and when. Even if your kids are of legal age, you can put annual withdrawal limits on the trust to prevent a young adult from overspending. Alternatively, even if you pick a guardian to oversee the emotional wellbeing of your children, that same person may not be the best at handling money. Choosing a trust can limit their spending on behalf of your children as well.

There are many different types of trusts, so you may consider consulting an estate planning attorney to choose the best one for your family’s needs.


💡 Quick Tip: A trust is a customized estate planning tool that can be helpful for your heirs in addition to a will.

5. Designate Beneficiaries

The final step of estate planning for parents is to designate a beneficiary for every account and insurance policy you have. Include bank accounts, retirement and other investment accounts, and life insurance policies.

When choosing beneficiaries, find out how each type of account is taxed for the recipient. Also create a list of all of your account numbers and other pertinent details and include them with your will. This makes it easy for your executor to locate all of your assets. Include debt information as well, like your mortgage and/or auto loan servicer.

You can also update beneficiaries as life changes. For instance, you might initially name your spouse as your life insurance beneficiary. But if they pass away before you, it’s time to update that designation to someone else.

6. Safely Store Your Documents

Once you’ve drafted your will and signed it in accordance with your state’s laws, it’s time to store all of the appropriate estate planning documents to make it easy for your executor and beneficiaries to access.

Lots of documents are now stored online, but you’ll still need to keep your original, signed will in physical form. You can keep it in a fire-proof box at home, or in a safety deposit box at your local bank. Be sure your executor knows where and how to access your documents.

7. Outline Access to Financial Accounts

Remember to keep an up-to-date list of all your financial accounts that need to be taken care of. Bank statements should include the account numbers to make it easy for your executor to find. Also include the location of any valuable items, like art or jewelry.

Finally, it’s helpful to include the contact information for any professionals you work with, like an accountant, financial advisor, and estate attorney. Include insurance policy numbers, loan details, credit card numbers, and any other financial accounts that would need to be closed.

The Takeaway

Estate planning for parents isn’t a one-time event. Get started when you have your first child, but also review your intentions and make changes at least once a year. That way, you always have an up-to-date and comprehensive will that reflects your current financials and family structure.

When you want to make things easier on your loved ones in the future, SoFi can help. We partnered with Trust & Will, the leading online estate planning platform, to give our members 15% off their trust, will, or guardianship. The forms are fast, secure, and easy to use.

Create a complete and customized estate plan in as little as 15 minutes.


Coverage and pricing is subject to eligibility and underwriting criteria.
Ladder Insurance Services, LLC (CA license # OK22568; AR license # 3000140372) distributes term life insurance products issued by multiple insurers- for further details see ladderlife.com. All insurance products are governed by the terms set forth in the applicable insurance policy. Each insurer has financial responsibility for its own products.
Ladder, SoFi and SoFi Agency are separate, independent entities and are not responsible for the financial condition, business, or legal obligations of the other, SoFi Technologies, Inc. (SoFi) and SoFi Insurance Agency, LLC (SoFi Agency) do not issue, underwrite insurance or pay claims under LadderlifeTM policies. SoFi is compensated by Ladder for each issued term life policy.
Ladder offers coverage to people who are between the ages of 20 and 60 as of their nearest birthday. Your current age plus the term length cannot exceed 70 years.
All services from Ladder Insurance Services, LLC are their own. Once you reach Ladder, SoFi is not involved and has no control over the products or services involved. The Ladder service is limited to documents and does not provide legal advice. Individual circumstances are unique and using documents provided is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice.


Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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child holding teddy bear in airplane

Strategies for Traveling With Children

No matter your age or your experience, traveling can be stressful. Add kids to the equation and the stress levels multiply. Tickets, boarding times, strollers, snacks, tablets, and tantrums —- it’s a lot to manage. So much so, it can be easy to forget to enjoy the incredible experience of traveling itself.

But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on going on vacation until your kids get older. Whether you’re dreaming of taking your crew to a foreign country or just a nearby city, these tips for traveling with kids could make your next family getaway seamless and memorable (for all the right reasons).

8 Tips for Traveling With Kids

Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do before you ever leave home to help minimize headaches on the road and help ensure your trip is fun for both kids and grown-ups alike. Here are eight tried-and-true family travel tips to try.

