Planning for the Future While Reacting to the Now

It's a gorgeous morning here in Seattle, and I'm looking forward to a short Thanksgiving work week and a long weekend with friends and family. During tough times, the love and support of my families (biological and chosen) provides me solace by helping me to remember what is important in life.

Times are indeed tough. I don't know of a single friend or acquaintance who isn't feeling pinched by the contraction in the stock market, the uptick in prices (on everything!), a rough housing market, and the general uncertainty about jobs, savings, and retirement.

This morning's Seattle Times says it all: "Washington bankruptcy filings rise 40%". Attorneys at my firm have helped hundreds of families reduce or relieve their debt. It is a constitutionally-guaranteed provision that protects the citizens (and corporations) of our free nation from feeling imprisoned by their debt.

I know I am supposed to talk about estate planning & probate here. But on this beautiful Seattle morning, one of my partner's bankruptcy client's came by to drop off some documents, and I was struck by what a kind, professional, and responsible person this clients is. You would not know the client from any other professional on the street.

Bankruptcy is something that most of us see discussed in news reports, but rarely talk about with our family and friends. Like so many subjects in our society, discussion of finances with the people we care about remains largely taboo. Imagine, however, that you are watching a loved-one swim. He isn't a particularly strong swimmer and typically wades in the shallow water, feet on the bottom, so as not to put himself at risk. In spite of his best efforts, your loved-one ends up in deep water, and is struggling to stay afloat. Are you going to let him drown because you are worried that tossing him a life ring is going to embarrass him? If you know someone who is struggling, bankruptcy may be able to help him to keep his head above water.

My business is about planning; surveying your assets and deciding how to protect them and pass them on to your family, friends, or charity. I strive to build life-long relationships with my clients and their families. And while that relationship is about celebrating and planning when times are good, is also about helping to lift you up when times are bad.

My clients are smart; a lot smarter than me, anyway. But in these times I know that even some of those very smart and talented people are suffering too. If you are, my firm can help!