What happens when no one agrees on who should manage a loved one’s care—or their money? Jill talks with Sara Ecklein, a professional fiduciary in California, to talk about what goes wrong when we don’t plan ahead. From costly legal fights to irreparable family breakdowns, they unpack how a neutral third party can step in before conflict becomes a catastrophe.

They also explore what it means to be a mindful fiduciary, how family dynamics get complicated when siblings are put in charge, and why planning isn’t just about documents; it’s about legacy.

What Jill and Sara discuss:

• What a professional fiduciary actually does (and why it’s more than just “cutting checks”)
• The roles of trustee and agent under a power of attorney, and how they differ
• What it means to be a mindful fiduciary (and how presence, empathy, and neutrality can positively impact a family’s experience)
• The emotional and financial cost of family conflict when no one plans for death or incapacity
• A real-life Michigan guardianship case and what it reveals about court involvement and family discord
• Why naming a sibling as trustee can lead to fractured relationships
• How a trust protector can act as a “watchdog” without being involved in the day-to-day management of a trust
• The difference between a “successful” estate plan on paper vs. in real life
• Planning ahead for your own death, even if you're a professional fiduciary like Sara Ecklein
• The power of legacy, and why estate planning is about how you live, not just what you leave behind

Resources & Links

• Take the Quiz: Could a professional fiduciary prevent your estate plan from becoming a battlefield? www.deathreadiness.com/pro
• Five Wishes: https://fivewishes.org
• Pet Important Information Sheet: Download Here
• Michigan Guardianship Case: In re Guardianship of AMS
• Michigan estate planning attorney: Meaghan Miracle
  • Company: Miracle Law
  • Address: 1850 44th Street SW Wyoming, MI 49519
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 616-227-0870 
• Watch the video: Do you need a Will?

Learn more about Sara Ecklein:

• Sara’s podcast: The Legacy of Love
• Sara's company: Trust and Honor
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: 1484 Pollard Road / Suite 124 Los Gatos, CA 95032
• Phone: 669-280-0110

Connect with Jill:

• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to receive news and updates.
• Love this episode? Please rate and review in the Apple podcasts app!

This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents.

Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state.