437 | Breaking Cycles & Building Generational Wealth: Why It’s Never Too Early to Start Estate Planning with Andrea Morrison

Summary

Affirmations for Black Girls

Episode 437 | Breaking Cycles & Building Generational Wealth: Why It’s Never Too Early to Start Estate Planning

Host: Tyra The Creative | Guest: Andrea Morrison Vance, Estate Planning Attorney
Release Date: November 3, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and deeply practical episode, Tyra The Creative sits down with her mother, Andrea Morrison Vance—an estate planning attorney with over 14 years of experience—to break down the importance of estate planning for Black families. Together, they discuss dismantling poverty mindsets, building generational wealth beyond just finances, the essential steps in legacy planning, and how breaking cycles starts with intentional (not always perfect) action. The episode fuses personal stories, historical context, and actionable legal advice to empower listeners to take control of their legacy—no matter their age or net worth.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking the Poverty Mindset & Generational Cycles

• Generational Reflection:
  • Tyra and Andrea share family memories—like picking pecans as children—to illustrate how resource limitations and mindsets passed down over generations can shape one's approach to money and legacy.
  • Notable Quote [11:21]:
    • Andrea: "One thing that I am unlearning right now is not having a poverty mindset... I was a dreamer as a child, and I dreamed of something better. So I work hard not to have that poverty mindset, because sometimes it causes me to... always plan for the day that I might not have the things I have now."
• Cycle Breaking as Intention:
  • Emphasis that breaking cycles does not require perfection, but it does demand intention and hope.

2. Affirmation of the Week – Breaking Cycles

• Affirmation Led by Andrea Morrison Vance [22:41]:
  • "Breaking cycles does not require perfection, just intention." (Repeated for emphasis and to anchor the discussion in personal determination.)
• Tyra's Reflection [24:38]:
  • "The nature of breaking cycles means that you are taking chances at figuring out how to break this cycle… as long as you have made it up in your mind, that intention is what really, truly matters."

3. Understanding Wealth in the Black Community

• Beyond Money [31:05]:
  • Generational wealth isn’t just about cash; it includes real estate, businesses, investments, life insurance, and even family values and educational achievements.
  • Historical context: Enslavement, Jim Crow, redlining, and ongoing systemic barriers have limited Black wealth, making intentional planning both an act of self-care and economic resistance.
  • Notable Quote [31:05]:
    • Andrea: "Enslaved Africans were considered property... We created generational wealth for them. So as Black people during that time, we couldn't own land... Their labor built the foundation of the American economy, yet they were denied the right to benefit from it."

4. Shifting from Survival Mode to Planning

• Practical Steps [35:03]:
  • Recognize survival mode and make a plan based on honest evaluation of income, skills, and goals. Budget, consider roommates, invest in skill-building, and treat plans as 'fluid,' revisiting often.
  • Notable Quote [36:54]:
    • Andrea: "Coming out of survival mode means I have to change my mindset... Start from a position of, ‘here’s what I have, and how can I work with what I have to get where I want to be?’"

5. The Overlooked Wealth-Building of Black Women

• Celebrating Unseen Labor [40:19]:
  • Black mothers drive generational wealth by nurturing, encouraging children's dreams, and providing stability—often without recognition.
  • Notable Quote [40:19]:
    • Andrea: "Black women have contributed [to] generational wealth in a way that has been overlooked... just by being present, being a mother... When our children are successful, it shows the success from the family home."

6. Estate Planning Basics

• What is Estate Planning? [46:26]:

  • Estate planning is deciding what happens to your money, property, and responsibilities if you die or become incapacitated.
  • Essential documents: Will, trust, power of attorney, life insurance.
  • It's crucial for everyone—not just the elderly or wealthy—because it's about protecting loved ones and ensuring wishes are honored.

• Will vs. Living Will vs. Trust [49:05]:

  • Will: Directs the distribution of assets after death.
  • Trust: Holds assets for beneficiaries, avoids probate, and can offer tax advantages depending on type (revocable or irrevocable).
  • Living Will: Specifies medical wishes if you are incapacitated; not the same as a (regular) will.

• Responsibilities Covered By Estate Planning [54:03]:

  • Naming guardians for minor children, outlining business succession plans, and making medical wishes clear.

• DIY vs. Professional Help [54:31]:

  • While DIY wills are possible, mistakes can render them invalid. The peace of mind of professional guidance is invaluable for ensuring wishes are followed.

7. Life Insurance & Legacy in Practice

• Life Insurance is For Everyone [61:27]:
  • Even if older family members can’t get a traditional policy, a burial policy is essential to prevent financial strain and ensure proper arrangements.
  • Notable Quote [61:27]:
    • Andrea: “GoFundMe is not insurance. So we should all be thinking about it... a burial policy is an alternative.”
  • Importance of communicating final wishes—cremation vs. burial, etc.—in writing so family can honor them.
• Making it Accessible [65:34]:
  • Life insurance can be affordable (e.g. $10/month); the key is to start early.

8. Overcoming Family Taboos Around Death and Estate Planning

• How to Start Difficult Conversations [59:53]:
  • Approach directly but with compassion. Use real-life examples to illustrate the consequences of poor planning.
  • Highlight that having a plan is an act of love, not an omen or sign of distrust.
• Cultural Resistance & Legacy as Economic Resistance [78:41]:
  • Andrea’s closing call: “Estate planning is a form of economic resistance and empowerment. It's about reclaiming your right to build, protect, and pass on your wealth, no matter how small or how great you think it is.”

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Affirmation of the Episode [22:41]:
  • Andrea: “Breaking cycles does not require perfection, just intention.”
• On Mindset [11:21]:
  • “I was a dreamer as a child, and I dreamed of something better.” – Andrea
• On Family Support [21:22]:
  • Tyra: “Our home was a safe haven for me and PJ… as soon as we stepped out of the home, there were people who would say things… I’m glad that moment in your life was able to plant a seed for us to be able to blossom in this way.”
• On Planning Early [46:26]:
  • “Yes, Tyra, at 31, you should have an estate plan. It's not just for the wealthy, it's for those who are on their way to being wealthy.”
• Reality Check on DIY Wills [54:31]:
  • “People can do anything on their own if they want, but whether or not what they did on their own is going to be honored… is the question.”
• On Black Women and Legacy [40:19]:
  • “Black women have contributed [to] generational wealth… just by being present, being a mother.”
• On Life Insurance [65:34]:
  • “I’ve had whole life insurance on you and your brother since you were at least 4 and 5 years old… It’s $54 a month… Not huge policies, but they are whole life. It keeps you... with the opportunity to add life insurance for yourself.”
• On Taboos in Black Families [60:26]:
  • “Approach that conversation directly, but with compassion. Folk may want to know why you’re asking… but give real life examples.”
• Final Call to Action [78:41]:
  • “Estate planning is a form of economic resistance and empowerment... Please start your estate planning today.”

