Think you’re too young for estate planning? Think again

Estate planning involves organizing, managing, and distributing your assets during your lifetime and after your passing, while minimizing, if not avoiding, legal complications for your chosen beneficiaries.

Many assume this is something to think about later in life, but the earlier you start, you get:

• Flexibility. Family life, career moves, and relocation can affect your plans. Starting early allows you to create a framework that grows and adjusts with you, rather than scrambling later under pressure.
• Clarity. Planning ahead removes uncertainty. Clear instructions mean family members will not be left guessing your wishes.
• Financial efficiency. While you have more options to structure your assets wisely, you can take advantage of investment growth and tax strategies.
• Peace of mind. Even just drafting a simple inventory or outlining your intentions bring a sense of control and security, rather than of a crisis forcing your decisions.
• Empowerment. Estate planning is not only about what you leave behind, but also about taking charge of your resources now.

What you have and want

Begin with a clear picture of what you have. This includes bank accounts, investments, business interests, and real properties.

Next, think about your intentions. Who do you want to benefit from these assets, and in what way? Consider not just who, but also when and how.

For example:

• If you plan to provide for your children or grandchildren, whether they are already here or may come in the future, at what stage in their lives should they receive support?
• If you are setting aside funds for healthcare or emergencies, how should these be allocated, and received when need arises? Should payments be made directly to the hospital, or do you prefer to appoint someone you trust to settle it on your behalf?
• If your circumstances change, such as getting married or moving abroad, how do you plan to adapt?

The answers need not be perfect.

Lastly, remember that your plan should support your life today.

A smarter structure

One structure to consider is Personal Management Trust (PMT) or formerly known as Living Trust. This allows you to consolidate both financial and real assets under a single arrangement, guided by a dedicated Trust Professional.

PMT is an account, where you may consolidate your assets bound by a Trust Agreement. The Trust Agreement contains your instructions (how your assets are managed and eventually distributed). Depending on your needs, this can be structured to give you flexibility or permanence, as appropriate. Importantly, you remain in control.

You can structure your plan to enjoy your assets during your lifetime while ensuring their seamless transfer upon your passing and/or based on the conditions you set. You may choose to transfer a property to your child upon marriage, allocate funds once a child becomes a licensed professional, or other key life events.

Funds within the account are professionally managed, with the goal of long-term growth. Instead of paying premiums, you will be charged an annual trust fee that is typically a small percentage of the market value of your assets.

This structure allows your assets to grow while remaining organized, accessible, and aligned with your intentions.

You are not alone

You do not have to navigate estate planning by yourself. Trust Professionals are trained in estate planning and investments. They can help bring structure to your plans, clarify your options, and guide you toward decisions that align with your goals.

When the time feels right, you can connect with your Metrobank partner, who can help arrange a conversation with a Trust Account Manager, your dedicated Trust Professional.

(Disclaimer: This is general investment information only and does not constitute an offer or guarantee, with all investment decisions made at your own risk. The bank takes no responsibility for any potential losses.)

Mariel Lopez is an Investment Counselor at Metrobank under the Financial Markets Sector, drawing on her experience in Trust Banking. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Economy from the University of Asia & the Pacific (UA&P), a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business and has recently completed the Registered Financial Planner course. Outside of finance, Mariel is an avid reader and a certified barre instructor who also pursues intense workouts and is training for her first international hybrid race