Heir Readiness Assessment – Voice Your Legacy

How prepared is your legacy, and how prepared are the people who may one day receive it?

The Heir Readiness Assessment is designed to help you identify where you're prepared, where there may be gaps, and where a conversation or next step could make a meaningful difference.

You'll answer 25 questions covering four important areas of legacy readiness. There are no right or wrong answers. Simply choose the response that most closely reflects where you are today.

At the end, you'll receive your Heir Readiness Score along with guidance to help you determine what may deserve your attention next.

This isn't about perfection. It's about preparation.

Have you intentionally prepared your heirs to understand and responsibly manage what they may inherit one day?

Not yet

I've started thinking about it

Some preparation has taken place

Yes, we've had meaningful preparation and conversations

Yes, they are well prepared and understand their responsibilities

Have you talked with your heirs about the values and principles you hope will guide how they use what they inherit?

No, we haven't discussed this

I've thought about having the conversation

We've discussed it briefly

We've had meaningful conversations about it

Yes, they clearly understand the values and principles I hope to pass forward

Do your heirs understand that inheritance may include responsibilities, not just financial or material assets?

No, we haven't discussed this

I'm not sure what they understand

They have some understanding

Yes, we've discussed the responsibilities involved

Yes, they clearly understand both the opportunities and responsibilities that may come with an inheritance

Have you considered whether your heirs have the financial knowledge needed to responsibly manage an inheritance?

No, I haven't considered this

I've thought about it but haven't taken action

I have a general idea of their financial readiness

Yes, we've discussed financial responsibility and preparation

Yes, I have intentionally helped prepare them to responsibly manage what they may receive

Do your heirs know whom to contact or where to turn for guidance when the time comes to manage what you've left behind?

I'm not sure

Some of them do

Yes, most know where to turn

Yes, they clearly know the appropriate people, professionals, or resources to contact

Have you prepared your heirs to work together when decisions involving family assets or responsibilities need to be made?

No, we haven't discussed this

I've thought about it, but we haven't discussed it

We've had limited conversations about it

Yes, we've discussed how decisions and disagreements should be handled

Yes, expectations, roles, and ways of handling disagreements have been clearly discussed

Has your family had meaningful conversations about your wishes, priorities, and what matters most to you?

No, we haven't had these conversations

I've thought about having them

We've touched on some of these topics

We've had meaningful conversations about most of them

Yes, my family clearly understands my wishes, priorities, and what matters most to me

Does your family know who you have chosen to handle important responsibilities if you become unable to manage them yourself?

I'm not sure

Some family members know

Most of the appropriate family members know

Yes, the appropriate people clearly understand who has been chosen and their roles

Have you discussed your intentions in a way that could help reduce confusion, assumptions, or family conflict later?

No, we haven't discussed my intentions

I've considered having the conversation

We've discussed some things, but important gaps remain

We've discussed most of my intentions

Yes, my intentions have been clearly communicated to the appropriate people

Does your family know where to find important information if an emergency or death occurs?

I'm not sure

Some information would be accessible

Most important information could be located

Yes, the appropriate people know exactly where to find the information they would need

Have you identified family traditions, stories, values, or lessons that you want future generations to understand and carry forward?

No, I haven't really considered this

I've thought about what I would want to pass forward

I've identified some important stories, values, or traditions

I've intentionally shared many of them with my family

Yes, they have been intentionally shared, recorded, preserved, or passed forward

How valuable do you believe intentional family conversations about inheritance, preparation, and legacy can be?

I don't think they're particularly necessary

I'm unsure how helpful they would be

I think they could be helpful

I believe they're very important

I believe they're essential to helping families prepare and move forward with greater clarity

Do you currently have an estate plan that reflects your wishes for how your assets and responsibilities should be handled?

No, I don't have an estate plan

I've started thinking or gathering information about it

I have some documents or plans in place, but they may be incomplete

Yes, I have an estate plan, but it may need to be reviewed or updated

Yes, I have a current estate plan that reflects my wishes

Have you put documents in place that authorize someone you trust to act for you if you become unable to make financial or healthcare decisions?

I'm aware I need to address this

I have some documents in place, but I'm unsure whether everything is covered

Yes, the appropriate documents are in place, but they may need review

Yes, my documents are current and the people I've selected understand their roles

Have you reviewed the beneficiary designations on accounts such as retirement plans, life insurance, or other assets that pass by beneficiary designation?

No, I haven't reviewed them

I'm not sure which accounts have beneficiary designations

I've reviewed some, but not all

I've reviewed most of them

Yes, they have been reviewed and reflect my current intentions

How Ready Are Your Heirs for What Comes Next?