Best Intentions

Sometimes, despite careful planning and the best of intentions, life works out differently than expected. In Best Intentions, authors Colleen Barney and Victoria Collins examine the impact of estate planning and share stories and letters from and about real people. These are people who, despite careful planning, did not pass on to their loved ones what they had intended-their own special life lessons, messages and financial inheritance.

Most books on estate planning center on avoiding probate and paying less in taxes. For the first time ever, a noted financial planner (Collins) and a respected estate attorney (Barney) present a completely new look at a subject usually considered dry and technical, even morbid. They use letters and stories by and about children, parents, and others to focus on nontraditional estate planning concepts like passing on visions and ideals, values and morals, work ethic and guidance, and love.

Emphasizing people, their lives, and their desires and goals for future generations, the authors show readers how to:

*Understand their own family, social, emotional, and economic dynamics.

*Identify what is really important to them.

*Tailor uniquely personal estate plans.

*Explore alternatives to traditional estate planning concepts.

*Balance the financial and emotional aspects of estate planning.

Sooner or later, estate planning becomes an important aspect of every individual’s life plan. Best Intentions enables readers to apply practical, topical, and timely recommendations to their own personal circumstances-whether their net worth is $10,000, $10,000,000, or more.

Using real-life stories, Barney and Collins highlight the importance of thoughtful estate planning by giving us this challenge: If we could see what happens after our death, what would give us the greatest disappointment, pride, or sense of accomplishment? Discovering the unintended messages in our current plan or lack of one, the authors tell us that not only money but also values, ideals, and feelings should be incorporated into it. We all need an estate plan drafted by a carefully selected lawyer to meet our exact wishes. Not having one may allow the state to decide who makes our medical decisions if we are unable, who inherits our assets, and under what conditions our beneficiaries inherit our assets. This is important information for everyone, and the authors' approach to this complicated topic is relatively easy to understand. Mary Whaley
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