Confidence in the Hard Conversations: Wills, Trusts & Preparing Your Family with a Death Readiness Plan (with Jill Mastroianni)

Most of us know we should have a will… but thinking about death, paperwork, and “what if” conversations can feel heavy and overwhelming. In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Jill Mastroianni, lawyer and host of the Death Readiness Podcast, to make estate planning feel clear, doable, and empowering, not scary. We cover: The plain-English difference between a will vs. a trust The biggest estate planning mistakes families make (and how to avoid them) What “death readiness” actually means and why it’s really about peace of mind The simplest first steps you can take this week (even if you’ve been avoiding it for years) If you’ve been telling yourself “I’ll deal with it later,” this is your gentle nudge to handle it now, so your future self (and your family) can breathe easier. Next step: hit play, and when you’re done, send this episode to the person you’d want beside you in an emergency. And if you want more episodes that blend confidence, clarity, and real-life systems, follow Between the Laugh Lines so you don’t miss what’s coming next. Here are some links to all the relevant shows Jill referred to in this episode: Episode 17: How Powers of Attorney Work, When to use them, and When it's too Late to Get One Episode 19: Why You Need (or Don't Need) a Trust Episode 22: What Every Parent Needs to Know When Their Child Turns 18 Episode 38: Why You Need (or Don't Need) a Will   For all the helpful tools Jill mentioned: www.deathreadiness.com  🎧 About the show: Between the Laugh Lines is where laughter meets life’s lessons. I’m Deb (Gen X, CPA/MBA, lifelong beauty + lifestyle lover), sharing honest conversations and simple routines that help you rebuild confidence, clarity, and identity in your “right now” season. ✅ Follow the show so you don’t miss new episodes. ⭐️ If this episode helped you, leave a quick review it helps other women find us. 📩 Want to connect or suggest a topic? DM me on Instagram @thedishwithdeb. Disclaimer: This episode is for education and encouragement only and is not legal, medical, or financial advice.