When do you plan to die?

Hey all,

Here's an article I wrote for my newsletter recently. I received a lot of positive responses, so thought I would share it here. I've removed all links and even my email address, just so you know this isn't a "drive by" article. Then again, I've been coming here since late 1999, so that's an awful long time to be just driving by. Cops are gonna pick me up for loitering sooner or later.

Anyhoo ....

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>> When Do You Plan to Die? <<

Silly question, isn't it?

After all, who actually sits down and plans out a day and time for their death? Maybe a couple suicidal folks and a few of Dr. Kevorkian's patients might be able to tell you their death date without hesitation. But other than that, most of us don't know when we're going to kick the bucket.

Sure, we like to assume that the Grim Reaper will come knocking at our door years and years and years from now. We assume that we still have a long, full life ahead of us.

But how do we know? Heck, my life could end right now as a type this: sudden heart attack, or electrical shock, or earthquake, or armed robbers busting down my door. You never know.

Now here's the thing: if I met my untimely demise right now, I wouldn't be ready. Or perhaps more appropriately, my loved ones wouldn't be prepared to take over my business.

You see, I haven't yet taken the time to sit down and put on paper everything I do to earn money. If I died today, no one would know how to access my Paypal account and take the money out. No one would know how to send a note to my mailing lists. No one would know how to access any of my websites.

I'm not invincible. Yet apparently -- at least with regards to my business -- I'm living like I'll live forever.

Oh sure, even if I never told anyone how to access my accounts, the world wouldn't end. But wouldn't it be nice for my customers to know why I'm not replying to their emails? And even more important, wouldn't it be nice to provide my loved ones with the passive income my business currently provides?

You bet.

I kind of feel like a schmuck for not having done this sooner.

So here's my list of things I need to write down and give to my loved ones. Since I just started thinking about this recently, I'm probably missing some things from the list. Feel free to post to this thread when you think of stuff to add to the list.

Please note: these are business affairs only...

++ Getting My (Business) Affairs in Order List ++

-- Get copies of all legal documents and business documents and put them in one place, with instructions leading my family to the original documents. This includes things like DBA forms, incorporation forms, tax stuff, receipts, etc.

-- Give login info to all my online accounts, such as Paypal. Include instructions regarding how to take money out (via transfers or via debit card).

-- Give details about all my bank accounts.

-- Sit down and teach someone exactly what I DO, so that if my family wants to continue my business after I'm gone (even if that just means selling off my assets), they can.

-- Write down all my website URL's, passwords and usernames for: my websites, mailing lists, places like Clickbank, Google AdWords account and other PPC accounts, GoDaddy account, eBay account, email accounts... Etc.

-- Write down a list of colleagues to notify, and the best way to notify them (e.g., provide email addresses or phone numbers for some of my closer friends and joint venture partners).

-- Make a complete list of all my websites, domain names, products and other assets. May even include instructions on what to do with these items (e.g., how to let a domain name expire OR how to sell the domain name).

That's my list off the top of my head. Care to add to the list? Post your ideas here. And then don't forget to make your own list so your loved ones are ready to take over your business in the event of your *gulp* untimely demise.

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Cheers,