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You Can’t Take It With You
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September 2026
America’s Long-Term Plan
Revisiting the Document That Started It All A Question to Ask
Somewhere in my head, the preamble to the Constitution still has a melody. I was rereading it recently, and before I got through the first line, that old “Schoolhouse Rock” song came back to me. I would have first heard it during the bicentennial summer of 1976, somewhere between second and third grade, when those little cartoons were all over TV. Not long after that, a teacher had our class memorize the preamble. Funny enough, that same teacher is now a client of mine. I’ve actually had quite a few of my old teachers become clients, which I’ve always thought was a neat little turn of things. What strikes me about the Constitution all these years later is that you can read the whole thing in about 30 minutes, but you could spend a lifetime studying it. I also find it interesting that it wasn’t really written for the people who wrote it. The Founders wanted to secure the blessings of liberty for themselves, yes, but also for posterity. They were drafting a document for people they would never meet, living in a world they couldn’t imagine. There’s no way they could have anticipated what the country would look like today. So, they built something open-ended enough to keep working through changing times and shifting opinions. They made the Constitution durable in another way, too. It’s hard to change. That can be frustrating in the short term, but I’ve come to really appreciate it. Even when public opinion shifts enough to amend it, those changes can be revisited. Prohibition came and went by amendment. The voting age changed. The document bends, but not easily, and that’s part of why it has lasted. Something else is built into the Constitution that’s easy to overlook. The whole thing presupposes that people will govern themselves. Liberty was never meant to be about doing whatever you want whenever you want. It assumed that citizens would exercise some self-restraint and, at least sometimes, put the good of the country ahead of their own. Rights came with responsibilities. I don’t want to sound old and curmudgeonly about it, but I think that part gets forgotten. And when we stop regulating ourselves, it’s only natural that we start asking the government to do it for us, usually in exchange for some freedom. In my line of work, I can’t help seeing the Constitution as something else, too. It’s America’s long-term plan, and the parallels to estate planning are hard to miss.
When I sit down with a family, we’re drafting documents meant to apply at some point in the future. I used to joke with clients that if they could tell me exactly when they were going to die, what they’d own, what their family would look like, and what the law would be at the time, planning would be easy. Nobody can, so we plan for uncertainty instead. We name people to positions of trust and hope they’ll act honestly, and we build in safeguards in case they don’t. The Constitution does the same thing with elections, term limits, and checks on power. Both documents hope for the best while preparing for the worst. If it’s been a few decades since you’ve read the Constitution, I’d recommend giving it 30 minutes sometime. ConstitutionCenter.org has the full text with minimal commentary or slant, and as you (or Answer for) a Loved One Asking and answering important questions helps preserve your family’s values and life lessons for generations to come. Besides money, what do you hope your family inherits from you?
scroll, it highlights sections later amended. It’s worth a look. Some documents are written to last, and it never hurts to revisit the ones written just for us.
Philip J. Corson, Founder
“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” PSALM 19:1
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A House Isn’t Always a Gift
Protecting Loved Ones From an Inheritance Headache
Owning a home is a common dream of many adults, and inheriting property from a loved one can feel like a life- changing gift. Though you may have the best intentions in leaving your home to a child or another heir in your estate plan, not everyone stops to consider what financial responsibilities come with that. From taxes and insurance to maintenance costs and legal fees, the property’s true cost could exceed expectations. Thoughtful estate planning that considers these potential burdens is one of the best ways to ensure a dream home does not become a nightmare for your loved one after you are gone. The Price Tag of Homeownership Homeownership comes with significant financial responsibilities. If your intended heir has only ever rented, inheriting a house may be their first experience managing all the expenses that come with owning property. Once the home transfers to them, they’ll be responsible for ongoing costs, including electricity, gas, water, and other utilities, as well as all other expenses associated with maintaining the property. Unlike renting, if something goes wrong, like a leaky roof or broken AC, they are responsible for the repairs, as well as regular maintenance of the property.
when your home is reassessed at its current market value after your passing, the bill can increase significantly. Homeowner’s insurance premiums can also increase once your child or another heir takes over the policy. If your home has a mortgage, that debt doesn’t go away. Your heir will have options, such as assuming the mortgage and continuing to make payments, but this depends on the loan. There are cases where they may have to pay the loan off or refinance it. Your heir can sell the home and use the proceeds to pay off the mortgage, but there could be serious tax consequences. Estate Plan Expenses Having a proper estate plan in place can make the transfer of property to your loved one smoother, but if not done thoughtfully, it can incur its own costs. If the property goes through probate or is held in a trust, the bills still have to get paid. An executor will often use funds from the estate to cover probate or trust expenses, but if it isn’t enough, they may need to sell or liquidate assets. One of the best strategies is to include funds in your plan specifically to cover these expenses as your heirs decide what’s next. Passing Down a Home A home could still be a life-changing gift for your loved ones if you plan it carefully and have open discussions with your family about the process. One option is a trust with a right of occupancy, which allows someone to live in the home, with clear rules specifying who is responsible for expenses. A transfer-on-death deed passes the home on automatically to your beneficiary when you pass away, but it’s not available in every state. While this helps avoid probate, your heir will still inherit the mortgage, tax liens, and any HOA fees. You could also leave the property to surviving joint co-owners with equal interests, but this could trigger gift tax or expose the estate to creditors. Your home may be the most valuable thing you own, and it’s natural to want to give that to your children or your loved ones. Just be clear with them about what this inheritance entails, and work with an experienced estate planning attorney to develop the best strategies.