💡 Quick Tip: Make money easy. Open a bank account online so you can manage bills, deposits, transfers — all from one convenient app.

1. Pre-Book as Much as Possible

When it comes to tips for traveling with children, the more advance planning you can do, generally, the better. While you can’t anticipate every challenge you might face on the road, you can eliminate many of them by doing plenty of advance scouting.

Of course, it’s always a good idea to schedule transportation and accommodations far in advance to not only secure your reservations but also to potentially save some money.

Beyond the essentials, you may also be able to pre-book a lot of the activities you want to do, including sightseeing excursions and even meals. This can help ensure your family is experiencing a new place to the fullest and that the kids stay busy.

While having activities planned might be a lifesaver, it’s also ok to have a little bit of downtime and flexibility too. Exhausted children can be difficult to manage, so you might include some time for naps or relaxation to avoid meltdowns.

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2. Selecting the Right Places To Stay

Researching and booking the right hotel ahead of time might help you find one with fun features for the kids, like a pool or complimentary breakfast. You could also talk with the hotel staff once you get there to inquire about upgrades, cots for the kids, or extra pillows.

If you’re not interested in the hotel experience, you might consider staying in a vacation rental property, which could give your family more space and feel more like a home.

3. Packing Smart

When you’re traveling with children, especially more than one, you might have a lot of stuff to manage. Why make it more complicated by packing more than you need? You could plan out the days ahead of time based on any activities or travel and anticipate what you and your kiddos might wear each day.

If it’s a long trip or you need to pack lots of layers, you could roll the clothes rather than fold them, which might free up some space for those extra outfits your little ones (and maybe you!) might need in case of spills.
As for shoes, you might opt for slip-ons if you’re going through airport security and save the sneakers for the suitcase.

4. Getting the Kids Excited for Travel

You might want to talk to your kids before the trip about where you’re going, how you’re getting there, and what you’ll be doing. If your child is a first-time traveler, they may feel nervous doing something so new if they don’t understand what’s going on.

Even months in advance, you could talk about this fun trip on the horizon and all the cool things you will see and do when you get there.

5. Leaving Plenty of Time

While you likely want to minimize waiting time (and boredom), you also don’t want to have to rush. It can be wise to give yourself lots of time to spare, especially if you’re traveling by plane. This will not only give you plenty of time to check bags and get through the security, but might also give your kids some time to explore all the interesting things at the airport and get some snacks.

If you’re traveling by train or car, there may be fewer pressures, but it can still be wise to build in time for the unexpected. Whatever your mode of transport, you’ll want to make sure that all necessary documentation (for you and the kids) and any snacks, drinks, and essential medicines are easily accessible.

Recommended: Calculating If It’s Cheaper To Drive Or Fly Somewhere

6. Bringing the Proper Gear

For the plane, you might take a backpack or bag that can hold everything you need. From baby wipes and hand sanitizer to chargers and snacks, all the little things could help you feel more prepared for any surprises. If your little one needs a stroller, you could consider swapping your day-to-day one out for something that might be easier to travel with.

If it’s a late flight and you need your kids to sleep in transit, you may want to bring small pillows or blankets to help them be comfortable. While new presents are fun and exciting (more on that later), you might also want to keep your child’s comfort toys or blankets nearby. They might feel more at ease if they have something familiar.

💡 Quick Tip: If you’re saving for a short-term goal — whether it’s a vacation, a wedding, or the down payment on a house — consider opening a high-yield savings account. The higher APY that you’ll earn will help your money grow faster, but the funds stay liquid, so they are easy to access when you reach your goal.

7. Bringing Your Car Seat on the Plane

While it may seem like a major hassle to carry a car seat to the gate and onto the plane, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends placing children under the age of two in an approved car seat and not in your lap. Kids can safely ride just like they do in the car — either rear-facing or front-facing.

Also, if you are renting a car at your destination, you’ll need a car seat once you arrive. Car rental companies often cannot guarantee that a car seat will be available.

