Often, clients wait until they have a final illness to do their planning. One of my widow clients had been diagnosed with cancer and finally decided she needed to get her affairs in order. In situations like this, I prefer to meet with my client and her whole family, and that’s exactly what I did. My client and her family were all lovely people. In light of her illness, we added her trusted child as her Co-Trustee and agent under her Power of Attorney. I also spent considerable time with her and her family reviewing her health care directive.
Once all the documents were signed, we ensured all her assets were placed in her new Trust, and beneficiaries were named on her Retirement Accounts and Life Insurance Policies. I had several conversations with my client and her Trusted Child. Everything was in order.
As my client’s health declined, the family paid a little extra for my assistance with health advocacy. My medical knowledge comes from the school of hard knocks and extensive reading. I have considerable experience with end-of-life and terminal illnesses. I helped the family understand palliative care and guided them in asking the right questions, allowing my client to receive treatment that extended her life without making her sick. When the time came, she had hospice care.
The Trusted Child and the rest of the family are now my clients too; they want the process, when they reach their final days, to go as smoothly as their mom’s did. I have prepared all their documents, and they know their children will one day say, “I’m so glad my mom did all her planning.”
If you want your family to have peace of mind as you travel life’s journey, give me a call.