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Timestamps to Key Segments

• Family & Poverty Mindset / Cycle Breaking: [11:21] – [22:32]
• Affirmation of the Week: [22:41] – [24:30]
• History & Wealth in Black America: [31:05] – [34:10]
• Moving from Survival to Strategy: [35:03] – [39:49]
• Estate Planning 101 (Basics, Documents, Doing it Now): [46:26] – [59:53]
• Life Insurance, Funeral Planning, Family Dynamics: [61:27] – [67:34]
• Practical Tips and Lighter Moments (Fun Segment): [69:31] – [78:29]
• Final Call to Action & Resources: [78:41] – [81:33]

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Fun & Memorable Moments

• Generational Dessert Stories: Personal, light-hearted discussion about favorite childhood desserts and what it means to be the 'oldest girl' across generations.
• Family “One Gotta Go” Game: Tyra and Andrea play rounds choosing which “Southern staple,” “church lady essential,” and “estate planning tool” they could do without – bringing laughter and relational warmth to the heavier topics.
  • Mac & Cheese loses out to collard greens and cornbread! [69:55]

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Closing Thoughts

Tyra and Andrea drive home that no matter your age, income, or past, estate planning is a foundational act of self-care and love—especially for Black families seeking to break cycles of struggle and build foundations for future generations. Begin with small, intentional steps: have the tough conversations, draft that will, purchase affordable life insurance, and plan now rather than in crisis. As Andrea says, “It’s about ensuring that our children don’t have to start from zero.” [81:13]

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Resources from the Episode

• Connect with Andrea Morrison Vance:
  • LinkedIn | andreamorrisonlaw.com (under construction)
• Suggested Action Steps:
  • Start or update your will and estate plan
  • Talk to your family about your wishes
  • Research whole life insurance or burial policies that fit your budget

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This episode is a must-listen for anyone serious about building a legacy of love, intention, and security. Breaking cycles starts with one small, intentional step.

Transcript

[Tyra]

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Why are we waiting until a crisis to start thinking about our legacy? Why are we leaving? GoFundMe links instead of Generational wealth, here's a wake up call. Estate planning isn't just for rich people. It's not reserved for married people or for anybody else society deems as ready. Consider this. Building a legacy starts the moment you decide not to repeat the struggle. The moment you switch to protecting your peace, your people and your future. Because without a plan, even your hardest work could spiral into confusion, conflict and chaos when you're not around anymore. And let's be real, our ancestors were denied the right to own, to build or protect their wealth. Black codes, sharecropping, redlining, and all these other discriminatory laws, all of it tried to keep us from building legacies. But today, we can do something about it. Even small steps like a life insurance policy or a simple will or trust. Naming a guardian for your kids if something happens to you can create stability and opportunity for the people that we love. So if you've ever thought, well, I'm too young for this or I don't have anything to put in a wheel, let me tell you, that's exactly when you need to start. Because protecting your family and your legacy and your future is love in action. And today I'm super excited because we are sitting down with my mother. She is an estate planning attorney and I have a ton of questions to ask her. This is the person who taught me to always think about my future. The person who gave me space to dream big and want more out of life than to just survive. So I'm super excited to jump into today's conversation. What is going on, beautiful people? You are listening to the Affirmations for Black Girls podcast where we focus on personal growth and cultivating a healthy relationship with ourselves. I am your host, Ty, the creative actress, content creator and mental health enthusiast. And you guys, today I get to have a conversation with the one person that Put me on this earth. Okay? This person is so special. And my mama, Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance, is here with us today, y'. All. She is not only the woman who raised me into this person that I am now that y' all have come to love, but she raised me with love and wisdom. And she's also a brilliant estate planner or estate planning attorney. Excuse me. With over 14 years of experience for helping families, especially black women and their families, secure their legacies.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

So. Hey, Ma. Hey, daughter. Hey, everybody. I'm sorry. Okay, I'm gonna act right today. Ma, I want you. I know I just gave, like, a.

[Tyra]

Little introduction, but I want you to.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Tell the people who you are. Tell them. Well, everybody, I am Tyra's mother, Ma Esquire, and it is really good to meet you all today.

[Tyra]

Okay, Ma, so you already know that what we're talking about today, y', all, we're going to be talking about, like, estate planning. And I'm going to just be asking some questions that are on my mind, especially as I am entering the 30s.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

For real.

[Tyra]

Like, I'm 31 now. I'm starting to have more questions about legacy planning and planning for the future. Right. So we're going to talk about that today. But before we do, I. I do like to do a quick icebreaker, Ma, with people who come on the podcast, and I know we have something set here to ask. I may ask you that question second, but I have another one that I really want to ask that's more. More of a Tyra question. Are you ready?

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

I'm gonna try to be ready.

[Tyra]

No, it's easy, I promise. Okay, so what is one of your favorite, favorite desserts from your childhood, and why?

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Oh, one of my favorite desserts from my childhood. My grandmother used to make BlackBerry cobbler. And I love, love, love her BlackBerry cobbler. And she knew when I was coming that she needed to make it. I actually have two because that's with one grandmother. The other grandmother used to make the controversial. I'm sure everyone has heard about it. The potato pie made with the white potato, not the sweet potato. And I don't really care what anybody else has to say about it. If you haven't tried it, then you probably don't need to be commenting about it. But that dessert. So when we would go for holidays, we went to each grandmother's house for holidays. One made my BlackBerry cobbler, and the other one made my potato pie, you said oiled me, and I always had that pie. Every time we had a family gathering, either one of Those. The cobbler or the pie? And I was. I was just a happy little camper.

[Tyra]

So grandma Lily was making the BlackBerry cobbler. Okay. And then, of course, you guys know I talk about this all the time, but my great grandma Willie Mae is the one who made the white potato pie.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

So you.

[Tyra]

You were set on holidays?

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I didn't even have to have food. If they just had my dessert, I was fine. And they both knew to set my. My portion aside. She coming. So y' all can't eat her part. That's right. I love just a little insider. I am the oldest grandchild with the grandmother who made the potato pie, and I am the second oldest grandchild with the grandmother who made the BlackBerry cobbler. Who's the oldest? Yes, Daphne is the oldest.

[Tyra]

Daphne older than you?

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Yeah.

[Tyra]

But how much? Like a year.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

I think two years.

[Tyra]

I did not know Daphne was the oldest.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Yeah, Daphne is the oldest. You know, that's the interesting thing, because everybody in the family seems to think that I'm the oldest grandchild on both. On both sides treat me that way. They actually do. And I have cousins who actually call me auntie.

[Tyra]

I was talk. So when Nana was doing my hair, we were talking, and she was like. I always just call her T. Vanessa because that's what everybody else said. And I was like, girl, that's your cousin.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

That's right. We cousins. We are not TT and niece or whatever. But, yeah, they all call me auntie. And I just let them, even though I've corrected them. And they're like, well, they still do it. Yeah.

[Tyra]

The thing she's talking about, you guys, is so both on both sides. Her parents have a lot of siblings, so people are having kids at different times. So some of her cousins are having kids that are way younger. So the girl that we were just talking about, she's only 21 years old. So in her mind, it makes sense that you would say auntie or whatever versus cousin because she's so much older. But that's really what's going on there. And I was talking. I forgot who I was talking to, mom, but I was talking to somebody, and I was just saying it's crazy because I'm the oldest on one side and the second oldest on the other side, but I am. I'm the oldest girl on both sides, and I realized that you are the oldest girl on your mama's side, and I am. I mean. And she is also the oldest girl as well.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Yeah.

[Tyra]

So we're three generations of the oldest girls.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

And then Tyra is the oldest of the grandchildren from that same group of girls. That's right. Yeah. Yeah.

[Tyra]

It's.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

That's just crazy.