Recommended: Have Baby, Will Travel: Tips for New Parents

8. Bringing Surprises — and Plenty of Snacks

Kids love surprises, so you may want to buy some new toys or coloring books to keep them occupied during travel time. Also be sure to have lots of their fave snacks on hand. It’s great if they are healthy (fresh and dried fruits are easy to take on the road), but if all rules go out the window and its candy and snacks galore, that’s fun too. And while some parents rarely let their kids watch TV, changing that up for travel time might be one great exception. TV shows and fun games on the tablet might be a nice activity to keep kids busy on a long flight.

Recommended: When Is the Best Time to Book Summer Travel?

Should You Wait Until Your Kids Are Older?

There are pros and cons to traveling with kids at every age. Babies are very portable and typically fly for free. Preschoolers, on the other hand, are out of diapers and naturally curious about everything, so they don’t need expensive vacations to keep them entertained.

Travelling tends to get easier when kids are school age — no more bulky car seats and strollers. They’re still naturally curious but also have more patience. Pre-teens and teens are sponges and can learn a lot through travel — this can be a great age to plan travel to other countries and more exotic locales. Letting them get involved in the planning can also keep them excited and engaged.

Recommended: Airfares: What You Need to Know

Enjoying Your Vacation

You’ve put in the time to plan a vacation your entire family will (hopefully) remember. Now you can get ready to enjoy it! But you might want to accept that some things will undoubtedly go wrong. No amount of planning and outfit coordination will allow you to avoid every single mishap or meltdown, and that’s okay. You can adjust the plan as needed so you and your family can still have fun on your trip.

The Takeaway

Planning ahead, packing smart, and having all the tools at the ready, from snacks to little presents, might lead to your best family vacation yet. Whether it’s your first time traveling with kids or your tenth, it’s always wise to be prepared.

Since travel isn’t cheap (especially with kids), you’ll also want to be financially prepared for your trip. You might want to think about what the trip will cost, set a savings goal, and start stashing cash in your vacation fund well in advance. If you want to earn a high rate and pay the lowest fees, consider opening an account at an online bank. Without the added expenses of large branch networks, online banks are often able to offer more favorable returns than national brick-and-mortar institutions.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.

Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.00% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

What do you need when traveling with kids?

It depends on the child’s age, but these items can come in handy when you’re on the road:

•   Extra clothes (in case of spills, accidents, or travel delays)

•   Hand sanitizer

•   Disposable wipes

•   Refillable water bottles

•   Disposable bags

•   Healthy snacks

•   Books, toys, and games

•   Medicines

•   First aid kit

What is the hardest age to travel with a child?

Every child is different, but kids between 12 and 18 months can be particularly challenging to travel with since they are typically mobile, don’t like to sit still for long stretches, and are too young to understand and follow directions.

What is the best age to take kids on vacation?

Every age has pros and cons but travel with kids generally gets easier after age six.


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SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/3/24. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Finding Jobs That Pay Off Student Loans

Jobs that help pay off a portion of student loans are becoming more common and for a good reason. The average federal student loan borrower has over $37,000 in student loan debt, while borrowers with private student loans owe nearly $55,000, on average.

Companies that help to repay a portion of student loans are in the minority, so you may have to do some research to get student loan assistance as a benefit. To help you, here’s what to know about what’s available, companies that offer this perk, and what you can do to try and negotiate for it.

Types of Job-Based Student Loan Assistance Programs

There are two types of student loan assistance you may receive through an employer: repayment assistance programs where your employer is a participant and repayment assistance benefits your employer offers directly.

Repayment Assistance Programs

Depending on your career field, you may be eligible to receive student loan assistance through a federal or state program. There are several programs for those working in public service careers, like the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Teacher Loan Forgiveness programs, which cancel existing balances for eligible borrowers who meet certain requirements.

That said, these programs typically require you to commit to working in a specific job or a certain area (such as medicine, law, or military service, for example) for a set number of years, which can be challenging if you don’t enjoy the job or want to pursue a different career path somewhere else.

But if you fulfill your service obligation, you may get as much as your full student loan balance is forgiven.

Recommended: A Guide to Military Student Loan Forgiveness

Repayment Assistance Benefits

At the start of 2022, about 7% of employers in the U.S. offered student loan repayment assistance as a benefit, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. The terms of repayment assistance benefits can vary by employer. For example, some may offer to match a portion of the employee’s payments and others may simply pay a set amount toward an employee’s loan balance each month.

