The American Heart Association recommends 10 minutes of cardio exercise each day to keep your body fit and healthy. A quick, intense workout has proven benefits to your heart, brain and indeed, your whole body. The American Automobile Association (AAA), which has been a mainstay of American life since its founding in 1902, advises that you spend 10 minutes checking your car before embarking on any long drives to ensure a safe, hassle-free trip. Wealth managers often ask their clients for “just 10 minutes” to check in on chosen investment strategies and account performance. Home organization experts encourage a daily 10-minute tidy, as a strategy to maintain a neat, clean, functional home. The message from all fronts is just commit 10 minutes, and you may significantly improve your life.

This technique is equally applicable in the estate planning arena. Estate planning professionals would be well served to suggest to their clients that they do a periodic 10-minute assessment of their estate plan. A quick check-in to review your current circumstances, documents that you executed previously and documents that are absent from your file, and your goals for the future is vital to ensure that your estate plan continues to comport with your needs, objectives and intentions. It is crucial that people understand that their estate planning documents, just like their health, vehicles, homes and investments, warrant review and revisions throughout various stages of life.