Recent Posts
Categories
Share This Post
This January, our office started the year by filling our breakroom whiteboard with our New Year’s resolutions. Some are practical, some aspirational, and all are familiar:
- No more “should”
- Be more intentional
- Exercise more
- Eat better
- Drink more water
They all share something in common: we know what we should do — the challenge is actually doing it.
A former colleague and mentor of mine often said, “Estate planning is one of the most necessary, talked about, but procrastinated things on the planet.” Year after year, I see just how true that is.
Why Estate Planning Gets Put Off
Estate planning is widely recognized as important. National surveys consistently show that more than 80% of Americans believe estate planning matters, yet only about one-third have a will, and more than half have no estate planning documents at all — no will, no trust, no power of attorney, and no healthcare directive.
I see this disconnect regularly. It’s not uncommon to meet with individuals in their 70s or 80s who are creating an estate plan for the first time. Often, it’s something they’ve meant to do for years — it simply kept getting pushed to “later.”
The truth is straightforward: the right time to do an estate plan is now — not after retirement, not after a health scare, and not when life finally “slows down.”
What Happens If You Don’t Plan
One of the most important truths about estate planning is this: if you don’t make a plan, the state will have one for you.
Without an estate plan, state law determines how assets are distributed and who makes key decisions. That process may not reflect your wishes and can create unnecessary complexity, cost, and stress for loved ones at an already difficult time.
Estate planning isn’t about expecting the worst. It’s about protecting the people you love and honoring what matters most to you.
A Resolution Worth Keeping — and a Place to Start
New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful. Sometimes the most impactful resolution is simply crossing something important off the mental “should” list.
Our free End-of-Life Planning Workbook for Catholics is intended to help you get organized and begin thinking through important decisions. It’s a practical starting point that encourages reflection on your wishes and values, helping you approach future conversations with your attorney or other professional advisors with greater peace of mind. For many people, it serves as a helpful companion as they prayerfully discern their first steps toward planning with intention and care.
If you would like a copy of the workbook or would simply welcome a conversation about where to begin, we would be glad to hear from you. You can reach us at 605-988-3788 or foundation@ccfesd.org.
With best wishes as you begin the New Year.
God bless,
Casson A. Dennison
Director of Estate Planning
