IF YOU LOVE THEM LEAVE THEM LISTS

By Catherine Rahal and Wendy Moenig

A guide to preparing the essential information your representatives will need when you cannot act for yourself. They are the people who hold your power of attorney, your healthcare and financial proxies, and, upon your death, will be your executor.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Catherine Rahal
• Release date: Jun 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781778198823

Catherine Rahal

Catherine Rahal est née en Allemagne, dans le Berlin ravagé de l'après-guerre. Elle a grandi dans l'est des États-Unis en avant d'accompagner son mari à Montréal en 1982, peu avant son décès prématuré. Tragédie personnelle et catastrophes financières de jeunesse l'ont motivée à travailler sans relâche envue de devenir conseillère financière en 1991, carrière qu'elle a poursuivie jusqu'en 2018. Catherine est une écrivaine réputée. Ses chroniques sur les finances personnelles ont été publiées sur le site web Canoe Money et dans le quotidien The Montreal Gazette. Ses certifications en planification financière pour aînés lui ont permis d'élaborer des méthodes innovantes pour venir en aide aux gens qui, comme nous, atteignent un certain âge . Puisque la retraite n'est pas dans son avenir immédiat, le projet Listes a pris forme peu après qu'elle eut mis fin à sa carrière de conseillère financière. Malgré ce temps libre qu'elle peut désormais consacrer à sa famille, à ses amis et surtout à ses petits-enfants bien-aimés, elle travaille activement sur d'autres projets.

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IF YOU LOVE THEM, LEAVE THEM LISTS!

A Guide to Navigate Difficult Conversations and Organize Your Affairs

All rights reserved

@Catherine Rahal, 2020 (www.catherinerahal.com)

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means (which includes mechanically, electronically, recorded or photocopied), without written permission from the author or publisher. The exception would be in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles or reviews and pages where permission is specifically granted by the author. Permission should be addressed in writing to [e-mail].

1st edition May 2021

2nd edition October 2021

3rd edition July 2022

Published by catherinerahal.com

Cover and Interior Design: Wendy Moenig

Editor: Richard Tardif

Photography: Photos of Wendy Moenig and Catherine Rahal by Robin Andrew, Unposed Photography, Carleton Place, ON

Collaboration: Wendy Moenig

Disclaimer

This book contains the ideas and opinions of its author. The intention of this book is to provide information, helpful content, and motivation to readers about the subjects addressed. Although every precaution has been taken to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein, the author and publisher assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions. The intent of this author is only to offer suggestions to help the reader in the quest for organizing their personal affairs. The author and publisher urge readers to seek professional legal counsel and appropriate expert advice.

No warranties or guarantees are expressed or implied by the author’s choice to include any of the content in this volume. The author shall not be liable for any physical, psychological, emotional, financial, or commercial damages, including, but not limited to, special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. The reader is responsible for their own choices, actions, and results.

ISBN: 978-1-7781988-2-3

Dedication

This book is dedicated to

my sons, Jamal and Hakim, and their late father, Salah-Eddine.

Table of Contents

PART ONE – Why this book?

PART TWO – Attitudes & Feelings

PART THREE – Creating Your Roadmap

People

Paper

Money – Assets

Money – Debts

Digital Footprint

Stuff and Legacy Items

Final Wishes

PART FOUR – A Word About the Lists

People Checklist

Paper Checklist

Money - Assets Checklist

Money - Debts Checklist

Digital Footprint Checklist

Stuff and Legacy Checklist

Final Wishes Checklist

References

A Few Definitions

Acknowledgements/Gratitude

Author Bio

Designer/Collaborator Bio

Introduction

When my husband died in a 1983 commercial airline accident, litigation followed and eventually, a substantial financial settlement. I was young — only 33 — too naive and trusting (not to mention traumatized); I put my faith in the wrong person and lost my proverbial shirt. That was the catalyst for becoming a personal financial advisor in 1991, starting in life insurance and moving quickly into investments. I enjoyed over 25 years of providing advice to people, with the guiding principle that no client of mine should ever have to suffer financially as I did.

I also tried to make easier the difficult conversations we tend to avoid, those involving insurance, disability, old age, and death. It has always surprised me how many people do not want to discuss life insurance or making a will. No one wants to think about mortality, but it comes to us all. Sorting out our wishes in the event of incapacity or death will be a lot easier for our representatives if they have the necessary information at hand.

When we reach a certain age, our conversations are laced with tales of our parents having health and memory issues, caregiver woes, and how, as adult children, we are simultaneously managing childcare and parent care while working full time, handling our own health issues, and more. There is no magic wand to help us manage it all. Many of the decisions we need to make in old age are too often made in crisis mode,