The Family Conversation Every Canadian Should Have Before 70

October 2, 2025 2 min read

Introduction
It’s one of the hardest conversations: talking to your adult children or grandchildren about your wishes, your estate and how you’d like things handled. But when retirees take the lead in this conversation, the result is often calmer, clearer and less stressful for everyone.

What’s unique for retirees in Canada

  • Estates in Canada often cross provinces (or even countries) and involve different legal structures. Having a unified, well-communicated plan matters.
  • Many Canadians delay documenting digital assets or simply assume the will handles everything—when it may not. For example, while some provinces now support fully electronic wills/signing (like BC) many do not.
  • A modern estate plan is more than a will: It’s a snapshot of where things are now, what you want, and who you trust. According to Inheritus, “Our solution offers two powerful tools—Estate360 and Legacy360—designed to provide a complete, streamlined view of an estate before and after death.”

How to start the conversation

  1. Share your values first: Before digging into documents, talk about what matters to you. Legacy isn’t just dollars and cents.
  2. Review the “whole-picture”: Use tools (like Inheritus’s planning tool) to show assets, documents, wishes — let your loved ones see you’re organised.
  3. Assign trusted roles: Who will be executor? Who will know where your documents are? Inheritus lets you designate trusted contacts and share access when appropriate.
  4. Digitise & share when ready: Ensure all documents (wills, powers of attorney, property titles, digital accounts) are uploaded securely, and that someone knows how to access them.
  5. Agree on updates: Your life evolves — changes in health, assets, wishes all happen. A conversation now may save major headaches later.

Why this matters for the family

  • Reduced conflict: Clear communication means fewer surprises, fewer family misunderstandings.
  • Faster execution: When executors have organized information, the process is smoother. According to Inheritus, the executor who uses Estate360 is given “a full, organized picture of the estate” instead of “sifting through scattered documents.”
  • Emotional security: Knowing you’re prepared does more than protect finances—it brings calm to you and your loved ones.

Tips tailored for Canadian retirees

  • Print or safely store the signed will in a lawyer’s office or with your personal records; even if you used digital tools, witness/signing rules matter.
  • If you have assets outside Canada (e.g., in the U.S. or elsewhere) — make sure jurisdictional issues are addressed. Inheritus supports multi-jurisdiction estates.
  • Consider including a “digital inventory” list: passwords, online accounts, cloud storage, subscription services — often overlooked.
  • Choose a trusted person (or two) to know about your planning — and show them how to access it (when the time comes).
  • Revisit your plan periodically. Life changes, tax rules adjust, digital assets evolve.


Make this the year you have that conversation. Visit Inheritus.com and set up your Legacy360™, then invite your family into the discussion. Give them clarity — and give yourself peace.

Richard Sanders, CPA, CA, CBV is a seasoned professional and Partner at a leading global Accounting firm, bringing over 35 years of invaluable experience to the advisory board. With a background in Accounting & Finance, he has demonstrated a keen sense of the challenges to business management and growth throughout his career.

Having held key partnerships with several Accounting firms, Richard has a proven track record of success in advising businesses in areas ranging from Audit to Internal Controls, Tax and Valuations. His strategic thinking has been crucial in guiding organizations through periods of startup and growth.

As an advisory board member, Richard provides strategic counsel and invaluable insights on Audit, Finance and Accounting. His expertise and vision play a vital role in shaping the organization’s strategy and driving sustainable growth over the long term.

Richard holds a Bachelor of Accounting & Business Management from the University of Toronto. He continues to stay at the forefront of the Accounting industry’s developments through ongoing education and professional development initiatives.

Richard’s passion for success and his commitment to guiding businesses make him an invaluable asset to the advisory board.

Bob is a distinguished leader in Software M&A, bringing over 40 years of invaluable experience to the advisory board. With a background in the Canadian & US Information Technology sectors, he has demonstrated a keen understanding of the challenges driving business innovation and fostering growth throughout his career.

Having held prominent roles within the Fortune 500, Bob has a proven track record of success in supercharging business growth. His strategic acumen and forward-thinking approach have been instrumental in guiding organizations through periods of change and transformation.

As an advisory board member, Bob provides strategic counsel and invaluable insights on business development, partnerships and strategic alliances. His expertise and vision play a vital role in shaping the organization’s long-term strategy and driving sustainable growth.

Bob holds a BSc in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Ottawa. He continues to stay at the forefront of the Information Technology industry’s developments through ongoing education and professional development initiatives.

Bob’s passion for excellence and his unwavering commitment to the Software Industry make him an invaluable asset to the advisory board, driving the organization’s mission and vision forward with clarity and purpose.

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