In the wonderfully titled 1682 book “Humane Prudence, or, The Art by Which a Man May Raise Himself and Fortune to Grandeur” by William De Britaine, the author observes “he who will be his own Counsellour, shall be sure to have a Fool for his Client.” Proverbs 12:15 expresses the same sentiment in a more productive way when it states, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” Both sources point to the truth that a person cannot objectively and wisely guide himself, as it is impossible for him to be objective when it affects him personally. We all know this to be true, yet efficiencies of money and time often tempt us to ignore the wisdom and forge ahead foolishly as our own guide. The area of estate planning is no stranger to this foolhardiness, so please accept this list as encouragement to invest in a professional estate plan instead of risking your legacy and your family’s future for the thrill of saving a few dollars (not really) and a few minutes (also unlikely).
Estate planning involves laws that you may not understand.
In the age of the internet, many people are emboldened to do their own research and replace the professionals in their lives with their own conclusions. In many cases, this is a blessing, as professionals with ulterior motives are now faced ...
