Written By: Abby E. Gilk

Estate Planning

I am pursuing a master’s degree in Business Economics and a graduate certificate in Family Financial Planning in the Ness School of Management and Economics at South Dakota State University.  Growing up, I always had an interest in understanding money, how it works, why it matters, and what good habits are as well as how to make your money work for you. I think that it is important to provide financial education and guidance to others, which is why I have chosen to pursue a career in financial advising. I think that a key part of advising that not many realize before entering the field is estate planning, which is why I chose to focus my undergraduate research on that specific area. Estate planning plays an important role in financial planning as planning for the transfer of power and assets is critical in serving the client. If this is not done correctly, then we have not done our due diligence in serving the client. 

There are many reasons why estate planning is placed on the back burner for many clients. It is an uncomfortable topic, it is not seen as important, and it often is not even known about by the average person. That is why my research focuses on the lack of engagement in estate planning in young adults. To encourage young adults to engage in estate planning, we need to first understand why they aren’t engaging in the first place. Understanding the root cause of their lack of engagement will allow us to better educate and serve clients. 

 Living in South Dakota opens many doors in the estate planning world, which is why I am driven to understand the underlying reasons for estate planning avoidance. My goal is to assist clients with meeting their estate planning objectives in the best manner possible by utilizing the available resources to them in South Dakota. Everyone deserves for their wishes to be fulfilled post death, everyone deserves to leave the legacy they wish, and everyone deserves the help they need to do so.  

Go Jacks!