Apply the three P’s… Plan, Protect, Purpose
What if I told you that doing proper estate planning will allow you to protect your family from the effect of taxes and you can make a far bigger impact on this world than you ever thought was possible. I might get your attention for a few fleeting moments. The reason that it would be fleeting is that it would be somewhat backwards.
Most of us don’t get started. We don’t get started because we can’t see the prize. We don’t really believe that we can make a difference in the lives of the people and the organizations that we care about. We have a nebulous thought that someday we’ll take action. It remains a shadowy, ambiguous thought. We haven’t allowed ourselves to dream about the contribution we might make. Our unique purpose remains vague, hazy and murky. It doesn’t have power. A clear purpose has power. With clarity, it becomes your Powerful Purpose. A Powerful Purpose will guide and motivate you. It’s a light that shines on every decision.
Take Steven Covey’s advice and begin with the end in mind. Think about it this way: If you could do anything, what would you do? If you could change one thing in this world, what would it be? If you could help someone, who would you help? Let yourself dream of the contribution that would mean the most to you. Then back up a step and think about what you want for your family. Then step back again and think about what you want for yourself. You see, we need to know where we want to end up before we can start out on our journey. So I repeat, you can make a far bigger difference than you ever imagined.
A Designed Contribution begins with a Powerful Purpose:
There are 5 critical steps to making a Designed Contribution.
1. Define Your Values: Create Clarity about what is important to you and write it down
- Thoughts can be random and disorganized. When we write things down we are forced to focus and we can be very clear of our values and what’s important. It’s a matter of getting it out of your head and putting it down where you can see it.
2. Protect Your Values: Stress Test your Retirement Income Plan
- Before you start contemplating giving money away (whether it’s to your kids or your favorite charity) you need to know that you have enough for yourself. You’ll need your financial planner to help here.
3. Envision Your Values: Dream about the impact that you want to make
- This is the step where you Imagine… what you want for your family and the contribution that excites and inspires.
4. Weigh Your Values: Consider the options
- Have a specialist show you how applying different strategies can affect your result. Get the help you need.
5. Create and Communicate Your Values: Implement the plan
- It’s easier to get here when you have applied the first 4 steps and let your Powerful Purpose guide you. The planning becomes effortless when you begin with the end in mind.
So PLAN to PROTECT yourself, your family and your PURPOSE.
How prepared is your estate? What if you could make a far bigger impact than you ever imagined by leaving more to your family, more to charity and as little as possible to the tax man? Send me a quick email and I’ll send you an estate checklist to help you determine your next steps.
When we are mindful about the way we leave our money behind, we cast a vote for our values and we practise ☺Mindful Money Management.
Join the mindful and create a better world.
Imagine what it would be like if we all became mindful. Mindful Money Management makes that happen when you spend, invest and donate to create a better world.
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How are you voting for your values? I’d love to learn about the impact you plan to make. Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] with your comments and ask to be included on the guestlist for my next Mindful Money Management Zoom Workshop. See you there!