The Survivor Assistance Handbook: A Guide for Financial Transition [Paperback]

Mark R. Colgan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2006

An invaluable reference for anyone experiencing the loss of a spouse or partner. By following this detailed financial roadmap, you will save time; more effectively manage the mountain of paperwork that follows death and safeguard your financial future by making better and smarter decisions about the estate. This third edition includes new estate management, IRA distribution and legacy planning chapters.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This Handbook is the most comprehensive guide compiled for people who have experienced the death of a loved one. --RUSSELL P. FRIEDMAN, Executive Director - The Grief Recovery Institute Educational Foundation and co-author of The Grief Recovery Handbook and When Children Grieve

Funeral directors, committed to aftercare, should take a closer look at this excellent book and consider offering it to clients. --SCOTT ANTHONY, CFSP, Vice President of New York State Funeral Directors Association

Mark's firsthand experience as a survivor empowers others in a most effective and appropriate way. --Susan Phillips, President/CEO, HospiceCare Inc.

About the Author

Mark Colgan, president of Colgan Capital, an independent financial services practice that specializes in serving the unique financial planning needs of families, widows, widowers and domestic partners. Mark has been a Registered Representative since 1993 and a Certified Financial PlannerTM (CFP) since 1998. He holds Series 7, 63 and 65 state and federal securities licenses as well as life and health insurance licenses. Prior to forming Colgan Capital, Mark served as vice president of McDonald Investments and was one of the youngest limited partners at Edward Jones & Co. He holds a BS degree in Finance from Rochester Institute of Technology and is a respected member of the Financial Planning Association. Inspired by the challenges he faced as a young widower, Mark authored The Survivor Assistance Handbook: A Guide for Financial Transition and created his website www.SurvivorAssistance.com which offers valuable advice and special services for individuals surviving the loss of a loved one. His newest initiative, www.PlanYourLegacy.com offers subscribers a variety of online services for recording one’s life story, making final wishes known, specifying memorial details and crafting time-controlled messages for survivors. His articles have been published in such national publications as The Journal of Financial Planning, American Association of Individual Investors, The Director, ABA Journal and Money Advisor, a Consumer Reports publication. He has been cited by Fox News, CBS Marketwatch and other media. Mark is a frequent national speaker and trainer to both individuals and professional planners on a wide range of financial planning issues including targeting professional services to this special niche market. For more information or to arrange a speaking or writing engagement, contact Mark Colgan at [phone].

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Eastside Financial Education (March 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972535608
• ISBN-13: 978-0972535601
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,696,035 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mark Colgan is Founder and CEO of Plan Your Legacy and President of Colgan Capital. The combination of his personal and professional background gives him a unique perspective on financial and legacy planning. In 2001, he was a successful Certified Financial PlannerTM professional who'd been married to his wife, Joanne, for seven years. When she died unexpectedly at the age of 28, Mark's wonderful life was dramatically changed forever.

Inspired by the challenges he faced as a young widower, Mark authored The Survivor Assistance Handbook: A Guide for Financial Transition. Mark also founded Plan Your Legacy, a company dedicated to helping individuals live and leave meaningful legacies by building legacy plans that reflect and preserve their values, life lessons, memories and final wishes.

Today, Mark is a national speaker and an often-cited expert on legacy planning. His articles have appeared in such national publications as U.S. News and World Report, The Journal of Financial Planning, American Association of Individual Investors, and Money Adviser, a Consumer Reports publication. He has also been cited by Fox News, CBS MarketWatch, Oprah and Friends, and other national media

On a personal note, Mark and his current wife, Kathy, have two beautiful young children and reside in upstate New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A necessary Guide for survivors ., May 16, 2003

By 

Brian Card (Indialantic, Florida 32903) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Survivor Assistance Handbook: A Guide for Financial Transition (Paperback)

If your loved dies suddenly or you know its coming this is the essential book to read about handing the situation.

A compact guide on what to do when and how. It brings together in one easy to read and understand format the information you will need immediately after a death and later on.

This is a book to have on hand as you would have a dictionary.

When my mother died I found it was dificult to get the information I needed. Laywers can be very expensive. If I had this book it would have saved my time and money.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A necessary reference guide., June 5, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Survivor Assistance Handbook: A Guide for Financial Transition (Paperback)

How would you hendle the death of a loved one? For me, until I read this book, I wouldn't have had a clue! I think this book makes sense for anyone who is going through the financial transition that death brings to survivors but also to anyone who wants to be prepared for the event. Think about it...we will all eventually have to face this, why not be prepared? This book covers more details than I would have thought of, and I work in the financial industry. I think a major plus to this book is that is gives definitions, addresses, phone numbers, web addresses, etc... of all the things and places you will need to know about. I would highly recommed this publication.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical, March 16, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Survivor Assistance Handbook: A Guide for Financial Transition (Paperback)

Although the book origionally seemed small for the price I discovered that it had a lot of information. It covered everything from how to handle my husband's car lease to estate processing and identity theft. It was also well written and had a easy to follow format.