“What-if” Planning Blog
Top 10 Resources and Tips to Keep Your Tribe In the Know: Mastering updates on your loved one’s illness
When a loved one faces a life-altering diagnosis, the burning question on everyone's mind is, 'How can we help?' Discover 10 powerful tips and resources to keep family and friends updated on the journey towards healing.
What He Didn’t Say Before Dying is Breaking our Hearts: Talking about dating and remarriage before one of you dies
Of all the conversations to have with your spouse as you prepare your end-of-life plans and wishes, the topic of remarriage may be the trickiest. And the unfortunate challenge is that you may not know the difficulty of that conversation until one of you faces life without the other.
Caskets or Cauldrons? Unveiling the Quirky World of Final Resting Places
What to do with a body when you or your loved one crosses over to the great beyond? We dive into the age-old debate of burial vs. cremation and explore a few other intriguing options that have popped up in recent years.
Cemetery Selection Guide for Families
If your end-of-life plans involve a burial, cemetery selection can be one of the hardest decision-making processes you go through. There are many factors to consider when choosing the right cemetery for you and/or your loved ones and it can be a stressful process.
Duties of an Executor of a Will
One of the tasks of creating a will is that the creator needs to name an executor and a backup executor. When the subject of the will dies, the executor is charged with making sure that all the wishes of the deceased are carried out properly. Depending on the complexity of the estate and/or how organized the deceased was, the job of an executor can be quick and easy or time-consuming and difficult. This should be a factor when considering whom you ask to play that role.
How Hurricanes Answer the Question, “Should I Have an End-of-Life Plan?”
Tropical storm Hilary hitting California is a reminder that disasters can strike anywhere at any time. It should also serve as motivation to have our affairs in order through end-of-life planning to protect family members from unnecessary hardships when an accident or illness impacts your family.
What is the Difference Between Palliative Care and Hospice?
What is the difference between palliative care and hospice? These two terms are often misunderstood and used interchangeably. In this week’s blog we describe the difference as they may come up when you complete your advanced directive and living will.
How Do You Explain Death to Children?
Explaining death to children is a difficult, but important, task. In this week’s blog post we’ve included links to articles written by professionals who offer great advice and counsel about how to talk to kids about death and prepare them for loss, as well as how to support children who are grieving now.
The Great Family Council
One of the most important steps in end-of-life planning is to communicate your wishes with the family. Sharing your plans helps ensure that they are conducted according to your desires and helps eliminate family squabbles over post-mortem activities.
The Gift That Keeps on Giving: Life Insurance for Young Couples and Individuals
While you may not find life insurance on many wedding or baby shower registries, gifting a new policy to a young couple or individual is a terrific way to protect their family’s future.
Living Trusts versus Wills
Wills and trusts are two legal documents that are used in end-of-life planning. In some cases, both may be needed to properly get your affairs in order. In other situations, one or the other may suffice and/or be advantageous over the other. While the goals of each are similar, how the goals are accomplished through each of these legal instruments is different.
Comforting the Grieving
Whether intentional or not, hurtful and offensive comments are a part of life. Widows and widowers are especially vulnerable to well-meaning, but painful comments of others.