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Episode Summary: Could a forgotten power bill from a co-op be holding money that rightfully belongs to you or your loved ones? In this episode of Thoughtful Planning, Honey explains how capital credits from electric cooperatives work, why they matter, and how they can go unnoticed for years. She shares her personal experience of moving frequently as a military family and how failing to document known co-op balances could have left her family in the dark. Learn the questions to ask, what to document, and how to protect this often-overlooked piece of your estate plan.
Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only. Please consult a local professional for specific guidance for your needs.
Essential Question: What capital credit accounts might be quietly building in the background? And have you made it clear enough that your family would know how to find and claim them if needed?
Episode Highlights:
How co-op electricity providers return profits to customers as capital credits
Why your co-op may owe you money even years after you've moved
The $600 Honey and Santiago have in capital credits across two homes in Fargo
What a POD (payable on death) form is and how it helps
What to document: co-op name, contact info, account number, payout policy, balance, and more
The importance of annual follow-up and setting reminders
Why some co-ops don’t offer beneficiary forms (and what to do about it)
Advice from Host: Start by searching your former city or state and “+ electric cooperative” to see if you’ve been served by one. Then call or visit the co-op’s site to look for capital credit policies. Ask if they offer a beneficiary form and document everything clearly. Share this information with your executor or a trusted family member. Lastly, add an annual reminder to follow up, especially if the credits are not immediately payable.
Conclusion: It’s not just the big accounts or legal documents that shape your legacy. Even money sitting in a co-op account can matter when it comes to helping your family avoid confusion. Documenting your capital credits ensures your loved ones don’t miss what’s already yours.
Resources Shared:
Unclaimed Property – Texas Comptroller
If a co-op can’t reach you, capital credits may be turned over to the state.
🔗 https://claimit.texas.gov
MissingMoney.com
Double-check for any co-op credits that may have already been turned over to the state.
🔗 https://www.missingmoney.com
Connect with Thoughtful Planning Hosts, Santiago & Honey:
Website: https://www.legacytoolkit.com/podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/legacytoolkitwithsantiagoandhoney
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/legacy-toolkit
Thank You for Listening! Don’t forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share this episode with a friend.
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Episode Summary: What if you or someone you love has money sitting out there, completely forgotten and legally yours? In this episode of Thoughtful Planning, Honey shares a real-life story of discovering hidden funds and breaks down what unclaimed property is, why it happens, and how you can check for it. This isn’t a get-rich-quick gimmick. It’s a reminder that thoughtful planning includes knowing where all your assets are - even the ones you’ve forgotten about.
Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only. Please consult a local professional for specific guidance for your needs.
Essential Question: What if there’s money waiting for you or your loved ones that you don’t even know exists?
Episode Highlights:
A $100 surprise found for Honey’s hairdresser and $400 more for her father
The dormancy period explained: what it is and why it matters
Examples of unclaimed property: life insurance, bank accounts, utility deposits, capital credits, and more
The $70+ billion sitting with states and how to search for your share
Why even estates with a will may miss this money if it’s not documented
Advice from Host: Include a search for unclaimed property in your annual planning process. It only takes a few minutes and could result in money you didn’t know was missing. Help your executor or family by documenting all financial accounts and making sure beneficiaries are clearly named. This reduces the chances that your hard-earned assets wind up in unclaimed property.
Conclusion: Unclaimed property is more common than people realize, and it affects both the living and the deceased. With just a little effort and awareness, you can ensure that what’s yours stays with you or reaches your loved ones. Organization isn’t about perfection it’s about peace of mind.
Resources Shared:
MissingMoney.com
Search multiple states for unclaimed property in one place.
🔗 https://www.missingmoney.com
NAUPA (National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators)
Find official unclaimed property sites for every U.S. state.
🔗 https://www.unclaimed.org
Texas Comptroller – Unclaimed Property
Search for and claim unclaimed property in the state of Texas.
🔗 https://claimit.texas.gov
Connect with Thoughtful Planning Hosts, Santiago & Honey:
Website: https://www.legacytoolkit.com/podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/legacytoolkitwithsantiagoandhoney
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/legacy-toolkit
Thank You for Listening! Don’t forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share this episode with a friend.
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Episode Summary: When most people think about leaving a legacy, they imagine money, possessions, or family traditions. But what if one of the most meaningful gifts you could leave behind is something most people never even consider — your brain?
In this episode, Honey explores the rarely discussed topic of brain donation, including how it differs from organ donation and how it can contribute to groundbreaking research. She shares her and Santiago’s personal experience learning about the SPARC program and walks through key considerations if you’re thinking about making this unique and impactful gift part of your end-of-life planning.
Disclaimer:This episode is for educational purposes only. Please consult a local professional for specific guidance for your needs.
Essential Question: What if the most valuable gift you could leave behind isn’t in your bank account — but in your skull?
