100 best money moves you can make

Read a first draft of your will to your loved ones. Yes, you'll have an awkward debate over who inherits the cabin on the lake. But that's preferable to the pain you'd unleash by springing the news from the grave.

"I've seen families spend 60% of an estate in litigation," says Vic Preisser, co-author of "Preparing Heirs." Talking about who will get what -- and, just as important, why -- lessens the chance of future conflict.

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