[Tyra]

Okay, well, I did have another question. I guess we can. We can jump into this question really, really quickly. What is one lesson that you have inherited? One thing that you're currently unlearning, and one thing that you hope to pass on to, like, me, PJ or your grandkids, if you have any.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

We don't know. So, in a nutshell, one thing that I am unlearning right now is not having a poverty mindset, and that encompasses a lot of different things. But just being able to look back over the years that God has given me on this earth, and when I look at those years, compared to the conversations and the talk that I would hear as a child, I think that I am definitely well on my way. And I'll give an example of how. Overcoming the poverty mindset. I want to make a disclaimer and say that past generations, like my grandmothers and great grandmothers, during the period of time when they were either growing up or even living as adults raising their children, I respect and acknowledge that situations and circumstances kept them in the poverty mindset that they were in. So I don't blame them, and I hope that I don't offend. But an example of me purposefully trying to break that chain of the poverty mindset or that hold that it had on or has on and can have on individuals. An example would be as a child, you know, families did certain things to make sure that they had the resources to put food on the table. And so I grew up in a family where there was a. I'm gonna call it a tradition of picking pecans. So, you know, picking up pecans and. And then you would give a portion of that to the landowner, kind of like sharecropping. A little bit. There was a little bit of that going on. And so you would pick up those pecans and you would give. If you pick three sacks, they would give one, maybe even one and a half or two of those sacks. You would get the last one, and then you would be compensated for the weight in pecans that you would pick up. And I recall one day, as a little girl being in the freezing cold, on my knees, nose running, picking pecans, and I thought that I was doing great. I said to my family one day, when I get older, I'm not going to have to pick up pecans to make money. I'm going to. To make something out of myself, I'm going to do something that I can bring in money a different way. And obviously I offended because the response that I got was not one that I expected, and I ended up in tears that day. But I never gave up. I never gave up the hope that I had that one day I would not have to be out in a coal field under a pecan tree on my knees picking up pecans and then selling them and not being able to keep all of the money that my hard work brought about. And so I think that I have done well with that. I kept my promise to myself because that day I knew that with the response I got, that that promise was just for me, that I was making a promise to myself that I would not have to do this. I respect, and I will say that again. I respect what my. What generations before me had to do, and I'm not taking anything away from what they had to do. But I thought and I felt like I knew that there was something more out there for me as an adult, and it was. And so I've lived a very good life. God has truly blessed me financially, and he's still blessing me. So I would say, you know, the poverty mindset, because situations and circumstances in our ancestors past, I mean, that was like, beat into them and not like it was beat into them. If you know your family's history as black people, you know what they went through during slavery and even coming out of slavery, some of it still existed. So I know what they went through. I know about the beatings. We read the history. We know about it. And if we know people in our family or have that history passed down in our family, then we know what was happening. So it wasn't their fault. But I was a dreamer as a child, and I dreamed of something better. And so I work hard to not have that poverty mindset, because even with that, sometimes it causes me to. You have. But then you're always planning for the day that you don't have. And that's where I am right now. I'm trying to get that mindset out of me that I'm not planning for the day that I might not have the things that I have now because I got. I trust God and I trust that I will not lose anything, but he will continue to give me wisdom and give me grace to be able to not only continue to have what I have, but to grow and leave a legacy for my children.

[Tyra]

Love that. It's crazy that you brought up the picking the puck ons story, because me And PJ have gone pick puck ons with Grandma Lily and Pawpaw and stuff. And I'm pretty sure it's that same field that y' all was in under those same puck on trees, because she mentioned whenever we went, this was when.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

How old were we?

[Tyra]

I don't know. I know. You knew we was there. I don't know. How old were we?

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Like eight? I'm not sure.

[Tyra]

We were pretty young. And she mentioned, oh, yeah, I worked for these people. Or maybe papa said it. I don't know. And I was like, dang, all of these years. And then, yeah, taking our sacks up there to get our little change. And I was just like, wow, this is. I mean, I enjoy spending time with my great grandma and my Pawpaw, but I don't want to do nothing like this. But, you know, as. When I was a child, I was. I. I mean, you say that I. I'm still the same person, but I remember me being a little more reserved, especially with my actual inner thoughts. I didn't really share my. My thoughts a lot. And I was saying the same thing. I was like, I don't want to do this for money. This is hard work.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Yeah. And I'll just interject, too, with you. You were different. And I know. I remember when you were. You were about 10 or 11 when you first told me what you wanted to do as a career. You wanted to be an actor. And so I remember telling someone in the family, this is what she wants to do. And the reaction was, you're gonna let her. So that's that poverty mindset that, you know, how dare you want to be an actor? And I'm not. I'm sure it wasn't because they thought that you would fail. I believe it's because they. They didn't know how success looked.

[Tyra]

Yep.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

In that arena. So the reaction was out of. I don't want to say ignorance, because that's a word. It was out of here. It was out. It was due to a lack of knowledge. And so unless, you know, unless they could see what acting could do for you, then it was like a non starter to them. No, that's not what she's gonna do. She's gonna do something that we're familiar with. You know, why can't she just go get a good government job and, you know, work that for 30 years and retire? Never.

[Tyra]

Never.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Yeah. You have to consider, what does success look like to the person that you are getting that response from and evaluating that response from. So I had to do that with that reaction under the pecan tree, you know, what does success look like to that person? Because if they have never been able to dream and never been able to attain the goals that they had, then, of course, you know, they're going to shoot down the goals that you have. And it was a response of, like, so you think you better than us? Well, it's not that I think I'm better than anyone in my family, because I'm not. I just think that I'm better than the situation or circumstance that I was speaking of at that time. And so in order to dream, you have to believe that you are better than the situation that you're facing right now, or you're better than the circumstances that you're in right now. And that's where I was as a child. I wanted something more.

[Tyra]

And this is the last thing I'm gonna say. And then we gonna move on. I think from my perspective, that moment under the puck on tree for you when you were growing up, planted a seed for you to allow there to be space for me and PJ to dream. Because even. Because me and PJ talk about this all the time. I mean, we've kind of said it to you. I'm glad that you're our mom and like, nobody else because of, like, just the things that we have seen growing up. I think that planted a seed for. For there to be space for me and PJ to. In whatever way we see fit. Because in our home, when it was like, just the four of us, especially when I. We was just talking about this the other day. Going to Barbizon on the weekends, y'. All. I used to go down to New Orleans, what, once a month on the weekend? Saturday and Sunday or something.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

What was it? Yeah, I. I don't remember exactly. I just remember that drive Saturday and.

[Tyra]

Sunday, like, once a month or so, going down to Barbizon in order for me to pursue my dreams while I'm in middle school.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Right.

[Tyra]

Our home was a safe haven for me and PJ to just. Whatever is in our mind, if we want to experience it, if we want to try out for it, we could. But as soon as we stepped out of the home, there were people who would say things. They wouldn't say, no, you going to be unsuccessful. But they would say, well, what about if you just did this thing? And I think the space was there for us to root ourselves in our confidence so much that whenever people were saying stuff like that to. Well, I can speak for myself. When people were saying stuff like that to me, I was like, what? What are you talking about? What? Okay, whatever. I'm about to go do this acting thing. Like, don't play with me like, my mama and daddy got my back. Like, they taking me. What is you talking about? Like, that don't even make sense. Like, I'm already doing it. So I'm. I'm glad that I think that moment in your life was able to plant a seed for us to be able to blossom in this way. So thank you.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Yeah, you're welcome. And thank you for articulating that today.

[Tyra]

All right, y', all, before we dive into anything else, we have to get into our affirmation of the week. So I'm gonna pass it over to my mama for this week's affirmation.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

All right, this week's affirmation is. Breaking cycles doesn't require perfection, just intention. Breaking cycles doesn't require perfection, just intention. Breaking cycles doesn't require perfection, just intention. Breaking cycles does not require perfection, just intention. Breaking cycles does not require perfection, just intention. Breaking cycles. Breaking does not require perfection, just intention. Breaking cycles does not require perfection, just intention. Yeah. Breaking cycles does not require perfection, just intention. One last time. Breaking cycles does not require perfection, just intention.

[Tyra]

Love that, love that, love that. Thank you, Ma, for leading this week's affirmation.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Welcome.

