Final Wishes Slide 1 Welcome, everyone! Thanks for attending this - - PDF document

Final Wishes Slide 1 Welcome, everyone! Thanks for attending this educational event. For those of you who aren’t currently members of Modern Woodmen of America, we’re glad you’re here. Educational programs are one of the many ways Modern Woodmen gives back to our members nationwide. If you’d like to learn more about other member benefits we offer, please see me after this program. I’d be glad to provide you some information. The topic of [today’s/tonight’s] presentation is Final Wishes, an online resource to help Modern Woodmen members plan for and communicate end-of-life wishes to loved

• nes.

Slide 2 Many people plan for their financial futures. They understand the importance of discussing topics like life insurance, retirement planning or college funding with family members. But many people don’t plan and communicate their final wishes to loved ones. As a result, those they leave behind can face many financial decisions and other issues they may be unprepared to deal with. A 2013 survey conducted by The Conversation Project revealed that, while more than 90 percent of Americans think it’s important to talk about end-of-life wishes, less than 30 percent have actually held these kinds of conversations.

Source: “New Survey Reveals ‘Conversation Disconnect’.” TheConversationProject.org. 9/18/13.

Slide 3 Planning your end-of-life wishes ahead of time provides you peace of mind. When you make your final wishes known, you can be confident they are understood and will be carried out by those you trust. There’s another reason to preplan: when a loved one dies, it’s often a very emotional

• time. I’m sure many of you have experienced this firsthand. When you’re grieving, it can

be overwhelming to handle funeral arrangements, burial details, financial tasks, etc. The better you plan ahead, the less burdensome these responsibilities will be for those you leave behind. [Speaker note: Feel free to share a personal story related to the loss of a loved one at this point.] Here’s something to think about: How will your loved ones know about your final wishes unless you tell them? Slide 4 In this presentation, we’ll explore Modern Woodmen’s Final Wishes fraternal benefit. This online resource is an end-of-life planning tool. The Final Wishes benefit can be used in several ways:  You can easily plan end-of-life matters and communicate your final wishes to those you’ll leave behind.  When the time comes, your loved ones can use the information you’ve saved and stored on your computer to carry out your plans. Since they’ll know your wishes, they won’t be burdened with decisions like how your funeral and other matters should be handled.  You can access information that helps you handle your loved ones’ final affairs in the future. Slide 5 From the Final Wishes homepage, you can select from six topics. Your Wishes helps you gather and organize information your loved ones will need after your death. By completing the Emergency Contact List in this section, you’ll provide those you love with the names, phone numbers and email addresses of key people who should be notified after your death or in case of emergency. This list might also include friends and family members, your accountant, attorney, local Modern Woodmen financial representative, executor of your estate and your employer.

Slide 6 If you’re not organized, your loved ones may have a difficult time handling your financial affairs after you die. In the Your Wishes section, you’ll also find a Financial Information Checklist, which can help you develop a filing system for your paperwork. You can also create an overview of your financial accounts. This will ensure your loved ones know what types of accounts you have, what investments you’ve made and the financial institutions with which you do business. Slide 7 Question: Do you know where all your important documents are located right now? Sometimes, people have important documents scattered in several places. Imagine their grief-stricken loved ones, stressed out and frustrated, trying to track down the information they need to manage their final affairs. In the Your Wishes section, you can describe the location of your will, insurance policies, deeds, trust documents, powers of attorney and other important papers. You can also include contact information for each document in case your loved ones have questions or need assistance. If you handle your finances online, you can identify websites, as well as usernames and passwords, for financial institutions and social media accounts. Slide 8 Your funeral can create a lasting memory for those who are near and dear to you. By preplanning, you can show love to those you leave behind and make a final statement about your life. In the Your Wishes section, you can provide loved ones with information they’ll need to

• btain your death certificate. It also documents your wishes concerning your funeral,

memorial service, obituary and more. You can also review average funeral costs and complete a life insurance needs analysis in the Your Wishes section. This will provide a quick estimate of the amount needed to cover a funeral and related expenses. Having the right amount of life insurance in place at the time of your death could take a heavy financial burden off your loved ones and make a difficult time a little easier.

Slide 9 As you consider end-of-life matters, you’ll need to identify responsible adults who can and are willing to carry out your final wishes. A key question to ask yourself is: Who can I trust to properly handle my final wishes? Keep in mind this doesn’t have to be one individual. For example, you could have one person handle your funeral arrangements and another handle your financial matters. As you narrow down candidates, consider each person’s emotional make-up, as well as his

• r her physical distance from you.

Remember, it’s important to personally communicate your final wishes to the people you

• choose. And make sure they’ve agreed to assume the responsibility for carrying out

those wishes! Slide 10 In the Legal Considerations section of Final Wishes, you’ll learn about wills, trusts and a plan for minors. A will outlines how your estate will be distributed after you die and is one of the most important documents in end-of-life planning. Trusts make it possible to leave assets to those you care about – including minors and special-needs individuals – without giving them complete control. A plan for minors is very important. If a plan isn’t in place and both you and your spouse die, a court will appoint a guardian for your under-age children. This individual might not be your first choice – or your kids’! Slide 11 You’ll also find information about powers of attorney and the role of an executor under Legal Considerations. As you may know, a power of attorney is a legal document that lets you appoint someone to make financial and health care decisions for you if you’re unable to do so. The executor of your estate must make many decisions and manage a variety of tasks. This section describes the role and responsibilities.

