By Tom Monson — Most of us think we have all the time in the world to get our things in order. But if your family had to handle your estate this week, would they know exactly what to do?
Growing up, my big brother Doug was basically ten feet tall and bulletproof. He was the guy who protected me from the neighborhood bullies, taught me how to throw a proper spiral, and generally knew how to handle just about anything life threw at him. To me, he was a real-life superhero.
When you grow up with a brother like that, you sort of just assume they’ll always be around to anchor the family. You certainly don’t expect the day when your phone lights up, the world stops spinning, and you find out he’s suddenly gone.
Losing Doug hit me like a ton of bricks. In those first few hours, all I wanted to do was pull the blinds down, look at some old family photos, and have the space to actually grieve. I wanted to remember his terrible dad jokes and process the fact that my big brother was gone.
Instead, reality knocked on the door. And it wasn’t polite.
You see, Doug was a fantastic guy, but he was also a champion procrastinator when it came to paperwork. He thought he had all the time in the world. Because he hadn’t gotten around to planning ahead, the grand prize of handling his entire estate landed squarely in my lap.
And let me tell you, it was a total circus.
Right when I should have been mourning my brother, I became a full-time detective. I spent days hunting through random desk drawers, old shoe boxes, and stacks of junk mail just trying to find basic documents. I had to sit in quiet offices making massive, expensive decisions with funeral directors while operating on about two hours of sleep. I was playing phone tag with banks, guessing passwords, and trying to piece together a giant puzzle with half the pieces missing.
Every single detail required an answer, a signature, or a checkbook. It felt like trying to run a marathon while wearing a backpack full of rocks, and it happened at the absolute worst possible moment.
Going through that stressful grind taught me a big lesson. Doug didn’t leave a mess because he didn’t care about us. He loved us completely. He just avoided the paperwork because, let’s be honest, nobody wakes up on a sunny Saturday morning and thinks, “Gee, I can’t wait to plan my final arrangements today!” It’s not exactly a fun topic.
But by putting it off, he accidentally left behind a mountain of administrative homework for the people he loved most.
I survived the ordeal, but it changed my perspective forever. Once the dust finally settled, I made a promise to myself: I’m going to do what I can to save other families from having to clear up a chaotic paper trail during a crisis.
I realized that if Doug had just spent 20 minutes filling out a simple, straight-to-the-point roadmap of his wishes, it would have saved me weeks of hair-pulling stress. Our family could have spent that time laughing, sharing stories, and remembering the man he was, instead of arguing with automated customer service lines.
That’s exactly why I’m writing this today. I took all those hard-earned lessons and put together a handy, easy-to-read booklet called The Final Wishes Planning Guide.
It’s completely free, and I promise there is zero boring legal jargon or high-pressure sales talk inside. It’s just a practical, everyday notebook that helps you organize your thoughts, jot down your wishes, and leave a clear set of instructions for your family so they don’t have to play guessing games later.
I can’t go back and fix the paperwork for Doug. But I can help you make sure your spouse, kids, or siblings never have to handle that kind of frantic headache. Don’t be like Doug. Take a quick moment to grab this free guide today, and give your family the ultimate gift of clarity and total peace of mind.
Get Your Free Final Wishes Guide Today
Just drop your details below, and I’ll send this practical, downloadable guide straight to your inbox. (Your information will never be sold.)
By clicking above, you agree to receive automated confirmation and update messages from Tom Monson Insurance at the number provided. Consent is not a condition of purchase.
Disclaimer: This page is an advertisement. The story shared above represents the true, personal experiences of Tom Monson. The information provided in the free guide is for educational and planning purposes only and does not constitute formal legal or financial advice. Privacy Policy | Contact Information