August is National Make-a-Will Month — a great reminder that now is the perfect time to create your first will or review and update this important personal document.
Discussing personal finances and estate plans with loved ones can be anxiety-inducing. We don’t want to think about our future, but creating a will is an easy and essential way to protect your loved ones and preserve your legacy.
Creating a will is not just for the wealthy or retirees. I recently spoke with two Legacy Society members about why they felt it was important to create a will and how their values influenced their estate plans.
TrixieAnn Golberg, a longtime supporter of Greater Twin Cities United Way, has been involved as a volunteer, board member, donor and partner. She created her first will when her first child was born and has since revisited to reflect her changing life circumstances.
Brenda Wicker and her husband, Chris, made their first will while serving in the military. After adopting their son, Kai, they revisited their estate plans to consider what might happen to him after they’re gone. For both TrixieAnn and Brenda, estate planning is not only about finances; it is a way to communicate what matters, protect loved ones from future burdens and pass values on to family and future generations.
Everyone should have a will. Without one, your loved ones and the local probate court decide how your money, property, dependents, and pets are cared for. This can be a prolonged, costly, and stressful process.
A will ensures your assets go to your loved ones and causes you care. Even if you believe your family knows what you want, if you don’t write it down, they will be powerless to carry out your wishes.
TrixieAnn recommends creating a will early and reviewing it regularly to ensure your estate plans align with your values and financial situation. Traditionally, this involved a lengthy and costly process of finding and meeting with a lawyer to draft or update legal documents.
Today, creating a will is easier with fewer barriers and more options, like our partner FreeWill. Brenda used FreeWill, a free online tool, to include Kai in their estate plans.
“It was very simple to use and got us to where we needed to be quickly,” said Brenda. “We didn’t have to set up appointments. We just went online, filled out the form and ended up with a legal will that outlined our wishes and reflected our values.”
Anyone who has had to settle the estate of a loved one without a will can tell you it’s an overwhelming task during what is already a very difficult time.
TrixieAnn views these difficult conversations as a way of expressing values. “Yes, it’s about finances and wealth. But it’s really an extraordinary opportunity to connect and have a conversation about what matters to you.”
She stressed that estate planning is a gift that relieves stress and creates space for meaningful conversations about values, priorities and what people care about most.
Brenda shared that after adopting Kai, she and Chris revisited their estate plans, wanting to make sure they had everything in place for him if anything happened to them. As Kai has grown up, having a will takes the guesswork out of their wishes and provides a different kind of peace of mind for Brenda.
“It’s an unimaginable time when you lose a family member, especially a parent. So, we don’t want him to have to worry about what to do with our estate,” said Brenda. “It’s already taken care of, and he can just focus on grieving.”
Creating a will formalizes charitable giving and expresses values. Include gifts like cash, stock, real estate and more. Regardless of your choice, a legacy gift meaningful as it continues to impact an organization beyond your lifetime.
Brenda and TrixieAnn chose to include Greater Twin Cities United Way in their planned giving because it reflects their values.
TrixieAnn says this quote from her father, Dan Girtz, captures the spirit behind her giving: “If you see something and you can do something, you do it.” She said she sees that same spirit in Greater Twin Cities United Way.
Brenda shared, “It’s important for us to show Kai that part of what we have is shared with our community. We hope that same generosity will carry over into to our end-of-life plans. Our estate plan is one last opportunity to say, this is what we care about, these are our values and this is our legacy.”
Similarly, TrixieAnn hopes that her gift signals to the next generation of volunteers, donors and leaders that this work matters and that they are supported by those who came before them.
Are you ready to make your will but unsure where to begin? Greater Twin Cities United Way’s partnership with FreeWill simplifies the process of writing your wishes and including your community in your plans. Many users can create a comprehensive, legally-binding will for free in less than 30 minutes. Here's how:
The customizable tool offers unique prompts based on your needs, such as listing assets, choosing beneficiaries, naming an executor, selecting a guardian for children and leaving a charitable gift. That’s it!
Once your will is complete it’s important to share it with loved ones, so they are aware of your wishes and can act when the time comes. FreeWill will notify nonprofits you designate as beneficiaries of your bequest, so you don’t have to do a thing. Remember to review your will periodically and make changes when necessary.
