Now that the playoffs are over

I had a chance to reflect on my recent trip and the stress that I was under prior to leaving was enormous. I guess the thoughts of traveling to a third world country really made Dawn and I think about what happens “if”.

This “if” that we refer too could have been anything but it forced us to take a peek at our outdated will, with outdated instructions, and the toughest part of that document was who was going to get the 1988 K car that we sold in 1993. Just kidding!!!

The whole exercise was a little embarrassing, considering my line of work, yet it is similar to the barber’s kids walking around with long hair. We just never get around to it. Fortunately for us, our boys are now of maturity (Over the age of 18) and would be able to receive the settlement of our estate and do as they wish. That is when we got nervous.

Most of us strive to do better than our parents did, yet the thoughts of turning it all over so that Mr. Harper and his goons get their hands on a sizable portion, makes me want to vomit. They get enough already and they don’t have two clues on how to manage one of the wealthiest nations in the world. Not that my children would be prepared for this either.

So herein lies the need for a plan of action and a quarterback to ensure the plan is executed properly. Most people feel a will is sufficient and most cases that is true. Unfortunately today, more and more responsibility for employment falls on the private sector and has given rise to successful entrepreneurs. A will may not ensure the continuation of a business and this starts the ripple effect. Can you start to see the problem? Many others outside the immediate family can be affected.

The whole exercise took over a week and forced me to implement action plans and emergency measures in case something happened to either Dawn and me, or my business partner, who was traveling also. Careful consideration was given to who would do what, but the real eye-opener came in the event of all parties going MIA. The outcome made our company better as each person was forced to see their role and duties and in some cases, duplication was removed.

The message in all this is, that we all take trips each day and most accidents happen within a stone’s throw of where we live. Do we have the plans in place and do all the people that depend on us, understand and respect our wishes? Maybe it is time to dig some stuff out and give our plan a little review. Heck, it may give us something to talk about other than hockey now that the playoffs are over. Check our tools section for our “Will checklist” or the “Estate Planning Checklist”. These are both great guides. If you get confused, call me and I can teach you about hockey at the same time.