CHECK IT OUT

No matter what shape your estate is in, you can maximize its yield in

retirement and beyond with smart financial strategies. Find a wealth of

resources to help you stretch your returns with print and online library

resources.

For those new to asset management, attorney Denis Clifford provides

plain-English answers to questions about divvying up family heirlooms,

avoiding probate and reducing taxes in “Estate Planning Basics.” From

choosing beneficiaries to planning for incapacity, there are concise

explanations of major financial planning components in this Nolo Press

volume. Find it in soft cover and as an online e-book accessible from

https://www.newportbeachlibrary.org.

Clifford teams with attorney Mary Randolph to offer “9 Ways to Avoid

Estate Taxes,” also from Nolo Press. Print and electronic versions cover

how to save your family money through gifts, trusts and life insurance

policies. Separate chapters cover tax exemptions available through

tuition and medical payments and charitable contributions.

There’s more guidance about protecting your estate from avoidable

taxes in “Wills, Estates and Trusts,” delivered in a humorous style by

veteran estate lawyer Alexander Bove Jr. Entertaining examples illustrate

how numerous legal documents work, how to avoid probate, when to have a

will and what to do to settle an estate.

PaineWebber Inc. Vice President Barbara Shotwell and attorney Nancy

Randolph Greenway provide another amusing take on a serious subject in

“Pass It On: A Practical Approach to the Fears and Facts of Planning Your

Estate.” Using songs and TV shows from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s to explain

legal issues, they cover everything from living wills (“Let It Be”) to

divorce (“Breaking Up is Hard to Do”) in easily understood language.

Alongside advice about staying out of court to settle an estate,

attorney Karen Ann Rolcik provides handy forms and instructions for

filling them out in “The Complete Guide to Living Trusts and Avoiding

Probate.” More than a dozen documents may be used to prepare your own

trust or will with little or no legal assistance.

If you’re close to retirement age, you can learn how to manage assets,

stay ahead of inflation and develop realistic goals with “Set for Life:

Financial Peace for People over 50,” by PaineWebber Inc. executive Bambi

Holzer. Written specifically for folks nearing the end of their

wage-earning years, this is a fine reference for those who have delayed

facing financial planning issues.

No matter how old you are or what you do for a living, you probably

want to aspire to the promise of “Plan Smart, Retire Rich.” Written by

retirement experts at The Mony Group, this is a guide that anyone -- from

young professionals to corporate presidents -- may use to reach personal

goals, assess needs and maximize financial resources.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Melissa Adams, in collaboration with

Tim Hetherton. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers

by accessing the catalog at https://www.newportbeachlibrary.org.