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E54: What Really Keeps You Up at Night? (Estate Planning Edition)
14 Plays1 month ago
What keeps people up at night when it comes to estate planning? In this episode, we’re digging into the real pain points—the emotional triggers and practical worries that lead people to finally take action (or at least think about it). Whether it’s concerns about the kids, the house, blended families, or navigating Texas laws, we break down the most common stressors we see every day.
And yes, we end with some literal pain points too (stepping on Legos, anyone?).
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Transcript
Introduction: Importance of Wills in Texas
00:00:03
Speaker
Welcome to another episode of One of Us Knows What They're Talking About and the other one is you. I'm Lori Birch, your host. Join us as we discuss and unpack wills, trusts, estate planning, and probate law in a way that's actually informative, interesting, and well, hopefully entertaining. Because if you don't have a will, the state of Texas has one for you.
00:00:27
Speaker
Let's dive in.
Understanding Business Pain Points
00:00:40
Speaker
So for today, we're going to talk about something that i guess guess a lot of companies and businesses are always trying to focus on, and that is their potential customers or clients' pain points, right?
00:00:57
Speaker
But before we dive into that, have you all thought about what that even means?
00:01:07
Speaker
Well, I have. but you know what sarah i don't believe you but but please please let's see let's see how far you can dig a hole oh good please was thinking more you know just because we do the marketing you know obviously oh well we you we are firm
00:01:35
Speaker
you know I think about them ah daily and they are points that... No. They are ah points that
00:01:48
Speaker
are supposed to um inflict some sort of you know an emotional trigger. thank i didn't say the word. Wow. You dug deep into your vocabulary bucket.
00:02:04
Speaker
Yes. It's just a bucket thing. I think actually the most time it's more a colander, isn't it? Right. I'm like, word bank? Bucket. Oh, okay. I think that's also the first time you've, like, seriously answered. i don't think that was a serious answer, though. But, like, it's more than... No, for Sarah is.
00:02:22
Speaker
It's a point that has pain. like it Right. I... Elaborated on. Maybe that's fair. ah Sarah. Or not Sarah. We just heard from Sarah. Well, she's caffeinated for those who are viewing this.
00:02:35
Speaker
Sam, how about you? what ah How would you define a pain point?
00:02:44
Speaker
reasons that stop that Cynthia see now you're getting nervous come on I think it's kind of like the reasons that they come to us right like um somebody has passed away or they're scared about dying which is painful yes um yes I mean I feel like that's a way to describe it Okay. It is eight way.
00:03:14
Speaker
Okay. yeah Cynthia, did you want to chime in? Not really. okay
00:03:21
Speaker
So the dictionary
00:03:27
Speaker
de defines pain point as a part of a processor system that causes problems or obstructions.
00:03:37
Speaker
And then the second one, which is more fun, but less relevant, a small area on the body that is sensitive to pain. but but like But i always love how they use it in context.
00:03:52
Speaker
yeah The trick to solving knee tendonitis is finding the exact pain point and applying ice.
00:04:00
Speaker
There we go. Well, okay. i i think that our whole slogan, our tagline, is built around the fundamental pain point that people have.
00:04:19
Speaker
And that is, if you don't have a will, i.e. a plan, the state of Texas has one for you.
Consequences of Not Having a Will
00:04:27
Speaker
And there's a lot to unpack there because one, the first part is if you don't do something.
00:04:33
Speaker
right? If you stay inert,
00:04:40
Speaker
then something else, some other entity that doesn't know you, that doesn't care about you, that doesn't customize things to you, your wishes and your circumstances is going to make those decisions for you.
00:04:58
Speaker
And
00:05:01
Speaker
I think for us, when we look at a lot of the people we work with, so what, you know, we have a few target audiences, either intentionally and or people who have come to us.
00:05:13
Speaker
I'm not going to do this to you, Sam, because it's not fair. i am going to do it to Sarah because she is our marketing person.
00:05:24
Speaker
What are some type of clients that you would say are our target clients? Parents. Parents. um Parents of both kids under 18 and possibly parents that have kids who are thinking about the time of year it is.
00:05:46
Speaker
Newly launched, graduating from college. I mean, graduating from high school. Going off into the world. Whatever that means.
00:05:56
Speaker
Okay. What else? What else? What else? um We also... um
00:06:06
Speaker
The LGBTQ community.
Identifying Key Clients: Parents & LGBTQ
00:06:10
Speaker
Okay. I was going to try to pronounce that acronym. Well, why would you know it? um
00:06:19
Speaker
Both people who are in the community and perhaps if we were to do something like a Venn diagram. Parents who have LGBTQ kids, I think. Yeah.
00:06:33
Speaker
Right. Any other...
00:06:38
Speaker
Demographic, you would say? i cannot wait to hear this answer. um I think those are our main two, you know? But also homeowners.
