Heidi Wilkey
Operations Support Specialist
Many of you have met-virtually-our Operations Support Specialist, Heidi Wilkey. She is amazing at her job and everyone at the office knows that if we give her a job, it will get done! This month’s Personal Note is a little glimpse into the mind of the person in our office who keeps us scheduled and clicking along… enjoy!
I love a good list. Give me a list with neat little boxes next to each item, and I am a happy person. There is something incredibly satisfying about seeing everything laid out in front of me – what needs to be done, what’s in progress, and, best of all, what can be checked off. A completed checkbox is basically a tiny celebration.
I also have a soft spot for spreadsheets. Rows, columns, categories, color coding, sorting things into order… it all makes my brain happy. I love taking something that feels scattered or overwhelming and turning it into something organized and manageable. If there’s a way to make a plan, create a system, or put something into a nice little grid, I’m probably going to do it.
And here’s a funny thing about me: I cannot stand the little red notification dots on my phone. They might as well be tiny alarms screaming, “Something is unfinished!” I will hunt them down until every last red dot has disappeared. Emails? Checked. Messages? Checked. App notification? Gone. Peace restored.
I think, at the heart of it, I just love the feeling of completion. There’s something comforting about bringing order to the chaos, checking the box, clearing the notification, and knowing that one more thing is done. Maybe it’s a little quirky—but honestly, give me a list and a pen, and I’ll happily get to work.
“For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned.”
— Benjamin Franklin
What is your plan? What Every Woman Should Know
Women often play many roles, caring for families, building careers, supporting communities, and planning for the future. With so many demands competing for our attention, it can be easy to put our own financial and estate planning on the back burner.
At our recent Women’s Wealth & Wellness event, we discussed several legal topics that are particularly important for women to understand and consider as part of their own planning.
Here are a few areas worth thinking about:
- Be an active participant. Even if your spouse typically handles the finances, it is important to understand your family’s assets, estate plan, and financial decisions.
- Plan for the unexpected. Illness, incapacity, or the loss of a spouse can happen at any age. Having the appropriate legal documents in place can help ensure your wishes are known and your affairs can be handled according to your wishes.
- Know what happens if your circumstances change. Marriage, divorce, remarriage, the birth of a child or grandchild, and the loss of a spouse are all reasons to revisit your estate plan and beneficiary designations.
- Consider your role as a caregiver. Women are often caregivers for spouses, parents, or other family members. Planning ahead can help address both the financial and practical responsibilities that may come with caregiving.
- Pay attention to blended families. When families include children from previous marriages or other family dynamics, thoughtful planning can help ensure your wishes are clearly understood and carried out.
- Know the family business. If you or your spouse owns a business, understand how it is structured, what assets and obligations it has, and what would happen to the business if something unexpected occurred.
- Think beyond your own lifetime. Estate planning isn’t only about what happens when you die. It is also about making sure you can maintain control of your financial and healthcare decisions if you become unable to make them yourself.
These are important conversations, and you don’t have to navigate them alone. Your Annual Review is a great opportunity to revisit these areas and identify where additional planning or coordination with your estate planning attorney may be appropriate. We can help you identify questions to consider and make sure your overall financial plan and estate plan are working together.
Adapted from “Key Estate Planning Concerns for Women” a legal blog article published by Mortensen & Reinheimer on July 20, 2023.
Matt Johnson
Wealth Advisor
When $156 Million Isn’t Enough
When music icon Prince Rogers Nelson died unexpectedly in 2016, he left behind an estate estimated at roughly $156 million. What he didn’t leave behind was a will.
The result? Years of legal proceedings, family disputes, and significant estate taxes and expenses as his assets were sorted out.
Prince’s story is an extreme example, but it raises a question worth asking: If something happened to you tomorrow, would your loved ones know exactly what you wanted and how to carry it out?
Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy or the elderly. It’s about making your wishes clear, protecting the people you love, and making difficult times a little easier for those left behind.
Click below to access Carson’s Estate Planning Simplified guide to help you better understand the basics of wills, trusts, and other important estate-planning considerations. As part of your Annual Review, we’ll look at the essentials of your estate plan and welcome any questions or areas you’d like to revisit. When needed, we can also help you identify where it may be helpful to connect with your estate planning attorney.
