Turning Personal Loss into a Blueprint for Family Preparedness with William Holditch

Turning Personal Loss into a Blueprint for Family Preparedness with William Holditch

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Alright. Welcome back to the Daily Mastermind, George Wright II with your daily dose of inspiration, motivation, and education. And I'm excited to talk to you today about what you're gonna learn and you probably know is a hundred million person silent and baby boomer generation that is going into an area of wealth planning and end of life planning and strategic planning.

And I've got an expert with me today. His name is William Hoch. How are you doing, William?

I'm doing great. Thanks.

I'm so glad to have you here because you've got a great book on Amazon. It's a topic that a lot of people don't think about, but it's a topic that has become a very big source of stress, anxiety, which it doesn't need to be. And so we're gonna talk about that a little bit today with your book. But you have a pretty diverse background from growing a multimillion dollar family business to firefighter EMT to an author educator and now even traveling around the world in your sailboat. Can you do me a favor for the people that are just tuning in, can you give us a little bit of your background and just lay the foundation of what brought you to, what is your current mission and purpose around this topic we're gonna talk about today?

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A Journey Sparked by Personal Loss and Professional Experience

So I grew up in Austin, Texas. I went to college at Texas A&M and got my bachelor's in Farm and Ranch Management, which is a small business entrepreneurship. I left there and ended up working for the family business, which was a full-service event rental company. So we did multimillion dollar weddings, corporate events, government events, political events, F1 racing in Austin, Texas from 1998 to 2017.

It was a wonderful time to be in business and we grew the business from $1 million to $11 million. And we were fortunate enough to sell up for a private equity company. My dad was able to retire with more money than he knows what to do with, which is amazing. But unfortunately during that timeframe, my mom came down with pancreatic cancer and was a very quick process.

And next thing we knew mom was in hospice. And I remember sitting there looking at my sister going, does mom have funeral plans? And my sister was like, no, mom doesn't have any funeral. I don't know. And so we quickly had to like, run around and do funeral plans in the middle of doing hospice.

So a very stressful time. And on top of that, we had to figure out what we were gonna do with mom afterwards. And so that was a very kind of stressful time in our life. And then life settles back down and we'd sold the business and I took this amazing job with this company out of Virginia.

And life was great. And they offered me an executive leadership position. And so I was getting ready to move the whole family to Virginia when my uncle passed away quite suddenly. I remember standing at the funeral and I heard my aunt say to her daughters, I don't even know where the checkbook is. I don't know where our money is. I don't know how to pay the gas bill, the light bill. I don't know any. And her daughters were like, it's okay, mom. We'll figure it out together. And it took 'em about a year to put all the pieces together of what was going on. But they did.

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Firsthand Encounters with Crisis Planning

And then we got to Virginia and we'd been there about six months and life was amazing. The job was amazing, the company was amazing, and the pandemic hit. And our company went from a hundred million dollars company to a $20 million company overnight, and they fired two thirds of the workforce. So there I am in Virginia, just north of DC. My wife is an ICU nurse. And what do I do?

Our, we had a local fire department and so I joined the fire department to help out with all the calls they were getting because there were COVID calls and all these things going on. And they sent me to firefighter EMT School, which was a fun time. Loved it. 47-year-old rookie in firefighter school. It was great.

And so we would go into these people's houses and they're having respiratory failure. They're obviously having COVID, but they're by themselves. We know nothing about this person. So we grab their purse, we grab their wallet, we grab their phone, put it in the ambulance with them.

And off we go to the hospital. And we are like, here's the body, here's the person, here's their stuff. We know nothing about this person. Good luck.

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From Crisis to Creation: How the Workbook Was Born

And then two years ago, my dad had a heart attack—small heart attack. Not a huge deal, but a big deal. And I remember being on the phone with my sister going, “Hey, what do we know about Dad?” And she's, “What do you mean?” I said, “Dad's a Vietnam vet. Do we know if he's got VA benefits? Does he have long-term care?” She was like, “I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.”

So after five minutes of my sister saying “I don't know,” I was like, stop.

So I sat down that night and I wrote out 168 pages of questions—things I thought we should know about Dad. I used what I learned from the party rental business doing gap analysis on events, from my EMT training doing patient assessments, and my general life knowledge. That became the basis for the book.

