‘A Gift for the Future’

Estate planning is often avoided because it involves two sensitive topics-money and death. But estate planners like Lindsey Paige Markus explain that making tough but thoughtful decisions now helps families create positive futures down the road.

“Many clients are surprised that the process is not morbid, but empowering,” Markus said. “It’s about protecting what you have built–and sending it to the future.”

A JUF board member, Markus is a principal attorney at the law firm Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. specializing in estate planning and wealth protection. In her new book, A Gift for the Future , Markus walks her reader through the lives of a hypothetical couple, Jack and Diane. They get married, and have kids and grandkids. Diane starts a business, leaves Jack, marries Sam, and then passes on. Employing a light touch for a heavy topic, Markus guides this family–and the readers–through each stage on their estate-planning journey.

At first, Markus’ publisher admitted that she, herself, did not know much about the topic. “Perfect!” Markus responded. “That’s who the book is written for. It is meant to plant the seeds of introspection, to help educate families as to how to begin.”

One way some couples start is by working on their prenup, Markus said, which can be eye-opening. “It’s not just about money, but understanding the implications of their decisions.”

The book can guide readers in creating a legacy for their children that is helpful-but not too helpful. Markus quotes the film The Descendants : “You give your children enough money to do something, but not enough to do nothing.” Therefore, she also counsels incorporating charitable giving into estate plans by including the community in their bequests, so couples can “leave a legacy greater than their descendants.”

Markus has used her estate-planning expertise to help secure many JUF endowments. She has also endowed her own Lion of Judah gift to JUF. “Realizing how meaningful this is for me,” she said, “led me to urge my clients to incorporate philanthropy into their estate plans.”

Markus is a past 36 Under 36 honoree, and a Davis, Gidwitz & Glasser Young Leadership Award recipient. This year, she won the YLD Distinguished Alumni Award. She also has served on the Jewish Federations of North America’s National Young Leadership Cabinet.

After reading her book, families will be better equipped to meet with estate planning professionals, Markus said, which she strongly recommends doing. After all, she asks, “Who wants to make a mistake with their legacy?”