Episode Highlights:
The difference between organ donation and brain donation
Why both healthy and affected brains are vital to research
An overview of SPARC and how it supports military-related brain research
What Honey learned by calling Harvard’s Brain Tissue Resource Center
Questions to ask when researching brain donation programs
Advice from Host:
Start your research now while you’re clear of mind.
Ask important questions — some programs may request medical history or have specific criteria.
Talk to your family and document your wishes in your planning documents.
Most likely, you can still have the funeral or burial of your choice, and most programs are free.
Conclusion: Your will distributes what you own — but brain donation extends what you know. This gift has the potential to unlock answers, drive research, and bring healing to families for generations to come. It’s never too early to consider how your legacy might live on through science.
Resources:
SPARC: https://www.sparc-community.org/
Harvard University Brain Bank: https://hbtrc.mclean.harvard.edu/brain-donation/info/
VA Biorepository Brain Bank (VABBB): https://www.research.va.gov/programs/tissue_banking/control/default.cfm
Brain Donor Project: https://braindonorproject.org/
Connect with Thoughtful Planning Hosts, Santiago & Honey:
Website: https://www.legacytoolkit.com/podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/legacytoolkitwithsantiagoandhoney
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/legacy-toolkit
Thank You for Listening!Don’t forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share this episode with a friend.
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Episode Summary: In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Brittany Clayborne and her son Micah, both heart transplant recipients who have transformed their personal health journey into a mission of supporting young transplant recipients and their families. They share insights about their innovative support program, Transplant Teenz, and discuss the profound impact of organ donation.
Disclaimer:This episode is for educational purposes only. Please consult a local professional for specific guidance for your needs.
Essential Question:How can the gift of organ donation transform lives, and what can we do to support transplant recipients and their families?
Episode Highlights:
Their personal journey as mother and son transplant recipients
The creation and impact of Transplant Teenz
The unique challenges young transplant recipients face
The importance of peer support and community
How organ donation creates lasting legacies
BONUS: Learn about Dr. Clayborne's free IMPAkT program supporting those navigating critical illness
Advice from Dr. Brittany Clayborne and her son Micah:
On becoming an organ donor: "If we actually asked that question and didn't have time to think about it, everybody would answer yes... What does your humanity tell you to say?" - Dr. Clayborne
For families considering organ donation: "Your child's legacy could make everyone else's fate bright" - Micah
The importance of early education about medical self-advocacy
Supporting teens through the transplant experience
Conclusion: Organ donation is more than saving a life - it's about transforming families, creating legacies, and building supportive communities that help recipients thrive.
Connect with Dr. Clayborne and Transplant Teenz:
Website for Dr. Clayborne: https://www.brittanyspeaks.com/
Website for Transplant Teenz: https://www.transplanttz.org/
Instagram & TikTok: @transplanttz
Facebook Transplant Teenz: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558524878499
Connect with Thoughtful Planning:
Website: legacytoolkit.com/podcast
Facebook: facebook.com/legacytoolkitwithsantiagoandhoney
LinkedIn: Legacy Toolkit on LinkedIn
Thank You for Listening! Don’t forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share this episode with a friend.
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Episode Summary:
In this series finale, Santiago and Honey Bueno bring together key insights from their exploration of end-of-life options, challenging conventional assumptions about "traditional" practices while presenting environmentally conscious alternatives. From home funerals to human composting, discover how your final arrangements can align with your values and protect both your loved ones and the environment.
Disclaimer:
This episode is for educational purposes only. Please consult a local professional for specific guidance regarding aftercare and legal options in your state.
Essential Question:
What impact do you want your final farewell to have on your loved ones and the environment?
Episode Highlights:
Advice from Santiago and Honey:
Conclusion:
Take time to explore your options and make choices that align with your values while protecting both your loved ones and the environment. Most importantly, communicate your wishes clearly with your family and document them properly to ensure they're honored.
Resources From Season 2:
Connect with Thoughtful Planning:
Thank You for Listening!
Don’t forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share this episode with a friend who might need it.
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Episode Summary:
In this heartwarming and eye-opening episode of Thoughtful Planning, Honey and Santiago interview Lilia Fuller, founder of Eternal Waters Aquamation in Converse, Texas, to talk about a topic many of us avoid until it’s too late: what to do when our beloved pets pass away. Lilia walks us through aquamation, a gentle, eco-conscious alternative to cremation that’s changing the way families say goodbye to their pets. Whether you're currently navigating the loss of a pet or simply want to plan ahead with intention, this episode offers compassionate guidance, environmental insight, and practical next steps you might not have considered.
Disclaimer:
This episode is for educational purposes only. Please consult a local professional for specific guidance regarding aftercare and legal options in your state.
Essential Question:
What end-of-life options are available for our pets, and how can we make those choices more sustainable and thoughtful?