Three major sections: personal information, medical history, and financial information. These are all the things you need to advocate for your loved one when they're past the ambulance ride and in long-term care, a nursing home, or a memory care unit. Places where they could be living for years.

Yeah. And it’s interesting because you’ve mentioned a few things, but you also mentioned you went through this. Most people don’t even know what they’re supposed to know when it comes to end-of-life. They don’t know the questions to ask. You're saying your book fills that gap—a plan that helps people find peace of mind. So was it designed as a workbook that walks people through the process?

So it's a fill-in-the-blank workbook—an 8.5 x 11 workbook that you're really supposed to write in. It starts with personal information: name, Social Security number, driver’s license, address—basic details.

Then it moves to preferences. What do they like to eat? Are they vegan, paleo, vegetarian? And it builds from there. Toward the end, it gets into living wills, DNRs, and legal documents. But it starts with basic preferences because the reality is, once your loved one is incapacitated, someone has to answer those questions for them.

And if you want to make sure your loved one gets the care they’ve earned and deserve, you’ve got to be able to answer these questions quickly. Otherwise, it delays care and causes major problems.

Exactly.

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Bridging the Gap Between Need and Market

What I love about your approach—and the reason I wanted you on the show—is that you bridge education with action. Most innovation comes from identifying a need. When did you realize this workbook was more than just a personal tool and actually a business?

Yeah. So when I wrote it, I put it on the shelf. I thought, “My dad will never fill this out.” He's from the silent generation—doesn't talk about money or death. So I figured it’d just sit there.

But then I was over at my son’s house. His wife and I were talking, and I mentioned this workbook. She looked at me and said, “You did what?” I explained it and she said, “Where can I buy this? I need this right now. I’m struggling with my mom.”

That’s when it hit me. I looked at my wife and said, “We might be on to something.”

So I added a forward, an explanation, and started figuring out how to publish. I live on a 43-foot sailboat—there's no room for stacks of books. So I researched print-on-demand and found Woodbridge Publishing. They helped me get it formatted, edited, copyrighted—everything.

We went live on Amazon April 1st. Now when people say, “Where do I get it?” I can just say, “Right here,” and they pull it up on their phone.

That’s incredible. You acted on a real-world problem, and it became a valuable resource. And let’s talk about scope. Most people don’t realize how massive this market is. Can you paint a picture of the scale of what we’re facing here with wealth transfer and aging care?

Between the silent generation and baby boomers, we’re looking at 100 million people born between 1925 and 1965. And there’s around $100 trillion in wealth about to be transferred to Gen X and Millennials.

But here's the catch: much of that wealth will get eaten up by care costs. Memory care and nursing homes cost $4,000 to $6,000 a month. And for many families, their house is their largest asset. If you sell that to pay for care, it goes fast.

There’s also huge private equity investment going into elder care—assisted living, visiting caregivers, memory units. Smart money sees the revenue stream coming. The only way to protect your family’s resources is to plan ahead.

Absolutely. And there are deeper challenges too, like family disputes over medical choices. I remember you mentioned a powerful story from your time as a firefighter. Can you share that?

Yeah. One night on shift, we responded to an 80-year-old woman in cardiac arrest. We started CPR. One daughter was screaming, “She has a DNR!” The other daughter screamed, “Save my mom!”

My officer said, “Unless you can show me a signed paper DNR, we have to do CPR and transport her.”

They couldn’t find it. So we had no choice.

I tell people: if you have a DNR, put it in a clear plastic sleeve taped to the fridge or walker—somewhere visible. If no one can find it, it’s as if it doesn’t exist.

Exactly. And the expenses that pile up when emergency care is triggered without a DNR can be enormous. This all circles back to your message: have a plan. And the conversation starts with a tool—your workbook. What would you say is the best way for listeners to begin this difficult process with a loved one?

It’s tough, especially with elders who think you're trying to control their life. You’re not. So here’s the first step:

1. Buy the workbook.
   
   
2. Sit down with your loved one and say, “I need to advocate for you one day. I want to get this right.”
   
   

Most people remember “the talk” they had as teens with their parents. Now at 54, it’s your turn to have a talk with your parents. This book makes it easier.

