This week I had the unfortunate experience of attending a funeral. So please excuse the dark message on a Friday morning. However, I believe that the following is an important message that shouldn’t go unheard.
The two things in our lives that are certain, Death and Taxes. Some of us may pay less tax than we should, but death is a certainty. We don’t know when or how, but unfortunately it’s going to happen! No ifs or buts it’s going to happen one way or another. We know this, however for some reason we don’t think it’s going to happen to US. We think that we are different or that we might get lucky. Well I am sorry to be the one to break it to you, you are incorrect. The quicker we can accept this, the sooner we put in place a plan for when we pass away.
If you have ever attended or had to plan a funeral, you will know that it is a horrific experience to go through. Especially if the deceased was a close friend or relative. You may have also noticed that it costs money, sometimes a lot of money. So in the mix of dealing with the recent loss, the family and friends have to organise, plan and fund a funeral. Sometimes only days after learning that they will never get to see that someone special again.
If only someone had explained to them in an email that it doesn’t have to be this way. Now I am not saying that losing someone special is ever going to be easy or a smooth process. However, there are things you can put in place to insure that your family doesn’t have to suffer twice. Firstly due to the emotional loss and secondly, due to the financial pain and suffering that a death can cause.
However difficult or uncomfortable this conversation may be it is one that can’t be put to the side or left in the too hard basket. Speak with your significant other, relatives and even your children and make sure that you will not leave the people closest to you suffering more than they have to WHEN you pass away.
If you have a will, REVIEW IT.
If you don’t have a will, GET ONE. Regardless of how much or little you think you have, passing away without a valid will can cause all types of unintended complications
If you have life insurance, REVIEW IT.
If you don’t have any life insurance, GET SOME. Especially if you have anyone that is dependent on you now or in the future.
And finally, if you haven’t had the conversation about what would happen when you past away, HAVE IT TODAY! Not tomorrow. “IT’S TIME TO TALK”