[Tyra]

I love that it says that breaking cycles doesn't require perfection, because the nature of breaking cycles means that you are taking chances at figuring out how to break this cycle. And I think from a very young age, because you've talked about, like, generational cycles that you want to be broken and stuff like that a lot. And I think at the root of it all, you have always had intention. So I think this affirmation is powerful because as long as you have made it up in your mind that, okay, I'm about to break this cycle. About to break it. I don't know how for real yet. All I know is I'm going to do it. Having that intention at the root of it all is what really, truly matters, because you never know what the outcome is going to be.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

That's right.

[Tyra]

So let me ask you guys a couple of serious questions. Do your joints feel older than you? And do you really know what's going on inside of your body? Yeah, me either. Y'. All. Now, y' all know. Whenever I go home to Louisiana, family time is everything to me. When we're all together, I'm always so grateful for that quality time. It always reminds me to take care of myself so that I can keep Making memories with the people I love for years to come. And I'm ready to get even more serious about that. So I just learned about True Diagnostic and their True age plus True health test, y'.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

All.

[Tyra]

This ain't nothing like a grade school test, okay? But the more research I do on it, the more I'm interested. Did you know that a single painless finger prick at home can lead you to over 180 personalized insights into your health and how you're aging? On one hand, Tru Health runs tests to look over 100 biomarkers, which is stuff like your vitamin levels and nutrient balance, your immune system, and even stuff like gut and cognitive health. On the other hand, True age goes even deeper, y'. All. Their test shows your biological age, which is the pace of your aging. And it shows how important organs and systems like your heart, your brain, your liver, and your immune system are aging. Which means I'm 30 years old, and my biological age could be more than 30, or it can even be less than 30 years old. And this test will help to show me where I'm at. So this is a full snapshot of how your body's really doing on the inside. And with an easy to read report and personalized recommendations, I honestly feel like this is a tool that can help me actually stay on top of my health and put energy into the right habits where I'm not just guessing all the time. So if you want to dig a little deeper, and if you're serious about living healthier and longer, visit True Diagnostic.com and use my code affirmations for 20% off your entire order or subscription. That's True Diagnostic.com code affirmations for 20 percent off your future self will thank you. Now, y' all already know that I have been in my cozy hobby era. It's just the time of year that makes you want to slow down, light a candle, and actually learn something new again, right? But between the podcast, my work, and trying to stay social, I wanted a way to grow that still feels fun and relaxing. So the other night, I was watching a masterclass, and let me tell you, by the end of it, I was taking notes like I was back in school. But it doesn't feel like school. It's just real people who've mastered their craft showing you exactly how they do it. With Masterclass, you get to learn from the best to become your best. With plans starting at just $10 a month billed annually, you get unlimited access to over 200 classes taught by the world's best business leaders, writers, chefs and more. Memberships include downloadable bonus class guides. We love a good guide and a good workbook and content to help you make the most of your learning experience. Lately I've been really leaning into the cooking ones to get ready for the holidays and it's honestly been so peaceful to put something educational on while I cook or while I wind down. You learn something new and it kind of feels like self care time. So right now our listeners get an additional 15% off any annual [e-mail] affirmations that's 15% [e-mail] affirmations masterclass.com affirmations okay y', all, Picture A Candle is lit, your favorite book and a story that sweeps you completely away. Suddenly you're at a lavish Regency house party surrounded by corsets, champagne and secrets. And somehow you've caught the eye of not only one, not two, but three very eligible men. Now what's a girl to do? If that sounds like your kind of chaos, baby, you need to grab His Grace. The Duke by New York Times best selling author and Emily Rath, who is also known for the Second Son series. Okay, so boom. This book follows Rosalie, someone who is rewriting the rules of high society for herself. It's smart, sexy and gives you all the emotional payoff. Re releasing with a gorgeous new cover, this deluxe limited edition printing is a stunna. We're talking stenciled edges, exclusive character art, and elegant design elements that'll make it the crown jewel of your bookshelf. Available while supplies last. And y', all, I got mine and baby, I'm keeping it front and center. Okay, now it officially goes on sale on October 28, 2025. So this is your sign to add it to your fall reading list right now. So if you've been wanting to mix up your reading routine and dive into a new genre that feels rich and romantic, do not sleep on this book. Especially with the series getting a stage stunning new set of covers with limited edition sprayed edges and character art. His Grace the Duke is on sale October 28th and is available for pre order and purchase wherever books are sold. All right, Ma, so when we talk about generational wealth, people can often think that we are just specifically talking about money. But I know that wealth is not just money. So what else does wealth look like, especially in our community?

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Okay, so generational wealth includes assets that are passed down from one generation to the next. Like real estate. That's land. You know, it could be apartment complexes. It could be multifamily Homes, anything that's real estate. It could be investments. It could be investments in the stock market. It could be annuities. It could be certificates of deposit, businesses. If you're a business owner, you might want to pass that business down through your family. It can also include life insurance. Life insurance can be considered generational or create generational wealth. So as black Americans, we have faced historical and systemic barriers in building generational wealth. So in the early 1500s, you know, this is why I go back to history. We need to know our history. In the early 1500s, Africans were forcibly taken from their homeland and sold into slavery, with the first enslaved African arriving in what is now the United States in Virginia in 1619. Enslaved Africans were considered property at that time, not people. So we were property, y'. All. We were an asset to the individuals that brought us over here against our will. We were assets to them. We created generational wealth for them. So as black people during that time, we couldn't own land, we couldn't pass down wealth. We couldn't legally protect our families. Their labor built the foundation of the American economy, yet they were denied the right to benefit from it. So slavery was abolished in around 1865 with the 13th amendment. Freed black Americans were promised 40 acres and a mule at that time, but this promise was quickly revoked. Many African Americans were forced into sharecropping, a system that kept them in poverty. We mentioned that earlier, just with a simple example about the pecans and picking up pecans. That was a form of sharecropping. So black Americans face discriminatory laws like the black codes and Jim Crow that limited their ability to own land or to access credit. Redlining and housing discrimination in the 20th century further blocked wealth accumulation. Now, let's think about that. The 20th century were what years? That was from 1901 to 2000. I'm pretty sure that there are a lot of people listening to this podcast that were born between that time. And just to think that redlining and housing discrimination were still in existence. And now we're in the 21st century, and we still face some of those obstacles.

[Tyra]

So we talked about at the beginning with the going back to the pecan tree. And yes, y', all, I say puck on, my mama say pecan. I say, I don't know why, but we talked about it being because our older generations had no other choice. They had to survive, literally. They would be literally killed if they did not comply. But nowadays, how can we shift from survival mode even if we're starting small? Like, of course, especially in The South, I feel. I mean, because that's my experience growing up there. A lot of people still live with this oh, I'm just trying to survive mentality. If I'm a person who is like, oh wait, I finally realized I've been living in survival mode this whole time, what is something that I can do to shift from that? Even if we start in small, like from scratch, something easy and practical.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

So, Tyra, I think that that answer is different for each person. I think that that response is specific to each person. What I can say to you is for that individual who is finishing high school and facing the world, and whether or not you have the ability to stay at home with your parents, or whether or not your parents will say, no, you're grown now, you need to go. I do think that starting on a good foot is what's going to help you. You have to have a plan. So if I'm starting from scratch, 18 years old, leaving my parents home, the first thing I want to do is make sure I get a job. Okay? If I'm not going to go to college, I'm not going to go to the military, then I need to have income coming in. So I'm going to get a job. I'm going to evaluate my income from there. Can I afford to buy a house? Can I afford to get an apartment? Do I need to rent? Whether it's an apartment or a house, do I need to get a roommate to help pay for all the bills? But I'm going to budget. You know, once you get that job, you need to budget. You need to know what your capacity is. So if my capacity is that I can only afford $500 a month in rent, then I need to be looking for something that I can afford. I'm also going to need a car to be able to get back and forth to work. Can I afford a brand new car or do I need to get a used car? I need to look at my budget either way. I think that coming out of being stuck. That's what you said, right? Being stuck.

