If you’re talking to somebody over drinks, and you want them to do a spit-take, ask them this:
“So… how are you preparing for the day you die?”
Disclaimer: We’re joking. Please don’t actually do this with anyone. Except maybe your closest friend. Or, to be safe, just don’t do this with anyone, period.
The fact is, out of the two inevitable things in life – death and taxes – we love to complain about the latter… but almost never talk about the former.
But we should.
Dying is the one thing we are going to do, sooner or later. And thanks to our technologically advanced, globalized interconnected world, passing away has become surprisingly messy and complicated.
Well, not for you. For your loved ones.
When you’re gone, they will be facing a Herculean task: getting your estate in order, piece by piece. Gone are the days when you could haul a couple of file boxes down from the attic, dust them off (while coughing violently, one assumes), and be done with it.
Today’s deceased leave a messy legacy of paper files, digital documents, and all sorts of other records – scattered everywhere, resisting even the most valiant attempts to bring a measure of order to their unmitigated chaos.
Do you want your loved ones to go through the same ordeal when you die? On top of all the grief, heartbreak, and tears?
Of course you don’t.
So, while none of us like to think about death while we’re still alive, it’s useful to make things a little easier for your family when you do pass away. It’s just common decency, really.
But it’s hard to find good information on end-of-life planning. Which is understandable – talking about death is such a downer.
However, this week on the Get Genius podcast we have invited the one person who can make end of life planning sound interesting – and, dare we say, exciting?
Dear listeners, we want you to meet Jon Braddock – entrepreneur, author, speaker and the founder and CEO of My Life and Wishes.
My Life and Wishes is an education and digital planning platform with a mission to help at least one million families become “thoughtfully prepared” for the inevitable: their own death.
A former retirement planner, Jon has become the “Howard Stern” of death, making it entertaining and educational to audiences around the country.
He was featured on MSNBC. Jon is also a regular contributor to Success.com, Inc.com, and Business Insider. He is the author of a number of books, such as “Advisor or Vendor,” “RetireEase,” and the “My Life and Wishes Organizer.”
His most recent work, “Click Here When I Die,” is an Amazon Best Seller.
In this episode, Jon talks about the most important things you need to know about end-of-life planning, and how to start preparing successfully.
We would tell you who might benefit from today’s episode the most, but… it’s for everyone, really. Unless you’re going to live forever, you don’t want to miss this week’s interview!
So without further ado, please enjoy this conversation between Summer and Jon – and don’t forget to head down to the show notes and download Jon’s free ebook, “10 Things You Need to Know About End of Life Planning.”
Enjoy!
Here’s what you will learn:
[00:15] Introducing Jon
[05:40] “The final problem” we are all going to face… but never discuss
[10:28] Jon’s background
[16:62] Why people don’t prepare for death
[23:44] Jon’s mission
[25:05] What “Death Etiquette” means, and why it’s more relevant now than ever
[30:30] How to better prepare for your end of time and make it easier on your loved ones
[34:14] The first steps to preparing for your inevitable death
[44:00] Where to find Jon’s book
Resources from Jon:
“10 Things You Need to Know About End of Life Planning” – Download Jon’s free ebook
“Click Here When I Die” – Get Jon’s book on Amazon