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The Cary Connection FEBRUARY 2026
Cary Raleigh North Raleigh Chapel Hill
LOVE AND LEGACIES Kindness in Estate Planning
The most significant legacy any of us will ever leave is how well we treated the people we loved while we were here.
their own affairs or the affairs of others (also known as “adjudicated incompetent”). In other cases, an individual may simply choose to renounce their involvement in carrying out your estate plan. This is why kindness during estate planning is so important. It takes a lot of love for someone to say, “I trust you to settle my estate when I’m gone.” It also takes care to fully explain this commitment to the loved one so they fully comprehend their leadership role and are willing and able to fulfill it. The last thing you want is for your plan to instigate strife within your family after your passing because the individual you named as executor decides the task is too overwhelming and/or fails to adequately work with your other loved ones in settling your affairs. Additionally, getting your estate plan in proper order and ensuring your executor is appropriately aligned with your wishes may help you avoid probate. Having your trusts and non-probate assets in order will help your loved ones avoid the costs and logistical issues typically associated with the probate process. The more streamlined you make things, the kinder you will be to those dearest to you. By the time this month’s newsletter arrives, Cary Estate Planning will be nearing completion of our much anticipated expansion of their headquarters in Cary. This footprint growth, along with our satellite offices in North Raleigh and Chapel Hill, is in direct response to our desire to serve our community for estate planning, estate
February is the month of love and compassion. In addition to Valentine’s Day on the 14th, Random Acts of Kindness Day is celebrated on the 17th. The idea of kindness is significant when it comes to estate planning. Even though it might be uncomfortable to talk about what’s to come once you’re no longer here (and to work with a lawyer to get everything in writing for you), the long game with these activities is that legacy planning is an ultimate act of kindness. Your loved ones will be left to deal with things after you’re gone, so having a solid plan can help make that emotional time a lot easier for them. Estate planning is all about getting your ducks in a row while you’re still alive; estate administration and the North Carolina probate process occur after you pass away. Although we discuss these latter points with you during your consultations with us, it’s ultimately up to your loved ones (mainly the executor) to navigate this process in your absence. Understanding the role of an executor, and clearly communicating the nuances of that role (especially when it comes to probate and administration) with whomever you choose to fulfill it is critical. Our clients also need to understand who can’t serve as an executor. Just because someone’s named as one doesn’t mean they’re a 100% shoo-in to serve that role. For example, someone under 18 can’t be an executor, and neither can a convicted felon. In some cases, an individual may be unable to serve as an executor because they’re illiterate or a court has deemed them unable to manage
administration and probate, financial planning, and tax preparation services.
Each day is a new chance to be kind to others. Take the first step today in ensuring a legacy of love, compassion, and unity for those closest to your heart.
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The Price of Planning Ahead
INFLATION’S HIDDEN IMPACT ON YOUR ESTATE ago. Homes, cars, and investments all fluctuate in value due to inflation. In the 1950s, the average home sold for about $7,400. Today, it’s well over $370,000. Wages have also increased, albeit at a slower pace. That gap explains why inflation matters when estate planning.
Most of us notice inflation when we check out at the grocery store, not when we think about our estate plan. Prices for everyday items are creeping up, but those same price changes can also impact the value of what we own. When that happens, our estate plan may need a second look. Inflation means that money doesn’t stretch as far as it used to. A dollar today buys less than it did a few years
When the cost of goods and property rises, the total value of our estate rises with it. That sounds positive, but it can also push an estate closer to federal or state tax thresholds. A house valued at $1 million today might be worth $1.5 million in a few years, and that extra half-million could create new tax questions. Families sometimes find themselves paying more in taxes, only to watch those assets drop in value soon after. The best way to handle this issue is to plan early and keep your plans updated. We can start by reviewing our estate annually and comparing it to current tax limits. Adding beneficiary designations to accounts, such as life insurance or retirement funds, keeps those assets outside the taxable estate. Giving modest gifts to family or charities can reduce overall value while allowing us to see the results in our lifetimes. Inflation is constantly changing, and our plans should adapt to it accordingly. Reviewing what we’ve built every year helps ensure that our loved ones receive what we intend, without unwelcome surprises when the time comes.
MEET THE BEAR WITH A BIONIC PAW A SECOND CHANCE FOR VASI
On the outskirts of Bengaluru in India, a rescued sloth bear is getting around on all fours again. His name is Vasikaran (Vasi, for short), and after years of moving gingerly on three legs, he’s making history. At the Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Center, Vasi recently became the first animal of his kind in the world to receive a prosthetic paw, and his caregivers say he’s taken to it with ease. Vasi’s story began with tragedy. Years ago, he was caught in a poacher’s wire snare that left his back paw so badly injured it had to be amputated. Wildlife SOS, a nonprofit that rescues and rehabilitates India’s wildlife, brought him to the rescue center over five years ago. Once he recovered, the staff realized he couldn’t survive in the wild with only three working legs, so they built him a permanent home. Vasi, who’s known for his calm personality
and love of peanut butter, quickly became one of the team’s favorite residents.