The amount you receive from a repayment assistance benefit may be less than what you might get through a government repayment assistance program. But you may not need to commit to a service obligation to qualify, and you may be able to negotiate how much you’ll receive.


💡 Quick Tip: Get flexible terms and competitive rates when you refinance your student loan with SoFi.

Types of Jobs That Offer Student Loan Forgiveness

In order to qualify for certain types of loan forgiveness, borrowers may need to meet certain employment requirements. Here are some of the jobs that could potentially allow someone to qualify for federal student loan forgiveness programs.

1. Federal Agency Employee

The federal student loan repayment program exists for employees of the federal government, and allows a portion of their federal student loans to be paid off each year. The benefit permits for up to $10,000 in payments each calendar year, not to exceed a total of $60,000 for any one employee.

In order to qualify for this student loan repayment assistance, the employee is required to sign onto a minimum three-year contract with the agency. If they leave the agency early, they’ll need to repay any benefits received.

2. Public Service Worker

If you work full-time in the public service sector for a qualifying organization, such as the government or a non-profit, you may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

To pursue PSLF, borrowers need to have Direct loans and be enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan. (If you have other types of federal loans, such as Perkins loans, you’ll need to consolidate them into a Direct loan to qualify.) Forgiveness is awarded after making 120 qualifying payments and certifying all employers.

3. Medical Field

The Association of American Medical Colleges maintains a database with information on loan assistance programs for doctors by state.

Medical professionals who work in certain underserved areas may also qualify for loan forgiveness through the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. In this program, medical professionals must commit to working for at least two years at an NHSC-approved site in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).

Refinancing medical school student loans may be another option to consider for medical professionals who are not pursuing any loan forgiveness programs. While refinancing would eliminate loans from any federal forgiveness programs, it could potentially allow borrowers to secure a more competitive interest rate.

4. Automotive Professionals

Professionals in the automotive industry may qualify for loan forgiveness through the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Loan Forgiveness Program. To be eligible, you must work for a SEMA member business and have at least $2,000 in outstanding debt, among other qualifications.

5. Lawyer

In addition to PSLF, there are other lawyer-specific programs that provide assistance to lawyers paying off student loan debt. These include the Department of Justice Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program or John R. Justice (JRJ) Program.

6. Teacher

Student loan forgiveness for teachers is available. Teachers who work in special education are considered highly qualified teachers or work in underserved areas may qualify for the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. The amount of loan forgiveness available is dependent on the teacher’s area of specialty and can be either up to $17,500 or up to $5,000.

7. Peace Corps

Peace Corps volunteers may be eligible to defer their loans or pursue PSLF. Additionally, while on a qualifying repayment plan, payments could be as low as $0 per month while volunteering.

8. Veterinarian

Veterinarians who work in underserved areas may qualify for up to $25,000 in student loan repayment assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program. Eligible veterinarians must agree to serve in a NIFA-designated veterinarian shortage situation for a period of three years to qualify.

15 Major Companies that Repay Student Loans

Hundreds of large and small employers offer jobs that pay off student loans, but it’s not always easy to find out which ones provide the benefit. To help you get started, here are 15 well-known companies that repay student loans.

1. Abbott Laboratories

The company’s Freedom 2 Save program functions a bit differently than other repayment assistance benefits in that it combines efforts to pay off student loan debt and save for retirement.

Full- and part-time employees who qualify for the company’s 401(k) plan and contribute at least 2% of their eligible pay toward student loan repayment will receive a 5% contribution to their 401(k) account. Employee contributions to their 401(k) contributions aren’t required to receive these funds.

2. Aetna

In addition to a tuition reimbursement program, healthcare company Aetna also matches student loan payments for eligible employees who meet certain requirements. For full-time employees, the program matches student loan payments up to $2,000 per year, with a lifetime maximum of up to $10,000 for qualifying loans. For part-time employees, the program matches up to $1,000 a year, with a lifetime maximum of $5,000.

3. Ally Financial

Financial services company Ally provides $100 per month toward student loan payments, with a lifetime maximum cap of $10,000. The company also reimburses tuition up to $10,000 per year to help employees keep educational debt to a minimum.

