New Years Resolution - Do An Estate Plan

We are well into January, and as usual my phone and email have been busier than normal.  There is something about this time of year that motivates people to finally complete an estate plan.  Maybe it is articles like this one, or the fact that the holidays are behind us and the long days of winter do not offer enough distraction.

I am often surprised at how many people call and say, I'd like a will....I don't need an estate plan.  Over the years I've come to learn that people associate the phrase "estate plan" with something akin to the Kennedys or Rockefellers.  They could not be farther from the truth.  Anyone who is 18 or older should have an estate plan.  The documents may not be the same as a Kennedy or Rockefeller, but they still need them.   Estate planning is planning for illness, taxes, and death.  Things none of us will avoid.

When thinking about estate planning, keep this in mind.  It is about taking control and putting your wishes in a format that others will follow.  Happy new year!