At a recent personal financial planning conference attended by our team, one session focused on a topic that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves: end-of-life “health.”
This isn’t health in the medical sense, but rather the overall preparedness of your personal, legal, and financial affairs, so that your wishes are clear and your loved ones aren’t left navigating uncertainty during an already difficult time.
While this type of planning can feel uncomfortable to think about, the reality is that addressing these items early is one of the most thoughtful things you can do for yourself and your family.
We hope this blog can serve as a practical guide to help you start a conversation and take meaningful steps forward.
Make Your Wishes Known with Advance Directives
An advance directive outlines your preferences for medical care if you’re unable to make decisions for yourself.
This may include a living will and a healthcare power of attorney. Without these documents in place, loved ones may be forced to make difficult decisions without guidance – or the courts may step in.
Review your advance directives regularly to ensure they still reflect your wishes, especially after major life changes, such as marriage, divorce, or a significant health event.
An Updated Will Is Essential
A will is the foundation of any estate plan.
It specifies how your assets should be distributed, who will serve as executor, and who will care for minor children (if applicable). Outdated wills are surprisingly common, and can create confusion or unintended outcomes.
If your will hasn’t been reviewed in several years, or if your family or financial situation has changed, it’s worth revisiting now rather than later.
Funeral and Burial Preferences
While it may feel uncomfortable, documenting funeral or memorial preferences can be a gift to those you leave behind. Whether you prefer burial or cremation, a traditional service or something more private, having these decisions made in advance can relieve loved ones of guesswork and emotional pressure.
Review Financial and Estate Plans
End-of-life health also includes reviewing your broader financial and estate plan. This means understanding how assets will transfer, whether estate taxes may be a concern, and how liquidity needs will be handled, among other issues. Coordinating your financial accounts, insurance policies, and estate documents helps ensure everything works together as intended.
Review Titling and Beneficiaries
One of the most overlooked, but important, steps of end-of-life planning is reviewing account titling and beneficiary designations. Retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and certain investment accounts pass via beneficiary designation, not via your will. Outdated beneficiaries can override even the most carefully written estate plan, so reviewing these regularly ensures assets go where you intend them to, and helps avoid delays or disputes.
Keep Records of Passwords
In today’s digital world, access to online accounts is critical. Maintaining a secure record of passwords, account locations, and other digital assets allows trusted individuals to manage affairs efficiently. These records should be kept securely and updated regularly, and you should let a trusted person know where to find them.
“Death Cleaning” to Lighten the Load
Popularised in a book by Swedish author Margareta Magnusson and often referred to as “death cleaning,” döstädning is a historical end-of-life practice in Sweden referring to the process of decluttering and organizing personal belongings over time. While it may sound morbid, it’s about easing the burden on loved ones and deciding what matters most to you. This can be as simple as purging old paperwork, organizing storage areas, or labeling items of sentimental value. Many people find this process surprisingly freeing.
Planning Ahead: An Act of Care
The bottom line is that end-of-life health planning is an act of care to your loved ones. It isn’t something to do all at once, and it doesn’t require perfection. Even taking a few steps – updating a will, reviewing beneficiaries, or starting a conversation – can make a meaningful difference.
At Angolano & Company, we believe that thoughtful planning is about clarity, intention, and supporting the people who matter most to you.
If you’d like help reviewing your financial estate plan, beneficiary designations, or overall financial picture, our team is here to help guide you through the process with care.