Then came the chance to give him something more. Derrick Campana, founder of Bionic Pets and known for fitting prosthetics on everything from raccoons to elephants, took on the challenge of designing one for a wild bear. First, the team helped Vasi adjust by wrapping his leg in soft cloth. Once the bear grew comfortable, Campana created a mold and built a custom paw using plaster for flexibility and crampons to mimic claws. When Vasi tried it on, he stood taller. Soon, he was walking evenly and balancing his weight on all four legs. Caregivers say it improved his confidence, posture, and mood. The device is removed occasionally to keep it from
irritating him, but most days, he strolls through his enclosure without any issue.
Vasi’s now walking around the way he was meant to and thriving because of it. For him and everyone who helped him get there, that’s what a happy ending looks like.
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In 1989, a children’s show featuring singing puppets managed something no politician had. It slipped quietly across the Iron Curtain. For the first time, “Fraggle Rock” appeared on television in the USSR, bringing Jim Henson’s underground world of Fraggles, Doozers, and Gorgs into Soviet living rooms. The story began years earlier. By the early 1980s, Henson was already famous for “The Muppet Show” and “Sesame Street,” but he wanted to create something bigger than ratings. He dreamed of a show that carried a message of peace and wasn’t bound by national borders or languages. Puppets, he believed, were the perfect characters for that type of program. The result was “Fraggle Rock,” a hopeful experiment in connection. The Fraggles didn’t reach Russia overnight. During the Cold War, few American programs managed to cross the Iron Curtain. But in 1982, Henson’s fantasy film “The Dark Crystal” became a surprise hit at the Moscow Film Festival. There were sold-out screenings and crowds lined up outside theaters. That success opened a door. As the Soviet Union began to change under Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms, Soviet television grew more open to ideas from outside countries. On Jan. 8, 1989, Soviet audiences saw their first episode of “Fraggle Rock.” The response was overwhelming. Ratings were unprecedented, and later that year, the entire first season began airing, dubbed with a Russian narrator. It arrived months before the Berlin Wall fell. For Henson, who died the following spring, the Fraggles’ appearance on Soviet airwaves was one of his last great accomplishments. After Henson’s passing, his dream lived on. A few years later, Russia produced its own version of “Sesame Street.” For a time, children on both sides of the world grew up watching the same small creatures solve problems with laughter. Maybe that was the peace Henson hoped for all along. Fraggle Rock’s Cold War Breakthrough Puppets Behind the Iron Curtain
TAKE A BREAK
DREAM EQUALITY FESTIVAL GROUNDHOG HEARTS KING LINCOLN MUFFIN PANCAKE
RABBIT ROSES
Mouthwatering Mini Cheesecakes
Ingredients
• 12 oz package vanilla wafers • 16 oz cream cheese, softened • 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 large eggs • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 21 oz can cherry pie filling
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In two 24-cup miniature muffin pans, line each space with a paper liner. 3. Using a food processor or resealable plastic bag, crush vanilla wafers into a fine crumb. 4. Press 1/2 teaspoon of crumbs into each paper liner. 5. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. 6. Fill each miniature muffin liner with this mixture, almost to the top. 7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the cheesecakes are set. 8. Cool completely in the pan. 9. Top each mini cheesecake with about a teaspoon of cherry pie filling before serving. Enjoy!
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
CaryEstatePlanning.com • 3
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PLANNING, NOT PAPERWORK.
Cary Raleigh North Raleigh Chapel Hill 1255 Crescent Green, Suite 200, Cary, NC 27518 919-726-0896 CaryEstatePlanning.com
Inside This Issue
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Peace in Preparation
Inflation-Proofing Your Estate for the Future
A Gentle Giant’s Return
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Mouthwatering Mini Cheesecakes
The Day the Fraggles Reached the USSR
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A Hollywood Actor’s Thoughtful Final Act
THE PLAN BEHIND THE LEGEND Estate Lessons From Paul Newman
Paul Newman was more than a movie legend. He built race cars, funded hospitals, and turned salad dressing into one of the most successful charitable brands in the world. But one of his quietest accomplishments happened away from the spotlight. When he planned his estate, he handled it with the same thought and discipline he brought to everything else. When he passed away in 2008, Newman’s estate was worth hundreds of millions of dollars. That alone isn’t what makes his plan remarkable. What stands out is how carefully he put it together. He had a detailed will, a private trust to keep his finances out of the public
foundation that still bears his name. Newman’s image, his company, and the earnings that continue to fund projects across the country also went to the foundation. He also took care of the practical side of things. By setting up the right trusts, he delayed certain taxes, ensuring his wife would be cared for before the government took its share. Newman even included provisions for various asset types, including his race cars and airplanes. He directed the proceeds from those to his residuary estate. Ultimately, his plan was practical, generous, and designed to last.
eye, and two trusted people ready to manage the details. Newman even included a clause discouraging legal disputes because he knew arguments over money can divide even the closest of families. His decisions reflected what mattered in his life. Newman’s wife, Joanne Woodward, kept their home and personal belongings. His Oscars, Golden Globes, and other awards went to the
Most of us don’t have a Hollywood fortune to divide, but we still face the same questions. Whom do we trust to handle things when we’re gone? What should continue to work long after we stop? Newman showed that good planning has less to do with money and more to do with making things clear for the people you care about. And his name still funds good work, which is a legacy worth having.
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