@BobKamman 

Favorite client (I mainly interacted with her but not as much the last two years) went against my advice re: drawing down retirement funds, taking a HELOC out on primary home to do major remodel on  2nd home.  

Fast forward to early February 2024; husband comes into the office.  She died three days before from the recurrence of breast cancer and had been battling it for the last two years.  She didn't want 'anyone' to know.  Remodeling that 2nd home in the Wine County, where she wanted to die and did die, with the help of hospice, was important to her.

So yep, the back story is important.  It's not always about the taxes....