Best Intentions

by Colleen Barney, Victoria Collins

Sometimes, despite careful planning and the best of intentions, life works out differently than expected. In Best Intentions, authors Colleen Barney and Victoria Collins examine the impact of estate planning and share stories and letters from and about real people. These are people who, despite careful planning, did not pass on to their loved ones what they had intended-their own special life lessons, messages and financial inheritance. Most books on estate planning center on avoiding probate and paying less in taxes. For the first time ever, a noted financial planner (Collins) and a respected estate attorney (Barney) present a completely new look at a subject usually considered dry and technical, even morbid. They use letters and stories by and about children, parents, and others to focus on nontraditional estate planning concepts like passing on visions and ideals, values and morals, work ethic and guidance, and love. Emphasizing people, their lives, and their desires and goals for future generations, the authors show readers how *Understand their own family, social, emotional, and economic dynamics. *Identify what is really important to them. *Tailor uniquely personal estate plans. *Explore alternatives to traditional estate planning concepts. *Balance the financial and emotional aspects of estate planning. Sooner or later, estate planning becomes an important aspect of every individual’s life plan. Best Intentions enables readers to apply practical, topical, and timely recommendations to their own personal circumstances-whether their net worth is $10,000, $10,000,000, or more.

163 pages, Paperback

First published March 11, 2002

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful to hear about all kinds of scenarios about the dynamics of giving and estate planning

[Joe Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of “stories of best-laid plans that didn’t work out” and “unintended consequences,” accompanied by more-or-less brief discussion of the corresponding lessons to be learned. I thought it was a very useful read in the process of trying to figure how out to “pass it on”—whatever’s left in the end. In fact, we decided it would be a good thing for all family to read as preparation for “family council” style work around these issues.

[Lou Hunley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly interesting and informative. It was a quick read with lots of real life examples. The two authors, both estate lawyers, stress passing on your values as well as your money.