What a Dachshund Can Teach Us About Estate Planning

My daughter's dachshund mix has convinced himself that if he watches the window long enough, something exciting will happen. He stands on his hind legs, patiently scanning the yard, certain that this is the moment someone will arrive. It makes me smile every time.

It also reminds me of how many of us approach estate planning. We know we should do it, we intend to do it, and yet we just keep waiting for...something. Maybe we’re waiting for retirement, for the kids to be older, for when work slows down, or until after the holidays. The sad irony is that the event that finally motivates many people to create an estate plan is often the very thing that makes estate planning more difficult.

It might be a health diagnosis, a sudden hospitalization, or even a death. When life feels uncertain, it's much more difficult to think clearly, weigh options, and make thoughtful decisions.  That's why I encourage people to think about estate planning differently. Estate planning isn't something you do because something bad has happened. It's something proactive you do so that when something bad does happen, you and your family already have a plan. 

If you're in Tennessee and you've been waiting for the “right time” to create your estate plan, this is your reminder that the right time is often before life forces the issue. I'd be honored to help you create an estate plan that protects your family and gives you confidence that you've taken care of the people you love.