National Estate Planning Awareness Month – Why We Plan

Oct 18, 2023 end-of-life planning

October is National Estate Planning Awareness Month. An estate plan ensures that your wishes are in place for your loved ones and for the causes that are important to you during your lifetime. There are several estate planning strategies that provide significant tax benefits and even income for life. Many Compassion & Choices volunteers, supporters and donors speak to the importance of estate planning in their lives and how it is essential to their end of life plan.

Rev. Dr. Roslyn Satchel or Dr. Roz grew up in a home with six siblings and a lot of love. Her father, Rev. Dr. Frank R. Satchel, always believed he would die by the age of 60 because many in his family didn’t live beyond this age. In his 50s, he felt pressed for time and began preparing his family for his death. Every year during the holiday season, he would pull out his estate planning documents and walk his daughter through them to ensure she understood his wishes. 

Dr Roz’s father lived well beyond 60 and died at age 93. In those 33 years, Dr. Satchel looked at his estate planning documents every year. For her, it made all the difference to know what he wanted after his death. 

Do you have a plan for your after-death wishes? FreeWill provides peace of mind and helps you create a will online in 20 minutes or less.