Gay-friendly professionals can help members of the LGBT community weave their way through the nuances of estate and financial planning. How can they best do so? By simply gaining your trust because they understand the challenges faced by LGBTs.
Obtaining advice about your investments or creating a will or trust should never be taken lightly. That’s why it’s so important to work with a financial planner or estate planning lawyer who understands the challenges faced by the LGBT community.
Although same-sex marriages have been legal in the U.S. for three years, plenty of bias continues to exist toward gays and lesbians. This is why you want your financial future guided by professionals who empathize with you. Make sure you are comfortable working with them.
Find the right financial planner, estate lawyer
For starters, you better get going with your research. You can start online or get referrals from friends and colleagues. Here are some things that members of the LGBT community should consider when seeking a financial or legal professional:
- Don’t stay in the closet. If your financial planner or lawyer doesn’t know you, your lifestyle and what’s important to you, how can they accurately work with and represent you? How will they know what you want to accomplish through your investments or estate plan? Be upfront with them. If you sense any bias, walk away and find someone else.
- Are you comfortable working with them? Do they have your best financial and personal interests in mind? Ask plenty of questions and trust your instincts, too.
- Do they share the same social and political views? Trust and empathy are key for having a solid working relationship, especially in finance and estate matters.
For any couple – whether gay or straight – it is important to understand that estate planning and personal finance should involve both people. Together with your spouse, talk about what you hope to accomplish, then collaborate and arrive united when you meet with the professionals who will guide you.