As we prepare to welcome in 2012, you may be thinking about a new year's resolution. 

There is a certain something about beginning a new year that reminds us we can start fresh, take care of things we may have ignored for a while.  One of those things might be considering what do have planned for the distant future, not just the next year.

The National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii's website could help with that planning.

"The articles help families understand what giving is about, how to do a planned gift and just - the website, it's a third party...you're not trying to sell or anything, so it gives you some really good basic information,” said Percy Ihara of Generations Magazine.

Seniors and their families can take advantage of the website to help them with their planning.

"And kind of model what they might want to do.  There's the ability to put in their own data and take it to their attorney and work out their estate plan,” said Jeff Sisemoore of the National Kidney Foundation.

Both Sisemoore and Ihara say it is best to do all this when there is NOT a crisis.  And Sisemoore emphasizes that each family is unique.  Some may have more talent with the planning phase than others.

"You can have some children who are excellent with money and they will do one sort of thing and other children perhaps not so good with money and you need to have the conversation as to what you want to do and how you want to do it,” said Sisemoore.

Whether it's planning for long term health care, planned giving to a charity or non-profit, planning for grandkids college education - the most important thing is to have the conversation.

"Sit down, have the talk with our families, your attorney, your advisor, check out their website and 2012 is going to be a better year and I think we just have to have that talk,” said Ihara.