August 17, 2009
It is a No Brainer!
I wanted to comment on a phone call I received the other day. I received a call from a married mom with two minor children. Both parents work full time and drive to and from work. She and her husband currently did not have any Estate Planning in place. They both had life insurance policies valued each at $500,000. The children were named as second beneficiaries. I asked her what her intent was on how the proceeds should be used. She told me that she wanted her children to be able to have access to that money for college and perhaps for a wedding and to start a family.
The most important thing that I try to point out at each and every meeting I have with a potential client is that we never know when we are going to die. The best way to estate plan is to plan on passing away tomorrow. I explained to her that if they both were to pass away at the same time, that not only would there not be a person already in place to care for their children (Guardian) but the children would not have access to the Life Insurance proceeds because they are not 18 yet.
She was not thinking that her children would need the money tomorrow because she was not thinking she would die tomorrow. Both her and her husband commute every day for work; anything can happen. She also did not know that there needs to be a guardian in place in order for the proceeds to be able to be used towards the care of her children during the time her children needed it the most.
Needless to say, after she heard my explanation as to the importance of planning as soon as possible when you have minor children especially, she scheduled an appointment immediately.
Sometimes the fear of the unknown is all it takes to put it all into perspective and to see the value of having an Estate Plan today.
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