He had done everything by the book. Trusts were created. Roles were assigned. His three adult children each had their job - one for healthcare, one for burial, one overseas. Everything was spelled out and structured.

And yet, when Martin heard the stat about generational loss, it hit him harder than anything else.

He wasn’t worried about market risk or taxes.

He was worried about timing. About what might happen when grief, responsibility, and large sums of money collide.

Because here’s the truth most families don’t learn until it’s too late:

Transferring wealth is not the same as preserving it.

That realization led Martin to a different kind of estate strategy - one more retirees are beginning to embrace. It’s called an Extended Maturity Plan.

Think of it like a slow-release inheritance.

Instead of dumping everything into someone’s lap at once, the trust distributes wealth over time. Some early. Some later. Sometimes tied to life milestones. Sometimes held until a final maturity date.

It’s not about control. It’s about protection.

- Protection during the grieving period

- Protection from emotional decision-making

- Protection from external threats or family conflict

Martin didn’t need a new trust. He needed a new tempo.

The documents were strong. But the timing left his legacy vulnerable.

That was his aha moment. He remembered that his girlfriend, an accountant, had structured her estate differently. And for the first time, he realized the power in comparing notes.

Not to question his plan.

To improve it.

And that one conversation shifted everything.

Martin had already done 90% of the work. But it was the missing 10% that mattered most - the part that ensures what you’ve built isn’t just passed on, but protected.

Because legacy isn’t about what you give.

It’s about what survives.

If you’re at the stage where everything seems in place, don’t assume the job is finished. Don’t let your final step be the weakest link.

You can download the same Free Retirement Checklist that Martin used at retirementredflags.com. Because retirement isn’t the end of your story - it’s the beginning of someone else’s. And what comes next is what truly defines your legacy.