02/10/2026
🧱 Ever played Jenga with someone who says,
“Relax, I’ve got this”…
right before the whole tower collapses?
That’s estate planning in America.
Most people think they’re covered because:
▪️ “We have a will somewhere.”
▪️ “We named beneficiaries years ago.”
▪️ “We told the kids what we want.”
And then they assume the tower is stable.
Here’s the problem 👇
Estate planning isn’t one document. It’s a system.
And one missing block can bring the whole thing down.
🚨 The most commonly missed block I see?
Beneficiary designations.
Retirement accounts and life insurance usually pass by beneficiary — not by your will. That means:
▪️ A perfect will + outdated beneficiaries = trouble
▪️ A trust + accounts pointing elsewhere = chaos
▪️ Good intentions ≠ good outcomes
⚠️ Common beneficiary landmines I see all the time:
• An ex-spouse still listed
• A minor child named directly (hello court involvement)
• “My estate” as beneficiary (slow, costly, tax-inefficient)
• Equal splits that ignore special needs or tax realities
• No contingent beneficiaries (what if someone passes first?)
💡 Here’s the truth:
When beneficiaries are wrong, families don’t just lose money.
They lose time, clarity, and peace — right when they need it most.
✅ Actionable tip (do this today):
Make a list of every account with a beneficiary:
401(k), IRA, Roth, life insurance, annuity, HSA, TOD accounts.
Then pick ONE account and confirm:
✔️ Primary beneficiary
✔️ Contingent beneficiary
Just one account. That’s real progress.
Comment "Beneficiary" If you want help, I offer a full Beneficiary Audit — so your Jenga tower doesn’t wobble when it matters most.