4. Chegg

Education company Chegg has paid out more than $1 million toward employee student loan debt through its Equity for Education benefit. For entry-level employees through manager level, those who have worked at the company for at least 2 years receive up to $5,000 annually. Employees at the director or vice-president level can receive up to $3,000 annually.

5. Estee Lauder

The beauty company provides employees with $100 per month in student loan assistance, up to a lifetime maximum of $10,000.

6. Fidelity

As an employee of the investment brokerage firm, you may be eligible to receive up to $15,000 toward your student loan payments.

7. Google

Google matches up to $2,500 in loan payments per employee each year.

8. Hulu

Streaming service Hulu pays up to $1,200 a year per employee to match their student loan payments.

9. Live Nation

Entertainment company Live Nation Live Nation matches employee contributions of up to $100 per month, or $1,200 a year. The lifetime maximum is $6,000 in benefits. Employees must be employed with the company for at least six months to qualify.

10. New York Life

New York Life’s student loan assistance program, Vault Pay, contributes $170 per month over five years toward student loans that are in good standing. In other words, employees can receive up to $10,200 while enrolled in the program.

11. Nvidia

If you’ve graduated within the last three years, Nvidia will match your student loan payments dollar for dollar up to $3500 per month. The lifetime cap is $30,000 in assistance. To be eligible, you must be a full-time or part-time U.S. employee working 20 hours or more per week.

12. Penguin Random House

New York Life’s student loan assistance program, Vault Pay, contributes $170 per month over five years toward student loans that are in good standing. In other words, employees can receive up to $10,200 while enrolled in the program.

13. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

As a participating associate or senior associate, you can receive $1,200 in student loan payments each year. The company estimates that this benefit can help to reduce student loan principal and interest by up to $10,000, and shorten loan payoff by up to three years.

14. SoFi

As an employee with SoFi, you’ll get $200 each month in student loan repayment assistance. The company also provides free financial classes.

15. Staples

Eligible employees for the Staples student loan assistance program include active, full-time U.S. associates with at least one outstanding loan obligation. Participants must also have obtained or are in the process of receiving a degree from an accredited institution. The company pays $100 per month toward loan principal for 36 months.

How Is Student Loan Assistance Taxed?

If you receive student loan assistance or cancellation, it’s important to understand the tax consequences. Depending on the situation, you could be responsible for a tax bill.

The IRS typically considers canceled debt to be taxable income. That includes most student loan debt forgiveness or discharge, except for PSLF. However, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 exempts borrowers who are working toward loan forgiveness from having their forgiven balances taxed if their loans were discharged between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2025. This only applied to federal taxes, though, and some states may still require forgiven student loans to be taxed as income.

As for employer-sponsored assistance programs, a temporary pandemic-era provision allows employers to contribute up to $5,250 per year in tax-free funds toward qualified education costs for employees. Any contributions above that amount are considered taxable income for the employee. However, this special tax treatment expires December 31, 2025, after which any amount of employer payments or reimbursements for education expenses or student loan repayment will be taxed as income.



💡 Quick Tip: Refinancing could be a great choice for working graduates who have higher-interest graduate PLUS loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and/or private loans.

Negotiating a Student Loan Repayment Benefit

If you’re looking for a job, keep an eye out for companies that repay student loans as an employee benefit. If you can’t find one, you can still try to negotiate the benefit into your total compensation. Here are some ways to do it.

Doing Your Research

Resources such as Payscale and Glassdoor can help give you an idea of the salary and benefits that may be available from various companies. Look at what the company you’re interested in typically offers as well as what you might get with a similar position somewhere else.

If anything, this process can give you a better idea of what you’re worth. But it will also give you a benchmark that you can use to negotiate for student loan repayment benefits, along with other aspects of your compensation.

Making Your Interests Clear

Helping a potential employer understand why student loan repayment is important to you can help set the stage for the entire conversation.

In addition to salary, employers can consider several other factors to make up your total compensation. So knowing what’s most important to you can help them make a more attractive offer.

Asking for a Signing Bonus Instead of Monthly Payments

While a signing bonus isn’t specifically designed as a student loan repayment benefit, you can use it that way. In fact, making a lump sum payment toward your student loans could help you accelerate your student loan debt repayment timeline.

