#7: Making your last wishes - Four things to take care of before you die (or become incapacitated).

Benjamin Franklin famously said, “it’s impossible to be sure of anything except death and taxes.”  Or maybe you have heard this profound statement, “from the moment we are born, we begin to die”.  Yes I know, sounds pretty gloomy, but there’s no getting around the fact that the subject of death elicits a lot of emotion.  If you’ve heard me speak or read my book; The Black Belt Investor, you know that emotions and money do not make for a great combination; well emotions, money and death can be a toxic cocktail.

Todays podcast will help you prepare for the inevitable and make life a lot easier for you and your heirs.

I’ve enlisted the expert advice of Marissa Lydynia.  She provides estate, trust and incapacity planning services to Quebec-based clients of Raymond James. She also manages several accounts for which Raymond James is appointed as liquidator, trustee, mandatary and power of attorney. Additionally, she offers support services to individuals appointed in such capacities.

Marissa uses a practical but sensitive approach to handling all trust- and estate-related matters, as she understands the emotional toll these topics can have on clients and their loved ones. She uses her in-depth knowledge of trust, estate and tax law to provide financial advisors and their clients with services tailored to their specific needs.

Prior to joining Raymond James, Marissa worked for almost 10 years in private practice at a well-known Montreal law firm where she specialized in wills and estate law. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Montreal.

For many years, Marissa was the co-chair of the Lord Reading Law Society’s Young Bar Committee, and she continues to sit on its board. She is also involved with various charitable organizations in Montreal.

Marissa enjoys volunteering in the community where she works and lives. She sits on the governing board of her sons’ school,  and serves on several committees that offer opportunities to parents of young children to engage with each other and the community.

Marissa's key points on preparing your estate include:

• Making sure your documents are up to date. [04:02]
• Choosing the right person to act as your mandatary and/or liquidator. [13:12]
• Ensuring your medical wishes are known to your family. [21:09]
• Keeping a central location for all your documents. [25:46]

Thank you for listening

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Do not hesitate to contact us at mary.hagerman@rymondjames.ca