“Inheritances: When is it a good time to starting thinking about who will get yours?”

What do you care if you’re dead? Instead, let me give you a plan to make money from death. Talk your way into other people’s Wills!

Be nice to Aunt Helen. Go and mow Great Uncle Richard’s lawns once or twice a summer.

Hang on! Better idea! There’s got to be easy millions in the local bingo hall by playing nice with the old ladies there. Just don’t bother with my Grandma. That cupboard is bare. She’s already blown our family fortune on monthly credit card binges that would even make Paris Hilton blush.

Seriously, Gen Xers need to start on their estate planning now. It’s too late to do anything if you can no longer “fog up the mirror”.

Xers are starting to accumulate assets. A house with a mortgage, kids (though technically not assets, if they’re showing some sporting prowess …), a business and perhaps a few investments have been made.

Don’t assume everything will pass directly to your partner (if you have one). And if you’ve got the Brady Bunch family thing happening, have ex-partners, are gay, single or don’t like your family, then don’t leave it to the courts to decide what of yours goes where. You’ll probably roll in your grave.

Wills, though contestable, will help make sure your money goes where you want it to. Make sure your superannuation and life insurance policies line up with your will also.

And make sure you also get an “enduring power of attorney” organised. They are an important tool for that event (say a car crash) that renders you unable to make decisions for yourself.

Bruce Brammall is the author of Debt Man Walking (www.debtman.com.au) and a licensed financial adviser.