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JUL/AUG 2026
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If there is one thing life has taught me so far, it is that very few meaningful paths are straight lines. When I look back at the road that brought me here, to practicing business law, becoming a shareholder Where Business, Family, and Legacy Meet WHAT I DO FOR CLIENTS AND WHY IT ALWAYS FEELS PERSONAL
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the priesthood, that season taught me patience, how to listen, and, in many ways, prepared me to become the kind of attorney I strive to be today. My interest in law began after my grandfather passed away. Watching my aunt navigate the administration of his estate left a lasting impression on me. In the middle of grief, she was suddenly faced with paperwork, legal hurdles, and difficult decisions at a time when our family was trying to mourn. That experience planted the seed for what eventually became my career.
at this firm, and raising three little girls with my wife, I can honestly say little of it unfolded as I imagined. And yet, every chapter prepared me for the next. I grew up in Indianapolis in a family that valued education, discipline, and faith. My dad was a
the beautiful chaos that comes with raising three little girls under 4 years old. Most evenings are a mix of bedtime stories, toys scattered across the floor, and trying to soak in moments that already seem to move too fast. Fatherhood has changed the way I think about almost everything. When I sit across from clients discussing succession plans and family businesses, those conversations feel personal to me because I understand what it means to care deeply about the people who depend on you. I feel incredibly fortunate to do work that helps families and business owners protect the lives they have spent years building. Whether it is helping preserve a family business, guiding someone through a transition, or simply giving a client peace of mind about the future, I never lose sight of the trust people place in us during some of the most important moments of their lives. And at the end of each day, no matter how busy life becomes, I get to come home to the people who remind me exactly why that work matters so much in the first place. – Evan Golightly 317-726-1714 1
Ironically, I originally thought I would go directly into estate planning. Instead, I found myself drawn toward business law and transactional
classical musician and teacher, and my mom is a physician. My brother and I were homeschooled for most of our childhood. Then, I attended La Salette Academy, a small all-boys Catholic boarding school in Illinois that was as structured as you can imagine. We wore suits and ties to class, lived by the ringing of bells, and followed schedules down to the minute. At the time, it felt strict. Looking back now, I am incredibly grateful for it. That environment taught me resilience, accountability, and how to be comfortable with discipline long before adulthood demanded it of me. After high school, I spent time at a Catholic seminary in Minnesota discerning the priesthood. Much of life there was spent in silence and reflection. There were not many distractions, which meant you had no choice but to think deeply about the kind of person you wanted to become. Although I eventually realized I was not called to
work. Today, I primarily help middle-market businesses navigate contracts, succession planning, ownership transitions, employment matters, and long-term strategy. Truthfully, I have grown to love this work more than I ever expected. Many people assume business law is purely transactional. But what I have found is that behind nearly every business is a family, a story, and years (sometimes decades) of sacrifice. Many of the owners I work with care deeply about their employees and communities. They want to preserve jobs, opportunities, and something meaningful they built from the ground up. But sometimes, they do not always walk into my office knowing exactly what they need legally to achieve that. My role is to listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, and help turn those goals into a plan that actually works. Outside the office, life is wonderfully loud these days. My wife and I recently welcomed our third daughter this spring, and our home is filled with
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GRANDPARENTS’ GRACE A Guide to Raising Grandchildren
Whether they do so informally or through a legal arrangement, approximately 2.5 million grandparents in the U.S. are currently responsible for raising their grandchildren. Depending on the circumstances, grandparents assuming a parental role with their grandchildren can be one of the healthiest and most positive directions a family can take. For many children, the arrangement provides a level of comfort, safety, and stability that may not have been possible in a more traditional parental arrangement. In some cases, financial instability, addiction issues, death, or medical emergencies can make that arrangement difficult to maintain. Additionally, they provide grandparents with an opportunity to foster deeper relationships with their grandchildren and experience a second round of raising a child (or children). That said, this kind of parenting situation is rarely free of obstacles and serious considerations. Here are a few of the most common issues that can
arise when grandparents raise their grandchildren, along with tips to make the situation smoother and more harmonious for everyone involved. THE FRICTIONS OF NONTRADITIONAL FAMILIES When taking on the responsibility of raising grandchildren, it is essential to understand that you are assuming that role 100% . This means you are responsible for obtaining guardianship or custody, enrolling the children in school, accessing their medical records, and providing suitable housing, clothing, and food, among other things. This can be a heavy burden to carry, especially when raising children with serious or chronic medical or behavioral conditions or when grandparents are experiencing health issues of their own. While raising grandchildren may be the best short-term solution to problems or unexpected circumstances with their birth parents, the long-term demands
can become difficult for grandchildren and grandparents to sustain.
THE BOND-BUILDING BLUEPRINT Despite these challenges, there are considerable ways to help make a grandparent-grandchild parenting relationship successful. Counseling resources may be available through the grandchild’s school, and a trained family therapist may provide invaluable tools and insights. Additionally, in-person or online support networks may help grandparents discuss and address issues with peers in a positive, encouraging, and empathetic manner. Above all, open and clear communication between grandparents and grandchildren is essential for establishing structures and boundaries. When love leads and commitments remain strong, grandparent-led families can build a foundation for adapting and flourishing together despite life’s unpredictability.
