08/27/2026
Recently, someone contacted me.
Her husband was critically ill and unconscious. While trying to cope with everything happening to her family, she suddenly faced another problem: their finances.
They had a living trust, but she couldn't remember exactly what was in it or who had financial power of attorney. They had also recently purchased an annuity, but she wasn't sure what kind it was. Her husband could no longer answer questions or sign anything.
What would we do if we were in her shoes?
We are already worried, exhausted, frustrated, and heartbroken. Yet we may also have to search through paperwork and emails, trying to figure out what we own, what was signed, who has authority to act, and whom we should call.
Many of us have a trust, insurance, retirement accounts, investments, or annuities. But these documents are usually created at different times over many years. Before we know it, they may be scattered among different drawers, folders, or emails, and even we may not remember where everything is.
Keeping important documents and information organized in a place that our family and we know about and can easily find when needed is an important part of planning too.
**Sometimes the best thing we can do for the people we love isn't just leaving them assets. It's leaving them less confusion and stress when they need us most.**
If this story makes you think about your own situation, and you're not sure where to begin, I'm here to help.
