Planning Your Legacy: What Do You Want to Leave Behind?

Thinking about your legacy is more valuable than you might think: after all, it can already make a real difference during your lifetime. “Being well prepared for later is also valuable today” is how I like to put it. And not just for yourself, but especially for the people close to you. With these five questions, I want to show why you can actually start thinking about what you want to leave behind today.

1. What do you know that no one else knows?

Behind this first question, you could add: “And when does that become a problem?”

This certainly won’t apply to everything, and of course you decide what someone else should know. Did the answer “passwords and login details” come to mind? Then consider how important it can be to share this information with at least one trusted person while you are still alive. Because what is in your head, for example where important information is stored, can suddenly become very important to your husband, wife or partner. Something unexpected can always happen that means someone else suddenly has to take care of things that you would normally handle yourself. Without a plan, this can create chaos, while the very information that is needed at that moment may remain inaccessible.

2. Which memories do you absolutely want to preserve and pass on?

Leaving something behind is not just about assets and money. It is also about softer, emotional values, such as memories and family stories. Things that have no financial value are often priceless to the people around you. So when I talk about “leaving something behind”, isn’t it a beautiful thought to share a personal message with the people close to you while you are still alive? A story from your childhood, a memory of a special event, or simply something you would like to say one more time. Talking about your legacy in time and expressing what you feel can help prevent that feeling afterwards: “If only I had…”

3. Do you have a clear overview of all your financial and legal information?

A positive answer to this question – “Yes” – is an important foundation for properly preparing the transfer of your assets to the next generation. Imagine that tomorrow you have an appointment with a notary, financial planner or perhaps your accountant. How long would it take you to find all the documents that are relevant to that meeting?

It is quite possible that you would have to search through all kinds of digital sources.

“Where did I put that again…?” If you start creating structure today and keep important information in one central and secure place, you will already benefit from it tomorrow. And so will the person sitting across the table from you.

4. What about your business?

What you leave behind during your lifetime also has a business side. Perhaps you are an entrepreneur. Is there a temporary succession plan in place in case you suddenly become unable to explain how things work? And if you are a freelancer who manages your own administration, is there someone who knows how you have organized your affairs and where everything can be found?

An even more important question may be whether you have shared the login details for your laptop and other important systems in time. Because the same applies to a business: a great deal of knowledge and information can reside with just one person. As long as everything is going well, you may hardly notice it. But as soon as someone else has to take over temporarily, it suddenly becomes clear just how much information was actually known by only one person.

5. What do you want people to know about you later?

I was born in 1968, in a time when the digital world did not yet exist. I was brought up with the idea that once your life ends, that is simply where it stops. But I also realize that there is now a generation that looks very differently at what can remain of you after your life. Take the music industry, for example. New songs are being released by artists who have been dead for years. Their music, their voices and their work continue to reach people. It shows that what you create and preserve during your lifetime can remain part of your story for a very long time.

Whether you want that is entirely up to you. But it made me realize how important it is to think about whether or not you want to remain visible after your lifetime.

What should happen to your social media accounts, for example? Which photos, stories or posts should remain, and which should be removed? And perhaps even more importantly: what do you want people to remember about you? You still have a say in that today.

Being well prepared for later is valuable today

Leaving something behind. It sounds so final. Perhaps that is also why we would rather not think about it too often. Yet with these five questions, I wanted to show that a well-organized legacy is not just something for later. Having an overview can already bring peace of mind today. So perhaps the question is not only: “What do I want to leave behind later?” But also: “What is important enough to me today to share?”

Frequently Asked Questions About Planning Your Legacy

When should I start planning my legacy?

You do not have to wait until you are older or until something happens. In fact, even when you are still in the middle of life, it can be valuable to start creating an overview.

Think about important documents, financial information, digital accounts, passwords and personal wishes, for example. By arranging these things in time, you remain in control and make it easier for the people close to you if they unexpectedly have to take over certain responsibilities.

What do I need to arrange as part of my legacy?

Planning your legacy involves more than just a will or deciding how your assets will be distributed. It can also include important financial and legal documents, insurance policies, bank and investment details, digital accounts, passwords, photographs, personal memories and information about your business. The most important thing is not only to decide what you want to leave behind, but also to make sure that the right information is available in a safe and accessible place.

What happens to my digital legacy?

More and more of our lives take place in the digital world. Think about social media, photos, email, cloud storage, subscriptions and online accounts. That is why it is worth thinking about what should happen to your digital legacy. Which accounts should remain active, which should be deleted, and who should have access to certain information? By making these decisions in advance, you can prevent your loved ones from having to search for information later or important data from being lost.

How can I make sure my loved ones can find my important information?

Good preparation starts with having an overview. Make a list of the information that is important and where it can be found. Think about financial information, insurance policies, documents, passwords, contact details and information about your business.

Keep this information in one central and secure place, and make sure that at least one trusted person knows where to find it. That way, you can prevent important knowledge from existing only in your head or on your laptop.

Is having a will the same as planning my legacy?

No. A will is an important part of your legacy, but your legacy involves much more.

You may also want to pass on personal wishes, digital information, practical details, memories and other important things. A will takes care of certain legal matters. In addition, you can create your own overview and provide information that helps your loved ones when they need to take over certain responsibilities.

Nothing should be lost?

It doesn’t have to be! Everything exactly according to your wishes. Why not sign up for a Life After Me trial account and start creating structure around everything you want to leave behind?