Late Decisions

Summary:

"OK mom, I'll get to it!" Procrastination is common for more than just the teenager requested to clean up his room. What really vital planning decisions are you putting off?

Decisions People Leave Until It's Too Late

√ Signing a living will. Clarify what your end of life wishes are and telling your loved ones how you feel. How many people sign them in the ER on a quick form? Everyone remembers the Terri Schiavo tragedy. Don't have your end of life wishes violated because you didn't communicate them.  Example: You have ALS and want every measure taken to prolong your life, including a respirator, so long as you are of sound mind. Knowing many standard forms might restrict this you opt for a special living will that you tailor to address your special health situation.

√ Rebalance your portfolio regularly. "I'll wait until the market recovers." Yeah, that's exactly why the average individual investor earned about 4% in mutual funds over the past 20 years when the return of those funds over the same time period was closer to 12%. Rebalance regularly.

√ Tell your loved ones that you love them. Write an "ethical will" or heartfelt letter expressing how you feel and your concerns and wishes for family, friends and loved ones. Too often people literally wait until they are on their death bed and then they don't have the strength or mental presence to do so. Example: Your daughter has early onset Alzheimer's disease. You opt to leave more in your will to a trust for her and if she dies to her husband, then to your other children. You write a letter explaining why you are leaving her more and assuring your other children it is not because you care or love them less. The fuzzy stuff is important too!

√ Protect your assets. It's too late when you're sued. Buy insurance and take other appropriate steps to protect your assets before you have any real or likely problem.  Example: If you're in business and subject to liability exposure, perhaps your savings should be in your spouse's name.

√ Update your will. Adjust for new laws, changes in asset values and personal matters. Example: Your son has multiple sclerosis and had to leave his job, and is struggling to make ends meet. Your daughter is still getting by. Do you leave him more?  Example: Your child has substantial health issues - if he/she receives government aid you might need to leave any bequests in a special needs trust so you don't disqualify him/her for essential government programs.

√ Sign a power of attorney. If you become disabled and have not taken precautions, a family member may have to petition a court to be appointed guardian to handle legal, tax and financial matters for you. That is costly, time consuming and all public record. Plan ahead.

√ Buy life, disability or long term care insurance. "I'll get to it, but I'm young [healthy]…" Ask anyone diagnosed with cancer if they received a phone call in advance of the diagnosis so they could buy insurance. Health problems are equal opportunity employers and you never know when they will come knocking. If coverage makes sense get it. There are ways to tweak coverage to keep the costs down, but to still have it in place. Example: Buy term insurance with a conversion feature. You can convert at a later date. Buy disability policy with a longer waiting period. Buy long term care while it is affordable, before you face health issues.

√ Maintain a calendar. "I've never been audited, I'll get to it." Not corroborating business, travel and entertainment and other expenses won't bode well on an audit. A calendar documenting key data is easy to maintain and can be essential to address a range of tax audit issues. Are you resident in a high or low tax state? Calendar travel dates to prove the time periods in each. Need to allocate earnings between states? Calendar where you worked. Claiming travel, entertainment or meal expenses? Document when, where, who and what on a calendar. Often, adding simple notations to the appointments you keep on your regular calendar take little additional time but may go a long way to assuring ready access to information to support a tax position. Importantly, making those entries regularly and contemporaneously gives them more credibiltiy.