A 2025 study recently released by Caring, a free senior living advisors’ group, found that one in three Americans lacks even the most basic estate planning documents, like a will. This leaves families vulnerable to unnecessary financial hardship and legal complexity, creating a situation where someone’s final wishes are not met.
National Estate Planning Awareness Week, which takes place October 20-26, serves as a critical reminder about the importance of estate planning for individuals or families seeking long-term financial stability. An estate plan is also an important way to create a legacy of support for causes you and your family care about. With this year’s tax law changes, staying informed is essential.
Effective estate planning helps individuals safeguard their assets, reduce estate taxes, protect dependents, and ensure that their wishes are carried out with clarity and authority. If an estate plan is not in place, the burden often falls on courts and government systems to take over, leaving grieving families caught in a system they may not understand. With recent tax law changes, now is the time to stay informed and make decisions that not only protect your wealth, but also the legacy of generosity you wish to leave behind. Working with trusted partners who have access to extensive tools can help streamline the process. An estate plan that includes your charitable giving goals is a powerful tool to ensure your values live on. By supporting the causes you and your family care about most, your plan becomes a lasting reflection of what matters in your lifetime. Today, more people are looking beyond financial security alone and embracing estate planning to create purpose and impact that endures for generations.
We see National Estate Planning Awareness Week as a chance to spark meaningful conversations with families, share the benefits of thoughtful planning, and help connect people to those who can strengthen their financial futures.