00:06:50
Speaker
Oh, Sarah! Oh my gosh. All right. Bonusly points for Sarah. All right. Not that necessarily you're right, other versus you were thinking what I was thinking, which is much more important than being right.
00:07:06
Speaker
i I'm going to say that again. Thinking what I was thinking is so much more important than being right.
00:07:19
Speaker
Noted. Now, to take the focus off Sarah, as much as she is on a roll, Sam, what would you say is a pain point?
00:07:31
Speaker
We'll use the first one that Sarah used for parents. Of kids under 18, what would be a pain point? Obviously, you can relate. You don't have kids yet, but apparently you're supposed to, yeah but yeah according to the stars. like it or not.
00:07:44
Speaker
um I mean, them passing away and what's going to happen to their kids. Be more specific. be more specific Well, like, who are their kids going to go to if they're no longer of this mortal realm? Because, I mean, we always use the example, right, that they could be on the floor of the foster offices or whatever it is.
00:08:08
Speaker
I don't know remember it overnight. as Okay. but no okay but I'm going to stop you right there because I want to make sure people understand what the hell you're talking about. Is that if all...
00:08:21
Speaker
legal parents die and their children under 18.
Choosing Guardians for Children
00:08:28
Speaker
They are teching technically, until a guardian is appointed under the care of child protective services and potentially going to be put in foster care. And the very real thing that Sam is alluding to, which your lack of articulation concerns me that you are answering the phone, but that's fine.
00:08:48
Speaker
ah that is that we know of real cases where kids have had to sleep on the floor of child protective services the day their parents die until we can figure out where they could go.
00:08:59
Speaker
That is a real thing. So certainly a pain point of having kids is not being able to not have it, not choosing who that guardian would be.
00:09:11
Speaker
And I think if you then extrapolate that out to parents who have children LGBTQ children, perhaps maybe even in Texas, that is even more a concern because right now it's a little questionable about how the state of Texas views the community and what choices they may make regarding where ah where a child who identifies as L or G or B or T or Q or i or A or plus.
00:09:45
Speaker
Plus.
00:09:49
Speaker
What end up? that That's terrifying, I think. Cynthia. Yes. What would you say would be a pain point for someone who is a homeowner in Texas?
00:10:02
Speaker
Who's going to get your house, yo? How's it going to be transferred? Does it just um things magically happen? Is it automatic?
00:10:13
Speaker
this help Is there something in texas that is different when it comes to home ownership then other states in a presumption that people make where they are 100% incorrect.
00:10:29
Speaker
Yeah. That it like automatically goes to your spouse because it's community property. But yeah. So we say this a lot. I've said it a lot because I think it's probably if we were to hypothetically do the five biggest things,
00:10:47
Speaker
mistakes or misconceptions that people have. Which, all right, let's derail for a second. So Sarah, our marketing genius in the firm. why don't we just Why don't we just make this your title, marketing genius?
00:11:02
Speaker
mean, that sounds fun. Or what about, about, no, I think you... It was like a genius. Marketing genius? Yeah. Yeah, I'm down.
00:11:14
Speaker
Yeah. um the So... are She was developing these sequence of emails. Was it for a webinar? Yeah. Yes. Okay. And unbeknownst to me, actually, I'm going to stop right there. Cynthia, i I like it better when you tell the story. You you take it from there.
00:11:33
Speaker
So Sarah does... presenting to us you know she she has things like outlined and we're going through the list we're going through five four three two and then number one is tease like if you want to find number one come to you know the webinar and so we get there and and we look at Sarah I'm like okay what's number one and she looks at us and Sarah said
00:12:04
Speaker
what did I say what did What did Sarah say Well, first, there was a long silence, I think, that we just experienced. Yes, there was Because don't think Sarah had contemplated that.
00:12:16
Speaker
Because truly, I'm the one who does the webinar. What problem is that of Sarah's? It's She's following marketing advice 101 on how to build an interest so that people who register for a webinar actually attend.
00:12:35
Speaker
And you're not going to, here are the top five reasons people don't, you know, don't have an estate plan or make a mistake, whatever it is, or misconceptions or myths.
00:12:47
Speaker
Five, four, three, two, one. Stay tuned. Or the seminar. And then Sarah, I'm out. I'm out. And it's like, maybe as the person who is going to present the seminar webinar, you should include me in so that I can know, well, Sarah, what is but is number one
00:13:12
Speaker
remember that day that I looked camera. even occurred to her.
00:13:18
Speaker
She's like, that's for the... You find out at the seminar. And I looked at her. i He said, that's my problem. just stood up and I walked out of her room. Number one is not my problem.
