When I was 18, money felt like something I would figure out “someday.” Budgeting seemed boring, credit cards felt like free money, and retirement planning was something for people who owned houses and could fold fitted sheets. Fast forward a few decades, and I realize how much those early choices shaped my financial journey and how much easier life would have been if I had started planning sooner.
The truth is, many of us learn money lessons the hard way. We spend years working, saving, and building wealth, only to realize later that managing money is about more than paying the bills. It is about protecting your family, preserving your legacy, and making sure all that hard work does not get lost in the shuffle. That is where estate planning comes in.
Lessons I Wish I Had Learned Sooner
Looking back, there are four big lessons I wish I had learned earlier:
- Budgeting is not punishment, it is freedom. Knowing where your money goes means you control your choices. That same principle applies later in life with estate planning. If you do not make a plan for your money, someone else or the courts will.
- Investing early makes all the difference. I used to think investing was for “rich people.” The real secret is starting small and starting early. In estate planning, the same is true. The earlier you start, the more options you have to protect your wealth from taxes and ensure it lasts.
- Debt is not evil, but it can derail you. At 18, I thought swiping a credit card was no big deal. It took years to realize that not all debt is created equal. Estate planning works the same way. You need to understand what debts your heirs could inherit and how to protect them from financial burdens.
- Invest in yourself. The best money you will ever spend is on building your knowledge and skills. Estate planning is also an investment in yourself and your family. It ensures your values, your goals, and your legacy live on.
Connecting the Dots to Estate Planning
So why does all this matter now, decades later? Because financial lessons learned over time are the same ones we pass on to our children and grandchildren. And if we do not put structure around them through wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and clear communication, wealth disappears and families face unnecessary conflict.
Estate planning is like teaching your family the money lessons you wish you had learned at 18, but with legal tools to back it up. It gives them guidance, protection, and a head start instead of leaving them to figure things out the hard way.
Do Not Wait to Feel Ready
If I could sum it up in one sentence, it would be this: do not wait to feel “ready” to plan for the future. Just like saving or investing, estate planning works best when you start now.
At Shore Estate Law, we help families take those lessons, whether learned at 18 or 58, and turn them into an estate plan that protects your loved ones and preserves your legacy.
Ready to put the right lessons into action? Register for a Workshop or Request a Consultation.
