Your Estate Matters

After her mother’s death, Heather Nickerson inherited 6,000 square feet of belongings—and spent nearly two years figuring out what to keep, sell, or pass on. One Tiffany vase left her crying because she didn’t know its story. That experience led her to create Artifcts, a privacy-focused platform for pairing possessions with memories, documents, and plans for who should receive them. In this episod...

After a serious head injury left his father depressed and suicidal, Scott Cunningham spent years wrestling with anger, grief and the belief that his father’s death might have been a release. In this candid conversation, Nicole and her guest Scott Cunningham, co-host of the Dead Dads podcast with Roger Nairn, talk about complicated father-son relationships, the milestones that make a parent’s absen...

In this week's episode of Your Estate Matters, Nicole and guest Steve Parr, founder of Parr Business Law in Vancouver, explore a fresh approach to estate planning. Rather than treating it as a tedious legal chore, they encourage Canadians to view it as a meaningful, values-driven process. Steve shares how starting with personal conversations about family, legacy, and intentions leads to better...

In this episode of Your Estate Matters, Nicole speaks with financial planner Gary Preisser from Stonebriar Wealth Advisors about protecting retirement income through smarter planning. Gary introduces his "Cash Flow Clock" framework, which organizes assets into time-based zones based on when funds will actually be needed. Rather than relying on traditional portfolio allocations, this approa...

In this episode of Your Estate Matters, Nicole speaks with Caroline Derksen, founder of End with Care Vancouver, about the growing role of end-of-life doulas. Caroline explains how death doulas provide holistic, non-medical support to families navigating life-limiting diagnoses, medical assistance in dying, and the grieving process. She discusses practical services such as legacy projects, living...

In this episode of Your Estate Matters, host Nicole Garton speaks with Dmitri Vasilounis, a lawyer and trust and estate practitioner at RBC Wealth Management, about the growing importance of digital assets in estate planning. Together, they explore what happens to email accounts, social media profiles, cryptocurrency, and other digital holdings after death or incapacity. Dmitri explains key concep...

In this week's episode of Your Estate Matters, Nicole speaks with renowned Canadian tax, trust, and estate lawyer Amanda Doucette (The Tax Chick) about the often-overlooked tax implications of estate planning. Amanda explains how deemed dispositions, RRSP beneficiary designations, probate, and trusts can significantly impact what families ultimately inherit. She cautions against DIY probate st...

In this episode of Your Estate Matters, Nicole speaks with Katie Bennett, a master certified chair with Mackay CEO Forums and founder of Double Black Diamond Coaching, about the often-overlooked human side of business succession planning. With 76% of Canadian small business owners planning to exit within the next decade, yet only 9% holding a formal succession plan, the stakes are high. Katie shar...

In this episode of Your Estate Matters, Nicole interviews Steve Parr, founder of Parr Business Law, about the critical intersection of corporate law and estate planning for business owners. Drawing on his background as both an entrepreneur and lawyer, Steve outlines essential risk management tools — including wills, powers of attorney, shareholders agreements, and insurance. He also addresses toda...

In this episode of Your Estate Matters, Nicole speaks with estate planning lawyer Michael Scott, exploring the unique complexities business owners face when planning their estates. Michael explains why having a will and power of attorney forms the essential foundation, while also discussing advanced strategies such as estate freezes, family trusts, and probate fee avoidance. The conversation cover...

In this episode of Your Estate Matters, Nicole speaks with John Sandrelli, a seasoned restructuring and insolvency expert, about the complexities of insolvent estates in Canada. With consumer debt reaching a record $2.6 trillion, John explains why this issue is becoming increasingly relevant. He outlines the warning signs executors should watch for, the serious personal liability risks they face,...

In this episode of Your Estate Matters, Nicole speaks with Jen Murtagh, co-founder of Maturn and creator of the Brave Connectedness framework that she employs in her coaching practice Jen Murtagh Coaching. Jen shares her journey from C-suite executive to entrepreneur, shaped by burnout, divorce, and a life-changing heart disease diagnosis. Together, they explore how midlife transitions — retiremen...

