When my daughter April heads to work each day this summer, she doesn't drive. She takes a little purple boat. A few years ago, I never would have let her make that trip alone. 

Death Readiness Dispatch

July 8, 2026

Hi there,

 

We spend our summers on a lake in the Adirondacks, and this year my daughter started her first summer job. When she heads to work each day, she takes a little purple boat. A few years ago, I never would have let her make that trip alone. But, little by little, she learned, watched, practiced and asked questions. Every summer she became a little more independent.

 

Then, on Saturday, her boat stalled on the lake. Before I even knew there was a problem, my dad spotted her from shore, climbed into a kayak (which isn't nearly as easy as it used to be when you're about to turn 80), paddled out to her, and towed her safely back to the dock. Standing there watching them come in, I realized something. I was grateful there was another adult I trusted looking out for her.

 

And that's exactly how I think about trusts. One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that trusts are only for wealthy families or that they keep children from enjoying their inheritance. In reality, a trust, and a responsible trustee, can do something much more practical. Together, they can provide your children with someone you trust and the right structure to help them make thoughtful financial decisions if you're no longer here to do it yourself.

Inside My Family’s Estate Plan

This week's episode is different than anything I've done before. Rather than talking about trusts in the abstract, I walk through my own family's estate plan—from our life insurance beneficiary designations to our Wills to our trusts—and translate every confusing legal phrase into plain English.

 

Along the way, you'll learn:

✅ Why my husband and I chose to leave our children their inheritance in trust instead of outright,

💰 What happens when a life insurance policy is payable to an estate,

👤 What a trustee actually does,

🎓 What “health, education, maintenance, and support” really means,

💡 And why trusts aren't just for wealthy families.

If you've ever wondered what a trust actually looks like in practice, or whether one makes sense for your own family, you'll find this episode especially helpful.

Let's Build Your Family's Plan

Parenting is a gradual process of giving our children more independence while still putting thoughtful guardrails in place. A good estate plan should do the same. If you're in Tennessee and you're ready to build a plan that's tailored to your family, I'd love to help.

Thanks for being here.

PS: Every morning this summer, my daughter makes me an iced mocha before I start work. By the time I sit down at my desk, it's waiting for me next to my water bottle. It's a small act of kindness that makes every morning a little better. Coffee is best made fresh every morning. Estate plans don't need that much attention, but they do need to exist. Thanks for letting me be a small part of helping you take care of the people you love.