Barb Amsden combines well-articulated consolidated information, an intense approach to organization, extensive firsthand experience, and tales of woe and misfortune balanced with relentless martini-dry humour. This book is a must for anyone planning or settling an estate!
Mark O'Farrell, BA, CLU, CHFC, TEP, CEA—President of The Canadian Institute of Certified Executor Advisors
Executor—a role that’s incredibly important, but no one wants, few prepare for, and most think they’ll either deal with, or hire someone to take care of, when the time comes. Being an executor is about trust and responsibility, both legally and morally, but there’s little guidance and less understanding of what to do, or the consequences of not doing or misdoing steps, when settling an estate. That’s why this practical how-to book is a must-read for people at any stage of their life. If you’re naming an executor, you need to decide who you believe will respect your last wishes and how to prepare. If you’re appointed an executor (or deciding whether to accept the role), you’ll have to pay the deceased’s bills, take care of their property, distribute money to their beneficiaries, and make tough decisions—your signature is as binding as was the deceased’s when they were alive and, more importantly, you are their voice. If you are a beneficiary or heir, you’ll want to know your rights and obligations, and find out how you can help (or hinder) the estate settlement process. Whether you’re launching on your adult life, starting a family, working mid-career, have older parents, are retiring, or are acting as an executor, this handy planning guide is for you.
Elizabeth Naumovski—Host and producer of ‘Empowered with Elizabeth Naumovski’ (The News Forum network) and two-time Wealth Professional IFSE Financial Literacy Champion Award Winner
Watch financial literacy expert Elizabeth Naumovski interview Barb about her book.
I can’t believe how comprehensive Barb Amsden’s book about being an executor is and how valuable it can be at different times in a person’s life. I’ve had to be executor for both my parents and had a legal secretary working with me at the time – I still found it a lot of work. I think this book hits all of the major hurdles, obstacles, and issues. Most surprisingly, it was actually a fun read. Very well done! I particularly liked the indexing so that it can serve as a resource. People can easily find the problem they are dealing with to find the advice.
Ingrid Hibbard—CEO of Pelangio Exploration Inc. and mining industry advocate
Who knew being an executor was such a potentially perilous, uh, undertaking? Barb Amsden has compiled a wealth of useful, readable information that’s an essential reference for anyone venturing into this minefield for the unwary.
Simon Hally—business journalist, editor/publisher, author
Barb Amsden should be congratulated for an immense amount of work ... work that is not only useful to future executors, as she officially presents it, but also to future users of executors. I found the appendices extremely useful (so much so that they alone could have been the core part of another book!). As we are going to have a first conversation with a potential executor next week, the timing of this book's reading could not have been better for me.
Etienne Castelli-Pochon—international product, marketing, CRM, business, and career management executive
After getting a copy of your excellent new book, I became so totally engaged with the fantastic amount of valuable information, I decided to delay my Estate Planning appointment, that I might try to more fully digest the contents. I feel this will enable me to get more practical advice from him, as to my particular situation.
It was so interesting to hear of your experiences in the creation of your book, but also that your Executorship matched so many of my own trials, as a novice with my Father's estate, and with my Husband's, as a more knowledgeable but no less frustrated participant. I really wish that I could have had the benefits of your book for guidance before – my own 'on-the-job' type education in an executor's responsibilities was difficult and very time consuming.
Your publication, in whatever form presented, will certainly be successful, and highly regarded by those that need assistance in this field. I believe that every smart Lawyer drawing up a person's will, should willingly supply their client with a copy.
D. Dawson, Ontario