In this episode of the Money Trainers podcast, the focus is on Dying to Know and why planning for the end of life cannot be left on autopilot.
Traditionally, the Dying to Know workshops are aimed at people who may be five to ten years from the end of life. They cover the practical foundations that need to be in place early. Wills. Estate planning. Trusts. Powers of attorney. Alongside the paperwork, they also deal with the human side of things. Wishes. Rehearsals. Conversations families tend to avoid.
Because most people assume there is plenty of time.
There usually is. Until there isn’t.
One recurring issue that shows up again and again in probate work is outdated or poorly reviewed wills. Documents written decades ago. Executors who have died. Beneficiaries who no longer exist. Solicitors and advisers who disappeared years earlier. All left untouched because reviewing a will feels uncomfortable and easy to postpone.
The cost of that delay is rarely paid by the person who wrote the will.
It lands on the executors. Often their adult children.
To help address this, a practical wills tip sheet has been created as part of the Dying to Know programme. It acts as a simple checklist. Is the will signed correctly? Are the beneficiaries still alive? Does the charity still exist? Are the executors appropriate? Where is the document actually stored?
This is not theory. These missing details are what turn straightforward estates into long, stressful messes.
The podcast also introduces the idea of rehearsal. Sitting down as a family and walking through what would actually happen if someone died tomorrow. Where is the paperwork? Who knows the passwords? Is there a funeral plan? What is missing?
The aim is not to be morbid.
It is to remove uncertainty while there is still time to fix it.
The Dying to Know approach is about facing reality calmly, reducing burden on family members, and making sure the basics are in place before they are needed.
The Wills Tip Sheet is currently available free of charge.
You can download it from the Shop section using the voucher code provided.
It is a PDF checklist designed to help you review what exists and spot what is missing.
Updates are sent only when the document changes.
No spam. No nonsense.
Visit MoneyTrainers.co.uk/store to download the guide.
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