It’s the holiday season and you are hopefully spending less time working and more time with your family and loved ones.
As you likely already know, but may not have given much thought about, the most important gift to those closest to you is so much more than just the money and things you may leave behind to them.
What I am talking about is something I call your “Family Wealth.” This is your values, insights, stories, and experiences. While these things are being passed on happenstance on the daily, I know that intentionally leaving a lasting legacy requires more than happenstance.
Family Wealth Legacy Interview
What I have discovered is that we can learn so much more than expected – about ourselves and our loved ones – when we ask the right questions. Moreover, by participating in a Family Wealth Legacy Interview session, you can give them a priceless gift that they will remember and cherish forever.
So, this year, I invite you to ask your mother, father, loved ones, and/or family members some or all of the 32 important questions below that can teach you valuable lessons about love, life, and what matters most. And, do not just ask them, record their answers to create your own Family Wealth Legacy. Or, contact me to schedule time for a comprehensive Estate Planning Design Session and I will create a Family Wealth Legacy as part of your estate plan.
Use these questions as a springboard and an engaging activity during the holidays and discover what you may not know about your loved ones:
1. What comes to mind when you think about growing up in your hometown?
2. What did you love to do as a kid, before high school?
3. What did you love to do in high school?
4. What do you remember most about your teenage years?
5. What do you remember most about your mom (grandma)?
6. What was most important to her?
7. What do you remember most about your dad (grandpa)?
8. What was most important to him?
9. If Grandma and Grandpa had a message to pass along to the grandchildren, what would it be?
10. How did you meet your spouse? How did you know (s)he was the one?
11. How did you choose your career? What was your favorite part about it?
12. What made you successful?
13. What did you believe about yourself that helped you become successful and deal with hard times?
14. What times in your life truly “tested your mettle,” and what did you learn about yourself by dealing (or not dealing) with them?
15. What three events most shaped your life?
16. What do you remember about when I was born?
17. Were you ever scared to be a parent?
18. What three words would you say represented your approach to parenting and why?
19. When you think about [sibling] how would you describe him/her?
20. What message do you have for [sibling] that you want him/her to always keep in mind?
[Do the last two questions above for each sibling in your family]
21. When you think about [spouse], how would you describe her/him?
22. What message do you have for [spouse] that you want her/him to always keep in mind?
23. What three words would you say best describe who you tried to be in life? How would you like to be remembered?
24. What do you think your children and grandchildren should focus on professionally?
25. What have you learned about people in life?
26. What do you think the world needs more of right now?
27. What do you believe people want the most in life?
28. What were the three best decisions you ever made?
29. What are you most proud of?
30. What were five of the most memorable moments of your life?
31. What message would you like to share with your family?
32. What are you most thankful for?
This is just a start
These questions can reveal a wealth of valuable life lessons – family treasures to discuss and share with generations to come. However, having this conversation is just a start to leave a lasting legacy. To preserve and protect your family assets and other things of value, you should create a comprehensive estate plan that will safeguard what you value most.
When you plan with my law office, I offer a recorded Family Wealth Legacy Interview as part of your planning options. Adding a Family Wealth Legacy Interview to your estate plan can become a priceless family legacy piece for your loved ones. Because I have discovered that “estate planning” is really a misnomer. When done right, it is truly Life and Legacy Planning — planning for a life you love and a legacy worth leaving.
Work with me
As your Personal Family Lawyer®, I can guide you to create a comprehensive estate plan — which I prefer to call a Life and Legacy Plan, because it is about so much more than just your “money and things” — that protects and preserves your most valuable assets. Before the session, I will send you a Family Wealth Inventory and Assessment to complete that will get you thinking about what you own, what matters most to you, and what you want to leave behind.
Contact me today to schedule a no-cost initial consultation to learn more about how to leave a lasting legacy!
