New Year, Auld To-Do Items

As clocks chimed midnight and the sounds of champagne corks, kazoos and the familiar Auld Lang Syne resonated amid hugs with family and friends, the calendar officially turned the page to 2025. This timeless celebration allows us to recall fondly the memories, friends and experiences of the previous year and embrace the new year with an open heart, new beginnings and infinite possibilities.

Dreadfully, it was not long into the new year before the celebration turned to sorrow in New Orleans. Our hearts pour out to the victims and families of this tragedy, and we pray that such senseless acts of violence are averted in the future.

Certainly, it is too soon to reflect upon this horrible incident, but it does serve as a reminder that tomorrow is not promised.

As a trusted Advisor in a practice who embraces the responsibility of looking out for our clients’ best interests holistically, I can’t help to stop and think about how this event will affect the lives of those who were injured or who lost a loved one. And I pray that their grieving is not compounded by incomplete planning items which might lessen the pain of injury or loss.

Consider the importance of making the time to create/update wills, trusts, other updated estate documents or review our beneficiary designations; rather than simply getting around to them in the near future. And we often overlook the potential need for disability insurance, life insurance, or long-term care insurance, characterizing them perhaps as an additional expense.

I am writing this column because we care. Please add one New Year’s resolution to your list:  allow us to help you review each of these potential planning pitfalls with you at our next meeting… as we embrace the new year with an open heart, new beginnings and infinite possibilities.

This material is for informational or educational purposes only.

 The adviser may recommend the purchase of insurance-related products. Curt Mangold is a licensed insurance agent with various insurance companies and may receive additional compensation for such transactions.