EP34: Vincent Valeri: Overcoming a Culture of Silence

EP34: Vincent Valeri: Overcoming a Culture of Silence

He was trying to be present for his father’s final weeks while carrying the legal and financial responsibility of what would come next.   That's the reality Vincent Valeri faced in the winter of 2022, and on this episode of The Currency of Grief, host Justin Weidenfeld gives him the space to tell it honestly. When Vincent's father Vincenzo was diagnosed with stage four bile duct cancer in December of that year and given six to eight weeks to live, Vincent had to hold two roles at once. He was the grieving son and the person legally responsible for closing out a complex, imperfectly planned estate.   Executor responsibilities after death don't wait for grief to pass. Vincent learned that quickly. In the weeks that followed, he was simultaneously updating beneficiaries, getting the matrimonial home properly titled, meeting with accountants about holding companies and crossing fiscal years, and making legal decisions on a timeline no one plans for. By the time his father passed in February 2023, Vincent was facing multiple tax filings and what became a 26-month probate process.   What makes this conversation so valuable is Vincent's candor about grief and estate planning from the inside. He talks about the invisible wall of cultural respect that made hard family conversations about death nearly impossible, the loneliness of being an executor, and the painful gap between what he knew professionally and what his father had actually put in place.   The practical lessons here are real. Update beneficiary designations. Get both names on accounts before it's too late. Know what a bank will and won't let you do when someone can't come in to sign. Understand that executor responsibilities after death include decisions you'll be making without the person who should have made them.   Vincent closes with something simple and true: It's going to be okay. Not as a platitude, but as something he had to find his way back to.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Welcome to The Currency of Grief with Vincent Valeri 03:30 Vincenzo Valeri: An Italian Immigrant Who Built a Life in Canada 06:25 Getting a Terminal Diagnosis and Knowing the Estate Wasn't Ready 10:21 How Italian and Canadian Culture Shapes Family Conversations About Death 20:34 Executor Responsibilities After Death: What No One Tells You 30:16 The First Financial Steps to Take After a Terminal Diagnosis 34:36 Holding Companies, Blended Families, and Complex Estate Situations 47:15 When Siblings Have Unequal Information About the Estate 58:12 Why Family Meetings Are the Foundation of Good Legacy Planning 1:09:33 Words of Wisdom for Anyone Facing a Parent's Terminal Illness Connect with Vincent Valeri: Visit the Valeri Associates website [https://www.valeriassociates.com/about] Connect with Vincent on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincentvaleri/]   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/] Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-currency-of-grief-podcast/]  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast]  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurrencyofgrief]  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheCurrencyofGrief] Visit Justin’s website bio [https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld] Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm [http://hivecast.fm]

EP33: Richard Wood: "He’s Only Gone Physically," Honoring Spencer’s Legacy of Kindness

Grief after losing a child doesn't follow a script, and no one knows that better than Richard Wood.   Nearly 20 years ago, Richard's 22-year-old son Spencer died in a sudden unexpected loss that changed everything. There was no warning, no goodbye, and no roadmap for what came next. In this episode of The Currency of Grief, host Justin Weidenfeld sits down with Richard to talk about how a father carries that kind of loss forward, through marriage, through raising daughters, and into a season of life where seven grandchildren now grow up hearing Spencer stories.   Richard is a father who held his family together while quietly falling apart. His wife grieved through anger. Each of his daughters found their own painful path. Richard himself never went a single day without telling someone a Spencer story. He didn't move through the stages of grief in any tidy order, and he's honest about why that is. Grief after losing a child is shaped by the relationship you had, and no two relationships are the same.   The conversation gets into what people get wrong when supporting someone who is grieving. Richard has heard every well-meaning platitude and he handles them with patience. His advice is straightforward. Show up. Say you're sorry. Then stop talking and listen. Not just in the first week, but for months afterward when everyone else has moved on and the person grieving is left alone with it.   Faith played a quiet but significant role in Richard's journey. He didn't expect to find it the way he did, but losing Spencer revealed a depth of belief he hadn't known was there. It didn't erase the pain. It gave him somewhere to put it.   A fraternity brother once said that Spencer was not just someone people knew. He was someone who changed the way life felt when he was around. That comment became the foundation for something Richard has kept alive for two decades. Every year at Cal Poly, a student is anonymously nominated by peers for how they live and how they treat others. They never apply for it. They simply get chosen because of their kindness. Richard has watched that scholarship outlive an entire generation of Spencer's college friends because it stopped being about Spencer specifically and became about everything he represented.   This episode is for anyone who has experienced losing a son, a daughter, or any person they weren't ready to live without.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Welcome to The Currency of Grief 02:22 Richard Wood's Story and Why He Shares It 06:40 Who Spencer Was and the Family He Left Behind 08:59 Grief After Losing a Child and Why Time Does Not Heal 16:23 How Every Family Member Grieves Differently 19:05 What Not to Say to Someone Who Is Grieving 22:28 The Grief Cliff and What Happens When Support Disappears 23:32 The Lifestyle Scholarship and Honoring Spencer's Memory 42:14 Financial and Practical Advice for the First Year of Grief 47:28 Faith, Hope, and Love as Pillars of the Grief Journey Connect with Richard Wood: Visit The Compassionate Friends Org Website [https://www.compassionatefriends.org/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=28680640&gbraid=0AAAAAD40kqDlWt40dhr2qt4WmrUPp18B0&gclid=CjwKCAjwqazPBhALEiwAOuXqdMPmtV-Ayd2ZWAkaDerJdr3_RSJXL3H3ShI8Q1PXP8NL2icZpDrFCxoCnjIQAvD_BwE]   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/] Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-currency-of-grief-podcast/]  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast]  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurrencyofgrief]  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheCurrencyofGrief] Visit Justin’s website bio [https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld] Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm [http://hivecast.fm]

