End of Life Planning

After some significant events this past year, I realized that I have seriously neglected one of the most important responsibilities I have to my family – estate planning. Over the years, I’ve created a rough draft of my will, gathered a few documents, and designated…

Preparing for the opportunities of life’s second half is an empowering process. Whether it’s working with an attorney to draw up legal documents, sitting down with a financial advisor to calculate retirement expenses, or connecting with a healthcare…

Joan and Stanley went to visit their financial adviser, with the express intent of getting all their financial questions answered. Headed towards their late 70s, and facing a possible further two decades (or maybe more), they were concerned…

Are you a list maker? Or do you use them to help you move forward and stay organized? One of the most common To Dos on our “list” as we get older, whether it is written down or in our head, is the matter of taking action on the most procrastinated…

I heard an expression the other day that stopped me in my tracks. It had the ring of a famous saying, although that turned out not to be the case. But more importantly, it had some real profundity. It said, simply, “Life ends in the middle of a sentence…

In moments of grief and solemnity, attending a funeral is a sad and respectful occasion where we come together to pay our final respects to a departed loved one. During these moments, it is essential to convey a sense of reverence…

This week I was faced with the task of filling out an Advanced Directive document. It’s the paperwork that lets others know how I want to die. Do I want to be resuscitated? Well… that depends… However, the questions do not include case scenarios…

Do you know what happens if you fail to plan, and you become unable to make decisions for yourself? If you don’t have a valid Health Care Proxy or Durable Power of Attorney document, you may find yourself subject to a Guardianship or Conservatorship…

“Death Over Dinner” is actually a non-profit, global “movement” started in 2013 that encourages people to gather over dinner and talk about what we want to happen when we die, which as their website says, is the most important and costly conversation…

When I shared the first draft of my financial checklist book with a publisher years ago, his reaction surprised me. “This is a ‘honey, I love you’ book!” he said. “I am going to get this book for my wife for Valentine’s Day and tell her that my gift will be…