00:13:29
Speaker
You know what? you itd be so much better if your approach was it's not my problem, Sarah. But we all know the real answer is that you hadn't thought of that. You didn't know what it was. i i had no idea what it was.
00:13:43
Speaker
You had never even contemplated the fact that there should be an answer to that. Which is so much worse than the approach of, well, not my problem, right?
00:13:55
Speaker
oh I think about that day, Sarah, every now and then when I need a good chuckle. and just need you to know that. and The world looks bleak. I just think back to... world looks bleak.
00:14:08
Speaker
When you're experiencing a pain point, I
Sibling Relationships & Personal Stories
00:14:11
Speaker
harken back to those memories. You know we should do? We should do a special podcast episode. Okay, i' I'm developing an idea out loud here.
00:14:21
Speaker
Of everybody's like top five moments.
00:14:25
Speaker
Ever? That we've experienced. Sarah,
00:14:35
Speaker
sarah could we even get to five? You'll never guess what number one is. You'll never guess. You'll never guess what number one is.
00:14:49
Speaker
Stay tuned while I think about it and figure it out. Wait, when you say like top five moments, like like the time...
00:15:01
Speaker
I'm guessing she means top five like since working here. is but why Do you mean positive things? so Or like whenever somebody comes up by their dead mom's name? Okay, got it.
00:15:12
Speaker
We're here. I got it. Why'd you have to roast me like that? Sam, because you're in the same room as I am. 100% think we need to do the top five moments at Birch Law that other people witnessed.
00:15:29
Speaker
you know Sam may need to have top 10 because they're... Which you'll never guess what number one is. Actually, yes number everyone at Birch Law will 100% guess what number one is.
00:15:44
Speaker
I don't know that we should do that one. Sarah, what's our rating on this podcast? We can do whatever we want. Yeah, don't I don't think we have... um Oh, really? no yeah You know what? It alludes to something.
00:16:00
Speaker
The thing about it, what makes it so funny, it is such a purely innocent moment. That seems to be... That's all of Sam's moments. All of Sam's moments, and she says something, just the wording is the slightest bit off.
00:16:18
Speaker
Or she repeats something a client says, and it's like, no, buddy, not in this channel. Just Sam, just say it's the language barrier. so
00:16:31
Speaker
It's like the other day when she said, oh, I've never had a PB&J. and I'm like, why? She's like, well, you know, i haven't lived here my whole life. I'm like, ah excuse you. What? Yeah. You know, actually, this this did just come up.
00:16:44
Speaker
Was it or was it Monday or was it last week? And and the answer is it doesn't matter. But it was very recent. That's how recent it was. think it was Monday.
Humorous Geography Lesson
00:16:54
Speaker
Sam.
00:16:55
Speaker
So here's a thing about Sam. and She likes to have it both ways. Yeah, she does. Yeah. I admitted it when you called me. So she likes to either be, oh, I'm new here. I don't understand all your American ways.
00:17:12
Speaker
And then she wants to be like, I'm up here. I don't even like have an accent. Okay. And it's like, you don't get that. So yeah, but she does. She, she, she plays both ways.
00:17:28
Speaker
When she wants to. Because it started. Oh, was the day that you did the States. So, by the way, Sarah. I don't know if this is an international thing.
00:17:40
Speaker
But Sarah is very good geography. Yeah. She knows all the States. So i don't know i don't know why, because I don't pay any of you to do these things.
00:17:52
Speaker
But ah few people at Birch Law, during work hours, decided to print a map of the United States and try to england label the states.
00:18:04
Speaker
On office equipment, whatevs. ah huh Yeah, Sam maybe be got three states. I don't know. It was bad. Nine. No, 12. eleven 11. I think it was 11.
00:18:16
Speaker
If from Hawaii and Alaska, I don't think those should count. because Well, stoning them because then I'm under 10. yeah yeah It's really embarrassing.
00:18:29
Speaker
So her whole thing was, I'm not from here. and then the thing. No, I just don't know my states. Yeah. Sarah did extremely well. You did really well.
00:18:41
Speaker
We did. i don't think you know we did doc you a few because they did technically give you some hints. Because what? You guys gave some hints. You guys were in the room.
00:18:52
Speaker
Yeah. Oh, for Sarah? Yeah, Sarah got all 50, but we got a few because there were hints. There was like 46 out of 50. yeah And one was because you switch you switched to Mississippi and Missouri.
00:19:06
Speaker
And a couple and two others, in fairness to Sarah, is she but she may have gotten them, but she got hints. Like Mormons. Yeah. um
00:19:21
Speaker
Yeah. But, I i mean, who knew? there You did not do a Mississippi Sam. i Can you even spell Mississippi Sam?
00:19:32
Speaker
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I. You better not.
00:19:39
Speaker
that oh that was a Lori childhood thing when I would spell states. And I'd say, M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I. And my mom would say, you better not.
