Most people spend decades planning their finances — and almost no time planning for the end of life. In this episode, Richard introduces the Dying to Know programme: what it covers, why it matters, and why avoiding this conversation could leave your family in an impossible situation.
What is the Dying to Know programme?
The Dying to Know workshops are practical planning sessions focused on the last five to ten years of life. That might sound uncomfortable — and that’s exactly why Richard created them. The conversations most people put off indefinitely are the same ones that, left unaddressed, cause enormous financial, legal, and emotional damage to the people left behind.
These aren’t sessions about grief or loss. They’re about getting your affairs in order — practically, financially, and legally — so that the people who love you can actually help when it matters most.
Who is it for?
The programme is designed for three groups of people:
- You’re at an age where end-of-life planning feels relevant, and you want to be prepared
- You have elderly parents and want to understand how to support them practically and financially
- Someone in your life has a terminal illness and you want to know how to actually help them — not just emotionally, but logistically
That last point is something Richard is experiencing personally right now. A close friend is currently dying of cancer. And as he explains in this episode, there is a world of difference between supporting someone with a broken leg or a bout of illness, and supporting someone in the final stages of a terminal condition. The level of care, the legal requirements, the emotional weight — it’s an entirely different challenge, and most people are completely unprepared for it.
What does “being half dead” mean — and why does it matter?
Richard uses the phrase “half dead” to describe the stage when someone has a terminal diagnosis but is still living — potentially for months or even years. This is one of the most critical and overlooked windows in end-of-life planning.
During this time, specific things need to be in place: powers of attorney, care arrangements, estate documents, and clear communication between family members and next of kin. Without these, even the most well-meaning friends and relatives can find themselves unable to make decisions, access accounts, or provide the level of support their loved one needs.
The Dying to Know programme walks you through exactly what needs to happen — and when — so nothing is left to chance.
What the workshops cover
- Estate planning essentials — wills, trusts, and what happens if nothing is in place
- Power of attorney — when you need it, how to set it up, and why waiting is a risk
- Care options for elderly relatives — what’s available, how it’s funded, and how to plan ahead
- Supporting someone through terminal illness — the practical and legal steps that make it possible
- End-of-life financial planning — ensuring assets go where they’re intended, with minimal friction for your family
Why people avoid this — and why that’s a mistake
Richard is direct about why most people never have these conversations: it feels morbid. No one wants to think about their own death, or the death of someone they love. But as he puts it — we are all dying. That’s not pessimism. That’s life.
The practical optimist’s view is this: the discomfort of planning is tiny compared to the chaos of not planning. Every year that passes without a will, without a power of attorney, without a clear picture of your assets and wishes, is a year of unnecessary risk for your family.
This isn’t negative thinking. It’s one of the most caring things you can do for the people around you.
How to get involved
Richard is running short online lunchtime sessions over the coming months — practical, no-nonsense introductions to end-of-life planning, designed to get you started without the overwhelm.
Whether you’re planning for yourself, supporting an elderly parent, or helping a friend through a terminal diagnosis, these sessions will give you a clear picture of what needs to be in place and how to make it happen.
Find out more and book your place at Dying to Know Lunchtime Sessions — and while you’re there, head over to the Money Trainers Substack for the full essay on the new economy and what it means for the under-40s.
Richard runs Money Trainers, offering financial education, planning workshops, and the Dying to Know programme. New podcast episodes are released monthly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.