Erik Martin Says

Estate planning isn't just a conversation for older generations. So why aren't we talking about it with Gen Z?

In this special episode of Erik Martin Says, we're tackling two topics that shape the future: estate planning and politics.

First, we're talking about why it's never too early to start thinking about estate planning. Wills, inheritance, and planning for the unexpected aren't just concerns for older adults. We're encouraging Gen Z to ask questions, talk to their parents and grandparents, and start learning about the things many families put off discussing.

Then we're shifting gears to voting, civic engagement, and the importance of getting involved in the decisions that affect your future. You don't have to be a political expert to ask questions, learn the facts, and make your voice heard.

It's a conversation about planning ahead, thinking for yourself, and taking an active role in what comes next. Because whether we're talking about your family's future or the future of your community, waiting until later isn't always the best plan.

Two conversations about the future. Because death, taxes, and politics don't wait until you're old enough to care.

Erik Martin Says

Educate. Decide. Execute.

On this episode of Erik Martin Says, Erik gets personal. Like, really personal.

Before he was an attorney talking about wills and trusts and planning for the future, Erik was a kid going through the Texas education system. 

He's watched his own kids go through it. 

And his own wife, a lifelong educator, dedicate her life to it. 

So when Erik talks about education, gets passionate and has a lot to say. 

In this episode, Erik opens up about his own experience with education, what he's watched his wife experience as an educator, and why the future of Texas schools should matter to all of us. 

And then, well....Erik says what he thinks. 

By the end of this conversation, Erik makes his own position on who is best for the future of Texas Education in the 2026 election very clear and encourages you to take a closer look at the candidates, what they stand for, and the issues that matter to you rather than simply voting along party lines. 

You may agree with him, you may not. 

But you'll know exactly what Erik Martin Says. 

Most people think estate planning is something you do later in life...after you've built wealth, had kids, or retired.

But what if that's exactly backwards?

In our very first guest episode, Erik sits down with Hunter Anderson, founder of Man Forged. Hunter is newly married and owns a home he purchased before getting married, making him the perfect person to answer a question many young couples have never considered:

If something happened to you tomorrow, what would happen to your house?

The answer isn't what most Texans expect.

Through a real-life conversation, Erik and Hunter explore why estate planning isn't just for retirees or the wealthy, the misconceptions many young adults have about wills and inheritance, and why waiting to make a plan can leave the people you love with difficult, and sometimes unexpected, legal challenges.

If you're newly married, own a home, or think you're "too young" to need an estate plan, this episode might change your mind.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and if you learned something new, share this episode with someone who thinks estate planning can wait.

What happens when I die?

According to Erik, there are really only two possibilities: your family has a plan, or they don't.

If they have a plan, they know exactly who to call, where important documents are, and what steps to take next. If they don't, they're in for a ride.

In this episode of Erik Martin Says, Erik challenges listeners to think beyond their own mortality and focus on the people they'll leave behind. What would happen in the moments after your death? Would your family know what to do? Would they know who to call? Or would they be left trying to figure it all out while grieving?

Erik and Leslie discuss why they're working to make conversations about death more approachable, share stories from the FWAPL (Fort Worth Association of Professional Landmen) Golf Tournament, and break down the practical realities families face after a loved one passes away.

Topics include:

• What happens immediately after someone dies

• The two paths: having a plan vs. having no plan

• Who your family should call first

• Why planning is really about the people you leave behind

• Making death conversations approachable

• How to reduce stress for your loved ones

• The FWAPL Golf Tournament

The goal isn't to dwell on death—it's to make life a little easier for the people you love most.

Most people don’t think about an estate plan until it’s too late… mostly because it’s kind of a drag.

In this first episode of Erik Martin Says, estate planning attorney Erik Martin sits down with Leslie Downs to talk about the question almost everyone avoids:

What actually happens if you die without a will in Texas? (That is, if you’re lucky enough to be a Texan.)

This isn’t a legal lecture. It’s a real conversation about what families experience when there’s no plan in place: confusion, court involvement, and decisions being made by the state instead of the people you love.

Leslie brings the questions most people are thinking but rarely say out loud: “I don’t even have an estate… do I need a plan?” And Erik breaks down what actually happens based on his real-life experience as an estate planning attorney.

Together, they open the door to conversations most people avoid, but almost everyone needs.

Because it’s not really about death, it’s about what happens to the people you leave behind.