Estate planning rarely feels urgent… until life forces it to be. Too often, families postpone these decisions because they’re uncomfortable, complicated, or easy to ignore. But when illness, loss, or sudden responsibility arrives, the absence of a clear plan can turn grief into chaos, leaving loved ones to make impossible decisions at the worst possible time.

In this episode, Dana Gliniecki shares what it looks like when estate planning moves from theory to reality. After years of thoughtful preparation following a major business exit, Dana unexpectedly found herself relying on those plans when her husband passed away. She offers a rare, firsthand perspective on how preparation (or lack thereof) shapes emotional capacity, family dynamics, and decision-making during profound loss. Listen in to learn why estate planning is less about wealth and more about responsibility, clarity, and care.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why estate planning decisions are harder to make during grief and loss.
• How a clear estate plan reduces stress for surviving spouses and families.
• What happens when trustees must make financial decisions after a death.
• How estate plans should change as children become adults and start families.
• Why family communication is critical to avoiding conflict after a parent passes.
• The difference between managing an estate and protecting family relationships.
• How planning ahead creates clarity and stability during emotionally overwhelming times.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “At the end of the day, we're all gonna die. You'd rather be in charge of how everything goes down.” - Dana Gliniecki
• “You either do the hard stuff upfront and things go relatively smoothly, or you do nothing, and you make it much harder on yourselves, and other people potentially end up making very important decisions for you.” - Dana Gliniecki
• “You have to ultimately live with the consequences, and you don't get to say at the end, ‘Well, I didn't know.’ Well, that's on you.” - Dana Gliniecki

Resources:

• Dana Gliniecki: LinkedIn
• Genevieve George: Website | LinkedIn
• The Community Foundation for McHenry County
• Impact100 Global
• Marguerite H. Griffin | Northern Trust
• Women & Money by Suze Orman
• Giving 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World by Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen

Connect with Us:

If you're ready to stop avoiding your finances and start building the future you deserve, schedule a free call with me at pelicanfinancialplanning.com and let’s create your personalized financial plan together.

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