[Tyra]

Survival mode. Yeah.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Okay. So coming out of survival mode means that I have to change my mindset. I have to start thinking about how do I survive rather than always bringing up the rear and always trying to play catch up. I'm going to start from a position of here's what I have and how can I work with what I have to get to where I want to be. Do I need to go take night classes somewhere to increase my skill set so that I can increase My ability to earn income. There are a lot of programs available now, training programs, whether it's, hey, let me go to this two night session where they teach me how to start a business and what I need to do to get that business up and running. Whether or not they teach me, do I need to be an LLC or stay a sole proprietor? How do I write a business plan? How do I approach the bank and ask for loans? How do I handle staffing? What product do I want to offer? How do I market that product? If I don't want to be an entrepreneur, there may be classes on, okay, so I might want to be a bookkeeper. There's a class on how to use QuickBooks so that you make yourself more valuable to the entity that you want to pursue employment with. If you have knowledge in QuickBooks, you may not have a college degree, but there are always accountants and other entities out there looking for folk with a certain skill set. So how do I get out of survival mode means that I have to really stop for a minute, evaluate myself, evaluate my skill set, see where I'm lacking, figure out how I can increase my value, whether or not it is going out and obtaining a skill or going to start at the entry level at a certain organization that I might want to grow and remain there for 30 years. There's nothing wrong with remaining at the same job for 30 years and retiring. But did you have a plan going in the door? You go in the door as one thing, 30 years later you're the same thing. Then you probably didn't have a plan. Or you may have, that may be all that you wanted to do. But coming out of survival mode first means that I'm going to have to recognize that I'm in survival mode and then sit down and have a plan, develop a plan. And your plan is going to be fluid. It's always going to change. If your plan is not fluid, then you're not putting in the effort necessary to be successful and to grow as an individual in your career, in your home, in your family space. You always have to have a plan.

[Tyra]

Okay, so a lot of people always say, like we say, like black people are the backbone of this country. But I think also in addition to that, black women are like the backest of backbones to this country. Like this country was built on our back. So what do you think are some ways or some overlooked ways that black women have already contributed to generational wealth without even realizing it or being celebrated for it?

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

So I think I can answer this question a little Briefer than. Than the past ones. I will say that in my opinion, black women have contributed to generational wealth in a way that has been overlooked. And they sometimes do not get the credit for just being present. Being a mother in the home to their children. I take issue when I see parents handling their young children in such a manner that they demean them, they call them out of their name, they cuss them, they tell them they're not good for anything. You just like your daddy, you ain't gonna be nothing and all of these things. But when I see a black mother who has been in the home and who has done nothing but encourage their children. Our children are dreamers. And if you ask a 7 year old what they want to be, they may say, I want to be a doctor, I want to be a lawyer, I want to be an astronaut, I want to be this or that. Those children have so much potential. When we encourage them and we push them toward that potential as they're growing, as they're getting older, expose them to avenues that can set them up to go down that path that they want to go, to become that professional, then we have done our jobs. It's not up to us to determine whether or not they can or cannot be that. Now I'm going to say in some situations it might be impossible. You may have a child who has a disability and you know that they may not ever be an astronaut, okay, that's one thing. But you could still expose them to the sciences so that they are, they. They become as close to an astronaut as they could possibly be. But the mothers are nurturers. And so when we nurture our children, we want to nurture them to their best potential. We want to encourage them, no matter what they say they want to be. You know, it's like Dr. Martin Luther King said, you might be a street sweeper, but you're going to be the best street sweeper that anyone has ever seen. So encourage your children. And I think as black mothers, we have plenty of them out there and we have plenty of stories about them. Michael Jordan's mother, she was his biggest proponent. And he went, you know, to the, to the height of his career as a basketball player that was due to his mother. We need to give mothers more credit. We have mothers now who are becoming managers for their children. And they need to have the same credit that a male manager would have because their children are no less benefiting from becoming an athlete or whatever it is that the mom is managing them in than they would have been had they had a male manager, so mothers get overlooked. But we're contributing to generational wealth because when our children are successful, it shows the success from the family home.

[Tyra]

Building that foundation early.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Yes. Building the foundation, yes.

[Tyra]

I don't know about y', all, but these past few weeks have had me on the go. Between traveling back home, long days of doing everything for everybody and trying to squeeze in a little fun, my body has been telling me that I need some extra tlc. When I'm constantly on the move, the first things to slip are my good sleep and staying focused during stressful days. So I've been looking into what can help. And CBD FX might just be the way to go. They've been in the game for over a decade now with products that are third party tested and made from organically grown hemp. Whether you're new to CBD or already know what works for you, they've got everything from gummies to capsules to sleep aid blends designed to support your specific needs. And I love that CBD FX really prioritizes transparency and quality. You can literally scan the QR code on their packaging and see the lab results for yourself. And a lot of their products are vegan and gluten free. I've got a box of their products headed my way and I'm super excited to try them. Because, listen, even when life doesn't slow down, I still deserve to. And you do too. Whether you want calm focus, better sleep, or just an overall wellness boost. CBDFX has something for you. And right now, my listeners can get 40% off your first order with code [e-mail] that's cbdfx.com use promo code affirmations to get 40% off today. Feel the difference with CBD FX foreign? So I know that everybody should have some sort of, like, estate planning or like legacy planning is what I hear you say A lot of the time and especially in the black community, a lot of people do not set themselves up for success. I know for me, I didn't start hearing about estate planning and legacy planning until you started saying that, okay, this is my lane, like, this is where I want to be. And I was like, okay, I actually never thought about that. Granted, I'm only 31 years old, but the earlier you start, the better, right? So can you walk us through the basics of estate planning? Because a lot of people may say, especially in the black community, well, I ain't got nothing to pass down. I already ain't got no money. I don't have, I don't have this, that and the third. So what are the basics when it comes to estate planning and legacy planning?

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

So a simple definition of estate planning is the process of deciding what happens to your money, your property and your responsibilities. People don't think about responsibilities when they die, but what happens to your responsibilities when you either pass away or you are unable to make decisions for yourself. So with estate planning, the documents or the tools that we use for estate planning might be a will or trust, it could be a power of attorney, it could even be life insurance. So imagine yourself working hard your whole life. You build a home, you save money, you take care of your family only to have it thrown into chaos and confusion when you're no longer around. And so that's what happens when we don't have an estate plan in place. So estate planning is crucial for everyone, regardless of your age or your wealth. So yes, Saira, at 31, you should have an estate plan. It's not just for the wealthy, it's for those who are on their way to being wealthy. It's not just for the elderly, it's for everyone, including the 31 year old Tyra. So estate planning is for anyone who wants to protect their loved ones. And, and you may be thinking, oh, I don't have any children. You're not doing estate planning to protect your children that you don't have. You're doing estate planning to protect your loved ones. Your mom, your dad, your brother. You know, what do we do if something happens to you? What do we do with your, your, your belongings is to protect your property and your peace of mind. So it's one of the most important gifts that you could give to your family. It's about making sure that what you do have is protected and that it's passed on the right way. Whether you're single, whether you're married, whether you have kids or own a home or business, or you just want to make sure that your wishes are respected, then you should have an estate plan. You might not want all of your assets to go to me or your dad. You might want everything to go to your brother. Well, if you pass away, then the state law is going to decide where your things go. And it might not be to your brother, it might be to your mom and dad. So if you want your brother to inherit directly from you, then you want to have an estate plan in place.

