HTG Investment Advisors is pleased to share an important conversation featuring our own Allison Donaldson, CFP®, on the Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning℠ podcast with Michael Clear and Wiggin & Dana.
In this episode, Allison explores how legacy letters can add a deeply personal dimension to estate planning.
What Is a Legacy Letter?
A legacy letter is a personal written message intended to share your values, life lessons, memories, and love with family members, friends, or future generations. It’s sometimes called an “ethical will” or “spiritual will.”
Unlike a legal will that distributes property and assets, a legacy letter passes on what matters most to you emotionally and philosophically—your wisdom, stories, hopes, gratitude, and the intangible gifts you want to leave behind.
Why Should Your Heirs Understand the ‘Why’ Behind Your Inheritance?
Estate planning is often reduced to spreadsheets, tax strategies, and legal language. But what about the why behind your decisions? What about the stories that shaped your values, or the lessons you hope will guide your children and grandchildren long after you’re gone? Your inheritance shouldn’t just be financial—it should reflect the principles and wisdom that define your life.
In Episode 61 of Future Focused: Passing on Values with Legacy Letters, host Michael Clear welcomes Allison Donaldson, Certified Financial Planner® at HTG Investment Advisors, for a deep dive into the power of legacy letters and how these deeply personal, non-binding documents can transform the inheritance process. As a CFP® working with families navigating multi-generational wealth transfer, Allison shares firsthand insights into how legacy letters can help avoid family conflicts, provide crucial context for estate planning decisions, and ensure that what you pass on isn’t just financial wealth, but the wisdom and values that define your family’s legacy.
The conversation touches on purpose, audience and format. But perhaps most importantly, Allison and Michael emphasize that the best time to start is now. A well-crafted legacy letter can give your heirs invaluable insight into your intentions, helping them understand not just what they’re inheriting, but why— sharing the values and experiences that shaped your decisions while honoring their freedom to chart their own path forward.
Whether you’re just beginning your estate planning journey or looking to deepen its impact, this episode offers insights that can help you create a legacy that truly reflects who you are.