My goal is to make it easy for anyone to create and update their life, love, and death documents. It’s not that hard, trust me.
About Jody
Jody Giles is a philanthropic strategist, CPA, Certified Financial Planner, and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy with over 25 years of experience guiding ultra-high-net-worth families through wealth advisory, estate planning, and strategic giving.
She is the co-founder of P150, a global community of more than 400 philanthropic advisors representing over $93 billion in capital, and has played a pivotal role in deploying more than $1.1 billion in philanthropic capital throughout her career.
She currently serves as Director of Operations for a private family foundation, overseeing grantmaking strategy and organizational growth. Born from personal experience and two successful Kickstarter campaigns, The After Files reflects her belief that estate planning should be accessible to everyone — not just the wealthy.
Across her career she has managed multi-generational foundation portfolios, facilitated a $30 million university collaboration to advance diversity in STEM, and championed estate plan updates for families at every level of wealth. She holds a Master’s degree in Tax Accounting and a certificate from Harvard Business School Online in Power and Influence for Social Impact.
Why I Wrote This Book
A few years ago, my best friend Nancy Lynn died suddenly after a routine heart procedure. We had both grown up in Texas. In the days that followed, her grown children let me know they’d found a copy of my book while searching her home — but could not locate any planning documents.
They did not find her wishes.
I watched them agonize over decisions no one should have to guess at while grieving. And I thought about how different it could have been if she had written even a few things down.
That’s why I wrote this book. Not to scare you. Not to make you feel guilty. But because I’ve seen, again and again, that it doesn’t have to be that hard. You just need someone to walk you through it.
Estate planning isn’t about perfection. It’s about intention. You don’t need every answer today. Even small steps matter more than you think. Each one is a quiet way of saying: I thought of you. I planned for you. I cared enough to do this now.
This book will meet you where you are. Take it at your own pace, and know that by the time you’re done, what once felt heavy will feel manageable — and already in motion.
“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.”
— Shannon L. Alder