Fellas, I have something important to discuss with you. Its a tough topic and its hard to hear but I'm gonna toss it up there anyway because you need to think about this stuff.<br /><br />My grandfather will go to Heaven this afternoon. He is 90 and had a good, rich life. He never had much money but he did have a good wife, four great kids (buried one of them), and a marriage that lasted 64 years. He served his country in the Big War and went on to an additional 35 years of work in the Pentagon. He went to church on Sunday and taught his kids and grandkids respect, manners, and faith. He held his only great-grandchild last night for the last time (see my profile). The last intelligible words I heard him say were "thats a beautiful baby. she looks like me".<br /><br />The family has been through a lot over the past month or two and I have learned some important lessons that I want to share:<br /><br />Because my granddad wasn't getting older and was "fine...so mind your own business", he didn't get his affairs in order. He didn't make plans. He didn't get his money straight. He didn't speak with a lawyer. He didn't talk to his banker. He didn't grant power of attorney. He didn't tell anyone where his money is or how to get to it (cause its HIS, mind you). As a result, my grandmother knows absolutely nothing except where the checkbook is (there's about $2,500 in there). We have big bills to pay and can't figure out where the heck his assets are hidden. I actually found a stock certificate worth $10,000 last night, searching through some boxes in the basement. That's scarry. I put a lot of thought into this next statement and I hope you'll think about it some:<br /><br />"Getting older is a painful and an oftentimes challenging process but it is a change that is ordained by God and it will happen with or without your consent. Men, get your business in order before you are unable to formulate a plan on your own and it falls to someone else. Identify somebody you trust who is substantially younger than you are and grant them power of attorney. Sign your advance medical directives so that your children are not forced to guess what your wishes are if you should lose consciousness. Make your own funeral arrangements and pay for them. Funerals cost a minimum of $5,000 and often run north of $10,000. This money will be spent one way or the other. Perhaps it will be spent by your children who are struggling to pay mortgages and tuitions or by your spouse who is on a tiny fixed income...but this money will be spent by someone for your funeral. It ought to be you. Consolidate your finances into a single checking account and a single investment account. Have your attorney, child, or advisor added to the account. Speak to a financial counselor about good estate planning and management practices. List every account, utility bill, and asset you have along with associated account numbers and contact information. Put this list it in a safe place and let family members know where it is. Pay your insurance premiums and other recurring items a month or two into the future so that your family doesn't have to race around at the last minute trying to keep the electricity turned on. Identify heirlooms, toys (boats 
), and vehicles that you wish to give away. List them on a piece of paper and sign the bottom. Dispose of junk and unused items that you don't need anymore. Somebody will have to clean out your closets and garage. It should be you while you're still perfectly capable. At the time of your passing, your family will be in great pain. It is your responsibility to be a good steward and leader of your family. Planning for our return home is an important part of this responsibility and it is incumbent upon us to get it straight. We get to choose neither the terms nor the timing of our departure from this life. Our children, grandchildren, friends, and wifes will greive our passing to be sure...but the suffering will be much, much worse if our our affairs are not organized ahead of time. In removing this burden, we commit one of the greatest possible last acts of love."<br /><br />amt<br />12/13/2002
), and vehicles that you wish to give away. List them on a piece of paper and sign the bottom. Dispose of junk and unused items that you don't need anymore. Somebody will have to clean out your closets and garage. It should be you while you're still perfectly capable. At the time of your passing, your family will be in great pain. It is your responsibility to be a good steward and leader of your family. Planning for our return home is an important part of this responsibility and it is incumbent upon us to get it straight. We get to choose neither the terms nor the timing of our departure from this life. Our children, grandchildren, friends, and wifes will greive our passing to be sure...but the suffering will be much, much worse if our our affairs are not organized ahead of time. In removing this burden, we commit one of the greatest possible last acts of love."<br /><br />amt<br />12/13/2002
