While planning for a trip, Revs. Andrew and Nicole Conard discovered the opportunity to work with John Griffin, through the complementary services Foundation, and it provided the motivation needed to make their estate plan a reality.
“We were making plans for both of us to go on a trip while our children stayed with family,” Nicole said. “We wanted to be sure that we had a plan in place to care for our children were something unfortunate to happen to us.”
Although the pandemic changed their travel plans, it did not alter their desire to ensure they had a plan to take care of their children. Andrew and Nicole began meeting with John Griffin, an attorney with Stewardship Counseling LLC, and through a series of meetings developed their estate plan.
“We had a wonderful experience working with John,” Andrew said. “He was thoughtful, thorough, and walked us through the details of decisions that we needed to make. His affable manner helped us work through important and serious conversations with one another and our family.”
With John’s guidance and legal expertise, the Conard’s were confident they were making the right decisions for their family. In addition, Andrew and Nicole were also confident about the legacy they will leave behind.
“We want to use our estate plan to care for our family,” Nicole said. “We also hope that we are able to be a blessing to others. Leaving a legacy is important for us as people of faith.”
Andrew and Nicole believe who they are today was shaped by the legacy of those who came before them. They were both recipients of scholarships and support for their education and have also been shaped by the spiritual influence of many people.
“We plan to leave a gift to the Foundation in our estate because we trust the organization's ability to deploy funds for maximum effect in the mission field where we serve,” Andrew said. “The Foundation is able to provide ongoing stewardship for our gift in a way that ensures continued impact for generations to come. As our family is cared for in appropriate ways, we want to give a tithe or beyond to continue to be about God's work.”
Through their estate plan, the Conards know their children will be provided for. Through their generosity now, and in their estate, they will leave a legacy in the denomination they served through their permanent endowed family fund with the Foundation.
“If you don’t have an estate plan, you should probably get one,” Nicole said. “We do not have a large estate, however we want to care for our children.”
