Our office recently participated in a “Thrive Challenge.” The challenge included points for completing different achievements in various aspects of life like getting exercise, visiting a park or museum, reading for pleasure, cleaning your office, and performing other everyday activities. It was fun to have a little friendly competition, but it was also a great reminder to be intentional with our time. We need to carve out time for things that are important to us so we can thrive and live a better life. As you think about January and New Year’s resolutions, perhaps a similar challenge with friends or family would be a great way to kick off the new year.
While you’re at it, I encourage you to take some time over the holidays to visualize what you want your future life to look like and what you want for your spouse, children, or other loved ones.
Many may think of estate planning as a morbid discussion about what happens when you die. In reality, modern estate planning places a heavy emphasis on simply living a better life. Estate planning is about living life on YOUR terms. What do you want for your future? If you can’t speak for yourself at some point, what are your preferred options for care and various medical treatments? How will your family know what you want? Who are the key professionals you trust to help your family navigate the situation? What is your plan for paying for the care? Have you laid the groundwork to make what you want a reality?
Did you know seniors are more afraid of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia than they are of death? Most of us can’t fathom the possibility of losing our faculties bit by bit and becoming steadily more dependent on others to care for our basic needs.
We regularly ask clients, “If you were to have a health event and needed extended health care or long-term care, where would you prefer to receive that care?” Overwhelmingly, most clients would prefer to receive care in their own homes. But sadly, many people fail to take the action needed to make their wishes a reality.
I know from years of experience that ignoring the problem and failing to plan dramatically increases the likelihood that one will NOT be able to live life on their terms or will not receive their preferred care environment. They are more likely to be a greater burden on their loved ones in terms of time, stress, and finances.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Here’s what we’ve seen time and time again with clients who have tackled these difficult topics:
- Their plan creates mental clarity and peace of mind about the future.
- Having a plan gives more financial freedom during retirement if they know they already have a clear plan for a “rainy day.”
- Health events are always a possibility, but having a plan dramatically reduces family stress and discord when a health event occurs.
There’s no need to wait to get your estate plan in order. Call us today at 919-500-7748 and you’ll be on the fast track to obtaining peace of mind and security for your future.
