Resources
Practical, honest guidance on the decisions most people avoid — written by a financial planning professional.
Most people choose their executor the same way they choose who sits at the head of the table at Thanksgiving — by default, by birth order, or because it would feel awkward not to. Here's what the role actually requires, and how to evaluate candidates the right way.
Read the guide →Why the default choice is often the wrong one — and what qualities actually matter.
The hidden conflict of interest most people never think about.
It's not too late to reconsider — here's what to look for.
Birth order isn't a job description — how to think it through instead.
There's no rule that says it has to be a relative — here's how to think it through.
Trust and timing are two different questions — how to think about both.
The fairness instinct doesn't always match what the role actually requires.
You have more options than it might seem — including some you may not have considered.
It feels simpler — but it carries risks most people don't consider.
Most people assume their family would figure it out. Here's how to actually check.
Knowing where something is yourself is different from someone else being able to find it.
Equal isn't always the same as fair — how to think it through with clarity.
They do different jobs — here's the difference that actually matters.
Scripts and strategies for one of the most uncomfortable conversations in estate planning.
What to say, what to share, and why this conversation matters.
A guide to the conversation most people avoid — and why having it changes everything.
A plain-language guide to what the role involves and how to prepare.
The questions worth asking before you say yes.
The real timeline — and what it means for who you choose.
Two roles that are often confused — and why the distinction matters.
They operate at different times and serve different purposes.
Why naming a backup is one of the most overlooked steps.
Yes — and it's simpler than most people think.
How compensation works — and whether it should affect your choice.
They do different jobs — here's the difference that actually matters.
One of the most avoided conversations in family life — and how to start it.
Why staying silent costs more than having the conversation.
An outdated plan doesn't fail loudly — here's how to know when to look again.
It's not about how much you have — it's about who's affected.
Passwords, photos, and online accounts rarely make it into a traditional plan.
The people you consider family and your legal heirs aren't always the same list.
Secrecy doesn't prevent conflict — it just postpones it.
Secrecy doesn't prevent conflict — it just postpones it.
An inheritance is a gift, not an obligation — here's what actually matters.
Expectations build quietly, even without a word ever being said.
Without a plan, a legal formula decides — not you.
Recognizing sacrifice and creating resentment aren't opposites.
Legally, yes — but the decision still deserves an explanation.
Legally, yes — but the decision still deserves an explanation.
Having documents isn't the same as being ready.
Sharing your reasoning matters more than sharing a number.
A will says who gets what. A letter can say why.
Avoidance is usually about what the conversation represents.
Loving someone and trusting them with money aren't the same thing.
Naming a POA is only half the decision.
One takes effect immediately. The other only activates when needed.
Naming a healthcare proxy is only the start.
Most people have never actually sat with this question.
An easy detail to overlook, and an easy one to fix.
A broad, valid POA still can't manage these payments.
Settling an estate and navigating a locked phone are different skills.
Deciding who's informed and who decides are two different questions.
Worth deciding on purpose, not defaulting into.
A will alone doesn't skip probate — here's what actually does.
Nothing happens automatically — here's what to actually decide.