When you pass, do you want your children to receive your investments and money? How about a religious organization? Your college alma mater? For this to happen, your instructions must be clear and in writing.

Some people avoid the conversation [about death] because they feel intimidated by their complex family situations. Some can feel quite overwhelmed by trying to identify all of their assets (both financial and items of personal importance) and liabilities.

-Foundation for Financial Wellness

Video Transcript:

All of us have a different reaction when it comes to talking about “The Big Inevitable.” Here are some of the more common reasons that we hear from people for why they prefer not to talk about the subject at all.

• They feel unsettled by addressing the topic of death. That’s understandable.
• They may think that their children or family members just want their hands on their money and wouldn’t be interested in a deeper conversation.
• Some still feel that money is supposed to be this taboo topic or a secret that is kept from other family members.
• Still others have a perception that only wealthy people have a need for estate planning.

Dysfunctional may very well be the new normal. However, some people avoid the conversation because they feel intimidated by their complex family situations. Some people can sometimes feel quite overwhelmed by trying to identify all of their assets (both financial and items of personal importance) and then also liabilities.

But we have got to get over this. We call it head-trash, and we’ve got to build a plan that leaves a legacy rather than a burden to those who we love.

So a quick review on this topic for you to decide again any decisions to make or actions to take.

Have you thought through your eventual estate, final wishes, funeral, where all your legal, tax and financial documents are located and if your loved ones can make any sense of it without you there? There is so much behind this topic, but don’t let it overwhelm you. Just get started. Start sketching out what you want from your legacy, who you want to know and how best to inform them. We’ll keep going from this point deeper and deeper, but for now, just get the ball rolling.

As always, don’t forget to take advantage of your private counseling session. This is a really popular topic. They’re included. They’re private. They’re confidential, and it’s always with one of our Certified Financial Wellness Counselors. To schedule that counseling session, simply click on the “Request Counseling” button.