Stories abound of people’s really odd last requests and bizarre wishes in their Wills:
- William Shakespeare’s Will included a wish that his wife receive his “second best bed.”
- Napoleon Bonaparte requested that his hair be shaved and divided up amongst his friends.
- Playwright George Bernard Shaw left a large portion of his wealth towards funding the creation of a new alphabet.
- Iowa attorney T.M. Zink left his daughter $5, his wife nothing, and the rest of his money was instructed to be used to build a “womanless library.”
For the rest of us, we’ve got real issues to think about when it comes to our estate and what we will be able to leave our loved ones. In fact, the task of planning can feel so overwhelming that it’s tempting to just avoid it altogether or leave it for someone else to deal with after you’re gone. And here’s the REAL PROBLEM:
Traditional estate planning fosters this kind of indifference.
Most people know how important it is to leave a legacy, but even with the planning “expertise” of traditional advisors, are you sure you won’t make the same mistake?
Don’t focus on what others insist you should do. This is your wealth. You have the right as well as the responsibility to make those decisions that will affect your family for generations to come.
Wealth is more than money. Don’t just plan for your future, live it right now. Pass it on and share the insights like this that you find valuable.
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-George Bernard Shaw