Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
Page 33
Page 34
Page 35
Page 36
Page 37
Page 38
Page 39
Page 40
Page 41
Page 42
Page 43
Page 44
Page 45
Page 46
Page 47
Page 48
Page 49
Page 50
Page 51
Page 52
Page 53
Page 54
Page 55
Page 56
Page 57
Page 58
Page 59
Page 60
Page 61
Page 62
Page 63
Page 64
Page 65
Page 66
Page 67
Page 68
Page 69
Page 70
Page 71
Page 72
Page 73
Page 74
Page 75
Page 76
Page 77
Page 78
Page 79
Page 80
Page 81
Page 82
Page 83
Page 84
16 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com MAY JUNE 2016 goodADVICE LIFE MOVES BY PRETTY FAST Recording our lives for our kids allows us to reflect on our own sense of balance and reveals our hopes for the future and our thoughts on the past There was a great one-liner in Ferris Buellers Day Off that has stuck with me over the years Life moves by pretty fast. If you dont stop and look around once in a while you could miss it. As we get older the world seems to be moving so much faster and despite the advances in technology we have less free time than we ever didleaving us more unbalanced than we have ever been as a society. Once in a while we have to hit the reset button and I love being able to help people do so. When a new client calls I give them forms and questionnairesnot the kind that you would fill out at a doctors office but questions about the clients personal life. The theory is if someone takes the time to fill them out then the children and other loved ones can read these forms to remember and learn things about that person who they may or may not have known. Simply put if someone doesnt undertake this type of exercise when putting together an estate plan then when Estate planning has many goals most of which involve money in some way. Yet money can be fleeting. A lifetime of lessons from experiences memories and relationships from those we love are far more lingering and valuable. These voluminous forms and questionnaires help in several ways. First of all minor children who stand to inherit a substantial sum of money may not know the family history or even who is in it. They may be approached by someone introducing themselves as a long-lost relative who has no such status. If your children dont have a family tree or history recorded it may be hard to know whats true and what isnt. Secondlytheygiveclosure. Should your estate give a particular sentimental item to one child but not another the second child may feel slighted. If you explain the reasons why then the children may understand. After a certain point they cant go back and ask why. Your family will also get to know you better. Theyll know better not only what you did for a living but what challenges you overcame what you did for fun what experiences you had to share and so on. Some things are easier to write down than to explain face-to-face and this gives the writer such an opportunity. Next the completed forms give perspective. If you lost a grandparent when you were in your 20s you may wonder later in life what your late grandparent was going through when he or she was 40 or 50. Having these forms can be like having someones diary. Most importantly youll give yourself the opportunity to reflect. Children will eventually grow up and move out of the house we hope. In order to maintain balance after they leave we have to find some way to fill the void. Reflecting on what we have done in the past may lead us to realize what we havent had time to do and open up a world of choices. Soif you feel like life is moving pretty fast it might be time to play a little hooky and go to a baseball game. Just be sure youre ready to be on the jumbo screen like Ferris Bueller Reach Colin Smith at colinsmithlaw.com. by Colin Smith