00:19:52
Speaker
i don't know why. But anyway, memories. So homeowners have pain points. And they are. they do.
00:20:02
Speaker
They are the fact that there's there is no automatic. So I don't know how property transfers in New Zealand. Neither do I.
00:20:14
Speaker
yeah Why would you? You are basically a Native American. I mean, really wish could have that one back. Native to America.
00:20:27
Speaker
yeah we need to make sure that that, Sarah. There's nothing wrong with what I just said. Um... Another thing that happens is people don't realize. So people don't realize this whole thing where in Texas, joint ownership of a piece of property, it doesn't automatically go to the surviving spouse or the other owner.
Dividing Assets Among Heirs
00:20:51
Speaker
And so we run into a lot of issues there. Tune into previous podcasts to hear more of that. You know, I think another issue that we don't talk enough about is when people want to, like they have multiple heirs or beneficiaries. So let's say they have three kids. Let's just make an ill ah easy illustration.
00:21:15
Speaker
and they're like oh, I want everything divided three ways. and there is a home involved. Like, what are you supposed to do with that? And then throw in a wrinkle that is happened a lot.
00:21:27
Speaker
And that is, let's say one of those kids lives in the home. So are all three of them supposed to be co-owners of a house, but the one is still supposed to live there?
00:21:38
Speaker
and then if they're the one living there, how do they get the homeowner's exemption? Because they can only get homeowner's exemption on the third, or do they want to buy out the others? or are you wanting to make sure that the home is sold? So now you've got one of your kids who's homeless that has to find a new home.
00:21:55
Speaker
I mean, there's just a lot we could unpack I question. ah What if? Yeah. and What if we just take a chainsaw to it? Oh, the house? Yeah.
00:22:10
Speaker
What? Yeah. Do you mean figuratively or literally? Literally. mean, this way or this way? Well, it's in third, Sam.
00:22:21
Speaker
This way, this way, this way, or this way, this I feel we all have siblings. So I feel like there's a certain degree where we probably could draw upon how we draw those lines.
00:22:33
Speaker
ah but of what So my sister, I have an older sister because I'm the baby, which is painfully obvious whenever you're around me that I'm the baby of the family. um there's lots of brothers but only one sister and we're best friends she's seven years older than me and I feel like that's important for people to understand how significantly older than me she is because people often think we're the same age or I'm older and I'm I'm assuming that's based on maturity that's that's
00:23:05
Speaker
Uh-huh. Yeah, keep going. But we've done a lot of traveling together. And so we would share a bed. And there's just, I mean, and this is into adulthood. I want you to know. And I, it's just my thing. It's my routine. And she goes with it.
00:23:18
Speaker
But we get into bed and I always tell her there is a line. And i make the hand gesture down the center of it. Here is the line. And then put myself on top of her to suffocate her and say, I'm a human blanket.
00:23:35
Speaker
but
00:23:39
Speaker
You know, hold on. ah but let's Let's reflect on that for a second. Not exactly that. But there's a lot of stuff that even as adults, if it's like your sibling, you're like, man, you just want to go for it.
00:23:54
Speaker
Yeah, I really, feel for the, I was just going to say, I feel for the only children out there because growing up with siblings, whether it's half step or full, like it's just, it's a whole different vibe.
00:24:09
Speaker
You are a different person ah and how you function in the world. And the relationship you have with the sibling It's just something you can't replicate. And except with, I feel like there's like certain relationships we have with coworkers in Birch Law where it's like, this feels like a sibling relationship because like, I love you and I care about you, but I also want to punch you in the face a lot.
00:24:39
Speaker
oh Yeah. That's so sweet.
00:24:43
Speaker
ah sarah's seriously sarah's reflecting i just saw that yeah yeah yeah there's just some stuff you can say to your sibling that you cannot say to any other human being on the planet yeah it's i mean in my experience it's a very refreshing relationship yeah and
00:25:07
Speaker
I feel like as your parents become crazier, because it's inevitable. I've told my own kids, like, this is going to happen. We're going to go nuts if we're not already there. There's nobody else who can relate to that if you don't have a sibling.
00:25:21
Speaker
It's like, speaking of pain points. parents. now When it comes to our parents, if um our either one of them does anything that we're like, man, that's too far. We all a sudden when my brother and I speak, oh no, it's your mother. Oh no, it's yeah it's your father.
00:25:41
Speaker
We have no claim. It's usually my father and his mother's. yeah And then I don't know if you all have sibling relations, the same type of sibling relationship, but like, again, you want to punch him in the face a lot, but nobody else better talk shit about them.
00:25:58
Speaker
Like, don't even. um Don't even.
00:26:04
Speaker
Don't even. Same thing with your parents, though. Sometimes whenever you you're like, you know, you can be a little smart mouth or whatever to your parents, the second somebody else does it, ohda oh, we'll beat onto you.