[Tyra]

I have a question. What is the difference between, because you've, you've talked about this before. A living will is a living Will different from a will. And then there's a trust. Can you, like, give a very brief definition of what those things are?

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

So a will is a document where you basically spell out what you want done with your estate. And your estate could be for you, Tyra. It could be, you know, your trademark, your. Your image, your likeness. You know, there's so much that folk don't think about.

[Tyra]

Yeah.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

When it comes to estate. So in your will, you would direct. Basically, your will is a directive to whomever is responsible for administering your wishes. That's the directive that. This is what I want to see happen. I want my home to go to this person. I want my name, image, and likeness to be taken over by this person or this entity. I want the money in my bank accounts to go to this person. Those are directives. As far as a living trust, we'll talk about a trust in general. So when you set up a trust, a trust is also a type of directive. But a trust has to be funded. Meaning if you don't have a will but you establish a trust, then those items that you want to go to your beneficiaries of that trust would have to already be in the trust or be directed to the trust upon your passing. Okay. So we have what's called a revocable trust, and then we have irrevocable trust. Underneath the umbrella of each could be several different types of trust, which is why I don't. I don't try to school people on the different types of trust, because it can become very complicated. Okay. But just know that there are two basic types of trust. Revocable and irrevocable. A revocable trust, you can revoke it at any time. Okay. But once you set up an irrevocable trust, then you cannot take it back. Okay.

[Tyra]

Why would somebody do that? Why would they want to set up an irrevocable one? Maybe if they're going, like, losing their memory or, you know, stuff like that.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

No, there are certain benefits to having an irrevocable trust. That's when we get into the IRS code and tax planning and all that kind of stuff. Okay, so when you. When you consider an irrevocable trust, then you have to look toward minimizing taxes and things like that. So let's say that you have an estate that's worth $20 million. Well, at the $20 million level, you also have what's what we call a death tax. It's an estate tax to the federal government. And so if you have an estate that size, then you're going to be looking more toward irrevocable trusts when, when they're set up with your estate planner. Because if you don't, then the assets that you leave in that trust could be taxed at the estate level, which is your level for an estate tax, and then it could also be taxed to the individuals that you left it to. So you, you sit down with a very good, knowledgeable estate planner who understands all of that, who can minimize the amount of taxes that are paid upon your death and the transfer of those assets to the beneficiaries. Okay, so the living trust falls under the revocable trust. And so while you're living, you can set up a trust and you can put your assets into that trust. And when you're doing that, it's in anticipation of you becoming incapacitated, possibly, or your death. And so there are certain rules that have to be followed, and those rules also depend upon the individual person. So I try not to give out advice on trust unless that person has come in and sat down with me and we go through their particular facts associated with their life at that time. That is the best way for me to advise them on what type of trust they need.

[Tyra]

Okay, so two questions. You mentioned responsibilities at the beginning of this. What are responsibilities? Like, can you give a couple of examples? And then what if people. I know a lot of a thing that could deter people from setting up an estate plan is the fees that come along with going to an estate planner. Is there anything very basic that they can do on their own?

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

So you asked two questions. I'll answer the second one first about the fees. In answering that question, I'm going to ask the question, how important to you is your peace of mind? People can do anything on their own if they want, but whether or not what they did on their own is going to be honored when it needs to be honored, is the question. So, yes, you can go and create a will on your own, but it doesn't mean that when you pass away, the court is going to honor it. One scenario in Louisiana that could come up is that Louisiana has two types of wills. They have the oleographic will, which is a completely handwritten will. Then they have a notarial will, which is the will that your attorney or notary would prepare for you. An oligraphic will can get thrown out of court because it has to be proven that it is your will. There are certain criteria. It has to say, this is my last will and testament. It has to be completely in your handwriting. It has to be signed by you and things of that nature. It has to have the type of language in it that one would expect in a will. Not perfect, but it has to have donative intent, pretty much where you intended for this to be a will that would become active upon your death and that you would be giving away these things to these different people. Now, Louisiana, I think, is considering trying to get a. They're trying to get away from the oligographic wheel because of those problems. Because when that will is thrown out by the court, then the court follows the state law, which might not be what you intended. So you may intend for Great Aunt Susie to get something in your will, but if your will is holographic and it gets thrown out, then the state law says that it goes to your surviving spouse or your children. So those folk that you wanted to take care of in your will might not necessarily be able to benefit from it. So responsibilities would be, if you have minor children, you want to make sure that you put in place guardians. So if something happens to you while your children are under 18 and you have not named guardians, then the court system is going to determine where your kids go. Especially if no family member steps up and says, I want them, and they advocate for getting them, then they fall into the hands of the state, they become a ward of the state, and then the state may put them into temporary homes. And you don't know what's going to happen to your children, but your children are your responsibility. And that's what I mean. It's up to you to make those decisions early whether or not you do a will and you appoint guardians in that will, who will step in if something happens and take care of your children. Another example of responsibilities could be if you're an entrepreneur and you own a business, what's going to happen to your business if something happens to you? Have you already set up a succession plan so that someone can step in and run your business so that it doesn't have to close once you're gone? So those are two examples of responsibilities that are simple to understand, that we talk about when we talk about estate planning.

[Tyra]

And you should. You should do that at any time, even if nothing is wrong with you. You should just have a plan in place.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

You want to do it when nothing is wrong. Because if you become incapacitated and you cannot make those decisions on your own, then you have to go through the court right now. So in Louisiana, if you become incapacitated, can't make decisions on your own, I have to petition the court to have you declared and interdict. That's Louisiana terminology. Declared and interdict. And then I have to ask the court to appoint me as your curator. You may not want me as your curator. You may want someone else as your curator. So doing it when nothing is wrong with you guarantees that your wishes will be honored. If you can't tell the court what your wishes are, then the court is going to follow its own criteria under Louisiana law. And then the final thing I'll say about that is, if you are incapacitated, let's say you are in a coma, or you suffer from amnesia, or you develop Alzheimer's and so you can't make decisions on your own, then there's nothing that I can do for you directly as an attorney. I can't do a power of attorney because you have to have the capacity. And if you are determined to be incapacitated, then that definitely means you do not have the capacity to make legal decisions for yourself. So you want to do it when you have good frame of mind and you clearly understand the decisions that you're making.

[Tyra]

So, especially in the black community, I know that talking about wheels and talking about death and talking about planning for the future can be a very uncomfortable topic. How do you recommend approaching these types of conversations with older people in your family, or even, like me, like, having this conversation with you? How do you approach that when it can be super uncomfortable, Especially if it's a family that doesn't really see the benefit or doesn't really focus on these types of things in life?

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

So I can answer that question directly from my own experiences. And I would first say you approach that conversation directly, but you also approach it with compassion, understanding that the other person may not receive that question well, because we seem to have this trust factor that comes into play. And so folk may want to know why you're asking, why you want to know. They think that you're trying to cheat them out of something, But I would say approach it directly, approach it with compassion, and give examples. If you know of situations where other families have dealt with what you think your family might deal with if they fail to have a plan, then give those real life examples. Most people will consider that. Now, they may not make a decision the same day that you talk to them, but consider approaching the conversation, you know, whenever you can, the best times that you can, and then hope for the best.