Recommended: How to Negotiate Your Signing Bonus

Asking for the Opportunity to Revisit the Request in the Future

If you can’t manage to persuade a potential employer to provide you with student loan assistance, that may not be the end of it. You could ask for the chance to talk about your compensation again in six months or a year.

During that time, you may be able to prove to your employer that it’s worth the investment on their part. Or you may have planted a seed for the employer to create a student loan repayment benefit for all employees.

Making Student Loan Repayment a Priority

Whether or not you can find jobs that pay off student loans, you can still make it a priority to eliminate your student debt as quickly as possible. A student loan repayment assistance benefit can help you achieve that goal, but it can’t do it on its own.

As such, it’s essential to consider other options to save money, such as refinancing your student loans. While refinancing can be a helpful option for some borrowers, it won’t make sense for everyone. If federal student loans are refinanced, they’ll lose eligibility for federal programs and benefits, such as PSLF or income-driven repayment plans.

If you qualify, you may be able to reduce your interest rate or your monthly payment. With a lower interest rate you could potentially save money over the life of your loan.

The Takeaway

Many companies offer student loan repayment assistance as a part of their employee benefits package. Some jobs might also offer the opportunity for the borrower to apply for student loan forgiveness. For example, there are programs available for medical professionals, teachers, and those that work in the government or non-profit sector.

Another opportunity for managing student loans is refinancing, which could allow qualifying borrowers to lower their interest rates — making the loan more affordable in the long run. If you’re interested in refinancing, consider the options available at SoFi.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.


With SoFi, refinancing is fast, easy, and all online. We offer competitive fixed and variable rates.

FAQ

What careers pay off student loans fastest?

High-paying jobs may help borrowers repay their student loans quickly. However, some jobs may allow borrowers to pursue a loan forgiveness program. While these programs may not expedite the repayment process, they could help make student loan repayment more manageable.

What companies pay off student loans?

Companies including SoFi, Fidelity, Penguin Random House, and Nvidia all offer student loan repayment assistance programs. Specific benefits vary by company.

What kind of jobs qualify for student loan forgiveness?

The type of job that qualifies for student loan forgiveness may vary depending on the program. Jobs in the government or non-profit sector may qualify a borrower for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Teachers may qualify for Teacher Student Loan Forgiveness programs. Some medical professionals may qualify for programs such as the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.


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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Does Everyone Need an Estate Plan?

Does Everyone Need an Estate Plan?

The short answer is, yes, estate planning can be a smart move for everyone.

Though it’s not much fun to think about what will happen to your loved ones after you are gone, doing some estate planning early on, and readjusting it as needed throughout your lifetime, can help you prepare for the future and protect the people you care about.

One of the biggest reasons why is that without an estate plan, any assets you have may not go to the people you would have wanted to have them. And, if you have children, you won’t have a say in who becomes their guardian. Not having an estate plan can also create a lot of legal and administrative headaches for your family members and friends.

Contrary to what many people assume, you don’t have to be old, rich, or have children to benefit from making a financial plan for after you are gone.

Read on to learn what estate planning is all about and what you can do to get started.

What Is an Estate Plan?

Estate planning is deciding in advance and in writing who will get your assets and money after your death or in the event that you become incapacitated.

It can be as simple as designating certain people as your beneficiaries on your financial accounts. Estate planning also typically includes creating a will. It can also include setting up trusts and creating a living will that can be used should you ever become incapacitated.

Your “estate” is simply everything you own — money and assets, including your home and your car — at the time of your death.

Your debts are also part of your estate. Anything you owe on credit cards and loans may have to be paid off first by your estate before any further money or assets are distributed to your heirs.

Estate planning is not entirely about money, though. It may also leave instructions for how your incapacitation or death may be handled. For instance, you may not want to be kept on a life-support system if you were in a coma. You may want to be cremated instead of buried. These instructions can be included in your estate planning.

An estate plan may also include choosing a guardian for your children and any specific wishes regarding how you want them to be raised.


💡 Quick Tip: We all know it’s good to have a will in place, but who has the time? These days, you can create a complete and customized estate plan online in as little as 15 minutes.

The Importance of an Estate Plan

An estate plan can be beneficial no matter what your age, income, assets, or family status. Below are some key reasons why you may want to consider estate planning.