00:26:17
Speaker
yeah
00:26:20
Speaker
this is a very cintia laurie driven conversation sarah and sam as people who have both parents and siblings yeah have movie please where where do you weigh in on this dynamic because know it's not the same for all families yeah no i mean you guys will be you i mean obviously you guys um relate a lot to each other in terms of parents i think and um we'll leave it at that move on yeah move on um it's better we are like i would i think i'm the opposite when it comes to my parents for how but i guess relationship-wise but you want to know why sam i'll tell you right now because of your age and you still allow yourself that codependent relationship yeah i'm also the baby i know that that's the same
00:27:12
Speaker
Okay. off that's part But if and when you ever decide to like spread your wings and like really want to just do whatever the hell you want to do, make your own decisions, that is when you may. I'm not suggesting this. I'm not getting into your dynamics. I'm just saying that is the shift.
00:27:31
Speaker
Yeah. Well, I mean, I think there was ah there was a shift when I officially moved to Dallas. Like, I mean. But I also think your harmony really plays into it. Like, whenever your parents come to town, they're like, oh, hey, because they love going on drives. Let's just go for a drive. And you're like, guys, it's snowing.
00:27:48
Speaker
Well, I mean, I like going on them as long as I'm not the one driving. Okay. To be fair. Okay. Sarah? right. um Great question.
00:28:00
Speaker
Honestly, I don't really know. i feel like I... That's how feel. Yeah, like, I don't... Yeah. I...
00:28:13
Speaker
like It's somewhat similar where it's like, yeah, like I can you know be like snarky or rude to them, but like nobody else can. But at the same time, it's just kind of like... don't know. I've never really thought about it.
00:28:27
Speaker
Do you ever want to punch one of your siblings in the face? Honestly, no. li Maybe when i was younger. But now that we're all older, now no You still don't have the the same type of relationship where they just like are walking through and they'll just call you like a loser for no reason and like knock whatever you're holding out of your hand. mean, I have a cat like yeah like Like that happens. Like the whole Lori like flopping on her sister.
00:28:58
Speaker
Like that happens, but I'll just match the energy, you know, I'll just do it right back. Yeah. See, when my my siblings never really did that. At least not with me, but I know. We would more just like, like there's a story of um one of my sisters started a fight outside of my grandpa's place with a bunch of boys.
00:29:16
Speaker
um And so my other sister, they're not, they're the ones where their sisters threw me. um She came up to ah help Nick fight and then Nick just walks away and leads Leisha to the fight.
00:29:27
Speaker
So that's kind of, I feel like her. i they We'll come to that for each other, but as soon as the other one's there, the other will leave. Oh, wow.
00:29:37
Speaker
Oh. Yeah. I mean, I just don't really speak to my siblings probably as much as I should.
00:29:46
Speaker
Is that a pain point for you? mean, same, but my relationship's still the same. Yeah.
00:29:52
Speaker
Yeah, like my... with I mean, I do talk to my sister a lot, but like my brothers... Yeah, they're just dudes. What are you going to do? So i I would love to see them more, frankly. That is it's it's not a regret because I would do something about it if I could, if I didn't have five million children and a ah business to run.
00:30:15
Speaker
But, ah you know, none of us live in the same area anymore. And when we did, like, we'd hang out. But if we if we got together tomorrow, like it'd be a blast. It'd be so much fun.
00:30:26
Speaker
they And we've talked before about, like, going on a sibling vacation and stuff. And we probably should because... I don't We just have a lot of fun together. it's And you all know this. and and maybe Maybe this is unique to me and I didn't realize it. Or maybe it's a normal thing. But like you never live anything down in my family.
00:30:47
Speaker
Yeah. Something you did. like i little I still give my sister a hard time for throwing up on me in Kmart.
00:30:59
Speaker
Because you I moved out of her way. OK, like i we had gone out for frozen yogurt and she was like we were in an aisle and she was starting to get sick.
00:31:13
Speaker
And we were like 30 miles from our home because I grew up in the middle of nowhere in California, Mojave Desert. and like I saw her like starting to do this. And so I moved and she moved and then threw up all over me.
00:31:31
Speaker
And look, I understand that this was like 42 years ago.
00:31:42
Speaker
but i'm just going to say it comes up. Did she drive you to that Kmart? No, she wasn't old enough to drive. This was probably on our way home from a dance class in Lancaster. Okay.
00:32:00
Speaker
Yeah. My family's the same, though. We don't forget anything. Like, I can tell you about, like, my sister getting attacked ah texted by magpies, one of them falling off a tree. Well, hold on. That's not something they did to you, though. Yeah, well, my sister brings up that she made me eat cat biscuits, like, dry biscuits, and I just did it willingly.
