Picture this:  Your wife or partner and you are driving along one day, rushing about to tackle the numerous errands you have planned for the busy morning.  Back home, your two daughters are working to finalize their plans for a birthday party for their favorite uncle.  Your errands take you all over town, and the Saturday morning traffic is starting to build.  And then suddenly, in the blink of an eye, your car is struck in the passenger side, t-boned at a busy intersection.  It all happens so fast; you have no time to think or react.  You feel pain throughout your body, and you manage to look over into the passenger seat.  Your wife is bleeding and not moving.  The last thing you remember before you pass out is the distant sound of an ambulance siren.    

Your daughters arrive at the local hospital and are ushered quickly to the emergency room.  They find you in a condition that no one ever wants to see.  The doctors explain to your daughters the severity of your conditions and that some difficult decisions will have to be made regarding treatment.  He then asks, “Who has the authority to make medical decisions on behalf of your parents?”  The girls look at each other, confused, and ask the doctor, “What do you mean; what are you talking about?”  The doctor tells your daughters that there is a chance that your wife and you may never resume consciousness and that someone will have to make medical decisions on your behalf.  “Do your parents have a health care POA or a living will?” the doctor asks.  The daughters respond that they have “no idea” and have never heard of these types of documents.  In a heightened state of emotion, the girls look at each other and ask, “What do we do now?”
Hi, I am John Gigliello, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with the Albany Financial Group and you are listening to Invest in Knowledge, a podcast about all things financial. After a life-altering health issue at age 39, my calling in life became clear: To share my knowledge of personal finance with people who are looking to make smart and responsible choices with their money. Only through education, action and accountability can you build the confidence and security you need to live a satisfying life.
Today, I am going to talk about the 5 Essential Documents of a Complete Estate Plan.