It's All About Love

With Valentine’s Day almost here and all of the expressions of love that come with it, I thought it would be worthwhile to look at the big picture of estate planning. Yes, it does involve legal technicalities, tax issues, and sometimes indecipherable language. But, at its core, estate planning is all about one thing: love.

Life can throw us a lot of curveballs and we can’t always control the path of our lives. One thing we do control, though, is our actions in response to and in preparation for those curveballs. When we have loved ones in our lives, whether it be a spouse, children, parents, siblings, extended family, or friends, many of us show our love by taking care of them. Taking the steps to plan is rooted in that love, our desire to care for those that matter most to us.

Having worked with older adults for much of my life, I have often encountered death, as people dear to me pass away. It is always heartbreaking. When I work with people on estate planning, together we must contemplate death and how people will take care of their loved ones when they pass. The hope is always that death comes after a long and full life. Still, it is a heavy topic.

It can be so difficult to think about leaving your loved ones or losing a loved one. As a result, many of us postpone planning or simply don’t want to engage. When I have difficulty thinking about planning for myself and my family, I remember the love I mentioned before.

That love is what makes me want to make sure my kids are taken care of by the people I would choose, should something happen to me and my husband. It makes me think of how I will provide for them even if I am not here. That love makes me give guidance to my family on how to approach my health and legal affairs if I am incapacitated. Mortality is hard to contemplate, but not planning for my loved ones’ futures honestly fills me with even more dread.

While there is some fear and sadness that many of us feel when going through the steps to plan for incapacity or death, there is also a profound opportunity to use the planning experience as a reminder of all that we cherish right here and right now.

If you haven’t already, this Valentine’s season, think about beginning that planning process, so that you can rest more easily and savor your time with your loved ones. Be present for and relish all those you love in this beautiful life. Tell them – and show them – how much you love them.