You've worked hard to build your legacy, and you've spent many hours ensuring its security for your family. The thought of the results of all your hard work being passed on to your children, only to have them sit idly by and spend it away without a care, can make you cringe.

Believe it or not, there are options for you. You can provide restrictions or conditions for their inheritance with an Incentive Trust. This goes beyond setting an age to inherit, and instead is set up to motivate the beneficiary's behavior. The trust may pay out for graduating from college, dedicating time to volunteer work, or even succeeding in business - matching dollar for dollar the beneficiary's salary.

While this may sound like a wonderful solution, there are negatives. It is difficult to govern intangibles such as "ethical behavior," and the thought of a parent ruling from the great beyond may incur some resentment. Restrictions disallow conditions that are considered illegal, such as marriage only to a certain race or the divorce from a disliked spouse.

Whatever you decide, keep your family informed and aware of what will happen in the future. It may be an incentive for positive involvement now, and helps them plan their own financial futures.

There's a lot to celebrate, but don't forget to keep an eye on the present when looking towards the future. When it comes to health insurance, graduation also signals the end of being a dependent on a parent's health insurance policy. Now is the time to discuss individual healthcare options, and ensure that everything is covered for a healthy future.

The #1 top performer on the S&P 500 list for 2004 was Progressive Corp., the well-known auto insurer. Rising from 5th place in 2003, it is credited with competitive pricing and good business practices. 2003 numbers are very impressive - just 87.3% of premium income was used to pay claims and expenses. Read more about Progressive and its ranking online at Business Week.

Ready to build your dream home, or perhaps shape your current home into the house of your dreams? You'll need Builder's Risk insurance, and you'll need to keep us up-to-date on your plans. Plenty could go wrong while your home is under construction; so, the more we know, the more we can help if you need assistance.