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Life Planning

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While important for every adult, planning for later stages of life is critical for older adults. Later life planning includes estate, funeral, advanced care, long-term care, and more depending on your family (e.g., a grandparent raising a grandchild). Unfortunately, many people often neglect these planning activities until a crisis occurs. The consequences of delaying these decisions cannot be overstated. For example, long-term care is complicated and costly. Without proper planning it may be difficult to get the care you prefer in the location of your choice (e.g., house, apartment, assisted living, nursing home, etc.).

All Life Planning Content

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Organize this! Legal and Financial Must-Haves

A fiduciary is a person with legal authority to act on your behalf in a variety of situations (health care, financial, guardianship, executor, trustee, etc.). Organization is the key to ensuring your fiduciary knows what to do and when.

Older adult man getting assistance from a young, female caregiver.

Older Adults

SDSU Extension provides education and resources for older adults and their families.

Young woman sitting at a desk with financial documents, a notebook, folders, and colored post-it notes.

Organize this! Facilitator Training and Certification

Organize this! facilitators guide participants through the program while creating a supportive and educational environment. Training ensures that facilitators have the knowledge needed to facilitate the program.

Group of young students touring the SDSU campus.

Eighteen and a Real Adult Now

That event of becoming an adult throws some new issues at recent graduates and their families. Learn about some of the necessary medical, financial and legal paperwork they will need as they enter the next stage of their lives.

Women standing in a circle learning about rangeland plants

Women in Agriculture

SDSU Extension's women in agriculture programs are open to all. These programs are designed to provide practical education and a strong support network to benefit farmers, ranchers, business professionals and those who support the agricultural industry.


Multi-generation family reviewing estate documents.

Trusts Explained: What They Are and Why You Need One

Trusts are powerful estate planning tools that help individuals protect assets, provide for loved ones, and ensure their wishes are carried out.

Person reviewing and marking up documents with a pen and post-it notes.

Organize this! Why Clear Handwriting Matters for Legal and Financial Documents

When preparing legal and financial documents, it’s essential to write letters and numbers clearly to avoid potential errors. Learn about some commonly confused letters and numbers in handwriting to avoid mix-ups and mistakes in your own records.

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SDSU Extension hosts Sustaining the Legacy Conferences

November 03, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension will continue to assist farmers and ranchers with long-term planning through its Sustaining the Legacy conferences across South Dakota this winter.

A stack of paperwork that needs to be organized.

SDSU Extension to offer virtual legal and financial education

October 15, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension is working with Nebraska Extension and North Dakota State University Extension to offer a program to prepare you to ask another person to serve as your fiduciary for legal and financial matters.

An older couple reviewing paperwork with a financial planner.

Organize this! What to collect and why

Learn about the different categories of documents and information your power of attorney (POA) or personal representative might need to act on your behalf in the event of an emergency.