Nice Gift,

      Visiting my mailbox at the OFH I was surprised with a gift book from S.A.  While the book is aimed at widows it was also a profitable read for widowers. Perhaps it would be better to say that the book is best for potential widows. Pat Miles, famous as a TV personality, has written a book to prepare women for the loss of their spouse.  When her husband died over the course of three months she was very unprepared for what came next. The crushing emotions of losing a spouse have been well documented and Miles has much wisdom on dealing with the grief.

    Equally important in her book Before All Is Said And Done is the information about estate planning. Though her husband was an attorney there were huge, and expensive, gaps in the estate planning. In the fog of her grief she candidly relates how these gaps caused her financial loss and other problems. She ends each chapter of the book with a list of points of advice from the prior pages. Just reading those summaries could be very helpful for married, and also single, persons.

   When Joanne and I settled in Minnesota in 1988 the late Richard Anderson was our Lutheran Brotherhood Agent. With his encouragement, advice and referral we connected with an excellent estate attorney. This attorney helped us establish revocable trusts which contained our wills. About every five years, meeting with the attorney, the trusts were reviewed and updated. Consequently all estate affairs were in order when Joanne died five years ago, with no need to go to probate. Thank you Richard!

   About a year ago Lisa, Lars and I met with an estate attorney to review my trust. That trust had several amendments over the years plus numerous references to Joanne. The attorney suggested that we start over with a new trust document incorporating the relevant amendments, which was done. All of my assets are incorporated in the trust, including my bank account. With Lisa and Lars co-trustees when I forget who I am 😀, or die, all  is prepared for them to take charge.

   In her book Miles points out that often persons resist estate planning because of the cost. She also points out that planning saves money in the long term, which was my experience.  Thirty years ago it did seem like a lot of money to spend, now it is clear that it was a good investment. 

   Thanks S.N. for a good book, it's nice to be remembered!

Takk for alt,

Al