Leaving a Legacy: How to Plan Beyond Money and Create a Lasting Impact

Get The Legal Help You Need

When most people think about estate planning, they focus on who will inherit their money, property, or business. But true legacy planning goes deeper. It’s not just about transferring wealth—it’s about passing on your values, your vision, and the story of your life.

At Pettis Webber Pacific, we believe the most meaningful estate plans are the ones that reflect your whole legacy, not just your financial assets. Here’s how you can plan beyond money and create a lasting impact on the people you care about most.

What Does It Mean to Leave a Legacy?

Leaving a legacy means intentionally shaping how you’ll be remembered and what you’ll pass on—not just financially, but emotionally, spiritually, and relationally. It can include:

Your values and beliefs
Family traditions and stories
Life lessons and wisdom
Philanthropic goals
Personal messages to loved ones
Contributions to community or causes

These are the things that often make the deepest impact—long after your financial assets have been distributed.

Why It Matters

When you take time to consider the non-financial elements of your estate plan, you give your loved ones a roadmap for more than just managing money. You give them a sense of continuity, connection, and purpose.

In our experience, clients who plan beyond money often:

Strengthen family bonds
Prevent misunderstandings and future conflict
Provide emotional comfort to loved ones
Inspire the next generation to make thoughtful, values-based decisions

How to Build a Legacy-Based Estate Plan

1. Clarify Your Values and Vision

Start by asking yourself: What matters most to me? What do I want my children, grandchildren, or community to remember about me? What lessons have I learned that I want to pass on? These questions form the foundation of a legacy that goes beyond wealth.

2. Use Your Estate Plan to Reflect Your Priorities

Make sure your estate plan is aligned with your personal values:

Do you want to support a charity or cause that matters to you?
Should your assets be used to help fund education, entrepreneurship, or service?
Do you want to leave certain items or stories to specific individuals for sentimental or symbolic reasons?

An estate planning attorney can help you structure your will or trust to reflect these priorities.

3. Incorporate Ethical Wills or Legacy Letters

An ethical will (also called a legacy letter) is a document where you share your values, life lessons, stories, and hopes for the future. It’s not legally binding, but it’s deeply meaningful. This can be shared during your lifetime or left with your estate plan to be opened later.

4. Create a Culture of Communication

Share your intentions with your family. You don’t need to give exact numbers, or even any numbers, but talking openly about your plans can prevent surprises and reduce conflict later. It also gives you a chance to explain why you made the choices you did.

5. Consider Giving During Your Lifetime

Legacy isn’t just about what happens after you pass away. You can begin building your legacy now by:

Supporting family with gifts of education or home ownership
Volunteering or giving to causes that reflect your values
Mentoring or passing on a family tradition

Legacy Planning Is For Everyone

You don’t have to be wealthy to leave a meaningful legacy. In fact, some of the most impactful legacies come from people who lived modestly but intentionally. Every story matters. Every value passed down makes a difference.