Money Tree Investing End of Life Planning: Creating a Legacy That Lasts with Dr. Kimberly Harms
Sep 26, 2025
Dr. Kimberly Harms, a grief counselor, death doula, and life coach, shares her journey from dentistry to supporting families through end-of-life planning. She highlights how avoiding conversations about death can lead to conflict and emphasizes the importance of clear wills and healthcare directives. Dr. Harms discusses creating a meaningful legacy, focusing on love, resilience, and life skills for future generations. She encourages open family discussions about death to prevent misunderstandings and offers practical tips to prepare emotionally and practically.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Career Pivot After Personal Loss
- Dr. Kimberly Harms left a 30-year dentistry career after nerve damage and personal loss and retrained as a grief counselor and death doula.
- Her lived experience drove her focus on preparing families for death to prevent conflict and preserve legacy.
Healthcare Directive Prevented Conflict
- Jim, Dr. Harms's husband, completed a healthcare directive stating he wanted to die at home and avoid returning to hospital life support.
- That directive allowed a peaceful home death and prevented family arguments about his end-of-life care.
Prepare Now: Four Practical Steps
- While healthy, build your legacy, talk about death, get affairs in order, and resolve emotional baggage like forgiveness and reconciliation.
- Create a will, health care directive, and a letter of intent to explain your decisions and reduce family conflict after you die.