Episode Highlights:
Advice from Lilia Fuller:
Conclusion:
This episode is a beautiful reminder that the way we say goodbye matters. Sustainable, respectful pet aftercare like aquamation not only honors our pets but also reflects the love we shared with them in life. You do have options, and you don’t have to wait until you’re grieving to explore them.
Connect with Lilia Fuller:
Connect with Thoughtful Planning:
Thank You for Listening!
Don’t forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share this episode with a fellow pet parent who might need it.
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Episode Summary:
In this episode of Thoughtful Planning, Santiago and Honey explore a revolutionary and eco-conscious death care option: human composting, also known as Natural Organic Reduction (NOR). With support from Recompose, a green funeral home in Seattle, they walk you through how this gentle, sustainable process transforms a human body into nutrient-rich soil and how it might just change the way we think about our final act on Earth. From the science behind it to the ceremonies that honor the process, this episode offers a compassionate and informative look into a future where death gives back to life.
Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only. Please consult local professionals or Recompose directly for personalized guidance.
Essential Question: How can human composting provide a sustainable and meaningful alternative to conventional death care?
Episode Highlights:
Conclusion:
Human composting isn’t just a sustainable alternative. It’s a deeply meaningful, full-circle return to the earth. If you’re someone who values environmental care, this may be the choice that reflects your values even in death.
Connect with Recompose:
Connect with Thoughtful Planning and Legacy Toolkit:
Thank You for Listening!
Don’t forget to subscribe to Thoughtful Planning on your favorite podcast platform, leave a review and share this episode with anyone who might find it helpful!
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Episode Summary:
Have you ever considered a burial option that’s both environmentally friendly and deeply personal? In this episode of Thoughtful Planning, we sit down with Sunny Markham, President of Countryside Memorial Park, to explore the world of natural burials. Discover how natural burials honor both the deceased and the earth, the surprising environmental impact of conventional funerals and how families can create meaningful, customized goodbyes.
Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, or financial advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for guidance tailored to your specific situation.
Essential Question: What is a natural or green burial, and how does it differ from a conventional burial?
Episode Highlights:
“A natural burial allows families to take back the burial process. It is not about stepping aside and letting a funeral home do everything. It is about participation, connection, and honoring a loved one in a deeply personal way. When families fill in the grave themselves, when they place that last handful of earth, it is a moment of healing. That is the difference."
Conclusion & Call to Action:
Natural burials are more than just an eco-friendly alternative. They offer families a hands-on, deeply meaningful way to say goodbye. If this episode resonated with you, take the next step. Talk to your family about your end-of-life wishes and explore natural burial options in your area.
Connect with Sunny Markham:
Connect with Thoughtful Planning and Legacy Toolkit:
Thank You for Listening!
Don’t forget to subscribe to Thoughtful Planning on your favorite podcast platform, leave a review, and share this episode with anyone who might find it helpful!
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In this episode of Thoughtful Planning, Santiago and Honey interview Genaro Reyes, Jr. from Compassion Funeral Home in San Antonio, Texas, to discuss the growing movement of home funerals. They explore the legalities, benefits, and emotional impact of bringing end-of-life care back into the home. From shrouding and preparation to family-led rituals, this conversation sheds light on an alternative way to honor loved ones with dignity and tradition.
Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, or financial advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for guidance tailored to your specific situation.
Essential Question: What is a home funeral, and how does it differ from a service at a funeral home?
Episode Highlights:
Advice from Genaro Reyes, Jr.:
Conclusion & Call to Action:
Home funerals offer a deeply personal and traditional way to honor loved ones. If this episode has inspired you to explore this option, start by researching your local regulations and discussing your wishes with family members.
Resources for Home Funerals:
Connect with Genaro Reyes, Jr.:
Connect with Thoughtful Planning and Legacy Toolkit:
Thank You for Listening!
Don’t forget to subscribe to Thoughtful Planning on your favorite podcast platform, leave a review, and share this episode with anyone who might find it helpful!
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In this episode of Thoughtful Planning, hosts Honey and Santiago sit down with Pattie Trujillo, a life insurance agent and pre-planning specialist from Sensible Planning. They discuss the key differences between life insurance and funeral pre-planning policies, debunk common misconceptions, and help listeners understand which option may be best for them. Pattie shares expert insights on the financial and emotional benefits of pre-planning, as well as key considerations for veterans and their families.
Disclaimer:
This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or insurance advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
Essential Question:
Should you buy a life insurance policy or a pre-planning policy? What are the key differences between them?
Episode Highlights:
Advice from Pattie Trujillo:
Conclusion:
Planning for the inevitable may not be easy, but taking proactive steps can save your loved ones stress, financial burden, and uncertainty. Whether it’s a life insurance policy, a pre-planning policy, or a combination of both, understanding your options ensures your final wishes are honored.
Connect with Pattie Trujillo:
Connect with Thoughtful Planning:
Thank You for Listening!
Subscribe to Thoughtful Planning on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review.
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