An estate planner has explained how he went from windows to will writing in a new book to be published soon, inspired by the tragic death of his friend in a motorcycle accident.
Steve Bish, from St Albans, lost one of his closest friends, Carl, in a scooter accident in 2001.
“At the time I was a 40-something managing director and the founder of a traditional timber window company. But I wasn’t particularly fulfilled or that happy in my work.”
The experience of losing Carl, who died without a Will, left Bish feeling helpless.
“Carl hadn’t made a Will. This meant his family had the tragic task of organising his affairs. They had to try and work out what he’d have wanted (within the rules of intestacy). As a friend I tried to help and advise the best I could by researching and passing on information I could find.”
The experience stuck with Bish, and when he later spotted an advert for a franchise offering, which included a full training programme to become a qualified estate planning practitioner, he decided to make the switch. He now runs S Bish Estate Planning from his offices in Hertfordshire.
In a bid to help others Bish has now penned a clear and accessible new guide called ‘Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way’ offering practical advice on areas including probate and inheritance tax, safeguarding children, pets, digital assets and more.
“This book is really about giving people clarity and confidence. It takes something we all tend to avoid and makes it manageable, even comforting. If it helps just one family avoid the pain I witnessed all those years ago, then it’s done its job.”
“I’ve tried to cut down the jargon and talk in plain English. Hopefully it may help reduce some of the stress and burden which families like Carl’s have to go through in their darkest hours.”
explains Bish. The book is designed to help readers understand key topics such as Wills, lasting powers of attorney, probate procedures and inheritance disputes, all written in plain English. It also tackles widespread misunderstandings around unmarried couples, blended families and DIY Will kits that often create complications later on.
Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way will be released soon and is designed for anyone who hasn’t yet made a Will, particularly parents, homeowners, and business owners, and offers straightforward tools to make life easier for those left behind.
“Today, I see buying that franchise as one of the best business decisions I’ve made.”
concludes Bish.
