The only thing constant is change

This indeed has been a crazy time. We have been holding on to our seatbelts watching the happenings in this country and the world. We have just gone through an incredible election season where we have had more people vote than ever before. The results were history making. I think we can all agree that the last four years happened because we weren’t vigilant in paying attention and acting on that which we know is important.

               We are living in the midst of a pandemic where at this writing more than 10 million people have been diagnosed with the Corona Virus in the United States and there have been more than 238,000 deaths. The Black Lives Matter movement has been challenged as Black lives are still being taken with little regard.

               We are all eyes wide open wondering what the next chapter will look like.  The previous White House administration created laws and Executive Orders that met his personal agenda and disregarded those who disagreed and were not aligned with his preferences or his lifestyle. 

               We have no idea what the next chapter will unfold. Yet, we ought not sit idly by uninformed. We ought not let changes happen without adapting. We should be active participants choosing the path we are seeking. 

                Estate planning is a dynamic process. Our lives and relationships are dynamic. As we move through the months celebrating births, marriages, graduations, weddings, relocation we also are mourning loss through deaths, divorces and relationship disappointments. With each change our life plans should be adjusted. We are committed to building legacies that transform the future of our families and our communities. 

               Our societal changes need to be thought through with the change of laws that consider relationships, blended families, common law marriages, foster or adopted children. We also should be vigilant in managing the tax impact of the actions we take. Our laws as our lives change without warning. We need to be attentive to make the changes with our laws and lives that have significant impact on the path that we take for ourselves as well as our loved ones.

               The estate planning tax laws most recently preserved the wealth of those people with less than $11 million. There is discussion that the estate tax exemption limit will be lowered. No one actually knows what the future will bring. I encourage you to stay tuned and informed. Pay attention to the change in laws. Pay attention to the changes in your families. Pay attention to the changes in your community.

               With active planning you can benefit from the laws. With strategic planning you can support your children and your children’s children to have the benefits and opportunities that you want for them. If you pay attention you can be a blessing to build the supports for the community that transforms lives.

               It does not happen by accident. It does not happen by standing by idly. It does not happen just by wishing it so. Strategic planning creates opportunity to build the future that we want. In the multitude of counsel there is safety. Connect with those subject matter experts that share your dreams, visions and goals. We are better together. Together, let’s make an active decision to build the better tomorrow.