Succession Planning
GREAT LEADERS BUILD BUSINESSES THAT OUTLAST THEM
When you run a business, it is easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day responsibilities without looking to the future. You may plan ahead for the next quarter or even the following fiscal year, but what about a decade from now? Have you considered what will happen with your business when you are ready to retire, or who would step into your shoes if something happened to you? Like estate planning, succession planning must begin years before you seriously consider retirement. It is not a last-minute task you figure out as you walk out the doors for the last time; it is a vital responsibility to your employees and your legacy. You are the cog in the machine, holding everything together, and without any sort of plan or guidance from you, everything could fall apart once you step away. Succession planning is really a proactive process. You do not want to wait until you get diagnosed with a terminal illness to establish a succession plan, as your priorities will likely be elsewhere. Instead, acknowledge what you want to leave behind, put your desires on paper, and establish a plan to maintain your core values when the next generation or a new owner takes over.
may be ready for a bigger role, and what would happen to your business if the unimaginable happened and you were no longer around to run it. There is a lot that goes into succession planning; we have barely even scratched the surface, but it is incredibly important for your legacy and the people you care about.
Ideally, you already have a succession plan in place for your business, but if not, there is no time like the present.
If you care about your team, business, and legacy, it is something you need to establish as soon as possible. We are here to help if you have any questions or need assistance setting up your succession plan.
As you start to explore succession planning, consider your business’s future goals, who will take over key positions and responsibilities, which employees
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Family Fun Without the Fuss
BARBECUE BASEBALL CYCLING FISHING
AN EASY REUNION PLANNING GUIDE
FIREWORKS ICE CREAM INDEPENDENCE
PARK RUBY SHADE STARGAZING VACATION
For many people, family reunions are one of the highlights of the year. They give us a chance to reconnect with distant relatives, enjoy each
other’s company, and bring together multiple generations. The reunion itself may be the fun part, but getting everyone there usually takes more planning than people expect. START WITH THE BIG THINGS. Regardless of whether you are planning for 20 or 200, begin with the decisions that affect everything else. First, reach out to everyone and ask what dates work best. In a bigger family, it may not be possible to accommodate everyone, but reaching out early will give you a better chance of finding a date that works for most people. It also gives you a clearer idea of how big a crowd you are really planning for. Once you have a rough headcount and workable date, the location should come next. The best choice is usually one that keeps travel, lodging, and meal costs manageable while still providing enough space for people to gather comfortably. Popular options include campgrounds, public parks, or even someone’s backyard. KEEP THE DETAILS SIMPLE. If you are reserving a campground or another shared venue, look beyond the scenery and think about how the space will function for your group. Sleeping arrangements, parking, restrooms, and food access all matter more when you’re trying to keep several generations comfortable. It also helps to assign specific tasks to one or two relatives instead of trying to do everything yourself. Food and activities usually work best when flexible. Do not worry about planning every hour. Instead, focus on a few simple anchor points. That might be one shared meal, a group photo, or a fun activity that works for different ages. Potlucks, cookouts, and buffet-style meals are typically the most practical for these gatherings, especially for large crowds. A few easy activity options (such as yard games, family trivia, a card tournament, or even a scavenger hunt) can also help people mingle without making the day feel overplanned. Remember, the goal is not to create the perfect event. It is to plan a gathering that makes it easy for people to show up, settle in, and simply enjoy being with family.
INGREDIENTS
• 6 Original Rice Krispies squares (or homemade crispy rice squares) • 6 oz white chocolate melting wafers • 1 oz blue chocolate melting wafers
• Red and blue M&M’s • Red and blue sprinkles • 6 (4-inch) lollipop sticks (optional)
DIRECTIONS
1. Prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. 2. Place a lollipop stick into each unwrapped square. 3. In a medium bowl, melt the white chocolate wafers in the microwave at 15-second intervals, stirring in between until the chocolate is completely smooth. 4. Dip half of each square into the chocolate. 5. Place the treats on the parchment paper-lined baking sheet. 6. Melt the blue chocolate wafers and drizzle over the white chocolate. 7. Add candy to the melted chocolate before it cools, pressing the M&M’s into the chocolate to make them stick. Add the sprinkles. 8. Place the crispy treats in the fridge, and allow the chocolate to harden completely before serving.
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How Evan Golightly Is Helping Owners Protect What They Have Built INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1.
2.
Parenting Pointers for Pops and Gram
The Future of Your Business Should Not Be Left to Chance
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Family Gatherings Made Simple
Patriotic Crispy Rice Treats
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The Joy of Watching Your Legacy Make a Difference Today
When most people think about estate planning, they envision leaving their hard-earned assets to their heirs so they can use them to live a more fulfilling life. With that inheritance, you could help your children afford a new house, your grandchildren go to college, and so much more. However, you do not need to wait until you are no longer around to bless your loved ones with amazing gifts that bring so much opportunity and joy into their lives. There is something special about giving your kids something potentially life-changing and being around to watch them appreciate it and use it to better their lives. Right now, the average age at which a woman has her first child is almost 28. Men are slightly older on average, and both numbers have increased over the past few decades. Life expectancy in America is about 79 years. That means the average age at which someone would inherit is in their 50s. Is the money from your estate going to be more valuable to them at that age, or when they are still growing, developing, and finding their path? The simple truth is that you do not have to wait to gift things to your heirs that can better their lives. Now, this does not mean you need to sign over your house and bank accounts to them. This is not about spoiling your children, but providing practical help that can benefit their lives. Think about things like gifting equity in your business, funding a down payment for a house, or opening a Roth IRA. If you open up an account for them, you do not have to give them access right away. You can set parameters so they receive funds only when they reach a certain age or cross an important milestone. This can be a delicate line, as you do not want your gifts to be abused, nor do you want to spoil your kids with more than they really need. It is all about being strategic and finding practical ways to help them improve their lives.
WHY WAIT? THE BEST TIME TO HELP YOUR HEIRS MAY BE RIGHT NOW
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