When you think about your loved ones, and leaving them, this time is poignant. You want to leave a message, a gift and a legacy. And often, that doesn’t just include financial gifts. Sometimes, more than any material thing you could bestow to another, you want to impart the wisdom you learned, the love you felt and the memories you shared in a way that they will never be misrepresented and will never leave your loved ones.
When you realize what is on your tombstone is far from what you want to be remembered for, you may start putting real thought into your legacy.
Five recommended ideas for leaving a truly great legacy, as detailed by the Huffington Post, are:
- Be passionate. Pursue what moves you because in doing so you move others.
- Share your blessings and your appreciation for life.
- Make sure to show your support to the causes and people that are important to you.
- Become familiar with the things you value most in life.
- Mentor those around you who need and value it.
In addition to these great ways to leave your legacy behind, you may want to search out a firm that specializes in estate planning. When you do this, you eliminate many of the variables about how your legacy is proliferated and perceived. An estate planning attorney can advise you on all considerations that come with your remaining legacy and may be able to help with any monetary gifts, as well as circumvent serious penalties and probate that can come with inadequate planning.