Your Family’s Story Creating a Family Narrative That Transcends Wealth
The Sheppard Law Firm’s prolific writer, Craig Hersch, has done it again—wielding his pen to craft a column that many of our readers have enjoyed, shared, and mused over. Below is a snippet from an article Craig wrote this autumn. You can read the full article and other pearls of wisdom from Craig at SBSHLaw.com/blog. So many of my clients, when discussing their estate plans, voice a common concern: “I don’t want my wealth to somehow weaken my children’s drive and ambition.” This concern has merit. The old saying “shirt- sleeves to shirt-sleeves in three generations” is found in many different cultures. In Japan, the expression is “rice paddies to rice paddies in three generations.”The Scottish say, “The father buys, the son builds, the grandchild sells, and his son begs.” Family wealth can only survive through a family narrative, passed down from generation to generation. Each generation needs to feel like a part of the original narrative and have an obligation to continue its journey. I believe we can amend our estate plans to tell our stories and build our narrative for all our loved ones.
Why not include, then, on the opening pages of a will or trust, how your family’s wealth was acquired? Describe the trials and tribulations it took to accumulate and distribute this inheritance and what you hope subsequent generations will not only understand but also build upon. Enunciate your family’s core covenants, and build your legacy. It’s always best to discuss these important topics with your loved ones during life. Memorializing your family legacy, however, can certainly be accomplished in your estate planning documents. I’m working on a way to systemize this process in the coming months as part of our unique process, The Family Estate & Legacy Program. In the meantime, my suggestion for those of you who this speaks to is to take the time to write down your thoughts. You probably recall important lessons your parents and grandparents taught you because you remember their stories. The families who prosper tend to be the ones that, from generation to generation, become part of a shared narrative. How are you going to create that narrative for your family?
o w t o M a k e Y o
SUDOKU
INGREDIENTS:
• •
2 lbs cabbage
4 tsp fine sea salt
Equipment • Jar •
Lid with airlock
•
Something to weigh down cabbage, ideally made of a nonreactive material like glass
DIRECTIONS: 1. Remove outer leaves from cabbage. Slice very thinly.
2. In a large bowl, combine cabbage and salt. Let stand for 20 minutes. 3. Squeeze cabbage to release juices. Let the cabbage continue to soak and release juices for another 20 minutes. 4. Transfer to a jar and press down cabbage until completely submerged in its juices. Weigh down cabbage. 5. Seal jar with airlock. Let cabbage sit at room temperature and away from sunlight for one month. Once fermented, transfer to the fridge. Sauerkraut will keep for six months to one year. 3 (239) 265-9779
Solution on Page 4
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online