Death and money are two of the most taboo topics in our society yet they are inevitable for all of us. So why don’t we talk about death and money more? The fact is, we’re all going to have to face our mortality and the mortality of the people we love. During the toughest times in our life, we will also be faced with an overwhelming amount of financial and logistical decisions. These decisions have the power to bring people together or tear families apart. That’s why our mission is so important!
Here on The Currency of Grief, we bring death and money to the forefront of the conversation. We’ll feature real life stories from real life people who have navigated the intersection of grief and money. Our guests are not celebrities, they are normal people just like you and me.
My name is Justin Weidenfeld, and I’m going to serve as your Grief Financial Officer on the journey that is The Currency of Grief Podcast. My purpose for this podcast is to normalize conversations around death and money, inspire you to have deeper conversations with your loved ones (while you can), act as a resource for people currently navigating a grief and money journey, and encourage listeners to approach their own legacy head on.
Whether you’re in the midst of your own grief and money journey or need a reality check about planning for the inevitable, this podcast is for you. Each episode provides heartfelt insights, logistical nuances and practical advice that will help you navigate financial and emotional adversity WHEN you are faced with loss.
The Currency of Grief Podcast will air biweekly on Fridays and can be listened to on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. I am grateful that you’ve decided to join me on this journey!
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Death and money are two of the most taboo topics in our society yet they are inevitable for all of us. So why don’t we talk about death and money more? The fact is, we’re all going to have to face our mortality and the mortality of the people we love. During the toughest times in our life, we will also be faced with an overwhelming amount of financial and logistical decisions. These decisions have the power to bring people together or tear families apart. That’s why our mission is so important!
Here on The Currency of Grief, we bring death and money to the forefront of the conversation. We’ll feature real life stories from real life people who have navigated the intersection of grief and money. Our guests are not celebrities, they are normal people just like you and me.
My name is Justin Weidenfeld, and I’m going to serve as your Grief Financial Officer on the journey that is The Currency of Grief Podcast. My purpose for this podcast is to normalize conversations around death and money, inspire you to have deeper conversations with your loved ones (while you can), act as a resource for people currently navigating a grief and money journey, and encourage listeners to approach their own legacy head on.
Whether you’re in the midst of your own grief and money journey or need a reality check about planning for the inevitable, this podcast is for you. Each episode provides heartfelt insights, logistical nuances and practical advice that will help you navigate financial and emotional adversity WHEN you are faced with loss.
The Currency of Grief Podcast will air biweekly on Fridays and can be listened to on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. I am grateful that you’ve decided to join me on this journey!
EP13: Josh Aronoff: The Unknown Unknowns - What Grief Taught Me About Estate Planning
The Currency of Grief
1 hour 14 minutes
3 months ago
EP13: Josh Aronoff: The Unknown Unknowns - What Grief Taught Me About Estate Planning
Josh Aronoff lost his father and found himself staring down a mountain of financial unknowns - outdated estate documents, scattered accounts, and the crushing pressure to make sense of it all while grieving.
Justin Weidenfeld sits down with Josh to talk about how stepping into fix-it mode became both a coping mechanism and a catalyst for change. As the oldest child and a naturally practical thinker, Josh took the lead in handling his father’s affairs, only to discover how little guidance exists when you’re dealing with loss, logistics, and legal complexities all at once.
Despite his background in law and finance, Josh quickly realized that navigating death brings a particular kind of stress and anxiety, not from financial decision-making, but from the overwhelming number of unknowns and lack of clarity in the process. This lived experience became the foundation for Herbie, a platform Josh co-founded to simplify estate planning and remove the emotional and practical burden from grieving families. Named after his dad, Herbie helps people avoid the chaos Josh faced by making organization, communication, and planning as straightforward as possible.
Josh and Justin’s conversation explores what it means to support others in their grief, how legacy lives in both memories and paperwork, and why having a plan in place is an act of love.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Why Death and Money Are Hard to Talk About
03:22 Josh’s Grief Story: Losing His Father and Facing the Unknown
09:38 Becoming the Emotional and Logistical Rock for the Family
23:20 When Finances Collide with Grief: The Wake-Up Moment
26:19 The Hidden Complexity of Organizing an Estate
30:01 Probate, Unknown Unknowns, and What No One Teaches You
47:26 Naming Beneficiaries vs. Relying on Legal Documents
57:20 Creating Herbie: A Platform Built From Personal Loss
1:07:23 Why Sharing Your Estate Plan Matters
1:14:02 Grief Mantra: One Bite at a Time
Links
Connect with Josh Aronoff:
Website: herbieplan.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-aronoff-3035a727/
Connect with Justin Weidenfeld:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-weidenfeld/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-currency-of-grief-podcast/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecurrencyofgrief_podcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurrencyofgrief
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCurrencyofGrief
Website: https://www.ironbridgewc.com/team/justin-weidenfeld
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
The Currency of Grief
Death and money are two of the most taboo topics in our society yet they are inevitable for all of us. So why don’t we talk about death and money more? The fact is, we’re all going to have to face our mortality and the mortality of the people we love. During the toughest times in our life, we will also be faced with an overwhelming amount of financial and logistical decisions. These decisions have the power to bring people together or tear families apart. That’s why our mission is so important!
Here on The Currency of Grief, we bring death and money to the forefront of the conversation. We’ll feature real life stories from real life people who have navigated the intersection of grief and money. Our guests are not celebrities, they are normal people just like you and me.
My name is Justin Weidenfeld, and I’m going to serve as your Grief Financial Officer on the journey that is The Currency of Grief Podcast. My purpose for this podcast is to normalize conversations around death and money, inspire you to have deeper conversations with your loved ones (while you can), act as a resource for people currently navigating a grief and money journey, and encourage listeners to approach their own legacy head on.
Whether you’re in the midst of your own grief and money journey or need a reality check about planning for the inevitable, this podcast is for you. Each episode provides heartfelt insights, logistical nuances and practical advice that will help you navigate financial and emotional adversity WHEN you are faced with loss.
The Currency of Grief Podcast will air biweekly on Fridays and can be listened to on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. I am grateful that you’ve decided to join me on this journey!
