We’re halfway through the year—a perfect moment for a midyear reset. Whether you’ve made big moves or life has simply flown by, now is the time to pause and make sure your estate planning and financial documents are still aligned.
Why a Midyear Review Matters
Life doesn’t wait for the calendar to catch up. A midyear check-in helps you stay proactive and avoid surprises. It’s also a smart way to prepare for the end-of-year financial planning season. June and July offer a sweet spot for reflection—before the school year restarts, holidays take over, and schedules fill up.
Estate planning and financial health go hand in hand. By reviewing both now, you give yourself time to make thoughtful adjustments rather than rushed fixes at year-end.
What Should You Review?
Here are a few items to examine now:
- Beneficiary Designations – Make sure they match your current wishes and your estate plan.
- Trust Funding – Ensure assets like real estate, investment accounts, and business interests are properly titled in the name of your trust.
- Healthcare Directives – Are your instructions and named agents still accurate?
- Powers of Attorney – Do the people you’ve selected still feel like the right choice? Have they moved, retired, or changed relationships?
- Passwords and Digital Assets – Are your digital logins stored securely and shared with a trusted person?
- Real Property Ownership – Check title alignment with your plan. Homes or second properties not properly held in trust can cause probate headaches.
Common Gaps We See
During midyear check-ins, we often uncover gaps like:
- Beneficiaries listed on retirement accounts or life insurance who contradict the trust
- New accounts or properties not yet titled in the trust
- Outdated health directives from years ago with incorrect agent info
- Business ownership not integrated into the estate plan structure
Addressing these issues now—while there’s breathing room—can prevent last-minute scrambles or legal complications later.
Check the Little Things, Too
Small oversights—like forgetting to retitle a bank account or update a retirement beneficiary—can have major consequences. A quick summer check-in can prevent a tangled mess for your loved ones down the road.
Make It a Tradition
Think of your estate plan as something to seasonally revisit—like an annual physical or tax return. Midyear is a great time to set intentions, make adjustments, and confirm your plan still reflects your values and relationships.
Taking a few hours now can mean peace of mind for the rest of the year—and make year-end planning faster, clearer, and more effective.