EP32: Davis Wilkinson: The Brother He Lost and the System He Rebuilt, Heirloom

Estate settlement after death is one of the most overlooked burdens grieving families face, and on this episode of The Currency of Grief, host Justin Weidenfeld sits down with Davis Wilkinson, CEO and founder of Heirloom, to talk about why that burden exists and what it actually costs families to carry it alone.   Davis's story starts with sibling loss and grief. His older brother Adam died of a methadone overdose in 2009, when Davis was just 14. He spent the next decade in emotional repression, not out of indifference but out of sheer incapacity. It wasn't until his mid-twenties, after leaving the Mormon church and losing the theological certainty that he'd see Adam again, that the grief finally caught up with him. What followed was years of intensive therapy and a hard-won understanding of what it means to grieve on your own timeline.   The conversation moves naturally into grief and money when Davis describes watching his mother navigate the estate administration process after Adam's passing. That experience became the foundation for Heirloom, a platform designed to support executors through one of the most logistically overwhelming roles a person can be asked to fill while also managing loss.   Davis talks about asset discovery, the staggering volume of unclaimed assets in the United States, and the systemic gaps that leave families without clear guidance at the worst possible time. Right now, there are no enforced standards for how banks treat executors during estate settlement after death, and he makes a clear case that this gap is costing grieving families more than just time.   This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered why handling a loved one's affairs feels so impossible, and for anyone who needs to know they are not alone in finding it that way.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction to The Currency of Grief 02:02 Davis Wilkinson and the Story Behind Heirloom 03:45 Sibling Loss Grief: Losing a Brother to Drug Overdose 09:54 Childhood Grief and Emotional Repression 17:29 Finding Support and Coping After Loss 19:55 Leaving the Mormon Church and Facing Grief for the First Time 21:57 Estate Settlement After Death: What Davis's Mother Faced 45:04 How to Fix the Estate Administration System 49:16 Unclaimed Assets and What Families Are Missing 51:44 What Executors Need and How Heirloom Helps 55:50 How Loss Changes Your Approach to Life and Planning 58:35 Words of Wisdom for Anyone Navigating Grief Connect with Davis Wilkinson: Visit the Heirloom website [https://www.heirloom.care/] Connect with Davis on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davis-wilkinson-38988a73/]   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/] Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-currency-of-grief-podcast/]  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast]  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurrencyofgrief]  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheCurrencyofGrief] Visit Justin’s website bio [https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld] Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm [http://hivecast.fm]

EP31: Who’s Got Ball? Building Your Roster and How to Have That Hard Conversation