[Tyra]

I don't know why this just popped into my head. But what about, like, people who are older and you realize that they don't have Any sort of life insurance. What is something that can be said, hey, you need to go get a life insurance policy right now. Like can you take out a life insurance policy on like your grandma or something like that? Like how can you help mitigate those types of situations? Because I know like with Grandma Willie Mae, it was an issue with the life insurance there as well when she passed away.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

I think anyone can get life insurance unless they have been considered to be uninsurable. And most times when someone is uninsurable, it's because of really bad health. Then you look toward getting a burial policy. There may not be an opportunity for life insurance for them, but you would look toward getting a burial policy. And I would again approach that conversation directly with them to say, hey, you know, here's what this looks like and eventually we're going to have to. Or someone's going to have to shoulder the responsibility of planning your funeral and actually, you know, burying you. And so what is it that you want to see happen? And do you have anything in place such that that financial burden is not on your family? And I will say this, I have to take the moment to say it. You know, go fund me is not insurance. So we should all be thinking about it. And so the responsible adult will say, I don't want that to fall to my family. They may even say that, you know, my family may not even give me a burial. They may cremate me and then let the funeral home keep the ashes. That's just how it could be at times. Families may not be able to afford to actually pay for those items. But it's always good for each individual to consider what is it that I want to see happen to my remains and how do I go about making sure that I take that burden off of my family's shoulders. So yeah, a burial policy is an alternative. I've seen families where the children pitched in and bought a burial policy for their 65 year old parent whose health has started failing. And by the time the parent did pass, that policy was still in effect because the children were paying for it. And so they were able to go through the funeral and that was just one less thing that they had to deal with while they were grieving the loss of their loved one.

[Tyra]

I think it definitely adds peace of mind for sure. I think I said this a long time ago and he was like, girl, stop. But I said, I want to be cremated and I want my ashes to be spread in the ocean or something like that. I said a long time ago. But ever since, and I told you this ever since. My friend's brother has now passed away, so they are cremating him. And when we were together the other day, she was just like, I don't know if I want to go see him. He's been, you know, in and out of the freezer and stuff. And everybody's telling me that I shouldn't go see him like that. And I was like, what are you talking about? You should go see him? In my mind, I'm thinking, oh, he's been embalmed. He, you know, he's been fixed up. But they don't do that if you are cremating your loved ones. And also you don't get that wake. You don't get that final time of seeing them. So I think that is also a very important thing to consider ahead of time as well. Especially, like, if you die young, if you die unexpectedly and stuff. I think it's so important to have those life insurance policies in place or even a savings account, something, because a lot of people don't really want to get life insurance these days because of all of the stipulations that come with that. Knowing that ahead of time so that people can say goodbye and have that moment with you is also just as important. So I think it does help with peace of mind by making sure, okay, we have to have this policy in place. Like you mentioned, that you have a policy on me and PJ that how.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Much you pay a month?

[Tyra]

$10, something like that is not as expensive as people may think.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Well, yeah, I've had whole life insurance on you and your brother since you were at least 4 and 5 years old. And it's the same policies, and I've actually added additional policies, but across all four policies, it's two for each of you. I only pay $54 a month, which some people would say is a lot, but it's whole life, and it's four policies. And while they're not huge policies, but they are whole life. Which means that once you and your brother do decide to go and get policies of your own, you are automatically insurable because you have the whole life policies. And so that's the good thing about having whole life is that it. It keeps you with the opportunity to add life insurance for yourself. Now, I don't know the limits of how much life insurance that you could possibly get, but I do know that you will never be without life insurance as long as those whole life policies are in effect and you take them over even after I can't pay for them anymore. So that's always a good thing. And as far as the cremation versus a burial, yes, families need closure. And so you don't want to. While you don't want to take that away from them, it is your decision. But if you want that decision honored, then you need to put it in writing. Whether it's in your will, whether or not you have some type of declaration that you type up for the family, indicating that these are my wishes for my final remains, whatever that may be, all of it needs to be in writing. That is the importance of estate planning. It has to be in writing in order for your family to know what your wishes were and to be able to honor those wishes.

[Tyra]

No matter where you are in your journey. It's not too late to start building wealth, protect your peace, or plan your legacy. Here's the truth. Estate planning is more than just legal paperwork. It's a love letter to your family. It is a blueprint for their security once you're gone and a way to honor every sacrifice that you have made in your life. So start small. If you need to be open to a conversation with a trusted advisor, draft a simple will or name a guardian for your kids if you have them. My mama broke it down. Without a will, a trust, or powers of attorney, your hard work could spiral into confusion or even family conflict, which happens more often in our communities than you may think. With a few intentional moves, you can protect your children, your businesses, and your peace of mind and pass down stability that lasts for generations. Legacy isn't just about money. It's about love. It's about intention, and it's about ensuring the people that you care about most are cared for, no matter if you're here or not. So here is your call to action. Start somewhere today. Draft that will set up that trust. Get the life insurance that fits your budget. Have the tough conversations with your loved ones, because having them today is so much easier than trying to have them when you're actually in the midst of a crisis. Trust me, y', all, your future self will thank you. Oh, y', all, you know what time it is. It is time for our fun closing segment. And since we've been talking about some heavier things today, something that is really gonna make you think. I wanted to make the fun closing segment a little lighter. So, mom, today we're playing one. Gotta go. Okay. Are you ready?

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Okay.

[Tyra]

Okay. So what I'm gonna do is give you four options for something, and you gotta say one of them things. Gotta go.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Okay.

[Tyra]

All right. So the first one is round. One is Southern staples, and one of these gotta go. Macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, collard greens, or cornbread. Which one gotta go?

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Look, Ronnie and cheese gotta go. Why you answered that fast?

[Tyra]

Hold on.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Because out of those four options, I would prefer the collard greens with some cornbread, the fried chicken, and what was the other one? The last one was macaroni and cheese. It's only four. Yeah, yeah, but you like macaroni.

[Tyra]

Well, actually, no. I don't see you eating macaroni cheese a lot. I see you eating these other three things a lot more.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Yes, I had. If I had to rank them, macaroni and cheese would be last on my list. If that's all I could have.

[Tyra]

Okay. For me.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

You know what?

[Tyra]

Oh, one gotta go. One gotta go. Tyra, what's gonna go? What's gonna go? What's gonna go? What's gonna go?

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Oh, God, Cornbread.

[Tyra]

No, Ma, I could rub cornbread all over my body. I love cornbread. Anything with corn in it, I absolutely love. So no, cornbread can't go.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Okay, I might have to follow up.

[Tyra]

With you on that and say macaroni and cheese, because collard greens make me feel at home. And it's also a green. It's. It's hearty. It's like. You know what I mean? Like, you got to have something green.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

That's right. You gonna make me go cook some tonight?

[Tyra]

I already Listen, you look. Collard greens and cabbage.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

That.

[Tyra]

With cornbread. That is your go to.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

That's right.

[Tyra]

Oh, my gosh. I'm gonna have to say macaroni and cheese, too. That's crazy.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

I feel so your mother's daughter is. Is.

[Tyra]

Wait, but about the macaroni and cheese, there's always a debate on social media about, like, how macaroni and cheese are fixed. So how do you like your macaroni and cheese? Because I like how to Rhonda make hers. I'm not even gonna lie. I like it like, basically stovetop. We bake it a little bit, but it's not like a macaroni pie. A lot of people like macaroni pie or, like, macaroni casserole where they can.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Just cut a block.

[Tyra]

I don't really like that. I like how Toronto make hers.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Yeah, it's been so long since I had Toronto's, I've forgotten how she makes it. Auntie Gwen makes a good Mac and cheese, but it's with the spaghetti noodles. Yeah. And. And it's not dry. I don't like dry macaroni. If it's dry, don't get of it to me. Don't put it on my plate. But Auntie Gwen makes a pretty good cheese spaghetti. Yes, cheese spaghetti, yes.

