Leaving It All Behind

by Sue Peterson, CFA

Liv Fun: Vol 4 – Issue 2

St. Paul wisely wrote in 1 Timothy 6:7, “For we have brought nothing into the world, and so we cannot take anything out of it. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.”

One could argue that this verse is the basis of the common cliché, “You can’t take it with you.” Intellectually, we would probably agree, yet our money and our “stuff” have often helped define our lives to our family, our community and ourselves. They help prove that we are (or were) successful, that our efforts mattered, that we chose well.

As a wealth advisor, I understand how deeply rooted our personhood can be in proof of financial success. Yet as we age, one of the most courageous acts we can take is to begin intentionally reducing the size of our estate and prepare for that time when you leave it all behind. Easier said than done, but this four-step process will give you a good roadmap for this part of your financial journey.

1) How Much Can You Give?

First, consider how much you really need. A wealth advisor can help model the sustainability of your lifestyle and the corresponding asset base you will need to support it. This will shine a spotlight on where there is excess that can be thoughtfully given away to family or charity (or spent without worry!) during your lifetime.

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Liv Fun

by Leisure Care
Summer 2015
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The Hero Within
by Deborah Grassman

“I could never do what you do!” I hear this often, when people learn I am a hospice nurse practitioner at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). “Isn’t it depressing?” usually follows. I used to think the same way. No one told me I could find peace, joy and fulfillment in caring for people at the end of their lives.

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Over the Edge
by Pam Mandel

Here are the things I was afraid of: The height. The heat. Holding everyone else up. Getting all the way down, and not being strong enough to make the trip back up. The way I’d feel the next day if I made my body do things it was not up for. So I didn’t go. I stayed behind with the guy with the new knee.