A financial power of attorney can be a powerful tool in your estate planning tool belt. But if you don't take careful consideration when creating this document, you could face serious consequences.

A financial power of attorney allows someone to execute ... This can help you to avoid mistakes, since a good power of attorney form will walk you through the required elements and your options.

In its most basic form, a power of attorney ... you’ll want to implement a financial power of attorney. Typically, these agents handle retirement accounts, bank accounts, real estate, taxes ...

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. A financial power of attorney can be tailored to provide exactly the authority you wish your agent to have or not to have– for example ...

Power of attorney (POA ... and to anyone with whom you do business. Some financial institutions, however, require you to fill out their own POA forms and will not accept general POA documentation.

We look at what an LPA is, why it’s an important part of financial planning like writing a will or paying into a pension, and common mistakes to avoid. A lasting power of attorney (LPA ...