Financial advisers are now firmly in focus for Critical Info, a certified social enterprise service working to improve end-of-life planning and bereavement support across Australia.
Although well-established within the funerals sector, Critical Info Founder, Catherine Ashton, has identified that many advisers remain unaware of the tools her offer provides to help clients prepare for – and manage – the administrative and personal pressures that accompany a death. She says the organisation is increasing its engagement with the advice and life-insurance community to address this gap.
This expanded outreach aligns with a period in which many Australians begin reassessing their personal and family arrangements. Ashton notes that the Christmas and New Year period is often when families slow down and recognise gaps in their planning, including matters relating to ageing parents, health concerns, estate documents and unresolved life-administration tasks.
According to Ashton, advisers commonly see clients return in January feeling uncertain or unprepared in areas linked to insurance, superannuation, medical events and estate-related responsibilities.
Research conducted on behalf of Funerals Australia reveals 59% of Australians have never organised a funeral, and only 31% feel confident they could, despite 70% believing funerals play an important role in healing.
…lack of preparation contributes to additional strain for families already dealing with loss
Ashton says this lack of preparation contributes to additional strain for families already dealing with loss.
Critical Info’s structured planning platform covers 15 interconnected life areas, spanning financial, legal, digital, medical, personal and funeral considerations. Ashton says these areas are often left incomplete or undocumented, creating challenges for advisers and families when a death occurs.
Ashton also points to findings from Critical Info’s national pilot program, which reported findings that:
- 90% of participants took planning steps they had been avoiding
- 80% updated important documents, including wills, insurance, superannuation and medical information
- 78% found planning easier
- 70% had meaningful conversations with loved ones, often for the first time
According to Ashton, participants reported feeling less overwhelmed and more prepared for unexpected events.
She says advisers may benefit from clients who present with more organised information, clearer communication among family members and fewer urgent requests for documents during periods of stress.
She adds that December and January are the months in which families tend to gather, discuss health or care concerns, encounter administrative pressures or decide to focus on planning for the year ahead.
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