Hi Everyone,

This post will be a little different than the usual ones.

You know we do estate planning, and I know lots of people have not done plans. And I get it, the subject matter is uncomfortable.  Planning for a day when you are incapable or dead is not my favorite way to spend time either.  But there are worse things than feeling uncomfortable.

Since my clients share personal stuff with me all day, I think its time I shared back.

Several years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer and spent a summer getting chemo and immunotherapy.  Overall, it went well, but like all things, there were peaks and valleys.

During one of the valleys, I ended up at the ER.  I was admitted to the hospital and then transferred to the sub-ICU.  It wasn’t looking good for a bit.

You may have heard the saying “the painter’s house is peeling and the plumber’s house has leaks.”  Well, the estate planner’s house had no estate plan.  I had an out-of-date Will, no Power of Attorney, and no healthcare directives.

My wife had no access to our main bank account, no online banking access, etc.  She had to get creative and resourceful, and she had to do it fast.

I got better, and when I got home, we did put a plan together.

But the feeling of guilt and embarrassment stuck with me.  I had let my family down.

So while doing estate planning is uncomfortable, there are worse things than uncomfortable.  Like being completely unprepared and leaving your family in the lurch.

So if uncomfortable is stopping you, let protecting your family get you started.