John McColgan and Shona Chambers
Two thirds of Irish Adults have not made a will!
Yes… I know I have written about this before and yes there is a reason I am writing about it again!
By Shona Chambers
As a financial advisor, one of the questions I regularly ask my clients is – ‘have you made a will’?
Last September, you might remember that I wrote about a family friend who had just passed away and I mentioned how she often talked about her ‘will’ and how she wanted her sentimental and more valuable items distributed among family and friends after she died.
It is something that leaves a lot of us feeling uncomfortable and something that we just haven’t got around to it yet.
The reason I am writing about it again, less than a year later is because Irish Life are currently offering a FREE make a will service to anyone who takes out a life assurance policy with them up until May 27th! Yes, you did read that correctly, FREE WILL! (Ts & Cs apply, contact Shona for more information).
Naturally as an independent financial advisor I always offer impartial best advice and weigh up the pros and cons according to your circumstances. The fact that Irish Life are offering a free make a will service is a further reason to highlight this need regardless of which insurance company is ultimately most suited to your circumstances.
Nobody wants to think about death, and that can make us reluctant to consider how we want to leave our assets and our affairs after we are gone. However, I can’t emphasise how important it is to make a will. That way, your final wishes will be known, and your assets and sentimental items will go to the people you choose.
If you have children, an important purpose of a will is to appoint a guardian in case you and your spouse or partner, die together while they are still young. A guardian will care for your children and make decisions about their upbringing, education, and general welfare until they become adults. You can also appoint a trustee to manage property and financial assets for the benefit of your children.
Looking at your assets, you should ask whether your dependents could manage without your income and support. Would your family be adequately maintained? Would your children be able to attend university? If not, it might be a good idea to talk to a financial advisor about taking out life cover and document this in your will.
Everyone’s situation is different, however a solicitor can help you create a will that includes everything you need. Naturally, you should revisit your will periodically as your circumstances change. But just imagine the relief you will feel when you have left everything the way you want it!
Shona Chambers BA QFA RPA is a Qualified Financial Advisor and Retirement Planning Advisor with John McColgan Financial Services Ltd.
You can contact Shona by telephone or email on 074 9124366/shona@mccolganfinancial.ie
You can follow Shona on twitter @shona_chambers
