To the Editor:As we enter National Estate Planning Awareness Week (Oct. 21-27), this is a good time to help the public understand what estate planning is and why it is such a vital component of financial wellness. A Roper poll commissioned by the American Institute for Certified Public Accountants found that two-thirds of Americans over age 65 believe they lack the knowledge necessary to adequately plan for retirement, and nearly one half of all Americans are unfamiliar with basic retirement tools. These findings have been validated by recent studies, including a national poll by the Bipartisan Policy Center, which showed a poor understanding of what retirement actually looks like. Further, many Americans are unaware that a lack of estate planning and “financial illiteracy” may cause their assets to be disposed of to unintended parties by default through the complex process of probate.