Most people spend more time planning a vacation than choosing who will manage their estate.   In this solo episode of The Currency of Grief, host Justin Weidenfeld, your grief financial officer, walks through the roles that shape what happens to your estate, your medical and financial decisions, and your family dynamics when life changes without warning. This episode is about the people you put in charge and what saying yes to that role means.   Justin breaks down each role on your planning team. The executor who carries out your wishes after death. The trustee who manages assets over time. The POA who steps in during incapacity. He is also clear about something people often avoid. The right person for each role is rarely the person you love most.   You will hear why naming co-executors often creates delays and conflict, why emotional closeness does not always mean someone is equipped to make hard decisions, and why putting every role on one person can lead to burnout. Understanding the difference between an executor, a trustee, and a POA can change the way you think about estate planning.   Justin also gets into the part people do not talk about enough. How to start the conversation. Whether you are a parent trying to prepare your heirs or an adult child trying to bring this up without making it feel threatening, he shares practical language you can use.   These roles do not fill themselves after loss. The people who love you deserve more than guesswork. If you want your estate plan to feel clear, thoughtful, and easier for the people you love, this episode is a strong place to start.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Estate Planning Basics and Why Roles Matter After Loss 02:21 Medical Power of Attorney and End-of-Life Healthcare Decisions 04:48 Financial Power of Attorney, POA Types, and Incapacity Planning 07:08 Executor Responsibilities in Estate Administration After Death 09:29 Trustee Duties, Successor Trustee Roles, and Trust Management 16:43 Guardian Selection and Estate Planning for Minor Children 21:34 Common Estate Planning Mistakes That Create Family Conflict 31:10 Why Families Avoid Estate Planning Conversations 35:46 How to Talk to Heirs About Estate Roles and Wishes 45:05 How Adult Children Can Ask Parents About an Estate Plan   Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/] Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-currency-of-grief-podcast/]  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast]  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurrencyofgrief]  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheCurrencyofGrief] Visit Justin’s website bio [https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld] Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm [http://hivecast.fm]

EP30: Peter Johnson: Sibling Inheritance Conflict and How Family Legacy Conversations Can Prevent It

Please note this episode discusses drug use and domestic violence.   Sibling inheritance conflict rarely starts with money. It often begins in the space where grief, silence, and unspoken expectations live. On The Currency of Grief, host Justin Weidenfeld sits down with Peter Johnson to share what unfolded after his mother’s brain cancer loss and how that experience shaped his work at the intersection of grief and money and the human side of legacy.   This conversation challenges a common belief that family estate planning will keep families aligned. Peter explains why documents alone are not enough. Without shared understanding and trust, sibling inheritance conflict can still surface, even in families that believe they are prepared. His story brings attention to the real gap, which is the absence of family legacy conversations that clarify values, expectations, and how decisions are meant to be understood.   Peter introduces the idea that connection after loss is something people can actively build, not something that happens on its own. That shift matters for anyone dealing with caregiving, inheritance decisions, or strained relationships. If you want a clearer perspective on what helps families stay connected, this episode offers a place to start. It also reinforces that preventing sibling inheritance conflict begins well before any legal plan is put in place.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Welcome to The Currency of Grief With Justin Weidenfeld and Peter Johnson 03:22 Why Connection Is the Real Currency in Grief 08:58 Grief Anxiety, Panic Attacks, and Emotional Survival After Loss 11:16 Men’s Groups, Therapy, and Finding Support After Grief 17:30 The Three Turning Points That Shaped Peter Johnson’s Legacy Work 23:18 Brain Cancer Loss, Estate Administration, and Sibling Inheritance Conflict 30:21 Receiving Inheritance at 21 and the Emotional Side of Money 34:28 Why Family Estate Planning Fails Without Mentoring and Communication 43:30 Family Legacy Conversations That Could Prevent Estrangement 49:38 The Human Side of Estate Planning and How Families Avoid Court 1:04:21 Grief Advice for Sibling Conflict, Loss, and Connection After Loss Connect with Peter Johnson: Get a copy of “The Little Book of Family Treasure” [https://www.amazon.com/LITTLE-BOOK-FAMILY-TREASURE-Connection/dp/1603530339?adgrpid=180038482722&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=748008426882&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10018878634936332963&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9012027&hvtargid=dsa-2414841787086&hydadcr=&mcid=&hvocijid=10018878634936332963--&hvexpln=m-dsad&tag=googhydr-20&hvsb=Money_d&hvcampaign=dsadesk] Visit Peter's website [http://www.pwjohnson.com] Visit the Family Nature Treats website [http://familynatureretreats.com] Visit the Collaborative Practice website [https://www.collaborativepractice.com/] Connect with Justin Weidenfeld: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/] Follow The Currency of Grief on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-currency-of-grief-podcast/]  Follow The Currency of Grief on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast]  Follow The Currency of Grief on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurrencyofgrief]  Subscribe to The Currency of Grief on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheCurrencyofGrief] Visit Justin’s website bio [https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld] Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm [http://hivecast.fm]