In this week's episode, Nicole speaks with renowned therapist Alyson Jones about the complex relationship between money and couples. Together, they explore why financial conversations are so difficult, touching on emotional history, gender dynamics, power imbalances, and the taboo surrounding money. Alyson offers practical advice for improving communication, including regular financial check-i...

In this episode of Your Estate Matters, Nicole speaks with cross-border estate planning expert Jonah Spiegelman of Polaris Tax Counsel . Together, they explore the complex tax and legal challenges facing U.S. citizens living in Canada and Canadians with U.S. ties. Topics include annual U.S. filing obligations, estate and gift tax interactions, registered accounts like TFSAs and RRSPs, U.S. real es...

In this week's episode of Your Estate Matters, Nicole welcomes elder law expert Hugh McLellan to discuss estate planning for disabled beneficiaries in British Columbia. They explore the complexities of protecting inheritances and government benefits, the importance of trusts, and the role of representation agreements. Hugh highlights the need for early, individualized planning and explains the...

In this episode of Your Estate Matters, expert Kathleen Cunningham shares her extensive experience in elder law and estate matters. The discussion explores the complexities of elder abuse, undue influence, and financial exploitation, highlighting legal protections and practical steps for safeguarding vulnerable adults. Kathleen explains the roles of the Public Guardian and Trustee, designated agen...

In this week's episode, Nicole welcomes Frank Danielson, a seasoned personal CFO and wealth mentor. Together, they explore the complexities of managing and transitioning family wealth and businesses. Frank shares insights on the emotional and practical challenges families face, the importance of open communication, and the evolving role of a personal CFO. The discussion emphasizes holistic pla...

In our first episode of 2026, Nicole, interviews Vince Cardella, a seasoned financial advisor and co-founder and Principal at Promerita Group, about the vital role of life insurance in estate and business succession planning. They discuss the differences between term, whole life, and universal life insurance, the importance of disability coverage, and strategies for managing tax liabilities. Vince...

What happens when four decades of family and estate law collide with real-life lessons about love, loss, and legacy? In this compelling episode of Your Estate Matters , host Nicole Garton sits down with veteran litigator Angela Thiele, Partner at Lindsay Kenney LLP. We unpack what she’s learned after more than 40 years helping families navigate some of life’s most difficult transitions. Together,...

In today's episode of Your Estate Matters, Nicole speaks with Chris Martin, Managing Partner at Lindsay Kenney, about his journey in litigation and the evolving legal landscape in British Columbia. They discuss the shift to no-fault ICBC claims, economic pressures on legal practice, and the growing role of technology and AI. Chris shares insights on mentoring young lawyers, managing a midsize...

In this episode, Nicole interviews Dr. Julie Gowthorpe, a specialist in trauma and family dynamics. Dr. Gowthorpe explains the difference between simple and complex trauma, how early experiences shape relationships, and the impact of trauma on family conflict—especially during estate matters. She offers practical advice on self-awareness, communication, and breaking unhealthy cycles, emphasizing t...

In today's episode, Nicole speaks with Tim Hewson, co-founder of LegalWills, about the rise of online wills and their impact on estate planning. They discuss how technology is making wills more accessible, secure, and affordable, while also addressing common barriers and misconceptions. The conversation covers the benefits and limitations of online will services, the role of AI, and the growin...

In today's episode, Nicole and Greg welcome personal finance expert and host of the More Money podcast, Jessica Moorhouse. Jessica shares her journey from discovering money blogs to becoming a bestselling author and educator. The discussion explores the emotional and cultural factors shaping financial habits, the impact of family history, and the unique challenges millennials face. Jessica off...

What stories from your life or family deserve to be remembered 100 years from now? This week Nicole and Greg sit down with Mali Bain, educator, facilitator, and founder of NextGen Story Custom Publishing. Mali shares how she helps families transform life stories and histories into beautifully crafted books that preserve legacy across generations. From capturing the wisdom of elders to bridging gen...

In today's episode, Nicole and Greg chat with Denise Howell, Executive Director of Grants and Communications at the West Vancouver Foundation. Denise explains how the foundation connects donors with local initiatives, manages grant programs, and supports causes such as seniors’ care, youth programs, and the arts. She discusses the importance of legacy giving, how individuals can get involved t...