In Your Interest — Christmas Gift: Peace of Mind

What is the best gift you ever received at Christmas? Maybe it was something you received as a child, like the bicycle you were dreaming about, or maybe it was a special announcement from a loved one, like an upcoming birth of a child. Whatever the case, the Christmas holiday season is a time when we put forth an extra effort to make that special someone in our lives feel loved and appreciated.

This year, I would like to propose that you think about giving a gift that will not be received right away. First of all, give your family peace of mind. Make sure you have your estate plan finalized and in order. Many people can testify to the fact that when parents passed away leaving an orderly estate, things were very smooth, and everyone involved cooperated together to finalize the estate. Others can tell you how difficult and even tragic it was when there was no estate plan. Some still have strained relationships with their siblings and other family members because of the strife they experienced while trying to sort through their parents’ estates. Getting your will done and having your papers organized in one place will be a great relief to those who are left behind.

Secondly, consider leaving something through your estate to your church or other charity. This is a wonderful example of your devotion to your Lord during your lifetime and tells those who will be left behind where your priorities are. What a wonderful way to leave your testimony to your family. If you need help with this, you can contact an estate-planning attorney, a financial planner or a CPA. You can also contact your Baptist Foundation. They have staff that can point you in the right direction, whatever route you choose to take with your estate plan.

The important thing is to do this. It costs very little to get your estate planning documents in order, and it costs nothing to organize all your important information in one place. And the results are priceless.

— In accordance with IRS Circular 230, any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.