Some things in life are “certain”…
It’s funny how things happen. It‘s been on my mind lately that I need to produce more material for my blog, but whenever I sit down to write I end up being interrupted by more pressing matters. It just seems like something ALWAYS comes up…I have all these great ideas in my head and in my journal, but they never get translated to a fully-formed thought.
Just a few minutes ago, I went downstairs to buy a cup of coffee. As I stood there waiting in line, there was a woman at one of the tables talking to her friend. The look of frustration on her face was…palpable. She looked like she was about to burst into tears. I heard her say to her friend: “After Dad died, I tried to get Mom to go see my lawyer. She kept putting it off, telling me that Dad had just passed and she wasn’t ready to deal with this stuff. I tried to explain to her that she needed to get her will updated, and we should talk to the attorney about things like power of attorney and stuff for medical needs. Now she’s in the hospital and can’t make any decisions, and I can’t do anything either. I have to wait for a doctor to sign some forms, and then I have to go see a judge. It just sucks, and I’m completely stressed out….”
As the old saying goes, the only two things in life that are certain are “death” and “taxes”, and these are issues I discuss with clients all the time. People are happy to hear about ways that they might be able to reduce their taxes, but not so eager to talk when I ask about their estate plan.*
Really, I get it. We’re all human, and we don’t like to confront our own mortality, much less plan for it. I can’t eat like I used to any longer, I can’t run as fast, and last year I had to buy my first pair of reading glasses. I wish that I could freeze my “physical self” in my mid-20’s condition but allow my brain to continue to acquire wisdom and experience, but we all know that’s not going to happen.
Some of us are going to live long and happy lives and do all sorts of really cool things. Others are going to die too soon, or get sick and need help. You can count on it. This brief encounter has only renewed my determination to keep asking clients the tough questions, and to get my own affairs in order. You would feel the same if you saw the look on this woman’s face….
Somberly yours,
Joe Griffard, CFP®
*Keep in mind that we don’t give tax advice or write legal documents, but we can work with your tax professional to help reduce the tax impact of your investments and with your attorney to facilitate the creation of an estate plan.
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