A "good ending" to one's life can be described as dying in peace, sharing important financial data with trusted surrogates, and leaving little or no confusion upon your death. Twelve financial planning strategies to get "affairs in order," beyond standard legal documents prepared by an attorney, will be discussed.

The twelve strategies are:
1. simplification and downsizing of both personal possessions and financial accounts
2. a net worth calculation
3. emergency contact cards
4. a financial “notebook” (an actual notebook or digital equivalents)
5. a digital assets inventory
6. a list of insurance policy and retirement account beneficiaries and personal representatives named in legal documents
7. Untitled property planning (i.e., who gets a person’s “stuff”)
8. a letter of last instruction
9. a personally authored obituary
10. a pre-planned and/or pre-paid funeral
11. lifetime gifts, testamentary gifts, and philanthropy
12. communication with surrogates and heirs.