How it started
In the fall of 1999, shortly after my first child was born, my father named me as the executor of his estate. Along with this designation, he handed me the first edition of his “Estate Information Dossier.” At that time, I was nearly five years into my career as a financial planner, beginning to take an interest in estate planning for our clients. My father’s dossier made a significant impact on me. It offered insight into the responsibilities I would eventually inherit and highlighted the generous nature of his act. We often distributed blank estate organizers to our clients, who seldom returned them, presumably overwhelmed by the task.
That same year, I had my first will drafted, receiving a similar document from our lawyer with the advice, “You should fill this in. It’s information your executor will need.” Inspired by my father’s example, I set out to complete the document for my future executor. Yet, after answering only the initial pages and skipping many that seemed irrelevant, I quickly lost interest and set it aside for “later.” A decade later, I discovered it in my filing cabinet, still empty. This experience helped me understand why our clients struggled to complete their organizers.
In 2020, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, we lost my father. It became my duty to fulfill his final wishes. Over the years, I had received updates to his “Death Dossier,” but as his illness worsened, these updates became infrequent. By the time of his passing, nearly a decade had passed since the last update. Although much of the information had become outdated, the dossier still contained more guidance than many executors receive, a testament to his foresight and care
Our vision
Inheriting my father’s legacy of generosity, I compiled the “5 Ways Estate Organizer.” This tool is designed to leave a thoughtful legacy for those executing your final wishes. What sets the “Death Dossier” apart?
- Tailored for individual families, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach
- Rewards engagement, providing motivation for completing the task
- Balances conciseness with detail, focusing on essential information
- Cross-platform and secure, allowing completion at your convenience
- Accommodates interruptions, enabling you to resume where you left off
- Persistently encourages completion, much like a personal trainer
Our commitment
Our platform offers the necessary tools for document completion, ensuring the process involves more than just a one-time effort. We emphasize the importance of full engagement from all parties, supported by one-on-one coaching throughout.
Our coaches boast:
- Extensive industry experience (I have 29 years as a planner).
- Certifications as Financial Planners, Executor Advisors, and Professional Consultants on Aging.
It’s important to note that our service does not provide estate planning advice but rather captures a current snapshot of your estate based on your input. This exercise aims to facilitate better discussions with your advisors, potentially revealing previously unexplored areas. We defer to your professional advisors, assisting both you and them in achieving your goals.
