Recently I was one of the first people on the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident. I was the one who called it in to 911 so I remained on the scene waiting for the first responders to arrive, but there was nothing that could be done. It was clear that the driver had perished in the accident, and there were live power lines down so it would be foolhardy to approach.
So I found myself standing on the side of a lonesome highway, just waiting and thinking. It appeared to me that the driver had simply failed to navigate a corner, went off the road, and struck a power pole. One moment he is travelling somewhere, probably anticipating reaching his destination, and the next moment he is gone.
Don’t take things for granted. Kiss your loved ones, make the most of each day, and do not procrastinate making your final arrangements because you just never know. Keep your insurances up to date, make sure your will is current, and take advantage of estate planning strategies.
We are all going to die, that’s a fact of life. But we don’t know when that’s going to happen. Don’t take things for granted. Plan your estate in advance and save your loved ones the heartache of trying to do it for you after you are gone.
Brad Brain, CFP, R.F.P., CLU, CH.F.C., FCSI