My next race is quickly approaching and as most people are living and breathing Football, I will be running the Surf City half-marathon on Superbowl Sunday. So what does football and running have to do with estate planning? Well, it seems like just about nothing. The Super Bowl means a day of good football, good food, a celebrity half-time show, and hyped-up commercials. My race promises sunshine, a good time and a beer garden at the end. Estate planning means a well designed plan that helps people protect their families and their money.
Sports carry risks, and life itself carries risks. The head injuries suffered by professional football players have been publicly investigated over the past few years. A study commissioned by the NFL and conducted by the University of Michigan reported that former NFL players have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other similar memory-related diseases at nineteen times the normal rate for men ages 30-49. The accuracy of statistics is always questionable; however it is apparent to any football fan that the players face injury when they are on the field. In reality, any sport or any career carries risk of injury, and the actions we take in our day to day life can always threaten us with injury as well. Forming an estate plan will guide you through selecting people to care for your estate and your family should you ever be faced with these circumstances and become incapacitated. Life is unpredictable; it is never too early to put a plan in place.
All this said, let’s hope for a well played and injury free game this year….and a better season for our Chargers next year!