An estimated 56% of Americans do not have an up-to-date estate plan, leaving their financial wellness at risk. That statistic, highlighted by the American Heart Association, underscores a broader problem: many people delay or avoid estate planning because the process seems complex or overwhelming. During National Estate Planning Awareness Week, October 19-25, the American Heart Association will host a free webinar designed to make the planning process easier to understand and begin.
“Your Legacy, Your Way: Estate Planning for Peace of Mind” will take place Tuesday, October 20, at 1 p.m. Eastern/noon Central/10 a.m. Pacific. The session is designed for people creating an estate plan for the first time as well as those reviewing an existing plan. “Estate planning is about more than financial documents. It is an opportunity to make thoughtful decisions for the people and causes that matter to you the most,” said Lee Shapiro, volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association and managing partner and co-founder at 7wireVentures. “This webinar will offer clear information and practical steps to allow you to begin or revisit your estate plans with greater confidence.”
Featured speakers include attorney Megan Kelly and Trent Grzegorczyk, a wealth manager with Corso Wealth. They will explain estate planning fundamentals, including essential documents, key decisions and practical next steps. The webinar will address essential documents commonly included in an estate plan, key decisions involved in planning for the future, considerations for people reviewing an existing plan, and practical next steps that can help make estate planning feel more manageable. Everyone who registers will receive a collection of estate planning guides for instant download. Advance registration is required at heart.org/plan.
The implications of this announcement extend beyond individual financial health. Estate planning helps people protect loved ones, clarify their wishes and support the causes that matter to them most. National Estate Planning Awareness Week is an opportunity to help people understand the importance of creating or updating an estate plan to protect loved ones and leave a lasting legacy. Additional resources, including information about wills and beneficiary designations, are available at heart.org/NEPAW.
Planned giving is a powerful way to create lasting impact and support the causes that matter most. Donations contributed from planned gifts allow the Heart Association to drive breakthroughs and implement proven solutions in science, policy and care for healthier people and communities. American Heart Association donors who choose to give a legacy gift through charitable financial planning are recognized for their leadership as members of the Paul Dudley White Legacy Circle, a designation within the Cor Vitae Society, named in tribute to one of the Association’s visionary founders and a pioneer of preventive cardiology.
Legacy gifts are vital to sustain the American Heart Association’s role as the nation’s leading non-governmental funder of cardiovascular research, with more than $6.3 billion invested in scientific discovery since 1949. This generosity fuels lifesaving research and education, helping people everywhere live longer, healthier lives for generations to come. More information about charitable estate planning is available through the American Heart Association at American Heart Association charitable estate planning information.
For those unable to attend the live webinar, registering in advance still provides access to the downloadable guides. The session aims to demystify a process that many Americans postpone, ultimately encouraging more people to take control of their financial legacy and support the causes they value. As the American Heart Association notes, estate planning is not just about documents—it is about making thoughtful decisions for the people and causes that matter most.
