As you celebrate the Fourth of July and all it represents - freedom, independence, and the pursuit of happiness -, take pride in the ultimate American liberty: the right to decide your affairs, even after death or in the event of incapacity. An estate plan, specifically a Life & Legacy Plan, is the way to express your liberty. It’s your personal Declaration of Independence. I know; it sounds weird. How in the world can an estate plan show that you value freedom?
Here’s how: Creating a Life & Legacy Plan (a unique estate planning process I use in my firm) preserves your self-determination, protects your family, grows your wealth, and defines your legacy on your terms. Just as the Founding Fathers declared freedom from the British crown over two centuries ago, your Life & Legacy Plan declares your autonomy from the courts, state laws, and conflicting viewpoints that could unravel your final intentions. Read on to find out how.
The first thing to know is that you already have a plan for what happens in the event you become incapacitated or when you die. You may not know what that plan is, and you may not like what that plan is! The government has created a plan for you without your input. Or, you may have already created your plan but didn’t understand your choices, haven’t updated it, or may not even own your assets in a way that has them covered by your plan.
When you have a Life & Legacy Plan, you get to override the government’s plan for you with your choices. YOU get to decide precisely how you want your assets collected and distributed - whether that’s providing for certain loved ones over others, leaving assets to chosen family members who aren’t related by blood or marriage but who have become close kin to you by choice, or donating portions to charitable causes near and dear to your heart.
With a Life & Legacy Plan in place, you maintain that plan throughout your lifetime, so as your assets change, your life and the law change, as does your plan. It grows with you rather than becomes stale and outdated over time. Because you aren’t a stagnant human. You are evolving, changing, and likely growing. Your plan needs to evolve, change, and grow with you. Otherwise, it’s not even worth the paper it’s written on.
Planning for incapacity or death is the equivalent of planning for your best possible life and for the best possible life of the people you love. It may not have ever been presented to you that way, but think about it - if you accept that you are going to die one day, you may become incapacitated first. You want your family and assets to be cared for in a certain way when those things happen. Wouldn’t that naturally inform your choices around allocating resources throughout your life?
We call this “eyes wide open” decision-making, and it leads to the most optimal use and allocation of your resources throughout your life and makes things as easy as possible for the people you love in the event of your incapacity or death. For example, when you consider how you want to be cared for in the event of your incapacity and document those choices, you can then ensure you have the necessary close personal relationships to deliver on your desires, as well as the required financial means to provide for yourself or the people who will care for you (or your kids). Otherwise, you are just leaving it up to luck…or a judge…and we call that “eyes squeezed shut/pretend it’s not going to occur” decision-making, and it’s not responsible, mature, or kind to yourself or the people you love.
The most mature, adult, and loving thing you can do for yourself and the people you love is clarify how you want to be cared for. Suppose you cannot care for yourself, who should decide for you, and how you want those decisions to be made. In addition, it’s critical to provide a roadmap for the people you love so they know what you have, where it is, and how to find it.
Establishing a Life & Legacy Plan does all of that. It doesn’t matter how much or how little you have because your loved ones will have to deal with it, whether it’s a little or a lot -- and your choices while you are living healthy empower them and minimize their outlay of time, energy and attention they may not have, especially during a time of grief. With a Life & Legacy Plan, we help you create, you can also account for exceptional circumstances like children or spouses from previous marriages, loved ones with disabilities, or family members you intentionally want to omit—no more worries about assets getting unfairly split or ending up in the wrong hands.
Finally, holding a family meeting can unite your loved ones around a shared understanding of your intentions rather than driving them apart through conflicts and differing interpretations of your wishes. Your Life & Legacy Plan allows you to create more ease for yourself and the people you love.
Your Life & Legacy Plan represents your final declaration of the values and life experiences you’ll impart to loved ones and the world. Use this opportunity to put your final stamp on how you want your individuality and life’s purpose remembered, rather than leaving it up to chance or leaving a legacy of mess and drama.
Our plans include a Life & Legacy recording that guides you to express your deepest hopes, wisdom, and ethical frameworks acquired over decades of successes, struggles, and personal growth. You will share cherished stories, meaningful quotes, and carefully cultivated philosophies that give your life meaning. The Life & Legacy recording is the most meaningful gift your family will cherish and carry into future generations.
So, this Independence Day, value freedom by establishing your own comprehensive Life & Legacy Plan. Take pride in exercising your liberties to the fullest by removing all uncertainties over your final affairs and ensuring your true wishes will be honored.
We work with you to craft a plan on your terms, considering what you want, not what someone else has decided for you. Show that you value freedom. Once you’ve created your plan, you can rest easy knowing your wishes will be honored, your loved ones cared for, and your legacy preserved.
Book a Call to learn more about how we help you exercise freedom over your choices.
(By Appointment Only)
14425 Falcon Head Blvd
Bldg E-100
Austin, TX 78738
