Creating Wealth & Success

One Week to Live

Joyce Moseley Pierce, our official Family Preparedness Expert

I guess I'm old enough now that it's not that unusual for people younger than me to be dying! In the past month I've been to a funeral for a 20 year old who died in his sleep from cardiac arrest, another man close to my age just died two weeks after learning he had Stage 4 cancer, and just this week, the son of a friend died in his sleep. Reason for death has not yet been determined. While we'd all like to just slip away in the middle of the night, hopefully pain-free and unaware that we've even left this world behind, the passing still leaves a huge void in the lives of those who loved the one who died.

I'm the one who's always encouraging people to record the information that will help their loved ones continue after they're gone. While I do believe that being prepared helps remove a huge burden from the family, I believe there are other things that are even more important.

Here are a few suggestions. I believe they're listed in the order of importance.

1. Get yourself straight with God. If you're carrying the burden of sin in your life, repent and ask to be forgiven. If those sins are of a more serious nature, confess them to your clergy and ask for help. There are steps to be taken. While it's better to ask forgiveness on a daily basis in your prayers, confession at any time means that you recognize your sins and are willing to do whatever it takes to leave them behind. Don't drag them with you to the Pearly Gates.

2. Make sure your relationships are in order. If someone has hurt you, go to them and offer them your forgiveness. If you've hurt someone else, let them know you've forgiven them. When my mother was dying, the hospice nurse encouraged us to get it all out while we still could. We spent the next month apologizing and reaffirming our love for each other, and by the time she passed away, both of our hearts were lighter.

3. Write letters. Put your feelings in writing. Loved ones appreciate having a piece of you to hold on to after you're gone. If your family is really lucky, you've been keeping a journal that will give them a record of your life.

Read Joyce's entire article You Have One Week to Live

Emergency Preparedness: Don't Let the Courts Decide Whether You Live or Die!

Terri Schiavo's name has become a household word, and if her parents lose their appeal to reinsert the feeding tube, Terri's battle will be over. That doesn't mean that the fight will be over. There needs to be new legislation that protects those who cannot act for themselves, and are not being kept alive by life support. People like Terri who never put their wishes in writing.

In the meantime, there is something you can do for yourself and your loved ones. Complete and sign these documents and have them witnessed by two people who are not related to you, or who will not benefit in any way from your death.

Read Joyce's entire article Emergency Preparedness: Don't Let the Courts Decide Whether You Live or Die!

Joyce Pierce, our official Emergency Preparedness Expert

Evaluate Insurance to Save Money

Joyce Pierce, Our official Emergency Preparedness Expert says:

The concept of insurance is to transfer risk that you can't accept. You don't like having to pay for insurance, but if you ever have a loss, it's good to have. Especially if you've done your homework and have the best insurance to cover your loss. Here's what Dave Ramsey has to say about insurance. He says these are the "Must Haves" of insurance.

Health: "If you don't have health insurance and something happens, you could easily accumulate several hundred thousand dollars in medical debt...and medical bills are the number one cause of bankruptcy!

Read Joyce's entire article Evaluate Insurance to Save Money

Emergency Preparedness: So Much Cooler Online

Joyce Pierce, Our official Emergency Preparedness Expert says:

I'm a bit of a country music listener, and the first time I heard Brad Paisley singing, "So Much Cooler Online," it caught my attention. What he's singing about is how you can represent yourself as anyone you want to be online, and you're safe as long as the other person never actually meets you.

In my case, I think I'm so much cooler when I order online! If you're a close friend or relative, you know that I hate shopping about as much as I hate ironing. Because of that, I've learned how to deal with bringing things into my home in this way:

Read Joyce's entire article Emergency Preparedness: So Much Cooler Online

Emergency Preparedness: What's Keeping You Awake?

Joyce Pierce, Our official Emergency Preparedness Expert says:

Last week I heard a friend of mine speaking at a church meeting about things that are keeping him awake at night. He is an investment broker with lots of contacts on Wall Street, so he's talking to real people. He's not getting his information from the media.

Here's what's bothering him:

1. The economy. 2. Hurricane season.

Read Joyce's entire article Emergency Preparedness: What's Keeping You Awake?

Emergency Preparedness: Save Valuable Information Online

Joyce Pierce, Our official Emergency Preparedness Expert says:

Today most people are so tied to technology that when you have a power loss or computer glitch, it can be devastating. I can tell you all about that!

1. A few years ago I lost everything on my laptop when I had to reformat the hard drive. I learned later that the technician who walked me through that could have helped me save my data, but by then it was too late. That experience was something that caused me to agonize for days over lost information. Not only did my laptop contain business and personal files, but several years of personal journals. It's painful to even remember how sad that made me feel.

Read Joyce's entire article Emergency Preparedness: Save Valuable Information Online

Emergency Preparedness: Preserve & Prepare

Joyce Pierce, Our official Emergency Preparedness Expert says:

Have you ever had to leave your home in a hurry because of a natural disaster? You may think it will never happen to you, but that's what I thought, too, until it came just a little too close to home.

I live in Houston, Texas, and like many of you, in August 2005 we stayed glued to the television for days watching the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina along the gulf coast.

Read Joyce's entire article Emergency Preparedness: Preserve & Prepare