A good part of our lives is spent waiting. We wait for traffic lights, a program we want to watch, or for a guest to arrive. A wise investor may wait for the price to drop before purchasing stock. A person holding a fishing rod may wait patiently for a nibble to become a bite.

We wait for little things and for major events. Sometimes we find it hard to wait, and at other times we busy ourselves with other things to make the waiting pass quickly. We tell our children in the car, “Just a little longer. We’ll be there soon.”

Waiting produces character, some might say. Someone else might speak of the dangers of waiting too long. They may point to the problems of procrastination. These latter people could possibly be thinking of the effects of putting off something important, like writing a will.

We at the Federation’s Foundation are particularly aware of the downside of waiting. We’ve seen some of our donor friends pass on without an up-to-date estate plan in place. We’ve come to realize that procrastination can exact a heavy price for surviving family members and for other beneficiaries like the Foundation. And that is why we keep harping on this single theme: “Complete your estate plan while there is still time.”

If you have never prepared a will, now is the time to take care of this important matter. To assist you in overcoming any procrastination lurking in estate-planning corners of your life we can advise you on selecting a competent estate-planning attorney.

Whether or not you choose to include a bequest for the Jewish Federation in your will, we are eager to see you complete or update your plans for the sake of your loved ones and for your own peace of mind.

Please note that the information above is not intended as legal or financial advice. If securing the future of the Jewish people is important to you, including the Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Atlantic and Cape May Counties in your estate plan will help you to accomplish this goal.

To learn more contact David Schultz, foundation director, or Bob Seltzer, Esq., executive vice president, Jewish Federation of Atlantic and Cape May Counties. 822-4404.