What happens to your pets if you're suddenly unable to care for them? For Childfree people with animal companions, this isn't just about planning for after you're gone. It's about having a solid plan for emergencies, temporary disability, and ensuring your pets get the care they need when you can't provide it.

Bri Conn, CFP® and Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP® tackle pet protection planning, from 155-pound English Mastiffs with special dietary needs to orange cats with attitude problems. They break down the difference between temporary care (you're in the hospital for three days) and permanent arrangements (you pass away), the legal reality that pets are considered property, how pet trusts work differently than wills, and Childfree Trust®'s 24/7 emergency response system that activates care plans the moment someone is hospitalized.

Key Takeaways:

• Temporary vs permanent care requires different plans: Emergency disability needs immediate pet care with existing sitters or facilities. Permanent arrangements require identifying long-term guardians willing to take animals with special needs, plus backup options like specialized shelters.
• Pet trusts protect animals beyond wills: Pet trusts ensure trustees oversee that guardians actually spend funds on your pet's benefit.
• Care documents enable emergency response: Document feeding schedules, medical conditions, allergies, medications, veterinarian contacts, and house access information so caregivers know exactly what your pet needs.
• The 3 C's framework: Caretaker, Communication, Critical information: Who takes responsibility, how they're reached in emergencies, and everything they need to know about food, medicine, behavior, and routines.
• Professional support fills the family gap: Childfree Trust®'s 24/7 emergency response activates care plans immediately when clients are hospitalized.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Protecting pets emergency checklist - Download it here
• Start your estate planning here - www.ChildfreeTrust.com

Episode Hosts:

Bri Conn, CFP® - Customer Experience Manager at Childfree Trust®. Bri has multiple backup caretakers lined up for her dog and maintains a detailed "doggy resume" with all care information readily accessible

Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP® - Founder & CEO of Childfree Wealth®, Childfree Trust®, & Childfree Insights. Jay's 155-pound English Mastiff has extensive special needs and a precise 5:00 PM dinner schedule, making detailed care planning essential.

About Childfree Insights

Childfree Insights is the trusted education hub for people who are Childfree or permanently childless. It provides guidance on finances, estate planning, relationships, and life decisions for adults without children. Home of Childfree Wealth and Childfree Trust, supporting long-term planning for people living without kids.

Connect with Us:

Ready to design your ideal Childfree life? Connect with our financial planning team at childfreewealth.com or learn more about estate planning at childfreetrust.com

Join the conversation on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childfreeinsights
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildfreeInsights/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/childfreeinsights
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChildfreeInsights

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes. Please consult your advisor before i

Who will make decisions for you when you can't? For Childfree people, that question has never had a good answer until now.

In this episode, Maddy Roche and Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP® introduce Childfree Trust®, the first nationwide professional fiduciary solution designed specifically for Childfree individuals. After three and a half years of research and development, Childfree Trust® solves a problem that's plagued the Childfree community: who will act as your medical power of attorney, financial power of attorney, executor, and trustee when you don't have the traditional next of kin most estate planning assumes you have?

Jay and Maddy break down the four crucial estate planning roles every person needs to fill, what really happens if you don't have these documents in place, and why relying solely on friends and family can put everyone in a difficult position.

Key Takeaways:

• Estate planning is about decisions while you're alive: The four critical roles, medical power of attorney, financial power of attorney, executor, and trustee, ensure someone can make decisions on your behalf during emergencies, cognitive decline, or after death.
• Childfree Trust® is the first nationwide professional fiduciary solution: Acting in all 50 states & DC, Childfree Trust® can serve as your medical power of attorney, financial power of attorney, executor, or trustee.
• Professional fiduciaries protect everyone involved: Even if you have someone willing to serve in estate planning roles, appointing Childfree Trust® as a backup gives your loved ones an out if circumstances become too challenging.
• Guarantees ensure lifelong protection: If you've been a client for 24 consecutive months and go on Medicaid, Childfree Trust® will continue making decisions on your behalf without billing you. Your decisions are protected even if you run out of assets.

Episode Hosts:

Maddy Roche - Chief Growth Officer at Childfree Trust® and responsible for all sales & marketing initiatives.

Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP® - Founder & CEO of Childfree Wealth®, Childfree Trust®, & Childfree Insights. After spending three and a half years researching estate planning solutions for Childfree people, Jay created Childfree Trust® to solve a problem no one else would address.

The Childfree Life By Design team just got back from CES in Las Vegas, and they're sharing everything: the coolest tech, the weirdest products, and what it's really like to run a booth at the world's biggest consumer electronics show.

From hip airbags and remote dementia diagnosis tools to robot dogs and AI-powered picture frames that clone voices, this episode covers it all. The team also reflects on community connections, including a special dinner with Childfree community members, and what they learned about the growing interest in Childfree resources from around the world.

Key Takeaways:

• Age tech is having a moment. Hip airbags, remote dementia diagnosis, subtitle glasses for hearing impairment, and exoskeletons for everyday use signal a shift toward technology that supports aging well.
• The Childfree mission resonates globally. International attendees and even parents expressed genuine interest in Childfree resources, confirming the team is on the right track.
• Community connection matters. The team dinner with Childfree community members was a highlight, reinforcing the value of gathering with people who just get it.
• Focus on the people who get it. Rather than convincing skeptics, spend energy on the millions who already understand and want to engage.

Resources Mentioned:

Tech Crunch Article: https://techcrunch.com/snippet/3081558/childfree-trust-was-one-of-the-sleeper-surprises-at-ces-unveiled/

Episode Hosts:

Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP® - Founder & CEO of Childfree Wealth®, Childfree Trust®, & Childfree Insights. Author of "The Childfree Guide to Life and Money."

Bri Conn, CFP® - Customer Experience Manager at Childfree Trust® and co-host. Bri joined the Childfree space after connecting with Dr. Jay while studying to become a CFP® professional.

Scott Barnes, CFP®, TPCP®, CLTC - Associate Advisor at Childfree Wealth®. Scott is the go-to expert for long-term care strategies and tax planning questions.

Maddy Roche - Chief Growth Officer at Childfree Trust® and responsible for all sales & marketing initiatives.

Alli Gage - Chief of Staff at Childfree Insights. Alli is the behind-the-scenes coordinator who ensures all organizations operate in an orderly fashion across the board.

About Childfree Life by Design:

Childfree Life By Design is dedicated to helping Childfree individuals thrive by providing resources, guidance, and community. We recognize that when you've made a decision roughly 75% of the population doesn't make, conventional wisdom simply doesn't apply to you. Our mission is to help you design a life that works for you, covering everything from finances and relationships to career decisions and building support networks that will actually be there when you need them.

Connect with Us:

Ready to design your ideal Childfree life? Connect with our financial planning team at childfreewealth.com or learn more about estate planning at childfreetrust.com

Join the conversation on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childfreeinsights
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildfreeInsights/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/childfreeinsights
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChildfreeInsights

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational & entertainment purposes. Please consult your advisor before implementing any ideas heard on this podcast...