Houston Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney Blog
The old saying that the first generation builds the business, the second generation struggles to maintain it and the third squanders everything, is sadly, statistically true. However, creating a legacy might give you better odds of success.
If you’ve been responsible and had an estate plan created, you are way ahead of most of your peers. You’ve planned for your family and your heirs with a will, powers of attorney, an advanced directive and likely created the appropriate trusts to hold life insurance policies to minimize estate taxes and protect the proceeds from creditors. You may have even done some succession planning, using family trusts and other planning vehicles. However, will this be enough for a lasting legacy?
Forbes’ recent article, “How To Turn Your Estate Plan Into A Legacy Plan,” says that perhaps you’ve heard that legacy planning is the solution to your problem. However, you are worried about the expense. If you create a legacy plan, does it mean you’ve wasted time and money? No, it doesn’t. The documents you’ve already prepared for estate planning can most likely be used and incorporated into a more effective legacy plan. Let’s look at how to turn an estate plan into a legacy plan.
Form A Legacy Team. This effort takes a team. You need a team of professional advisors working together to move you towards success. A legacy team will typically begin with three main areas of expertise: legal (estate planning attorney), tax (accountant) and wealth/financial planning (wealth advisor). From there, the legacy team may expand, based on your needs and circumstances. Your team’s makeup will depend on you and your family’s specific needs and circumstances.
Get A Legacy Mindset. Think “process” versus “plan.” Traditional estate planning is often seen as complete, once estate planning documents have been prepared and signed. However, the reality is that after you’ve created legal entities and a structure for your estate and/or legacy, you’re just at the start of the process. The legacy plan is a recipe for your success and the framework through which your legacy is going to thrive and grow.
Educate Yourself on What You’ve Already Created. With your legacy team in place and with your legacy mindset, understand what your existing estate plan does and doesn’t do. Review your estate plan and determine if it distinguishes between legacy and non-legacy assets (which almost always should be handled differently on your death). You also need to plan for your life and how to build the legacy you ultimately want to leave behind through specific assets in your estate.
Put the Plan into Action. Creating the plan is the first step, the second is implementing the plan. That will ensure that your legacy will continue, ideally for generations to come.
Reference: Forbes (August 22, 2018) “How To Turn Your Estate Plan Into A Legacy Plan”