Make your will an integral part of your life

If you are breathing, you need one, says advisor

- By Mzwandile kaBizokwakhe

US founding father Benjamin Franklin is said to have coined the phrase that “nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”.

But as certain as death is, few are ever prepared for it.

One of the least spoken about documents when people discuss estate planning around a dinner table is a will.

Head of financial planning at advisory firm NMG Benefits, Stian de Witt, says a will is the single most important legal document most people will ever sign. “And it’s not really for you, but for the loved ones you leave behind.”

He says a valid will makes the lives of those left behind easier in times of grief. “It provides certainty, prevents conflict, and ensures your wishes are carried out.”

De Witt says it is a fallacy that one needs to be rich to have a will.