00:32:21
Speaker
um The time she told me wasabi was a sweet treat, and she gave me a big who like nice size of it that was yeah oh there's a reason i don't eat obviously
00:32:36
Speaker
yeah but i mean i feel like i'm like bringing up stories with you guys and i want you to know it's from a place of love and actually sarah you missed one on monday because you were pretending to be sick yeah what um But we were talking about the phone number of Birch Law.
00:33:00
Speaker
And I know that's something that you've struggled with. Thank you.
00:33:08
Speaker
feel like it's just a roast Sarah Day. What are you talking about? i really yeah This has been pretty good. oh I love it. So... ah so um Parents who have so thinking, you know, depending on when you're listening to this, it could be at any point.
00:33:26
Speaker
But when we're actually recording this, we are on the cusp of graduating from high school. And that's when we've got a lot of legal. I don't know how 18 years old became the legal age of legal majority, but.
00:33:43
Speaker
Here's a pain point
Parents' Challenges with Adult Children
00:33:44
Speaker
for parents. Once your kids turn 18 and they graduate from high school, um although i did not graduate at 18, I graduated 17, but neither here nor there.
00:33:54
Speaker
um What does that mean? What is a pain point there? If I'm a parent and I have a child who's 18, what's my pain point? Anybody. If they're going off to college and they could get hurt and you have no way know if they're okay.
00:34:09
Speaker
You no longer have legal rights over that person. Whether they go to college or not, Sam. Because it's not for everybody. Once you're 18, you technically have no rights over child.
00:34:20
Speaker
you technically have no rights over your child So that means you can't make medical decisions. You can't access ah medical information. Oh, by the way, Sarah, did you see ah comment that somebody made?
00:34:35
Speaker
i did see that. And I saw your response. Did you like my answer? Yeah. Tell us the story, Sarah. Tell us the story, Sarah. Oh, good. So every year. Yeah. So every year around this time we do posts about, you know, 18 year olds going off to college or not, but you need medical power of attorney.
00:34:55
Speaker
And we always get some ridiculous comments um from people saying, well, I could do that. And so um let me see what she said. so this woman said i've called hospitals about my mom and never had issues getting information and then we said there are three ways that is happening one your mom signed something at the hospital to give consent two your mom is conscious to give consent or three they are breaking the law that was good right yeah i'm saving that did she reply
00:35:30
Speaker
no Yeah, you know why, Sarah? Because there's not a damn thing you can say to that. Mic drop. Yeah. Yeah.
00:35:42
Speaker
So, before um this all may feel like a derailment, but before we truly derail with whatever Sam and Sarah have in store for us, pain points.
00:35:55
Speaker
Pain points. I think one of the biggest ones is no matter who you are, is is there's this, there's not a lack of urgency, but there's this inertia in people into being able to get this planning done.
00:36:13
Speaker
And I think one of the biggest pain points is also one of the biggest biggest misperceptions. At least it's a misperception when it comes to our firm, because different law firms have different processes, right?
00:36:28
Speaker
But for us, this idea that you have to have all this information collected, all the stuff, like it's just going to be this arduous task to get a plan in place that says, look, if I, not if, when I check out, this is who I want to get my stuff. This is who I want to be in charge. This is who want to take care of my kids.
00:36:47
Speaker
Yes, it's always good if you have your life organized. You know what bank accounts you have, life insurance, this, that, and the other. And that's a good thing. We encourage that and we provide tools and we provide an ongoing plan to help with that.
00:37:02
Speaker
But to get the fundamental piece in place, this idea that you have to have all of this information collected and have to do all this work is actually a really, i think, the big barrier or miss or pain point in that, at least for firms like ours, all you really truly need to do to get a plan in place that's going to put you far ahead of 70 plus percent of other people in your situation is do you have people that you care about and do you have people that you trust?
00:37:38
Speaker
That's it That is 100%
00:37:42
Speaker
And it's it's so important that it's making Cynthia sneeze. It is. that's That's exactly why. Cynthia is allergic to procrastination.
00:37:55
Speaker
Absolutely. gives me hives. It does. It makes her all... That and the slightly... Like anything that's remotely warm or humid.
00:38:09
Speaker
Yeah, too. Fair.
00:38:13
Speaker
nothing I still have that image of Cynthia when we did the ah the outside the middle of June at 2 o'clock. yeah I was dying.
00:38:26
Speaker
she was sitting in chair with an umbrella, but i I prefer to call it a parasol. Oh, I declare!
00:38:38
Speaker
don't know that said that. I feel like it was more than I might throw up. I almost did throw up at one point. It was just so hot. was so hot. Never again.
00:38:50
Speaker
yeah What? We're like currently planning an event in June. And we haven't a we have a certain member of our team who is afraid it would be too cold for the pool in June.