Slide 12 The Leaving a Legacy section of Final Wishes gives you food for thought on “living on” by supporting charities, donating your organs and passing on your possessions. By the way, did you know you can make a sizable donation to a favorite charity or nonprofit organization – often at a fraction of the cost – through a charitable gift of life insurance? Life insurance can make it possible for you to help your loved ones even after you’re

• gone. The proceeds could pay for:

 Final expenses.  Outstanding debt like a mortgage, car loan or credit card balance.  Education for children or grandchildren. Your Modern Woodmen financial representative can help you choose life insurance plans that are right for you and your unique goals. Slide 13 Today, many family members live at a distance from each other, and of course we’re all very busy! As a result, stories and wisdom from previous generations aren’t shared as they used to be. Sadly, these memories are sometimes lost forever. The Leaving a Legacy section of the Final Wishes online resource outlines how to create legacy letters and legacy videos. These can give you a chance to say all those things you haven’t had an opportunity to share with the people you most deeply care about. This section also contains a family tree form. By following the step-by-step instructions, you can preserve important ancestral information for generations to come. Slide 14 The topics I’m bringing up can be difficult to think about – and even harder to discuss. We don’t want to admit we won’t be around forever. End-of-life planning begins with accepting that, ready or not, that “last day” will come for all of us. And it will come for those we love as well. The Talking About Your Wishes section of the Final Wishes online resource helps you bring up tough subjects like death.

Slide 15 This section provides practical tips on having open and honest discussions about end-

• f-life issues.

You’ll find talking points about finances, long-term care and other topics, including food for thought concerning long-term care insurance. [Speaker note: Consider exploring long-term care further by holding a Modern Woodmen Long-Term Care educational event.] Slide 16 If you’ve recently lost a loved one, the Recent Loss section of the Final Wishes online tool can assist you in handling his or her affairs. It walks you through the necessary steps, including applying for Social Security survivors’ benefits and filing a death claim with Modern Woodmen. If you’re the executor of an estate, the Recent Loss section will help you better understand your authority and responsibilities. Sample messages are provided for letters, emails and phone conversations so you can notify government agencies and

• thers of your loved one’s death.

The estate administration timeline explains what the executor of a simple estate needs to do and when. You can even download a PDF of the list provided so you can file and refer to it. The Recent Loss section also gives food for thought on moving forward after the death

• f a loved one. Keep in mind your Modern Woodmen representative can be very helpful

in understanding your financial needs and customizing a plan that’s right for you. Slide 17 Resources is the last tab of Final Wishes. This section provides a list of websites that can help you prepare for end-of-life issues. One of those is, of course, Modern Woodmen’s own website, modernwoodmen.org. Be sure to check out the “Estate Planning” section of modernwoodmen.org. You’ll find planning tools, information about the role of life insurance in your estate plan and much, much more. From the Resources section, you can download the Emergency Contact List, Financial Information Checklist, Funeral Arrangements worksheet and all other Final Wishes forms.

Slide 18 Let me wrap up this presentation with a few final thoughts. As a member of Modern Woodmen, you can access the Final Wishes online resource at no charge. It’s a very easy process, and I’m going to describe the steps in the next couple of slides. Slide 19 First, go to modernwoodmen.org. In the upper-right corner, you’ll see Member Login. Clicking the link will take you to the member login page. If you’ve already registered on the site, simply enter your User Name and Password and click Sign On. (If you’ve forgotten your User Name and Password, just click the appropriate link(s) and follow the instructions.) If you’re a first-time user, click Register Now to create your account. Slide 20 When you register – or sign on – you’ll be taken to Modern Woodmen’s member welcome page. From here, you can review your Modern Woodmen certificates, access the Help section, make online payments or changes to your personal information and view printable forms. You can also view your Modern Woodmen financial representative’s contact information. Clicking the Benefits link will take you to a page where you can apply for Modern Woodmen’s current fraternal benefits … including Final Wishes. Simply click the Final Wishes link and you’ll access this interactive resource! Slide 21 As you’ve seen from this presentation, Final Wishes is a terrific tool for organizing your thoughts and wishes! Remember, though, it’s up to you to tell your loved ones you’ve planned ahead. So be sure to take time to have that often-difficult, but very important, conversation. Identify those people on whom you can depend to carry out your end-of-life plans, and make sure they’re OK with the responsibilities you’re entrusting to them. Then explain the Final Wishes online benefit to them.

Slide 22 I hope this presentation has given you a greater sense of urgency about preplanning. Remember, however, that your loved ones can only carry out your plans to the extent they have adequate financial resources. So please, be sure you have the proper amount of life insurance in force. The proceeds can supply the funds needed for end-of-life expenses, secure your loved ones’ futures and provide for charitable organizations you’ve faithfully supported in your lifetime. If you’re not sure you have adequate insurance coverage, please make an appointment to see me [your local Modern Woodmen representative] after this presentation. We [He

• r she] can review your situation. Modern Woodmen’s mission is to provide you with

financial security and improve your quality of life now. After you’re gone, Modern Woodmen can help those you hold near and dear. Slide 23 Thanks again for joining us for this presentation about the Final Wishes online resource. Remember, this tool is of no benefit unless you make use of it, so be sure to go to the member section of Modern Woodmen’s website and register today! We look forward to seeing you at our next [Summit chapter/chapter] event! [Offer the time and place.]