There are also recurring costs like property taxes, which will continue throughout your heir’s life in the home. Sometimes,
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The Real-Life Hobbits of Flores Pocket-Size Prehistory
TAKE A BREAK
ACORN BACKPACK CIDER CONSTITUTION CORNFIELD EQUINOX GOLD STAR GRANDPARENT OBSERVATORY PENCILS RECOVERY SUNFLOWER
Long before Frodo was having second breakfast in the Shire, real-life “hobbits” were leaving footprints on human history. Homo floresiensis was one of the last surviving humans, alongside our own species, Homo sapiens. Standing a little over 3 feet tall, these petite people got by on their home island by hunting and gathering with advanced tools. Their small skeletons were discovered in 2003 in a remote cave, but much of their story remains a mystery. A Stunning Surprise When an Indonesian-Australian research team explored the Liang Bua cave on the island of Flores, Indonesia, they discovered the remains of a miniature human-like creature. At first, they estimated these beings lived out their lives 12,000–74,000 years ago. As scientists have learned more about them, it is clear that the remains are older, dating back between 60,000 and 100,000 years. In total, they have found the partial skeleton of a female and fragments of at least 13 other hobbits. Small Survivors Along with their height, Homo floresiensis had particularly short legs compared to their longer arms and large feet. Tools found with their fossils suggest they hunted Komodo dragons, giant rats, and other small mammals. Due to the wear on their teeth, researchers think they ate plenty of nutritious plants that required a lot of chewing.
Slow Cooker Masala Chicken and Rice
Chicken • 1 tbsp butter • 1 lb ground chicken Ingredients • 1 small onion, chopped • 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce • 1 cup water • 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp garlic powder • 1 tsp ground cumin • 1 tsp chili powder • 1 tsp ground turmeric
Without any signs of burials or other ceremonies, it’s difficult to say what their culture was like. Mini Mysteries So, where exactly did this teeny tribe come from? It’s still a mini mystery! Early theories speculated that they evolved from another ancient human species that shrank over time after arriving on Flores due to island dwarfism. With limited resources, their bodies grew smaller. In 2016, the theory that they were from another human species gained traction. Jaw bones discovered just outside the cave are even smaller and older. They likely traveled from Africa to the
• 1 tsp garam masala • 1/2 tsp ground ginger • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon • 1 bay leaf • 1 cup frozen peas Rice • 1 cup uncooked basmati rice • 1 3/4 cups boiling water • 2 tbsp canola oil or butter • 1 tsp salt
Directions 1. In a large skillet, heat butter over medium heat. 2. Add chicken and onion, cook until no longer pink, 6–8 minutes, breaking into crumbles. 3. Transfer to a 4-quart slow cooker. 4. Stir in tomato sauce, water, salt, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, turmeric, garam masala, ginger, cinnamon, and bay leaf. 5. Cook on low for 4–5 hours. Add peas, cook 30 minutes. 6. For rice, preheat oven to 375 F and grease a 2-quart baking dish. 7. Add all rice ingredients, cover with foil, and bake until water is absorbed, 25–30 minutes. 8. Discard bay leaf from chicken, and serve over cooked rice.
island, a long journey they couldn’t have swum, so it’s possible they were swept up in a tsunami before settling on the island. While they may have been small in stature, the hobbit people left behind oversized questions about our past. Unlike the characters many of us imagine in a fictional world, these tiny humans are grounded in science, not Middle-earth.
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803-746-7000 planningyourlegacy.com PO Box 100 Bowling Green, SC 29703
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Some Thoughts on Liberty, Responsibility, and Planning Ahead
2
Inherited a House? The Bills May Be Bigger Than You Think
3
Slow Cooker Masala Chicken and Rice
The Real ‘Hobbits’ of Indonesia
4
Meet the Orphaned Calf Who Found Love After Loss
The Baby Hippo Who Fell Asleep in His Rescuer’s Arms From Heartbreak to Hippo Hugs
Hippos might not be known for cuddles and taking dips in private pools, but Bumpy isn’t your average animal. Today, the tiny hippo calf is living the good life at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya, but his story started with heartbreak. He was discovered orphaned, lying next to his mother’s lifeless body, alone in the wilderness. Thanks to the loving care of his rescuers, he’s getting a fresh start. Bumpy was discovered at Oloiden Resort in Naivasha, Kenya, this May, after the Kenya Wildlife Service received multiple reports of a calf calling for help in the park. The team of animal advocates who went to help him found Bumpy nudging his dead mother, hoping she would wake up. Because hippos commonly get into territorial fights, especially when babies are involved, they believe she perished protecting him from danger. The little calf had to take a long ride after his traumatic ordeal to reach the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Nairobi Nursery. But once he arrived, he was treated to warm milk and a comfy red blanket, finally falling asleep in the arms of a caretaker.
While hippos are social, they are one of Africa’s most dangerous animals. They are responsible for an estimated 500 human deaths across the continent each year. Bumpy, however, quickly bonded with his rescuers and even sat in a caretaker’s lap as they flew him to another facility.
“He is a very snuggly creature and is happiest when nestled on or against someone,” said the organization.
Since arriving at his new home, he’s been healthy and has received around-the-clock care to ensure his rehabilitation goes smoothly. When he’s not cozying up to a staffer, he spends most of his days swimming in his pool and taking long snoozes on a mattress. Young hippos stay with their mothers for years in the wild. They’re dependent on them for protection, milk, and lessons in survival. Early separations like Bumpy’s can be particularly difficult, but the rescue organization is hopeful that it can release him back into the wild once he’s older.
Until then, this once orphaned baby is going to get in every snuggle and treat he can.
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