#134: If You Cark It Tomorrow, Would Your Family Know What to Do? with Lisa Herbert, Author, Journalist & Death Literacy Advocate

Most farming families have thought about wills, powers of attorney and succession. Far fewer have answered the more uncomfortable question: If you carked it tomorrow, would your family actually know what to do? Not just who gets what. Who do they call? What did you want to happen? What happens with the business? Did you want the farm kept together? And what are the hundreds of smaller decisions your family will suddenly be forced to make at one of the worst possible times? In Episode 134 of the AgriCoach Wealth & Wisdom Podcast, Ben sits down with Lisa Herbert, journalist, author and death literacy advocate behind The Bottom Drawer Book. Lisa has spent years finding a practical way to make a subject most of us would rather avoid a little easier to talk about. And that matters for farming families. We spend plenty of time thinking about farm succession planning, estate structures, wills, trusts and protecting assets. But as Ben and Lisa discuss, those documents don't necessarily tell your family what you wanted — or remove the emotional load of having to guess. This conversation goes beyond funeral planning. It gets into why we've become so uncomfortable talking about death, why avoiding the conversation can leave families carrying unnecessary pressure, and how seemingly small unanswered questions can become surprisingly difficult when grief and family dynamics collide. Ben also reflects on his own family's very different reactions to the subject — from a mum keen to get her wishes down on paper to a dad who would rather not discuss it at all. And, if he's honest, Ben isn't particularly comfortable with it either. There's also another side to legacy that rarely makes it into the legal documents: the stories, memories, humour and family history that disappear surprisingly quickly once someone is gone. If you're thinking about succession, ageing parents, business continuity or simply making life a little easier for the people you leave behind, this is a conversation worth having. Preferably while everyone is still around to have it. Find out more about Lisa and The Bottom Drawer Book, or order a copy at: https://thebottomdrawerbook.com.au/  If this podcast has ever added value to your farming business, we'd love for you to leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. https://pod.link/1598835360 \----------------------- Ben Law is a coach to some of Australia's most successful farming families. He was raised on the land — three generations of farming in his blood — and has spent almost 30 years and more than 40,000 hours alongside farming families, first as their financial adviser and now as their coach. Along the way he learned the truth nobody talks about: what makes or breaks a family legacy isn't the money — it's whether the family can communicate, get aligned, and prepare the next generation before succession arrives. That's what this podcast is about. Each fortnight Ben sits down with farming families, trusted advisers and industry experts to unpack how to build a family that thrives across generations — strong in business, strong in relationships, and set up to hand over the farm without losing each other. *Disclaimer: The information contained in this podcast is general in nature and for education purposes only. It is not financial advice. It is not legal advice. No one should act on the information without appropriate specific advice for your particular circumstances. Ben Law is a former financial advisor but is no longer licensed and cannot and will not give you specific or personal advice in this podcast. The Financial Bloke Group Pty Ltd accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage occasioned by any person acting or refraining from action as a result of reliance on the information in this podcast.* ...