The Funeral

The Funeral
October 18, 2008
By Bill Eck

Think of the last funeral you attended. What is the name of the person you were remembering?

When you think of that person, what do you admire in them? What impact did they have on you?
What impact did they have on others, their family and our community?

What did this person give you personally? You attended the service, so they must have been important to you. What characteristic did they give you that you have today? Are these characteristics important to you? What have these traits done for you?

If this person was sitting next to you right now, what would you say to them? What would you thank them for? What would tell them about what they gave you and how it has influenced who you are?

Would your words include money, assets, wealth or taxes? Do you think of these when recalling this person and what they meant to you?

Yet, think about what our entire estate planning system is based on. It is about money, assets, taxes and transferring as much as possible to the next generation. Those are good things. How come they were not good enough to bring up at their funeral?

Do the financial and legal documents reflect the “things that matter most”? Have we planned for the future of our money, rather than the future of our family?

How can we put family first? Are we passing on our essence of who we are and what is important to us to those we love? Can we leverage our assets beyond the taxes? Can we magnify and perpetuate our legacies?

What will they say about you at your funeral? Better yet, what do you want them to say at your funeral?

Take some time to list what really matters to you. On a piece of paper, write down what really matters. Go beyond stuff, money, fame, wealth and riches. What is most important to you? What really matters?

After you have done that, put a definition to each word or phrase. When you say, “_______” , what do you mean? When you are done with that, evaluate how you are doing in your life with what is most important to you.

Physical life as we know it is terminal. What is the reason for you being here on earth? What purpose does your life serve?

These are heavy thoughts to consider. They are far more important than avoiding taxes and transferring a financial inheritance.