When confronted with a tighter budget or uncertain economic future, many people instinctually cut back on everything they can to compensate for potential losses. This is not entirely a bad thing, since excessive debt and lack of planning both help to contribute to deeper financial troubles. But redoing a budget to compensate for changing economic circumstances calls for enhanced planning, not putting planning off for another day.

Estate planning is often thought about in terms of numbers, property, assets and finances. While estate planning does involve all of these things, the primary focus of a good estate plan is the people who will benefit from it from your efforts and legacy. Estate planning is about maximizing the benefits of your work while you are alive and providing for family and loved ones after your death.

Keeping in mind the real importance of estate planning will help individuals stick to their plans or give them the push they need to start planning through even the tightest of economic times. Estate planning is easier than most people think, and will create peace of mind that is well worth the investment.

In addition to helping you organize your finances and assets in the short term, estate planning during tough economic times has obvious long-term benefits as well. Continuing to plan and make contributions to trusts, life insurance policies, retirement and other accounts will minimize the overall damage that could be done to your estate in the long term. Failure to plan during an economic downturn can actually serve to unnecessarily multiply the effect of the financial hardship many times over.

Estate planning is important to individuals and their families, and it is even more important in a down economy. Consulting with an attorney and sticking to an estate plan will provide peace of mind in the present and maximize benefits in the future.





Bernard Krooks is a New York Elder Law and New York Estate Planning lawyer with offices in White Plains, Fishkill, and New York, New York. To learn more, visit Littmankrooks.com.
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