At our meeting on May 21st, Rotary Papakura was treated to an exceptional presentation by local lawyer and author Wendy Hampton. We had an excellent turnout for the evening, which also included welcoming guest Tracey-Lee Dalton (but more on her later!).
Wendy is the author of two incredibly practical books:
Don't Leave a Mess; Leave a Legacy: A comprehensive "why and how" guide that walks readers through the critical areas that must be addressed when administering an estate.
The Estate Planner: A practical workbook designed to help individuals record all their personal details, assets, and wishes in one secure, centralized place.
And boy, do we need them!
Overcoming Procrastination: A Gift to Your Family
A recurring theme throughout Wendy's presentation was the common tendency for people to delay estate planning, often assuming it is something to be addressed "later." Wendy challenged this mindset, noting that unexpected events can occur at any stage of life and that being truly prepared is a profound gift to both your family and your executors.
She spoke with an impressive blend of deep legal knowledge, real-world anecdotes, and a great sense of humor to highlight the pitfalls that arise when we leave things to chance. As Wendy notes in her book’s introduction, while death is the one certainty in life, people are often incredibly reluctant to prepare a Will or an Enduring Power of Attorney. Often, it takes a sudden, stressful "trigger event"—like a health scare or the unexpected passing of a work colleague—to force someone to call their lawyer.
When planning is neglected, families are too frequently left facing missing paperwork, vague or conflicting instructions, or mountains of irrelevant documents to sort through during an already deeply emotional time.
"The best legacy you can leave your family and loved ones is a record of your personal details in one place, and the security that they know where to find that record and other important documents." — Wendy Hampton
A Structured Roadmap
Wendy's books offer a structured, highly practical way to capture everything from formal legal documentation through to personal history, education, and achievements. By organizing this information in one place, you effectively create a straightforward roadmap for those left to manage your affairs, ensuring your wishes are followed while vastly easing the administrative and emotional burden on your loved ones.
Rave Reviews from Members
The feedback from the night was overwhelmingly positive. As President, I received a large number of comments from attendees praising Wendy as one of the best, most informative, and engaging speakers we have had at Rotary in a long time.
The feeling was mutual; Wendy kindly thanked us for hosting her, commenting on what a great, welcoming group of people we have and praising the excellent, thoughtful questions asked by our members.
Get Your Copies Today
If you missed out on buying a copy at the meeting or want to secure them for your family, you can purchase them directly online.
Visit Wendy's website for book sales: www.wendyhampton.com
Do not delay—make a start and, as Wendy’s dad always told her, ALWAYS PLAN AHEAD!
