What is Legacy Planning? (Mapping) Live the Legacy You Want to Leave
This is a non-legal, non-financial professional point of view Engage with professionals conversant in your location requirements
The Problem: Living Two Different Lives You're busy building tomorrow while forgetting to live today. One hand steers your financial life toward allocations—budgets, investments, retirement accounts. The other reaches for what gives life meaning—family, community, individuality. This split creates a treadmill effect: running toward a carefully planned future that feels empty and unfulfilling. Most people think of legacy as something that happens after death—the will, inheritance, or name on a building. This backward thinking prioritizes the outcome and overlooks the journey. The genuine fear is not of being forgotten. It’s being remembered for what is unimportant to you.
Crystal Clear: In my use of the word planning here, associated with Financial Legal Estate Wealth Generational Values Artefacts Remembrance Community Network Organization Operations Sharing Products, Services, Experiences __ is the intentional process of connecting your current actions with your desired future outcomes. It involves three core elements: Clarity - Value what you want to achieve Strategy - Select the path to get there Action - Take concrete actions toward your outcome
In legacy and life design, planning becomes the bridge between your values and your daily decisions. While it's about creating documents or saving money—it's about making conscious decisions that align your resources (time, energy, relationships, finances) with what matters most to you. Effective planning: Starts with your "why" (values and purpose) Maps out your "what" (resources and tools available) Engages your "who" (the people affected by your decisions) Creates systems “how_where & when” for ongoing review and adjustment
It requires: Specific, measurable steps Realistic timelines Regular check-ins and adjustments Commitment to action despite obstacles
In legacy work, planning ensures that the life you're living today is intentionally creating the story you want to be remembered for tomorrow. It transforms abstract hopes into concrete realities through deliberate, values-driven decisions. Bottom line: Planning is the practice of living on intention rather than by accident.
The Five Branches of Living Legacy Life: Your daily decisions and how you spend your time and effort Leadership: How you guide and influence others, and yourself as wiser and kinder Legal: Your financial and estate planning decisions Literacy: The values you live by and the stories you share, whether spoken or otherwise Loverage: How love and wisdom shape your future, as your future informs your present
Five Common Blocks Avoiding important conversations about values and future plans Not writing down your values for others to understand Missing legal documents like wills and estate plans Unclear family roles and expectations Generational conflicts about priorities and decisions
Five Simple Solutions Hold regular family conversations about what matters most Write a values letter explaining your beliefs and priorities Meet with legal and financial professionals to align your documents Define clear roles for each family member Create a conflict resolution plan for difficult decisions
Your Action Path: From Intention to Engagement Intention: Decide to live your legacy now Action: Schedule 30 minutes this week to reflect on your core values Strategy: Choose how to share your values with others Action: Write one paragraph about what matters most to you Tactics: Document and communicate your plan Action: Book appointments with your lawyer and financial advisor Opportunities: Think across generations Action: Have one meaningful conversation with a family member about the future Relevance: Keep your plan current and clear Action: Review and update your values letter quarterly Engagement: Involve those you care about Action: Share your values letter with three important people in your life
Start Today: Simple Steps Forward This week: Write down three values that guide your daily decisions This month: Schedule meetings with your lawyer and financial advisor to review your estate plan This quarter: Host a family gathering to discuss your values and future wishes Ongoing: Live each day asking, "Does this action reflect what I want to be remembered for?"
The Bottom Line Legacy isn't about perfection—it's about alignment. When your daily choices match your deepest values, you create a life worth living and a story worth sharing. Stop managing two separate lives and start living one integrated legacy. Your legacy begins now, with your next decision. Make it count. Remember: You don't build a legacy by accident. You live it on intention.
Legacy After 60
In support of "Lean Into Planning for Making Legacy Decisions!"
https://youtu.be/izTbFeZRfrw
What is Legacy Planning? (Mapping)
Live the Legacy You Want to Leave
This is a non-legal, non-financial professional point of view
Engage with professionals conversant in your location requirements
The Problem: Living Two Different Lives
You're busy building tomorrow while forgetting to live today. One hand steers your financial life toward allocations—budgets, investments, retirement accounts. The other reaches for what gives life meaning—family, community, individuality. This split creates a treadmill effect: running toward a carefully planned future that feels empty and unfulfilling.
Most people think of legacy as something that happens after death—the will, inheritance, or name on a building. This backward thinking prioritizes the outcome and overlooks the journey. The genuine fear is not of being forgotten. It’s being remembered for what is unimportant to you.
Crystal Clear: In my use of the word planning here, associated with
Financial
Legal
Estate
Wealth
Generational
Values
Artefacts
Remembrance
Community Network
Organization Operations
Sharing Products, Services, Experiences
__ is the intentional process of connecting your current actions with your desired future outcomes. It involves three core elements:
Clarity - Value what you want to achieve
Strategy - Select the path to get there
Action - Take concrete actions toward your outcome
In legacy and life design, planning becomes the bridge between your values and your daily decisions. While it's about creating documents or saving money—it's about making conscious decisions that align your resources (time, energy, relationships, finances) with what matters most to you.
Effective planning:
Starts with your "why" (values and purpose)
Maps out your "what" (resources and tools available)
Engages your "who" (the people affected by your decisions)
Creates systems “how_where & when” for ongoing review and adjustment
It requires:
Specific, measurable steps
Realistic timelines
Regular check-ins and adjustments
Commitment to action despite obstacles
In legacy work, planning ensures that the life you're living today is intentionally creating the story you want to be remembered for tomorrow.
It transforms abstract hopes into concrete realities through deliberate, values-driven decisions.
Bottom line: Planning is the practice of living on intention rather than by accident.
The Five Branches of Living Legacy
Life: Your daily decisions and how you spend your time and effort
Leadership: How you guide and influence others, and yourself as wiser and kinder
Legal: Your financial and estate planning decisions
Literacy: The values you live by and the stories you share, whether spoken or otherwise
Loverage: How love and wisdom shape your future, as your future informs your present
Five Common Blocks
Avoiding important conversations about values and future plans
Not writing down your values for others to understand
Missing legal documents like wills and estate plans
Unclear family roles and expectations
Generational conflicts about priorities and decisions
Five Simple Solutions
Hold regular family conversations about what matters most
Write a values letter explaining your beliefs and priorities
Meet with legal and financial professionals to align your documents
Define clear roles for each family member
Create a conflict resolution plan for difficult decisions
Your Action Path: From Intention to Engagement
Intention: Decide to live your legacy now
Action: Schedule 30 minutes this week to reflect on your core values
Strategy: Choose how to share your values with others
Action: Write one paragraph about what matters most to you
Tactics: Document and communicate your plan
Action: Book appointments with your lawyer and financial advisor
Opportunities: Think across generations
Action: Have one meaningful conversation with a family member about the future
Relevance: Keep your plan current and clear
Action: Review and update your values letter quarterly
Engagement: Involve those you care about
Action: Share your values letter with three important people in your life
Start Today: Simple Steps Forward
This week: Write down three values that guide your daily decisions
This month: Schedule meetings with your lawyer and financial advisor to review your estate plan
This quarter: Host a family gathering to discuss your values and future wishes
Ongoing: Live each day asking, "Does this action reflect what I want to be remembered for?"
The Bottom Line
Legacy isn't about perfection—it's about alignment. When your daily choices match your deepest values, you create a life worth living and a story worth sharing. Stop managing two separate lives and start living one integrated legacy.
Your legacy begins now, with your next decision. Make it count.
Remember: You don't build a legacy by accident. You live it on intention.
2 months ago | [YT] | 0