00:39:01
Speaker
and And they are not new to Texas. They are not.
00:39:07
Speaker
We'll unpack that later. yeah But anyway.
00:39:12
Speaker
The issue is is that we all have a lot of pain points and triggers and and we know that there's a lot of things that people know that this is important, it's vital, they have a lot at risk. um But the other pain point that kind of counteracts that is how much time is it gonna take? How much, you know i really don't even think it's the cost. I think we use that and cost is important, but it's really more the overwhelm of ah what decisions, what information, what this and that.
00:39:40
Speaker
And at some point you have to choose your pain point.
00:39:45
Speaker
And if protecting your families, protecting your loved one, protecting your home is a bigger priority, then it's time to get over that hump of the overwhelm.
00:39:57
Speaker
And when you work with firms like ours, and this isn't meant to be a marketing pitch or anything, I'm just saying that I, i the reason I say it that way is because I know there are firms that don't make that easy.
00:40:09
Speaker
They're like, oh, fill out a ton of shit, you know? But there are firms like ours that it's like, look, just have a conversation with us. Let's but start simple and let's guide you through it.
00:40:20
Speaker
It doesn't have to be an arduous task. It doesn't have to be overwhelming. let's get a solid plan in place that you can always change, tweak, or update. But anything that is a solid plan is going to be better than the nothing that you have.
00:40:35
Speaker
It's going to be better than the state of Texas plan. Because if you don't have a will, The state of Texas has one for you. Has one for you, right? So pain points.
00:40:46
Speaker
I do believe that Sarah and Sam have a few things to contribute on the topic of pain points.
Literal and Figurative Pain Points
00:40:51
Speaker
I looked at the first one and then decided that I would go no further than that and just leave it at that. So Sarah and Sam, what do what do you have planned for us today?
00:40:59
Speaker
Yeah, so we we have some pain points that are literal, um emotional, etc. Some are personal to us.
00:41:10
Speaker
um Yeah. Yeah. um So the first one, being stabbed. Oh. Literal pain. Yeah, that'll hurt. Yeah, just as little.
00:41:22
Speaker
are you Are you wanting to do this like rapid fire style or is there time for questions? I would like to say rapid fire, but that never works. So I think.
00:41:33
Speaker
Can we save our questions to the end? Up to you. However you guys. Save our questions and applause till the end. Yeah, we'll do that. Go for it. Okay.
00:41:44
Speaker
Number two, ah stepping on a Lego.
00:41:48
Speaker
Number three. This is where it gets personal. ah Thinking you're in a relationship with somebody, right? It was pretty serious, even to where you know you like swap sweatshirts. It was all gross, cute, blah, blah, blah.
00:41:59
Speaker
um But then ah they call you friends, and friends own you. um It turns out they were going through things very ah mentally and apologized later. um But that was a very big pain point.
00:42:15
Speaker
I have questions. We're serving for later. Alright, number four. Totally hypothetical, of course. Letting someone get closure from their ex and then leaving you for said ex.
00:42:28
Speaker
Oh my gosh. Okay, that is a pain point, right? um And then, you know, just as bad, losing a sock in the drawer. Right. Yeah, just as bad. Yeah, yeah. one there percent um When your pet sits on your foot and it's their hard, bony leg stabbing you in your toe bones...
00:42:48
Speaker
Yeah. 70 pounds on one toe. Yeah. Not personal at um You know when you're like laying on your bed right and your cat lays or sits on you um and they will put full of their weight onto one leg of theirs to where you constantly have a bruise in that one place.
00:43:06
Speaker
Right. And lastly, getting waterboarded.
00:43:14
Speaker
and that's it. okay so look You did nothing Birch Law related and normally bring it home with that and I'm disappointed. Sorry.
00:43:25
Speaker
Rants. I just really like the getting water poured. You do. Should we try it and see what you think of it then? no i watch the thing i wouldn't like yeah Watch the Ghostbusters. Not Ghostbusters. Wow. Mythbusters episode where they test it.
00:43:41
Speaker
i highly recommend it ah but i but I'm not surprised they've done that. No. My dad used to love. Questions?
00:43:52
Speaker
Speaking of... I do have a few, but I want talk about pets. Yeah. So, like my baby, Memphis... He's mine.
00:44:03
Speaker
And he loves to sit on my lap. And I don't know why he just has to take his very sharp claws and make the muffins into my knee.
00:44:15
Speaker
Yeah. He does that too. It's just where he lands. He's so big. He's like so, it's a stretch out. I mean, I think it would hurt no matter what part of my body he was doing that on.
00:44:28
Speaker
Here he likes to lay on my chest and put his pore on my face and then dig his claws in Even the time I've almost lost my eye is a little. See, that sounds on purpose, though. Probably. Okay. He would do that. So thinking you were in a relationship with someone pretty seriously.
