Estate planning is an act of love. It is what you do for the people you love. It takes time, effort, and risk. Why do I say that estate planning is a risk? Estate planning is a risk because the way you leave what you have to those you love says something about you. When you expose your thoughts and plans to others, there is a risk that those loved ones will think it was unfair, unnecessary, or stupid. There are many different ways to leave what you have to those you love. Some examples are (1) outright and free of restrictions, (2) in trust so that what you have worked so hard for isn’t spent all at once and all in one place, or (3) in trust to protect the assets from business setbacks, economic downturns, divorcing spouses, or frivolous lawsuits. The most important part of planning is to do it now – get started because the biggest disappointment is not that your planning was unfair, unnecessary, or even stupid. The biggest disappointment is for a deceased loved one to have not confronted the situation at all.