Resources and Guides

Conversation Guide

18 July 2025

Learn how to start meaningful conversations about legacy planning. This guide offers practical tips to help you share your wishes, appoint trusted persons and encourage your loved ones to begin legacy planning too.

It’s not easy to broach the topic of legacy planning - whether that’s about your own plans or encouraging someone else to make theirs Here’s some tips from us that may help!

How do I have conversations about my legacy plans?

Begin with your story

Everyone starts doing legacy planning for different reasons. A good way to begin these conversations is to share your personal whys - your motivation, your journey, and how it gives you peace of mind.

Break down your legacy planning into digestible topics

Legacy planning tools by life situation

If you lose mental capacity	If you pass away
Lasting Power of Attorney Activated when you’re still alive, but have been assessed to have lost mental capacity The person you choose has legal rights to make specific decisions on your behalf.	CPF Nomination Let CPF Board know how to distribute your CPF savings when you pass on. Making a CPF nomination is free and your nominees will receive their share quickly.
Advance Care Planning Allows you to record your healthcare preferences so that doctors and loved ones can reference it and know your wishes, should you lose the ability to speak for yourself.	Will Document how you want your estate to be distributed and dependents to be taken care of after you pass on, to avoid delays and disputes.

If you lose mental capacity

If you pass away

Lasting Power of Attorney

Activated when you’re still alive, but have been assessed to have lost mental capacity
The person you choose has legal rights to make specific decisions on your behalf.

CPF Nomination

Let CPF Board know how to distribute your CPF savings when you pass on.
Making a CPF nomination is free and your nominees will receive their share quickly.

Advance Care Planning

Allows you to record your healthcare preferences so that doctors and loved ones can reference it and know your wishes, should you lose the ability to speak for yourself.

Will

Document how you want your estate to be distributed and dependents to be taken care of after you pass on, to avoid delays and disputes.

If you need to ask someone to act on your behalf ...

Be clear & specific. Share with them the responsibilities tied with the nomination and assure them that it comes from a place of trust.
Express your appreciation for all that they’ve done that has led you to decide on nominating them whilst assuring them that if they don’t wish to take this on, your relationship stays the same.
Acknowledge that they may have concerns such as financial burden, scope of responsibilities and time frame, and make the effort to address them.
Share resources that may help them understand things better - such as our our legacy planning brochure (opens in new tab) , explainer video (below) or the My Legacy website (opens in new tab). End off by giving them time and space to decide and thank them for hearing you out.

Dont' forget other loved ones

It’s still important to communicate your decisions with other loved ones that you have not appointed to act on your behalf. This can ease future misunderstandings and ensure everyone feels respected and included.

How do I encourage someone to make their legacy plans?

Prepare for the conversation

It can be challenging to broach this topic, especially when the other person is reluctant to discuss it or has not thought about legacy planning. Respect their point-of-view and prepare for the conversation so that you have a reference to look at when the conversation gets a little difficult.

It helps if the conversation is initiated by someone close to them. If the person is a senior, you may also want to note terms in their preferred language.

Speak in a manner that connects

Acknowledge their concerns. Respect that there may be cultural taboos and address them as the conversation develops.

Identify key values they hold that may be good motivators for them to start, e.g. preserving family harmony, filial piety, etc.

Use simple language so that they understand what you are explaining.

If you’re up for it, offer to carry out the responsibilities relating to their legacy plans.

Introduce Topics Gradually

This might not be a one-day affair, and that’s ok. Break down the conversation into various topics you’d want to discuss and give them time and space to think about each before starting a new one.

Allow them to clarify with you or assist them in clarifying their questions with professionals or official sources.

For seniors, remember that they may require a slower pace in understanding a new topic.

Be There for Them, Beyond the Conversation

Even if you may not be the one nominated to execute their legacy plans, you can continue to be there for them.

Offer practical support by guiding them through the process, accompanying them for appointments, making these plans together, assisting with the paperwork and bridging the conversation with other loved ones.

At the end of the day, your care, effort and love will speak to them. All the best!