TRASHED TREASURE The High Cost of Hidden Heirlooms
Imagine purchasing a lottery ticket and placing it in an empty Gatorade bottle so you won’t misplace it. As you later hear the numbers read off on TV, you realize they’re very familiar. You rush to the kitchen to retrieve the bottle and discover it isn’t there anymore … just as your spouse walks in after getting rid of your recyclables. Suddenly, your plans for safekeeping don’t seem so clever. Unfortunately, we sometimes see clients making similarly careless (if well-intentioned) mistakes when attempting to protect certain heirlooms and other assets. Not long ago, a deceased client’s family was preparing her home for sale when her granddaughter opened a jar of peanut butter … and found a diamond ring inside. The sudden realization that the deceased may have hidden other valuables in her home led her family members to make a mad dash to the outside dumpster. They uncovered other items, including a gold bracelet hidden in a bag of vegetables. While hiding those items so cleverly may have thwarted potential burglars, it did little to help my client’s loved ones have a smooth and organized experience upon her passing. This surprisingly common scenario points to the heart of why a thorough estate plan is essential. As concise as many clients are in creating solid documentation to preserve their legacy, just as many
overlook jewelry, art, coins, and other high-value items that could cause confusion and even interfamily conflict once discovered. Just as you’d revise your plan if you bought a new home or welcomed a new grandchild, you should extensively review your possessions to determine what should go to whom. From there, explicitly detailing your decisions regarding these items (and where they can be easily located) will present those you leave behind with a clear picture instead of leading them on a surprise scavenger hunt.
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding your current estate plan or would like to explore ways to update it to include all your beloved assets.
TAKE A BREAK!
INGREDIENTS
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6 slices of bacon
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3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup balsamic vinaigrette
1 Honeycrisp apple, peeled and thinly sliced 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
1/3 cup olive oil 2 tbsp raw honey
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1/2 cup feta cheese
8 oz fresh baby spinach, rinsed and dried
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large skillet, cook bacon until crispy. Remove it from the pan and set on a paper towel-lined plate to cool. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinaigrette, olive oil, and honey. Set aside. 3. In a large bowl, add spinach, cranberries, apple slices, red onion, and feta. Crumble bacon pieces over the top. Use salad forks to toss ingredients thoroughly. 4. Add dressing to the salad and toss again until well-coated.
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