Tag: Children

The End of Life Checklist (Ep. 63)

The End of Life Checklist (Ep. 63)

In our last episode, we sat down with the Caring Hearts Support Network to discuss all things grief and the support they made available for those people going through these tough times. 

In this episode, we are going to unpack what you can do to prepare for uncertain times and what exactly should be on your end-of-life checklist. Whether you are creating your own or understanding the details of this plan for a loved one, it is important to understand where all of this information is as well as how you can use it to seamlessly transition into your next stage of life. 

Kris discusses:

  • The importance of communicating to your family members where your will is and when was the last time you updated it
  • Some important life changes that should encourage you to update your will
  • How life insurance comes into play during someone’s death (not all life insurance policies are the same) 
  • How you should be picking your power of attorney
  • The benefits of having a wealth organizer
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Kris Dureau:

Parenting & Child Development in the Era of a Pandemic with Dr. Dona Matthews (Ep. 43)

Parenting & Child Development in the Era of a Pandemic with Dr. Dona Matthews (Ep. 43)

Throughout the pandemic, the main focus has been on jobs, working from home, and the change in our day-to-day activities. 

However, what about our children? How have they been coping with the ebbs and flows of the pandemic?

In this episode, Kris Dureau speaks with developmental psychologist and author Dr. Dona Matthews to unveil how child development has changed over the past two years while outlining the value of mental health support and resources for parents and children.

Dr. Matthews discusses:

  • Ways the pandemic has changed childhood
  • The importance of incorporating mental health resources for children dealing with behavioral and academic problems
  • The value of parenting support for teenage children
  • Maximizing time between working from home and children
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Dr. Dona Matthews:

Connect with Kris Dureau:

About Our Guest: 

Dr. Donna Matthews loves working with parents and kids, helping them figure things out so they can live their best lives. She also enjoys working with teachers, helping them find their own best ways to support children’s and teens’ learning and well-being.

Dr. Matthews has also co-authored co-edited several books: 

  • Being Smart about Gifted Learning: Empowering Parents 
  • Kids Through Challenge and Change
  • Beyond Intelligence: Secrets of Raising Happily Productive Kids 
  • The Development of Giftedness and Talent Across the Life Span
  • The Routledge International Companion to Gifted Education

She lives in Toronto with her husband Stephen Gross and their blended family of four kids—Robin Spano, Alex Gross, Erin Kawalecki, and Ashley Gross—and their amazingly perfect spouses, as well as their children, her cherished grandkids: Theo, Sasha, Zoe, Jackson, Devon, Simon, and Riley.

37. Estate Planning for Families With Special Needs Children With Fred Ryall

37. Estate Planning for Families With Special Needs Children With Fred Ryall

Having a special needs family member carries unique, emotional, and financial concerns.

That’s why it’s important to work with a professional who understands exactly what you are facing.

In this episode, Kris Dureau welcomes Fred Ryall, an estate practitioner with more than 40 years of experience. For the last 15 years, Fred has worked with special needs children and adults to help them with their unique planning needs. In fact, he received the Queen Elizabeth the Second Diamond Jubilee Award from the Governor-General of Canada for his efforts.

Fred joins the show to share his insight about estate planning for families with special needs members. He explains the areas of the planning process that need to be considered and reveals why documenting details about a disabled child is so important.

Fred discusses:

  • The unique challenges families with special needs children face
  • What a Henson trust is and how it benefits those with special needs 
  • Easy ways to document and organize your child’s details 
  • Five key areas of the planning process he covers with the families he works with
  • And more!

Connect with Fred Ryall:

Connect with Kris Dureau:

About our Guest:

For over 35 years, Fred has been providing financial and estate planning advice for self-employed business owners, designated professionals, executives, and families to ensure social and family legacies.

Some of his recent professional accomplishments include receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award from the Governor-General of Canada for his planning with families who have special needs children. In 2007, he also received the Julia Award from Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

Fred has had the privilege to speak to several other special needs organizations including, Cystic Fibrosis Canada, Canadian Down Syndrome Society, ALS Canada, Autism Ontario, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, 18th Chromosome Deficiency, Alzheimer Society Canada, and the Peel Public School Board’s Special Needs Programs.