Small business planning is, it seems, necessarily more involved than planning for most individuals who work as "W-2" employees. The fact that many procrastinate on "estate" planning in first place, contributes to their lack of drive to push through to a finish [as defined by their current circumstances] which leaves their business and personal affairs untidy and sometimes altogether unplanned for.
It sounds self-serving for me to tell them, that I know when to get their planning done, if they can tell me when they will die! Some see it as a ploy to get them to move forward so the lawyer/planner can be paid. However, people die everyday! I have had a family member, a very close personal friend and a long-time friend [none of whom were clients], all die this year.
In every case, the person had lead a normal life until someone found them at their desk [one case they found the person at their house] as though they were asleep. Totally unexpected that they would die at that time, by them, their families and friends!
Another instance, I am working on a business/estate plan now for someone because the man died on a Saturday, who was coming in to do estate planning on a Tuesday. Because it didn't get done, there is very complex and not entirely satisfactory planning being undertaken now.
The moral: I can tell you when you need to have your planning done, IF you will tell me when you are going to die!!!
God Bless.
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