Got a check for $51,000 in the mail yesterday. Settlement for the estate of Charles Peterson. I don’t know who Charles Peterson was. They tell me I’m his first cousin twice removed. My aunties think that means he was my grandmother’s cousin but they didn’t know who he was either really. Or what he did in his life or anything else. He lived in a mobile home in Port Angeles WA. with his cat, Squirty and had a $100 pickup and a Mustang (at 78 years old!) and 2 million dollars worth of stock.... and had NO will. Would have liked to met up with Mr. Peterson, find out if he was a Chuck, a Charles or a Charlie. I’m a pretty cool guy but I wonder if he would ‘a liked me $51,000 worth.

I’m urging you to make sure you don’t check out like this fellow if you have specific wishes for your life’s fortune. Just got off the phone with my daughter telling her where to find my new financial insturments so that’s a small step for me. My father passed away last fall but he’d been victimised by a stroke and ALS since he had set up a trust for his estate. Now my sister and I as well as his surviving wife have this vague entity to deal with that no one believes reflected what his wishes truly would have been. Sister and I believe however, that it was HIS accumulation, after all, and he could do anything he wanted with it. It’ll sort itself out but make sure whatever arrangements YOU have accurately reflect YOUR desires!.