The Red File: A Plan for the End, a Gift for the Living 

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about choosing your burial place, a somewhat morbid yet necessary question to ask yourself. In doing so, you not only choose your final resting place, but you also take a step toward continuing your story and preserving your legacy.

This week, I want to share an important checklist I created that serves as a roadmap for your loved ones after you are gone: “The Red File.” I recently went on The Tamarind Learning Podcast with host Kirby Rosplock and discussed this more in depth. I will link it below so you can listen.

After almost 50 years of drafting elaborate estate plans, I realized something was missing. I would see clients pass away or become incapacitated and watch their loved ones have to navigate so many unknowns. While their legal documents provided important information, there was still so much unsaid.

So, I decided to come up with a roadmap, otherwise known as The Red File, and I sectioned it out into four segments:

1. Personal Information- This includes details about you and your family members, such as legal documents, insurance information, medical history, and funeral and burial preferences.
2. Business Continuity Plan- For business owners, this section outlines what should happen with the business the day you are no longer there to run it. Who will take over? What immediate steps need to be taken?
3. Planning for your Incapacity- What happens if your cognitive ability is lost? This section outlines how you would like your care to look if that happens—from who you’d like to care for you to the foods you enjoy (or hate). These preferences help ensure you receive the care you want and relieve your family from guessing your wishes.
4. Legacy Plan- This section is about your family history, stories, and culture. Where is your family from? What are your family traditions and rituals? What makes your family unique? I urge you to handwrite a legacy letter, a love letter to future generations that communicates your values, memories, and the wisdom you have gathered along the way. It’s a way to ensure your voice continues long after you’re gone.

Thorough estate plans satisfying all the legal requirements are crucial, but so is having a roadmap for your final wishes. Life is precious, and leaving this world is just as significant as entering it. By putting your wishes in writing, you’ll leave this life with peace of mind knowing your story has been shared, your heritage preserved, and your loved ones are fully informed about your wishes for your final days. You’ll also give your family the gift of grieving without the burden of making difficult decisions and wondering if they got them right.

I encourage you to click this link to access The Red File and use it as your roadmap, so your loved ones will have the guidance they need and your story and legacy can live on for generations to come. 

Marvin E. Blum 

Podcast link: The Red File: A Simple, Powerful Gift for Your Family’s Future with Marvin Blum | Tamarind Learning