Founding Partner, CEO & Head of Wealth Planning
Have you had “the conversation”? Not the first one that comes to mind, the other one.
Astronauts leaving on a mission face an imminent risk of possible death that few of us can relate to in our day-to-day lives, yet the story of Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman reminds us how critical it is to have the difficult “what happens when I’m gone” conversation.
As FOX 35 anchor Amy Kaufeldt shared in a Facebook post, “Wiseman said he wanted to mentally prepare his girls on the possibility he might not return from the 10-day Artemis II mission.
“Wiseman told them: ‘Here’s where the will is, here’s where the trust documents are, and if anything happens to me, here’s what’s going to happen to you.’”
It’s not always easy to open that door, especially without an impetus like a space mission!
It may take effort to break the trend if you’re a family who “never talks about money” or is uncomfortable discussing the passing of a parent or loved one.
If you are struggling to have this conversation, imagine what those you love face without hearing the who, what, how and why of the estate planning structure you’ve put in place to protect them and pass along your legacy.
The shear abyss that would exist as they face the “what’s next” after losing you without knowing what you hoped or dreamed of for them.
Then imagine the feeling of gratitude they would have if you imparted your plan and the confidence you will feel knowing that you discussed it.
As hard as it may be, the rewards are massive. The conversations that take place after this door is open can be enlightening, empowering, and enriching. Far more times than not, the outcomes are exceedingly more positive than negative.
Just this month, we had the daughter of a family we serve share that she just witnessed the uncertainty a friend faced after her father had passed—and then shared how grateful she is that we have helped guide her family through these discussions.
When we think about the “why” in what we do at Fidelis Capital, this is a huge part of it—and perhaps the biggest and most rewarding.
