Today is the day for lovers!  So, I’m sure you are wondering what on earth estate planning and Valentine’s Day have to do with each other.  Certainly estate planning is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about today.  However, both estate planning and Valentine’s Day are about love.  We usually express our affection for someone on this day by buying candy, flowers, a spa visit, or dinner.  As lovely as these things are to receive, they are transitory.

Estate planning is an act of love that will give your significant other peace of mind for a lifetime.  When you plan your estate, you are showing your whole family that you love them so much that you want to save them a great deal of the stress and strife that can occur when someone dies.  But estate planning is much more than death planning.  It is also disability planning.  You are much more likely to become disabled for a some extended period of time during your life than you are to pass away tomorrow.  When you plan your estate, you give your family guidance on what should be done and who should do it.  Periods of disability and death are typically very stressful for a family.  Planning helps to ease that stress.

When we make the choice and commitment to love someone, we make the choice and commitment to invest in them and protect them.  So, today when you express your affection for your special someone, by all means buy the flowers, candy, spa visit, or dinner but don’t forget to invest in their long-term protection by getting your estate in order.

Happy Valentine’s Day!