Americans are putting off until tomorrow life and death plans they should make today, according to a survey conducted online by DHM Research on behalf of Weinstein PR and Intentional Life Planning LLC.

Between February 26 and March 2, 2019, DHM Research asked 625 respondents nationwide if they had an advanced directive (19 percent did); a last will and testament (26 percent did); a power of attorney (15 percent did); a financial plan (30 percent did); a life plan (13 percent did); or none of the above (44 percent had none). The survey also asked respondents if they didn't know (1 percent said they didn’t).

Respondents' answers varied according to gender. Women were more likely than men to have an advanced directive (24 percent versus 13 percent); power of attorney (21 percent versus 9 percent); and last will and testament (29 percent versus 24 percent), while more men than women said they had a financial plan (37 percent versus 24 percent) and a life plan (13 percent versus 12 percent).

Age was a factor in respondents' answers, too. Just one-third of respondents age 18 to 44 said they had a financial plan (33 percent), and only 15 percent said they also had a life plan. A third of respondents age 45 to 64 (37 percent) said they had a last will and testament, compared with 53 percent of respondents age 65 or older. Slightly less than half of respondents age 65 and older said they also had an advanced directive (46 percent).

The survey found that the better-educated the respondent, the more likely he or she had at least one or more plans for life, finances, health and death. One-third of college graduates said they had a last will and testament (30 percent) and another third said they had a financial plan (31 percent). Respondents with a postgraduate degree were even more likely to have a financial plan (40 percent). By comparison, three-quarters of respondents with only a high school diploma or less (73 percent) had none of the plans.

The more money respondents earned, the more likely they would have one or more plans as well. Nearly half of respondents earning more than $100,000 per year (45 percent) had a last will and testament and a financial plan, while respondents earning $25,000 or less per year were less likely to have a financial plan (16 percent) or a life plan (9 percent).

DHM Research is headquartered in Portland, Ore., with an office in Washington, D.C.

Lee and Melinda Weinstein founded Intentional Life Planning LLC in 2018. Lee Weinstein is also the founder of Weinstein PR. Both companies are based in Portland, Ore.