“The decision is going to be made in some way, shape, or form. Wouldn't it be nice if you were a part of that decision-making process, or if you just took that off the hands of your loved ones? That's the best gift you can give people if you were to pass away.”

Our hosts Natalie and Dan Slagle tackle the uncomfortable but essential topic of estate planning—or as Natalie now calls it, planning for our "expiration date." While death may be inevitable, leaving your loved ones with a legal and financial mess doesn't have to be.

High-profile cases like Prince and Chadwick Boseman remind us that even successful people overlook estate planning. When assets go through probate without proper documentation, the process becomes public, expensive, and emotionally draining for grieving families. As Natalie emphasizes, estate planning is more for the people you leave behind than for yourself.

The core estate planning documents include a will (naming executors and guardians for minor children), power of attorney, healthcare directive, and potentially a trust. Dan highlights a practical starting point many overlook: employer-provided legal insurance, which can reduce estate planning costs from $3,000-5,000 to monthly premiums starting around $20.

The couple shares their personal approach, revealing that they're joint on all accounts and have updated beneficiaries on retirement accounts and life insurance. But they acknowledge the ongoing maintenance required—beneficiary designations trump wills, and forgetting to update them after major life events like divorce can send assets to unintended recipients.

Natalie stresses a crucial point: without proper beneficiary designations and account titling, even having a will won't prevent probate. Every account needs attention—retirement accounts, bank accounts (requiring Transfer on Death designations), brokerage accounts, and property deeds.

Nearly everyone now needs a trust, especially those with minor children, businesses, or multi-generational assets. The goal isn't just distributing assets but ensuring your minor children don't inherit everything outright.

Whether through an attorney, employer benefits, or online platforms, get it done. Your loved ones deserve to grieve without drowning in administrative chaos.

Key Topics:

• Components of an Estate Plan (06:49)
• Using Employer Legal Insurance Benefits (11:21)
• The Will: Executors, Guardians, and Assets (14:36)
• Power of Attorney and Healthcare Directives (21:30)
• Avoiding Probate Through Proper Titling (24:07)
• Beneficiary Designation Mistakes (25:37)
• Why Trusts Matter for Minor Children (31:06)

Natalie Slagle, CFP® and Dan Slagle, CFP® are the founding partners and lead financial planners at Fyooz Financial Planning — an independent firm dedicated to helping high-earning couples in their 30s and 40s confidently navigate the complexities of managing money together.

At Fyooz, they specialize in turning financial stress into strategy, guiding couples through everything from cash flow and investing to aligning money with shared goals.

Disclaimer: For updated disclosures, please visit fyoozfinancial.com.