[Tyra]

People be like. Because, remember we was arguing at the party because Kieran was like, no, it's spaghetti and cheese, baby. It is cheese spaghetti.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Okay. That's right.

[Tyra]

So if. So if cheese spaghetti was on here instead of macaroni and cheese and I have to get rid of collard greens. I'm not gonna lie.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

I'm still. Yeah, give me my collard greens any day. I can eat collard greens and cornbread. And you don't have to give me anything else.

[Tyra]

Yeah, all of it is so good. Okay, round two. These are church lady essentials. So one gotta go. Big church hats, peppermints or other candies in your purse. The church fan or the white communion gloves.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Which one gotta go? Oh, that one. A little hard because two of them would have to go. But I would say for me, if it were for me, the big church hat would have to go. Why? Because I don't wear hats.

[Tyra]

My head too small for hats.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

I'll suffer through the gloves. But I'm not doing the hat.

[Tyra]

That hat will swallow your little head, Ma.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

It would. Now, when I get a little older, I might, you know, start wearing the church hat. Why start wearing the church lady hat and the church lady suit? You know? You know, 60, 70 years old, I might have to be the church mother. So you gonna be stepping on first Sunday, right? That's right. Gotta get my Little Pony heels. Stop it now. And your stockings and your slip. That's right. Gotta have it all together.

[Tyra]

Oh, for me, I would have to say the white communion gloves gotta go. I mean, I know you need the gloves for communion. Whatever you passing it out, they gotta go. I don't like things on my hands. But also, I can't get rid of the big church because I love a big hat. You know, I love a big hat. Also, peppermints and candy keep us from passing out because long church services in the south, we need some substance before we go and eat Sunday dinner. That's why it's called Sunday dinner, because we don't eat breakfast or lunch because they had church.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

So, Tyra, let me tell you what. So when I sit in the reserve seat where I have to sit when I'm working as a. As a life coach in the service, there is this older lady that comes in every Sunday and she either sits beside me or she sits in front of me. And the first time I met her, she offered me the peppermint. Every Sunday, she come in, she grab a big scoop of peppermint out of her purse and just reach it to me. And she'd be so happy doing it. And I can't say no, even though I already have peppermint in my purse, because if I tell her that, she's still gonna be like, well, just take it, you know? But she comes in with her bag of peppermint, she reach her hand in there and she'll turn around to me with this big old smile on her face, and, you know, you just can't resist. So I'm like, thank you for the peppermint. So it's so wonderful. But yeah, you right. They come in with that peppermint. They do. It'd be the peppermint. It'd be peppermints.

[Tyra]

Or it'd be. Well, used to be butterscotch candies. I didn't got that in church before. And also those strawberries, strawberry candies in.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

The little strawberry paper.

[Tyra]

Yes, and. But you what you be had, ma, you be having mentos, you be having gum, like the. The icebreakers gum.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

You gonna put me out there like that? I might have a little bit of everything in my purse because sometimes I have chocolate in there. I didn't eat breakfast. So when I don't eat breakfast, then I need to have something to keep my sugar levels from dropping. So it just depend. I might have rolos in my.

[Tyra]

Oh, yeah, used to have rolos a lot.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Oh, I used to love when you.

[Tyra]

Had the rolos in there.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Yeah, y. That hilarious. Exactly. So we could. Praise the Lord. That's right.

[Tyra]

Okay, round three. Now this one is more towards our subject today, estate planning. So which one? Gotta go. A purse full of important papers, the four emergencies only credit cards, the fancy pen that you use to sign all of your important documents, or the file folder that's labeled don't lose this.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

The fancy gotta go.

[Tyra]

No hesitation.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Why station? Because it's important to keep those documents. You know, you might need to go get you a fire resistant safe or something to put in your house if you. If that's what you need to do something. But you need to have those important papers and you need to keep them. You can get a pen from anywhere. You don't have to have a certain kind of pen. As long as it's blue or black ink, you good.

[Tyra]

But you be liking your certain pins, though.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

I do, I do. I definitely do. And I keep them close for me.

[Tyra]

I Would say.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

The purse full of.

[Tyra]

Important papers gotta go. And this is why, because normally when you got a purse full of important, something is unorganized. The paper's got spills on them, all types of stuff. It needs to be digitized, and it needs to be put into a filing cabinet or something in a better way. So I think the purse part is what make me say that. Gotta go. The important papers don't have to go, but we need to store those in an organized fashion. So I say that gotta go. Because I love a good fancy pen to sign the documents, because I'm very particular about my pens too. Like, it needs to be the right kind of pen so it glide right on the paper, all of that. So that's the one that got to go for me.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

Yeah. And I. I thought about the purse at first, but then there are some people that they're not ever going to be neat and organized. So getting rid of the purse, you know, might be a problem because then the documents might not ever be seen again. So I'll let them keep their purse full apart. Important paint. Because at least they know where the purse at.

[Tyra]

Yeah, they do be knowing what a purse is at.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

That'll never. Yeah, that's right. That's right.

[Tyra]

Okay, you guys. Well, Ma, I had so much fun chatting with you today. Before we get out of here, let the people know where they can find you. They can find you where? On LinkedIn and on your blog.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

They can find me on LinkedIn. They can also find me on my website, which is andrea morrisonlaw.com I am in the process of rebuilding my website. So if you go out there and it's down, please check back again again soon, because I am upgrading it to make sure that it is accessible to everyone. And daughter, if I may have the liberty of giving a call to action, I would appreciate it in closing. But I would just say to everyone, estate planning is a form of economic resistance and empowerment. It's about reclaiming your right to build, protect, and pass on your wealth, no matter how small or how great. So I would encourage you to start with a will or a trust. I encourage you to get some life insurance that fits in your budget. There's no small amount of life insurance that's inconsequential. It all matters. And I would also encourage you to talk to some professionals who understand your goals in history. But everyone, please start your estate planning today.

[Tyra]

Started today. I was literally, literally, while we were talking, I was like, okay, I need to really make me a list of the things that I need to do and call you and figure out what to do. So, yes, y', all, it's super important, and I think it's a huge act of self care to have all of your affairs in order, no matter where you are in life. But with that being said, again, Ma has so much fun talking to you. If you want to be on the podcast again, let us know if y' all want to see Ma on the show. Wait. If y' all want to see Ma on the show again, let us know. Send us some emails right on our Instagram. Whatever you need to do, right? If you have any questions for her, not pointed questions, because she cannot give legal advice, but if you have any questions about this entire process, shoot them over to us via email and I will give them to her and let her answer the ones that she wants to answer. But if you would like to see her on the show again, please, please, please let us know. Because I had so much fun. But that is all that I have for you guys today. If you are not already subscribed to our YouTube channel there, hit that big red subscribe button down below and make sure notifications are on so you can get all the alerts anytime we post any new episodes. As you guys know, this is video, and we're doing a lot more video episodes, so it's going to be super popping over there on the YouTube channel and you get to see my mama's pretty face in this episode. But yeah, y', all, that's all that I have for you today. Any last, last words for the mom?

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

No, that's it. I. I encourage you to just go out there. You know, keep in mind that our ancestors were denied their right to own property, so we should be honoring them today by protecting what we've built and ensuring that our children don't have to start from zero. That's what I encourage you to do. Yay.

[Tyra]

Well, thank you so much. And that's all I got for you guys. I will see you guys again next week. This is affirmations for black girls.

[Andrea Vanessa Morrison Vance]

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