How to Build a Financial Legacy: Reflections from In Good Company Presented by Empathy
In Good Company presented by Empathy is a new event series dedicated to normalizing conversations around life’s hardest moments and how to move through them. Each event brings diverse voices across industries and culture to the same table, so topics that usually feel isolating become more human, actionable, and shared.
Our inaugural event explored legacy and estate planning through both a personal and workplace lens. Empathy’s CMO, Cindy Goodrich, hosted Vivian Tu (Your Rich BFF) and Hebba Youssef (I Hate It Here Founder and Creator; Chief People Officer at Workweek) for an honest, practical discussion on why estate planning isn’t just paperwork—it’s a profound act of care for the people you love. You can watch the replay here.
Why estate planning, why now
Our research echoes the need: settling an estate can take ~18 months, and ~75% of U.S. adults don’t have a will, leaving families to navigate complex logistics while they’re facing emotional upheaval and change.
“Your estate plan is your guardian angel—during your life if something happens, and when you’re gone.” — Vivian Tu
The moments that stayed with us
Planning is an act of love
Personal stories, real stakes. Hebba shared losing her father and brother without plans in place—turning grief into a long, frustrating administrative ordeal. Her takeaway: don’t leave a mess behind for the people you love.
Vivian described initiating hard conversations with her parents: uncomfortable at first, essential in the end. The reframe that unlocked the discussion? “Do this because you love me, and because you don’t want me in and out of court for months.”
Legacy is for everyone (not just the wealthy or older generations)
Trusts and wills aren’t just for families in the 1%. They’re tools to make sure your wishes are honored—what goes to whom, when, and how. That includes non-financial assets (the baseball cards, the books, the heirlooms).
For younger people: start putting the infrastructure in place now. As life changes—with a partner, children, a home, or causes you discover — you can continue to update your plan.
The emotional + financial load at work is real and addressable
In the first year after a major loss, 90% report reduced productivity; 46% experience panic attacks in the first six months. Standard bereavement leave is 3–5 days—wildly misaligned with reality.
Loss is a team issue: one severe loss can ripple to ~9 coworkers.
Employers can lead with compassion and pragmatism: benefits that support estate planning, grief literacy for managers, and resources that reduce mental load help people return more steadily and sustainably.
“Benefits should meet employees at every stage. Estate planning belongs alongside 401(k)s, life insurance, and student loan support.” — Hebba Youssef
Practical takeaways you can act on today
For individuals & families
Start the conversation. Lead with care (“I want to make this easier for you, not harder.”) and share a simple “why now.”
Decide the big rocks. Guardianship, health directives, who makes medical/financial decisions if you’re incapacitated, and how/when assets should be distributed.
Document, then centralize. Create a will and (where appropriate) a trust; keep deeds, policies, beneficiaries, and directives together and clearly labeled. You should do this regardless of your age, income bracket, or zip code.
Calendar the refresh. Revisit annually and after milestones.
For employers & HR leaders
Audit the gaps. Map current benefits to life moments (caregiving, fertility, loss, financial wellness). Where does estate/legacy planning fit?
Train managers in grief literacy. Equip them with language, timelines, and hand-offs to benefits, so “I’m here if you need anything” becomes real support.
Offer navigational help. Provide access to tools and experts who simplify documents, decisions, and storage, reducing cognitive load when it counts.
What’s next for In Good Company presented by Empathy
We’re back in December with a special conversation on navigating grief during the holidays, featuring Dr. Becky (Good Inside) and David Kessler, Empathy’s Chief Empathy Officer. We’ll focus on practical ways families can support kids, parents, and each other through a season that can be joyful—and sometimes heavy.