Creating or revising an estate plan can feel overwhelming, causing many people to procrastinate. But the longer you put it off, the more potential there is to be caught unprepared in an emergency. So how can you motivate yourself and your loved ones to begin the process? Here are some strategies to help you overcome some of the negative feelings associated with this process and meet the challenge head on.
Reward Yourself for Your Accomplishments
While the benefits associated with updating or creating a new estate plan are a reward in and of themselves, we can all use an extra push. Sometimes the promise of a small indulgence as a reward can change your frame of mind when initiating the process. However, your idea of a reward may be more substantial and might involve a more significant gift for the entire family to enjoy. What other projects have required extra motivation in the past? How much easier might they have been to complete if you rewarded yourself or your family for their completion? Get inspired with a few meaningful ideas that could serve as a reward:
- Plan a well-deserved vacation
- Make a reservation at your favorite restaurant
- Book a family photo session
- Buy the new phone, laptop, or computer you have been eyeing
The key to an effective reward is personalization. Choose something that resonates with you and can serve as a reminder of the importance and the effort you put into completing the estate planning process, which is essential to protecting your family’s future.
Break Your Estate Planning Project Down into Smaller Steps
Estate planning can be a complex process, and facing it as a whole may seem impossible. To make it more manageable, break the process down into smaller, more achievable steps.
Identify the first three steps you need to take using these suggestions:
- Learn more about estate planning tools and how they work. Find out what is typically included in a comprehensive estate plan, such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives.
- Collect financial information. Gather and organize your financial information, including a detailed inventory of your money, property, debts, and sources of income. List bank accounts, investments, real estate, insurance policies, personal belongings, and more.
- Set specific goals for your estate plan. Establish clear goals based on the following factors:
- Family structure
- Business and personal financial objectives
- Intentions for protecting and supporting your loved ones after your passing
- Desired lifestyle in retirement
- Wishes for how you would like to be cared for as you age
- End-of-life wishes
- Choose your beneficiaries, personal representatives, trustees, and agents. Determine the beneficiaries you want to inherit your money and property and the individuals you want to be responsible for managing and distributing these accounts and property after your death. Think about the people you would trust as guardians for your minor children and whom you feel comfortable choosing to make financial and medical decisions for you if you become unable to make those decisions for yourself.
- Ask for the help you need. Throughout this first phase of preparing your estate plan, identify estate planning attorneys as well as tax and financial professionals in your area. Schedule consultations to discuss your needs and assemble a reliable team.
- Review and update an existing plan. If you already have estate planning documents in place, review them for accuracy and relevance. Life circumstances such as marriages, divorces, or births, as well as changes in financial status, usually require updates. Ensure that beneficiary designations on accounts and insurance policies are current.
By following these initial steps, you will lay a solid foundation for participating in the estate planning process. Each step keeps you on track and moves you toward the larger goal of completing your estate plan.
Tell Someone about Your Plan
Accountability can be a powerful motivator. Share your intention to create or update your estate plan with a trusted friend or family member. This person can offer support and encouragement. They can also check in on your progress so you will be more likely to follow through on your commitment. For some people, simply saying the words out loud or putting them on a calendar also makes the project a priority. Choose the best way to hold yourself accountable.
Making an appointment with an estate planner is often the first step. Contact us to get started.
Posted in: Estate Planning