My nest emptied this year as our youngest flew off to college. I have time now to think about my nest egg—and what kind of legacy I want to leave for my kids. And eventually their kids.
Pileated Woodpecker fledglings (photo by Phil Brown).
Confession: I’ve never written a will.
I know, I know! I should've done it years ago. I have kids and pets and places and issues I care about deeply, such as bird conservation and land protection. I want to help make the world a better place for those I love, even after I’m gone.
But for some reason, my husband and I always found excuses to procrastinate about the will—it’s too complicated, we’re too busy, I’ll take care of that once I complete this project. Or take this trip. Or paint this room. And where and how do we even start the process? We definitely had a bit of we-don’t-have-a-will guilt.
When Madison Audubon decided to sign on with Freewill to offer a free, quick estate planning tool to our members, I reviewed the materials carefully, really liked what it offered our members, and additionally, found an answer to my own procrastination. Then one recent night, I gathered my financial materials together, sat down on a comfy couch with a cup of hot cocoa and my pandemic pooch at my feet, and put together my will in less than an hour.
When I came to the optional prompts about charities that matter to me, I puffed up a bit with happiness as I pondered how lucky I am for actually wanting to include a gift to Madison Audubon, who I work for, alongside what I will leave to my family. The process was painless from start to finish.
And despite having an empty mug of cocoa at the end, I had an unexpected feeling of satisfaction.
—Becky Abel, Madison Audubon member, birder, donor, and director of philanthropy
To start your own free will, visit our website at madisonaudubon.org/freewill. You can also contact Becky Abel, Director of Philanthropy, at babel@madisonaudubon.org or 608-255-2473 ext. 5 to learn about her experience using Freewill.
Cover image: yellow prairie flowers against a bright blue sky with wisps of clouds (photo by Carolyn Byers).
