General George S. Patton famously said, “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.” While Patton was speaking about military strategy, his advice applies remarkably well to estate planning.
One of the most common mistakes people make is waiting for the “perfect time” to create an estate plan. They want to finish paying off debt, buy a larger home, retire, update their investments, or simply find more time. Unfortunately, life rarely waits for the perfect moment.
The reality is that a good estate plan in place today is almost always better than a perfect estate plan that never gets completed.
The Cost of Waiting
Every year, countless families are forced to navigate probate proceedings, guardianship disputes, and financial uncertainty because a loved one intended to create an estate plan but never got around to it.
No one expects an accident, illness, or unexpected death. Yet these events occur every day. When they do, the absence of planning often leaves spouses, children, and other loved ones dealing with unnecessary stress during an already difficult time.
Without basic estate planning documents, your family may face questions such as:
- Who will manage your finances if you become incapacitated?
- Who will make medical decisions on your behalf?
- Who will care for your minor children?
- How will your assets be distributed?
- Will your loved ones be required to go through probate?
These are important decisions that should be made by you—not by a court.
Progress Beats Perfection
Many people assume estate planning is a complicated process that requires every detail of their financial life to be perfectly organized before they begin. In reality, most effective estate plans start with a few foundational documents:
- A will or trust
- Financial powers of attorney
- Healthcare directives
- Guardianship nominations for minor children
- Beneficiary designations that coordinate with the overall plan
These documents can often address the most significant risks even if every future contingency has not been anticipated.
An estate plan is not a one-time event. It is a living framework that can be updated as your life changes. Marriage, divorce, births, deaths, business ownership, retirement, and changes in wealth can all prompt future revisions.
The important step is getting started.
The Best Time Is Now
Think of estate planning as purchasing insurance. You hope you never need it, but you are grateful it exists when the unexpected happens.
A plan created today can always be improved tomorrow. A plan that is postponed indefinitely provides no protection at all.
Patton understood that action creates results. Estate planning is no different. The families who benefit most are not necessarily those with the most sophisticated plans. They are the ones who took action before a crisis occurred.
Take the First Step
If you have been putting off your estate planning because you are waiting for the perfect time, consider Patton’s advice.
A good estate plan executed now is far better than the perfect estate plan that remains on your to-do list.
Your family does not need perfection. They need preparation.
The best time to start protecting the people you love is today.
I’ve made it as easy as possible to get started, set up a free Zoom consultation here: https://calendly.com/astringer-redclifflegal