You Decide Where Your Assets Will Go

If you don’t have beneficiaries named in an estate plan, the courts will determine who gets your assets. That might be your closest kin (possibly someone you wouldn’t want to have your inheritance), and if you have none, the state may take those assets.

Likely you have someone who you would prefer to leave assets to, and if not, you can choose a charity.

You Have Children

If you have children, it’s important for you to consider how you want them cared for if you and your spouse were to pass away, and who you would want to be their guardians.

Your estate plan can even outline how you hope to pass on aspects of your life such as religion, education, and other values. You can also set up a trust so that your children receive an inheritance once they are 18.

It Can Help Avoid Legal Headaches

If you have beneficiaries you want to leave your assets to, having an estate plan and/or will can minimize the legal headache your loved ones have to deal with.

Without any kind of estate plan, a probate court may have to determine how assets are divided, and this can take months or years, delaying those assets making it to the people you want to have them.

It Can Help Prevent Family Conflict

Your family members may all get along well, but it’s a good idea to write a will so that things remain harmonious.

Regardless of the size of your estate, some careful estate planning can help prevent your family members from arguing over who gets what, whether it’s a small tiff or a full-on lawsuit.

It Can Ease the Financial Burden of Final Costs

Many people don’t consider planning their own funerals, and that may leave an emotional and financial burden on their loved ones.

A funeral can cost, on average, around $7,900, and a cremation about $6,900. Consider whether your loved ones would be in a financial situation to be able to afford to cover that expense, plus any others involved with your final arrangements.

Taking these final costs into consideration can be a part of your estate plan. You might decide to set aside funds to cover your funeral expenses.

You can do this with a “payable on death” account, which can be set up through your bank and allows the designated beneficiaries to receive the money in the account when you pass away.

Or, you might elect to purchase a prepaid funeral plan, which sends money directly to the funeral home to cover a casket, floral arrangements, service, and other aspects of your funeral. You may want to keep in mind, however, that prepaying for a funeral can lead to a loss of money if the funeral home goes out of business.

What’s Included In an Estate Plan

While your estate plan will be unique to your own situation, there are a few things you might consider including.

A Will

Your will is the actual document that outlines who your beneficiaries are and what they will receive upon your passing. It may also identify a guardian if you have young children.

This is also where you can identify the executor, who will carry out the terms of your will.

Recommended: What Happens If You Die Without a Will?

Life Insurance Policy

Having this policy information with the rest of your estate plan makes it easy for your family to file a claim with your insurance company upon your death.

A Living Will

Death is not the only situation in which you may be unable to make a decision. You may be alive yet incapacitated, and in this scenario it can be difficult for your loved ones to know what you want them to do.

Writing a living will can be highly valuable because it lays out how you want to be treated during your end-of-life care, including specific treatments to take or refrain from taking.

A living will is often combined with a durable power of attorney, a legal document that can allow a surrogate to make decisions on behalf of the incapacitated individual.

Letter of Intent

This letter is directed to your executor, and provides instructions for carrying out your wishes in regards to your will, and possibly also funeral arrangements.

A Trust

If you have a sizable inheritance for your beneficiaries and don’t want them to have access to all the funds all at once, you can establish a trust with rules about how and when they receive the money.

For example, you could stipulate that your children receive a fixed allowance each month until they graduate college or get married, or that they use the money for college.


💡 Quick Tip: A trust is a customized estate planning tool that can be helpful for your heirs in addition to a will.

Key Account Information

You might also consider providing account numbers and passwords for bank accounts, investment accounts, and other important accounts that your family will need access to. This can make life much simpler for your loved ones.

Recommended: What Is the Difference Between Will and Estate Planning?

The Takeaway

Whether you have children and want to ensure they’re taken care of, or you’re single and would like your assets to go to certain people or a charity you care about, it’s wise to have a basic estate plan.

Having a financial plan in place in the event that you pass away or become incapacitated can protect surviving family members from unnecessary financial, legal, and emotional stress.

When you want to make things easier on your loved ones in the future, SoFi can help. We partnered with Trust & Will, the leading online estate planning platform, to give our members 15% off their trust, will, or guardianship. The forms are fast, secure, and easy to use.

Create a complete and customized estate plan in as little as 15 minutes.


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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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