Episode 23 - How Discussing Death Can Enrich Family Relationships with Alyson Jones

In this week's episode of Your Estate Matters, Nicole and guest Steve Parr, founder of Parr Business Law in Vancouver, explore a fresh approach to estate planning. Rather than treating it as a tedious legal chore, they encourage Canadians to view it as a meaningful, values-driven process. Steve shares how starting with personal conversations about family, legacy, and intentions leads to better outcomes than jumping straight to documents. They also tackle common barriers like cost and intimidation, clarify that estate planning isn't just for the wealthy, and explain why professional guidance matters far more than online will kits. -- Follow Steve Parr: https://www.parrbusinesslaw.com/ LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/steveaparr Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxv_AFussiH1f4-TnN7SJRQ

In this episode of Your Estate Matters, Nicole speaks with financial planner Gary Preisser from Stonebriar Wealth Advisors about protecting retirement income through smarter planning. Gary introduces his "Cash Flow Clock" framework, which organizes assets into time-based zones based on when funds will actually be needed. Rather than relying on traditional portfolio allocations, this approach prioritizes liquidity for short-term needs while allowing longer-term funds to grow. The conversation highlights how the timing of market losses can devastate retirement income, and why coordinating financial, tax, and estate planning is essential for building a truly resilient retirement. -- Follow Gary Preisser: Website - https://garypreisser.com/ Stonebriar Wealth Advisors - https://www.stonebriarwealthadvisors.com/team/gary-preisser LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/garypreisser

In this episode of Your Estate Matters, Nicole speaks with Caroline Derksen, founder of End with Care Vancouver, about the growing role of end-of-life doulas. Caroline explains how death doulas provide holistic, non-medical support to families navigating life-limiting diagnoses, medical assistance in dying, and the grieving process. She discusses practical services such as legacy projects, living funerals, and coordinating care, while addressing common misconceptions about the profession. Nicole and Caroline emphasize that truly comprehensive estate planning extends beyond legal documents to include thoughtful, human-centred preparation for the dying process itself. -- Follow Caroline Derksen: Website - https://www.endwithcare.com/ LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/caroline-derksen-05828a2a9 End of Life Doula Association of Canada - https://eoldac.org/ National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) - https://nedalliance.org/

In this episode of Your Estate Matters, host Nicole Garton speaks with Dmitri Vasilounis, a lawyer and trust and estate practitioner at RBC Wealth Management, about the growing importance of digital assets in estate planning. Together, they explore what happens to email accounts, social media profiles, cryptocurrency, and other digital holdings after death or incapacity. Dmitri explains key concepts such as custodial versus non-custodial assets and cryptocurrency storage types, while offering practical advice, including creating a digital asset inventory and using platform tools like Apple's Legacy Contact and Google's Inactive Account Manager to help executors access accounts smoothly. -- Follow Demetre Vasilounis: All About Estates Blog - https://allaboutestates.ca/ STEP Digital Asset Checklist - https://www.step.org/knowledge-hub/inventory-digital-assets-and-digital-devices LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/demetrevasilounis

In this week's episode of Your Estate Matters, Nicole speaks with renowned Canadian tax, trust, and estate lawyer Amanda Doucette (The Tax Chick) about the often-overlooked tax implications of estate planning. Amanda explains how deemed dispositions, RRSP beneficiary designations, probate, and trusts can significantly impact what families ultimately inherit. She cautions against DIY probate strategies, such as adding children to property titles, which can trigger unexpected tax consequences. The conversation also busts common estate planning myths and offers practical advice, reminding Canadians that thoughtful tax planning — not just having a will — is essential to protecting their family's financial future. -- Follow Amanda Doucette: Website - www.thetaxchick.ca The Tax Chick Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-tax-chick-podcast/id1525089244 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tax.chick/ LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/amandasadoucette