00:44:45
Speaker
Yeah. Even to where you swap sweatshirts. Yeah. Still my favorite sweatshirt. So, oh, this was you. Yeah. Yeah. Happened to Sam. Okay. So tell us more about this, Sam.
00:44:58
Speaker
I mean, it was just, i thought I feel your pain. We were not. um They lived in a different part. Like they didn't live in Houston. I'm still in Houston at this time. Actually, where was I? I think it was both.
00:45:10
Speaker
um and we like mailed each other sweatshirts from each other's colleges so yes this was an intention um and then i said something about us being together and she goes oh yeah like friends or something i don't remember what it was and that was a really good time man See, sit Sam, the part that I'm sitting here yeah after that you wrote in parentheses they were going through things mentally and apologized later. Yeah.
00:45:41
Speaker
and When I say years, like years later. I don't know why you have to be the bigger person and add that. Like, why? because we're still Yeah, don't be the bigger person, Sam. Don't be the bigger person, Sam. We were talking about this in like our messages and I was like, yeah, we still talk. And it was like, Sam, no.
00:46:01
Speaker
and but
00:46:03
Speaker
Blocked. Okay. Laura, do you have anything else on there? No, I want to ask about ah letting someone get closure from their ex then leaving you for said ex.
00:46:16
Speaker
Yeah. I need to know. Yeah. um That's pretty much it. i I was like, yeah, you know, this person did terrible things to you. Go, go you know, if they're apologizing to you, go go get your closure, whatever. And then I was too nice.
00:46:37
Speaker
So was it a closure as much as a reopening? Yeah. Yeah. Turns out. Turns out. Also question. Yeah. How often are y'all losing socks in the dryer?
00:46:53
Speaker
Not that often, but I just feel like I lose socks in general. Okay. Because I don't know where they I need to get both of you a gift. It is called a little, um like, a sock bag more a delicates That's true. Whenever you take off your socks, you put them in this bag and it lives, like, next to your laundry camper. I didn't know thing.
00:47:12
Speaker
And that way you have a few to where you don't like overload one of them. And then you wash your socks in that. It goes to the washer. It goes to the dryer. And then when it comes out, the socks are still in there together. That's crazy.
00:47:26
Speaker
Yeah. Nice. um I do. So I do have an anecdote for this because i do Kimberly and I's laundry every week. It's really a control thing for me. I don't want to. I don't like other people doing my laundry.
00:47:43
Speaker
And so, know, that's all fine and good. And I never misplace or lose anything. But I did. ah did lose a sock at some point. This is very recent.
00:47:54
Speaker
So maybe like two weeks ago. Fast forward like Monday. So for those of you who don't, you know, who are listening to our recording, this is like two days ago.
00:48:06
Speaker
Kimberly's wearing this pair of pants all day. When she takes the pair of pants off at the end of the day, she's like, I just found your sock. It was in her pants the whole time.
00:48:23
Speaker
It's a strong sock. It's crazy. would like people to know i never lost a sock until my spouse started doing our laundry. And then the bag system started. Yeah. is We have a box that I took. It was an old shoebox.
00:48:40
Speaker
And I wrote sad sock box on the box. And if you ever have a sock that's alone, it goes in the sad sock box. Until you find its pair or if we never find it when we move, you know, and tuck behind the dryer, then it is released.
00:48:57
Speaker
Oh. Well, I... Yeah. Again, this doesn't happen to me, like, hardly ever. That's probably the first time, like, in my entire life. ah ah But for Kimberly, it always happens. So I just, like, shove her socks in her sock drawer.
00:49:12
Speaker
That's for her to sort out. But where do they go? You can't just lose it. Like, if you put it in there, it's got to be in there. They get in the clothes. Like, in the walls. Don't you? Like, I usually, like, check everything as I'm folding it.
00:49:28
Speaker
<unk>k Okay, see, this is why I can't um can't be the only one that does laundry. Because then I have to accept that I have to do all of it and do it my way, which is the right way.
00:49:38
Speaker
Hmm. Yeah. As far as my health. All right. Let's say that. Very good. Well, think we've covered a lot of pain points that are both literal and figurative.
00:49:54
Speaker
And I don't know that there's much else to say. So thank you for joining us. Thanks for listening. And just to cover all our bases about what you just heard, I'm sorry and you're welcome.
00:50:08
Speaker
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00:50:22
Speaker
Links are in the show notes. If there's a topic you'd like us to cover, maybe you have a question you'd like us to answer, or maybe you just want to say hi, hit the link in the show notes or go to birch-law.com forward slash podcast and fill out the contact form.
00:50:46
Speaker
Much better. Yeah, I thought that had a lot of energy.