Start with Chapter One: who are you, where do you live, who is your spouse, etc. Then let them go through the book on their own. Next time, do Chapter Two together. It builds gradually.

By the time you get to financials—where there’s more resistance—they’ll already be comfortable with the process.

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Understanding the Role of a Case Manager

The goal is to prepare your loved one’s information so that when the time comes, the right decisions can be made quickly, and accurately.

Most people don’t even know what a hospital case manager is. But that’s the person who helps you decide:

• Are they going to rehab?
  
  
• Do they need long-term care?
  
  
• Do they qualify for memory care or social services?
  
  

The more you can provide answers upfront, the more effectively that case manager can do their job. They’re your ally—but only if they have the information.

Yeah. I had my father pass away this past year. It was a scramble for days afterward—at a time when we should’ve been focused on emotional healing, not document searching. Your advice is so important.

Exactly. And what’s critical is having something physical—like this workbook—to structure the conversation. It takes away ambiguity. It gives the family something they can rally around.

People often wait too long. And then they’re reacting rather than proactively planning. But when you start now, you get better quality of life for your loved ones and yourself.

It’s more than just estate or wealth planning. It’s emotional, financial, physical, and relational planning. I can’t recommend this enough. Before we wrap, William, are there any final thoughts you’d like to leave with our audience?

Yeah, death is hard. I lost my mom. You lost your dad. We’ve been there. But what’s ten times harder is watching your parent decline while being the one responsible—and not knowing the answers.

Saying “I don’t know” over and over breaks you down.

So this is about giving yourself and your loved ones peace of mind. About being the advocate they need you to be. When someone can’t speak for themselves, this plan helps you speak for them.

I completely agree. And I would add—when you’re proactive, you create space for higher quality experiences in those final years. You’re not caught in a reaction loop. You’re present, you're prepared.

Exactly.

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Conclusion & Call to Action

So listen, if this is the first time you’re hearing about strategic end-of-life planning, we encourage you to take action now—not later. Here’s what to do:

‍Order William Hoch’s Workbook: Strategic Planning for the Golden Years on Amazon
‍Learn More at William’s Website: authorwilliamholditch.com

Use This Tool To:

• Prepare for elder care
  
  
• Reduce stress for yourself and your family
  
  
• Navigate hospital decisions with clarity
  
  
• Protect your family’s wealth and wishes
  
  
• Avoid costly and emotional surprises
  
  

We’ll include these links in the show notes, along with a way to connect with William online. If this conversation resonated with you, share it with a friend or family member. These are the conversations we all need to have.

Thanks again for listening. This has been The Daily Mastermind. Be intentional with your time, your health, and your relationships. Until next time—have an amazing day.

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About George Wright III:

George Wright is a Proven, Successful Entrepreneur- and he knows how to inspire entrepreneurs, companies, and individuals to achieve Massive Results. With more than 20 years of Executive Management experience and 25 years of Direct Marketing and Sales experience, George is responsible for starting and building several successful multimillion-dollar companies. He started at a very young age to network and build his experience and knowledge of what it takes to become a driven and well-known entrepreneur. George built a multi-million-dollar seminar business, promoting some of the biggest stars and brands in the world. He has accelerated the success and cash flow in each of his ventures through his network of resources and results driven strategies. George is now dedicated to teaching and sharing his Prosperity Principles and Strategies to every Driven and Passionate Entrepreneur he meets. His mission is to Empower Entrepreneurs Globally to create Massive Change and LIVE their Ultimate Destiny.

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About William Holditch:

William C. Holditch is an author, educator, and former Firefighter/EMT dedicated to helping families navigate the complexities of elder care. Drawing from personal experiences with family health crises and professional roles in emergency services, Holditch authored Strategic Planning for the Golden Years, a comprehensive workbook designed to assist caregivers in organizing essential personal, medical, and financial information. His mission is to provide families with the tools and knowledge needed to plan effectively for the future.

Guest Resources:

Official Website: authorwilliamholditch.com

Book: Strategic Planning for the Golden Years – Available on Amazon

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/williamholditchauthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorWilliamHolditch

X: https://x.com/WHolditchAuthor

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