Up to this point in the series, we've been focusing on the procedural elements involved in those first months after losing your partner.

But what about the emotional impact? More specifically, what about the toll it's going to take on you and your kids?

This week's episode is all about how parents can walk the tightrope of grief, while juggling the many responsibilities that come with parenting.

Donna Cameron, experienced psychologist and family expert from The Couch Psychology, joins independent financial adviser Jordan Vaka to discuss this intersection between grief and parenting.

Donna's insights and tips will, I think, prove useful for anybody navigating this rocky path.

And, hopefully, her advice around repairing things that you don't get 100% right (which, as a human being is entirely normal!) will help somebody be a bit easier on themselves too.

As always, if you have any questions, just get in touch.

If you'd like to speak with Donna, you can reach her via [email protected].

And you can reach Jordan at [email protected] or via our website - www.planningsolo.com.au.

Visit here (https://planningsolo.ck.page/lll) to sign up to our mailing list, to ensure you don't miss out on any updates from PlanningSolo.

Where do you even start with administering the estate you're now responsible for?

We've covered the big terms in recent episodes - what's involved in being an executor, probate and how testamentary trusts work.

But how do you simply do the stuff that need's doing?

Well, in this week's episode, our independent financial adviser Jordan Vaka speaks with Kelly Gatehouse of Nurture Law to unpack the process of administering your loved one's estate.

Where to start, what you'll need, and who you can speak with to help it all work.

Kelly provides an incredible amount of information and you can hear the moment when Jordan learns something that he'd forgotten was so important!

As always, if you have any questions, just get in touch.

If you'd like to speak with Kelly, you can reach her via [email protected].

And you can reach Jordan at [email protected] or via our website - www.planningsolo.com.au.

Visit here to sign up to our mailing list, to ensure you don't miss out on any updates from PlanningSolo.

One of the things that impresses me about the people I work with, is the way they get on with the many, many things that follow the passing of their partner.

This is particularly impressive given the jargon they need to learn - and learn quickly.

Because all of us in the space - estate lawyers, accountants, financial advisers - are familiar with this jargon, so it sneaks into how we speak with people.

Which is why I asked Gillian Miranzi of Scanlan Carroll Lawyers to come on and unpack one of the big pieces of the estate puzzle - probate.

We chat about a range of things:

• What IS probate?
• When do you need it - and when don't you need it?
• How do you get it?
• What are some of the challenges involved?
• Where does it fit into the process?

We also chat a little bit at the start of the episode about the care people that work in this space need to take to keep their own tanks full.

If you'd like to speak with Gillian, you can reach her via [email protected].

And you can reach Jordan at [email protected].

Visit here to sign up to our mailing list, to ensure you don't miss out on any updates from PlanningSolo.

Being an executor is - despite what your late partner may have told you - a serious, significant and time-consuming job.

And that's just for a 'simple' estate.

Throw in any complexity - a self-managed super fund, companies, investments - and you've got your work cut out for you.

Which is why Jordan's invited David Patkin along. An experienced estate planning practitioner, with experience helping a broad spectrum of people, David takes us through:

• What to do if you just don't want to be an executor
• The risks, responsibilities and rights that come with being an executor
• Some of the issues that can arise as you navigate the process
• How challenging it can be for somebody who's very inexperienced with the family's finances to work through the administration of the estate.

David brings his experience to the episode and passes on plenty of useful, valuable tips for you as you walk along this very specific, and often rather lonely, path.

David can be reached via [email protected], and via dmplegal.com.au.

You can find out more information on our PlanningSolo website, and you can reach Jordan at [email protected].

Visit here to sign up to our mailing list, to ensure you don't miss out on any updates from PlanningSolo.

This episode of Life, Loss & Legacy is all about testamentary trusts, so Jordan's speaking with solicitor Claire Stollery - partner at Tony Kelly Lawyers, and an expert in the field.

Claire outlines:

• What a testamentary trust actually is
• The benefits of having one
• The steps new trustees need to be aware of as they administer the trust
• Who's who in the testamentary trust ecosystem
• When advice might be necessary - and how to choose good advisers.

If you'd like to speak with Claire, she can be reached via [email protected].

You can find out more information on our PlanningSolo website, and you can reach Jordan at [email protected].

Visit here to sign up to our mailing list, to ensure you don't miss out on any updates from PlanningSolo.

This first episode proper of the Life, Loss & Legacy series is all about decisions.

The multitude of decisions you're facing now as you navigate these first few years of bereavement.

The scale of decisions you're having to make.

And a framework to help you categorise the many, many decisions you're facing, to help make it all a bit easier.

Independent financial adviser Jordan Vaka also takes you through why he's putting this series together, what he hopes it achieves and who he's bringing to help you work your way through it all.

Robert Pagliarini's book can be found here: The Sudden Wealth Solution: 12 Principles to Transform Sudden Wealth Into Lasting Wealth : Pagliarini, Robert: Amazon.com.au: Books

You can find out more information on our PlanningSolo website, and you can reach Jordan at [email protected].

Visit here to sign up to our mailing list, to ensure you don't miss out on any updates from PlanningSolo.

this link if you'd like to book in a phone call with Jordan too.

This episode of Life, Loss & Legacy highlights the importance of Estate Planning.

Jordan's joined by Lucy Percy, principal of Head and Heart Estate Planning, and they discuss a range of important considerations when it comes to planning how you want your estate to be distributed.

Lucy's statement that a proper estate plan is the "last act of love for the people you leave behind" is such a wonderful way to capture why this dreaded piece of 'life admin' is so important.

Jordan and Lucy covered other ground too:

• estate planning's importance regardless of age or asset level
• Business owners were guided on documenting through wills and powers of attorney, including testamentary trusts for added protection.
• Various ways individuals can draft estate plans were discussed, highlighting the impact of precise drafting.
• Challenges locating wills after passing were addressed, with proper storage such an important consideration.
• Beneficiaries were discussed, indicating considerations for distribution among entities beyond human beings.

If you'd like to learn more, you can find Lucy via her Instagram page or use the form on her website to book a call.

You can find out more information on our PlanningSolo website, and you can reach Jordan at [email protected].

Visit here to sign up to our mailing list, to ensure you don't miss out on any updates from PlanningSolo.

PlanningSolo Presents: Life, Loss and Legacy - a podcast series to help you navigate those first few years after the loss of your partner.

In this introduction, independent financial adviser and series host, Jordan Vaka, explains why he's started this series, the various experts he's brought in to help and what he hopes you get out of it.

With another 29 episodes planned, we hope this series helps you work through these first few years.

You can reach Jordan via [email protected], and be sure to check out our website www.planningsolo.com.au for more information.