POA, Trusts, and Wills: The Costly Estate Planning Errors We See Every Week

Welcome back to From Tears to Triumph.

In our last episode, attorney Russ DeMott walked us through the basics of wills, trusts, and power of attorney documents. Today, Tim draws from 20 years of real-world experience working with families to share the things most people don’t know — until it’s too late.

This episode isn’t about defining legal terms.
It’s about practical, real-life lessons we’ve learned while helping clients navigate banks, hospitals, brokerage firms, and end-of-life decisions.

• Why a Power of Attorney isn’t immediately usable — and why banks often take 3–7 days (or longer) to approve it

• The biggest mistake parents make when they name two children as co-POAs

• How “springing” powers of attorney (requiring two doctors to sign off) can delay critical decisions

• Why naming beneficiaries correctly is essential for avoiding probate

• Common trust mistakes — including using dollar amounts instead of percentages

• What every family should keep in the car to make medical emergencies easier

• How to talk to your children about money, aging, and end-of-life wishes without causing conflict

These are the issues we see week after week — and our goal is to help you avoid unnecessary stress, delays, and family tension.

If you missed last week’s episode with attorney Russ DeMott, you can find it linked in the show notes.

Widows navigating finances alone
Adult children helping aging parents
Anyone unsure whether they need a will or a trust
Families wanting to avoid probate, conflict, and costly mistakes

Have questions?
We’re here to help.
Visit us at voyagefinancialpartners.com or call 843-285-7076 for guidance.