There are things in life that are hard to talk about; things we’d rather not think about. One of them is our own mortality and what happens to our stuff after we’re gone. The truth is, taking the time to plan for that moment may be one of the most meaningful gifts we can leave behind for the people we love.
The Story That Stuck With Me
I once had a senior executive client that was almost straight from Central Casting: powerful, sharp, always in control. He took care of every financial detail in his household.
Then one day, he had a stroke. Not long after that, he passed away. His widow came to me asking for help. I asked her basic questions:
“What income do you have coming in?”
“How much is in your other accounts?”
“What are your expenses?”
She didn’t know a single answer. Not because she wasn’t smart and capable, but because she had been left completely in the dark. Her husband had always handled the finances. So, when he passed, she had no roadmap. We were left going through the files, waiting for the mail to show up, trying to piece together the financial picture one envelope at a time.
That experience stuck with me. I worked with her for decades after he passed, but I never forgot that moment. Sadly, her story isn’t a unique one. It’s what led me to write Before I Go.
Why I Wrote This Book
I wanted to give people something that would make it easier for their families when the time comes. This book and accompanying workbook are a way to organize the information that truly matters so that their loved ones aren’t scrambling to figure out the financial picture.
Before I Go is designed to help you think through what needs to be in place before you’re no longer here. Not in a somber way, but in a practical, loving, intentional way. It’s not a replacement for estate planning documents, but a practical addendum that covers things that wills and trusts don’t.
What It Includes
The book actually comes in two parts:
The book is a narrative explaining why this matters and what to consider.
The workbook is the hands-on part. It walks you through each chapter, step-by-step, with space to write everything down.
It covers things like:
Wills and Trusts
Where your money is kept and who to contact there
What income your spouse will have after you’re gone
How to get in touch with Social Security or your pension provider
Where your important documents are stored
And maybe most importantly, these days, your passwords for key accounts
You’d be surprised how many people haven’t shared that kind of information, but with so much financial data now digital, not having access can cause extreme stress in an already difficult time.
Here’s something most people don’t realize, when a spouse dies, the income usually drops, especially if they were the primary earner through Social Security or a pension. Doing this kind of work, and doing it thoroughly, is a real act of love that we can offer the people we leave behind.
If You’re Wondering Where to Start
Start by asking yourself: “If something happened to me tomorrow, would the people I care about know what to do?”
It was the inspiration behind the creation of the book, and more valuably, the work we do with our clients. It goes beyond investments, getting a complete view of your retirement income and financial situation so that if something happens to either spouse, you have a team in place to walk you through what you have and what you can do. We want to do our best to help our clients avoid a similar situation as the one illustrated above, feeling alone and unsure of where to begin after losing someone they love.
If this resonates with you, we’re happy to help however we can. Let’s make things easier for the people we care about, before we go.