 TITLE: What Is a Trust and How Can It Help Me? CONTENT: Reasons to Use a Trust Fund\n---------------------------\nWith so many trust fund options available, there are several reasons to consider using one in your own estate planning. Here are some of the top benefits trusts provide:\n*   **Tax planning**: Some states impose some form of inheritance or estate tax, which may reduce some of the assets you leave to your loved ones. A trust fund can protect certain assets from these taxes.\n*   **More control**: The grantor gets to stipulate exactly how the assets in the trust should be managed, accumulated and distributed. Also, hiring a professional third-party trustee can prevent arguments among family members.\n*   ** and avoiding probate**: Once you die, your will goes through the probate process, making the document public for anyone to view. What's more, probate can be a very time-consuming and expensive process. A trust fund may help you avoid the entire process.\n*   **Asset protection**: With some trust funds, your assets in the trust are protected from your creditors. And depending on how you create the rules for the trust, it could also protect them from irresponsible actions by your beneficiaries.\n*   **Charitable giving**: A charitable trust makes it possible to create a long-term plan to donate your assets to a cause you care about the way you want, even long after you're gone.\n*   **Special-needs planning**: If you care for someone with special needs, a special-needs trust allows you to ensure their continued support after you die, without impacting their ability to receive government benefits.\nDepending on your situation, you may also be able to take advantage of other benefits some trusts provide. While many of these scenarios may not occur for some people, it's still a good idea for anyone who's concerned about how their assets or life insurance proceeds will be used after their death to consider a trust fund. END