The last few weeks have reminded me just how real the “circle of life” is. I recently lost my dad. Anyone who’s been through that knows it changes how you see things. It’s not just the grief—it’s the details, the decisions, the conversations that either happened a long time ago or didn’t happen at all. You realize how important it is when things are well organized and how difficult it can be when they’re not. The stress on the family is real, and their decisions and emotions are affected in many unsuspecting ways.
Around the same time, we sat down with a young couple who were about to welcome their first child. Completely different moments in life, completely different emotions. But we ended up talking about many of the same things. Not markets. Not returns. But protection and a lot of “what ifs”. Who would take care of the child if something happened? What happens to their assets? Who will step in to make very important decisions? They weren’t thinking about death—they were thinking about life and doing everything they can do to protect it.
As financial advisors, this is one of the most important roles we play… and honestly one of the most overlooked. We help families think through the “what ifs”, make sure the important documents are in place, make sure their wishes are clear, and then make things easier for the people they love during the hardest moments of their lives.
Losing my dad reinforced something I’ve always believed, and we’ve built our company along these beliefs. Estate planning isn’t about preparing for death. It’s about taking care of the people you love while you’re still here. Sitting with the young couple reminds us, the right time isn’t “later.” It’s when life changes.
So, we will continue to sit with our clients in the happy moments, and the most difficult moments, guiding them through the details in the middle of heightened emotions. If you or someone you know doesn’t’ have a plan, encourage them to put one together. And if they do have a plan, take a little time to revisit it. Not because you have to, but because the people you love are worth it.