If you mention Estate Planning in conversation, the room tends to go quiet... It’s one of those topics that feels heavy. Morbid, even. Wrapped in worst-case scenarios and far-off futures, and because of that, most people assume it’s something you tackle later in life, closer to the finish line. Stuff like Wills, funerals, dividing up the house... it doesn’t exactly scream urgent. But here’s a thought:

Estate Planning isn’t necessarily about dying. It’s about living well today, tomorrow, and every day in between.

The Story We’ve Been Told

We’ve all been sold a narrow version of Estate Planning. One that centres around a Will, that one final document you sort out when your health declines or life slows down. The image is transactional, sombre, even cold. But that version misses something vital.

Most of the tools and decisions involved in Estate Planning aren’t about death at all. They’re about life. They’re about how you care for yourself and the people around you while you’re here. They’re about making sure your values and your voice are carried through, even in moments when you can’t speak for yourself. We often focus so much on the Will that we forget the rest. And in doing so, we miss out on the real, practical benefits of Estate Planning. The stuff that actually unfolds every day.

The Real Impact Happens in the Everyday

Not too long ago, I worked with a client who was supporting her elderly father through early-stage dementia. She wasn’t preoccupied with his Will; she was overwhelmed by daily decisions about his care, finances, and medical needs. What helped her most wasn’t securing an inheritance; it was the power of an Enduring Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardian that enabled her to step in and advocate for her father’s wishes, making decisions with clarity instead of conflict or guilt. It wasn’t about legal formalities; it was about care that was made possible by preparation.

And it’s not just about older generations. Think of a young couple travelling overseas, a solo parent juggling life’s hectic tendencies, or the person undergoing treatment with a trusted friend by their side. These are the moments where Estate Planning shows up, not as a final chapter, but as a safety net woven into the present.

That’s Estate Planning.

A Quiet Act of Love

When you zoom out, Estate Planning is really about love. Love for the people who might one day need to help you. Love for your future self. Love expressed through preparation, not driven by fear, but grounded in care. We plan for holidays, our careers, and retirement. This is just another form of planning to ensure the life you’ve built, the relationships you’ve nurtured, and the values you hold are protected, even when things don’t go to plan.

A Thought to Sit With

You don’t need to do anything today (unless you want to!).

But I hope you’ll sit with this:

What if we reframed Estate Planning as a quiet, powerful part of life, not a task reserved for the end?

What if it were less about death and more about living with intention, care, and clarity? That’s the shift I want more people to see. Because in the end, Estate Planning isn’t about what happens when you’re gone.

It’s about how you live and how you care while you’re still here.