Why Back-to-School Season Is the Perfect Time to Talk Estate Planning With Millennial Clients

The start of a new school year often means fresh notebooks, busy schedules, and back-to-school checklists. But for many millennial parents, it’s also a season that stirs deeper thoughts: Who would take care of my kids if something happened to me?

That emotional undercurrent, combined with the practical tasks of updating medical forms, emergency contacts, and guardianship documentation, makes this moment a natural time to bring estate planning into the conversation.

I asked several financial advisors how they use this season to open the door to estate planning with millennial clients. Here’s what they had to say:

Start Where Their Minds Already Are

“The back-to-school season can open the door for estate planning conversations with millennial clients,” Al Faber, CFP™, Founder of DIWY Financial Planning, explains. “As parents focus on school forms, emergency contacts, and guardianship paperwork, they are already thinking about who would step in if something happened to them.”

That mindset creates a natural segue into deeper conversations around estate planning documents like wills, healthcare proxies, and powers of attorney. Al also encourages clients to think beyond their own household: “A parent's estate plan, or lack of one, could have a direct impact on them.”

He often finds that a simple prompt—“If something were to happen to you and your spouse, who would make decisions and take care of the children?”—can lead to powerful and productive conversations.

Framing estate planning as a way to protect what matters most—children, partners, even pets—can make the topic more approachable. “In some cases, children may be reaching milestones such as getting a driver’s license or beginning to drive themselves to school,” he notes. “These changes can also trigger important conversations about liability protection and preserving family assets.”

“Who Picks Up My Kid If I Can’t?”

“Back-to-school season is a powerful reminder of how quickly life moves. How time flies at the blink of an eye,” says Bob Chitrathorn, CPFA®, vice president of wealth planning at Simplified Wealth Management. “For millennial parents, it’s a moment charged with reflection. New routines. Medical forms. Emergency contacts. It naturally raises the question: What if I’m not there?”

That’s when Bob opens the door to a more serious conversation—about guardianship, healthcare directives, and living trusts. “If they’re worried about who’s picking up their child, they best be worried about this too. Not from a place of fear, but from one of care,” he explains.

For this generation, estate planning isn’t about dwelling on worst-case scenarios. “It’s about protecting what matters most,” Bob says.

Think About the Routines

“Back-to-school time means new routines,” says Charles Thomas, III, CFP™, founder of Intrepid Eagle Finance. “It’s a good time to think about how those routines would be impacted if Mom, Dad, or both passed.”

Would the guardian you name support and maintain those routines? Would your children need to move or change schools?

“It’s worth thinking about when you select a guardian,” Charles adds, “and how your kids would—or wouldn’t—have continuity in a difficult time.”

As a parent, the routines you build—morning drop-offs, bedtime rituals, even after-school snacks—can be a source of comfort and stability for your children. Estate planning ensures those rhythms aren’t disrupted more than they have to be, even in the face of life’s biggest what-ifs. It's not just about naming someone to step in, but choosing someone who can help your kids feel safe, seen, and supported through a difficult transition.

When Kids Are the Priority, So Is Planning

“There’s no more kid-focused time of year than back-to-school,” says Tim Woodward, CFP™, president of Blend Wealth. “That’s why it’s the perfect moment to think beyond just the classroom and ask: Have we done everything we can to protect them, no matter what?”

Tim encourages parents to use this season as a reminder that estate planning—particularly naming a guardian—is one of the most loving and proactive steps they can take.

“Without a plan, even the most well-meaning families can end up in painful disagreements,” he explains. “In some families, everyone wants to take the kids. In others, no one is really equipped to.”

Taking the time to name guardians, organize documents, and clarify your wishes doesn’t just benefit your children—it gives peace of mind to the entire family. “So while you're already focused on your kids this season,” Tim adds, “don’t forget to add estate plans to your back-to-school checklist.”

Final Thoughts

Back-to-school season isn’t just about preparing kids for a successful academic year. This season is about ensuring the long-term wellbeing of your kids, too. That makes it a timely and organic moment to talk estate planning with millennial clients.

Whether you’re reminding parents to consider their own guardianship decisions, prompting them to have conversations with their aging parents, or simply offering a thoughtful question to spark reflection, this season is full of opportunities to connect, educate, and protect.

Interested in partnering with Trust & Will to enhance your own clients’ estate planning needs? Learn more about how you can join over 17,000  financial advisors and firms who are delivering peace of mind to their clients by offering a comprehensive estate planning solution. Schedule a free demo today.

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