Abby Schneiderman - In Case You Get Hit by a Bus

In Case You Get Hit By A Bus

How to Organize Your Life Now for When Youre Not Around Later

Abby Schneiderman and adam seifer
founders of everplans
with gene newman

Dedicated to Doug, Joan, Aldo, and so many more who left us too soon and provided the inspiration that made this book a reality

F or more than ten years, we have been obsessed with helping people get their lives organized in case something unexpected happens. By far the most difficult part of our mission used to be convincing people that the unexpected actually happens. And that unexpected things could happen at any time, like getting hit by a bus, as our not-so-subtle title suggests. Then, at the beginning of 2020, the entire world was hit by a bus in the form of a pandemic. The unexpected, the very thing our company was built around, became reality for just about everyone on the planet.

Life as we knew it ground to a halt. Those families that could, hunkered down to minimize the impact, and most everyone feared the worst. Mostly, that fear was around catching COVID-19 and having it take us, like it has far too many others. We feared for our children and how to keep them safe, calm, and educated. We feared for our parents, some with existing health conditions, who would have to fend for themselves during a time when they needed us most. It seemed like everything was falling apart with a shocking quickness. The economy crumbled, leaving millions unemployed and wondering how theyd pay their rent or even afford essential items. Adding to the insidiousness was not being able to physically interact with so many people we loved, because doing so would risk everyones health.

But there were undeniable bright spots too: a warm text from a friend you lost touch with years ago; a post on social media from someone on the road to recovery; a former coworker checking in to see if you were okay. Group video calls with family members became the norm, a chance at least to see each others smiling faces (and poke fun at parents who spent half the call trying to figure out how to turn on their cameras or microphones). Birthdays, holidays, and graduations were celebrated remotely, but we could still be together. These were the moments that made us forget how tough everything had become and focus on whats really importantthe hope and strength we get from those we love, who themselves take strength from us in return.

The feelings of hope and despair that arise during a crisis can often motivate us to make lasting positive life changes. But as memories fade and normal routines return, that feeling of hope and purpose can diminish. This book is intended to help you renew, reinforce, and remind yourself of that hope for the rest of your life. We believe planning for your family and loved ones is the key. Our mission has always been to help as many people as possible prepare for the unexpected. That missionto help people ensure that their family isnt left unprepared when the unexpected strikeshas taken on an even greater, more solemn importance now. But really, it was always that way for us.

Everplans was born when Abby Schneiderman, one of our cofounders, was planning her wedding back in 2010. She used online sites like the The Knot (theknot.com) to keep everything in order, as so many do, when her brain switched from marriage to death for some reason. She wondered: Whats next? What other big life stages are there, and what other resources are there to guide people through them? Abby began researching and found plenty of resources to help people plan for the birth of a child, buy a home, send kids to school, and plan their finances and retirement. But after retirement planning, that was it. There was a big holedeathnot addressed. It didnt seem right that the only unavoidable life stage, and the most scary and overwhelming one, didnt have any helpful, down-to-earth resources or tools to guide people.

Abby, a repeat tech entrepreneur, got to thinking. She mentioned the idea to her friend and colleague, Adam Seifer, another tech veteran in New York. Together, we spent about a year researching the idea and were shocked at how little was available to help us prepare ourselves for the so-called worst. We got our friend and colleague Sarah Whitman-Salkin on board and began researching and writing about every aspect of end-of-life planning we could find.

Everplans was the result. And it grew quickly.

Then a tragedy occurred, one that would change the trajectory of Abbys family, and the company, forever. Her fifty-one-year-old brother was killed in a head-on collision by an impaired driver. Everything changed in an instant. Abby and her family were thrust into a position many families experience: They were shocked, heartbroken, and unsure what to do next. Her brother had made some financial arrangements, but her family had no idea what he would have wanted. And suddenly, they had to make all sorts of stressful (and expensive) decisions in an incredibly short amount of time.

A stark realization set in about Everplans, one that had been an elephant in the room for some time: In order to really make a difference for people at their time of greatest need, we had to help people get a plan in place ahead of time. That way, if a tragedy or emergency struck, their families would have easy access to everything they needed. We needed to create a digital platform to store information and guide people on how to organize the right things, create the right documents, and share them with the right people. Thats when we found Gene Newman, a longtime editor and writer who gave us the final thing we needed: an approachable and sometimes even funny voice unlike any other covering these tough topics.

Years later, Adam was put to the test when his mother received a tragic terminal diagnosis. Having a clear picture of what needed to be done, he helped her get everything organized and was able to make rapid, guilt-free decisions about her care. Most important, it afforded him more quality time with her at the end, and low-stress, reflective time with his dad and brother after her passing because all those loose ends had been tied up.

Over time, as more and more people started using Everplans, we realized the site wasnt about deathit was about life. Because getting everything organized lets you live to the fullest, knowing youre prepared for anything, having done your very best for those you love. And thats what youll find in this book: a plan to do just that. Its easier than you think.

O ne of the greatest frustrations of life is not knowing what youre going to need or when youre going to need it. We all have a general idea, but its almost impossible to keep everything straight. Now imagine a family member stepping in and trying to take over for you when they dont even know where to start.

This book will walk you through all the things you need to know and do and what decisions you have to make when you or those who will survive you need it most. The idea is for the crucial aspects of yours or a loved ones life to be in complete and clear order, so no one is left with a stressful mess to untangle.