Estates Made Simple
Welcome to the “Estates Made Simple” Podcast, hosted by Gordon VanderLeek, a licensed lawyer specializing in wills, estates and trusts, and Jenna Carvalho, an estate and trust consultant with over 10 years experience helping families secure their assets and plan for the future. We are a bi-weekly podcast that discusses the complicated and often confusing world of estate administration. Our goal is to provide you with the insight, knowledge and resources to help you navigate this complex process. Every episode we bring our unique perspective to provide listeners with unbiased information and practical tips to ensure success and mitigate risk. Even if you are not an executor, there will be topics of interest as you consider planning options for your own estate. Join us for helpful tips and important information on navigating estate administration so you can achieve peace of mind as an executor or administrator.
Estates Made Simple
Estate Organization & Executor Prep: Insights from Melissa Best of Quick Estate
Episode Summary
In this special guest episode of Estates Made Simple, Gordon and Jenna welcome Melissa Best, a seasoned money manager turned tech entrepreneur, who shares her deep insight into why estate organization is often the missing link in a well-laid estate plan.
Melissa draws on 40+ years of experience managing high-net-worth portfolios and fiduciary accounts to reveal the most common executor challenges—and how her platform, Quick Estate, is helping fix them.
Whether you’re an executor, estate planner, or simply trying to get your affairs in order, this episode is packed with practical tips and aha moments on what to document, how to stay organized, and how to make life easier for your future executor.
Key Topics Covered
Why Estate Planning Often Falls Short
- 60% of North Americans don’t have an up-to-date will
- Naming the wrong executor causes major issues
- Most people don’t tell their executor they’ve even been chosen
What is Estate Organization—And Why Does It Matter?
- Estate documents (will, POA, directive) are essential, but they aren’t enough
- Estate organization means collecting and documenting everything an executor will need:
- Personal details (e.g. full legal name, SIN, citizenship, parent names)
- Contact info for beneficiaries, agents, and advisors
- List of assets and debts, including digital and joint assets
- Passwords, legal agreements, insurance policies, and more
Executor Realities: It’s Harder Than You Think
- Acting as executor is often a full-time job for a year or more
- Executors can be personally liable for mistakes—yes, even unintentional ones
- Proper preparation can significantly reduce professional fees, delays, and legal risk
A Peek into Quick Estate’s Tools
- Estate Organizer: Digital tool for individuals to input personal, financial, and legal info
- Executor Toolkit: Post-death resource with templates, checklists, and guidance to support executors through the full administration process
Don’t Want Software? Melissa’s Advice Is Simple:
- Use a notebook or Word doc to record key info—just keep it updated
- No need to share dollar values—just tell your executor where everything is
- A few hours of prep can save months of work for your executor
Final Thoughts
Melissa’s core message? Don’t leave your executor in the dark. Whether you use Quick Estate or a plain old notepad, estate organization is one of the best gifts you can leave your loved ones.
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:
Catch this episode and more on your favourite podcast platform, or watch the full video on YouTube.
🔗 Learn more about Melissa’s platform at QuickEstate.ca
💬 Have questions or topic ideas? Reach out to the team—we’d love to hear from you!
Until next time, thanks for tuning in to Estates Made Simple!
Hosts:
Jenna Carvalho
The smartest way to choose an executor.
Guardian Estate Company
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Gordon VanderLeek
Give your family a legacy of protection - Wills, Estates and Trusts.
VanderLeek Law
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