Lifemaxxing – families turning to tech to help loved ones maximise their wishes beyond the grave

Australians are turning to technology to maximise their wishes from the grave in a trend two founders have coined ‘lifemaxxing’.

According to the founders of My TAP®, My Time and Place, a new digital legacy platform, family disputes are increasingly being fuelled by uncertainty rather than greed and as a result many people are now embracing technology solutions to solve these issues in life to avoid family issues in death.

Isla George and Lisa Wendland said we have all seen to many families left trying to interpret what a loved one would have wanted after they die, resulting in fractured relationships, years of resentment and, in many cases, families who never speak to one another again.

The founders said that while Wills determine who legally receives assets, they rarely answer the deeply personal questions that often cause the greatest conflict.

Who was meant to receive Mum's engagement ring? Who should have Dad's favourite watch? What was supposed to happen to treasured family photographs? Which grandchildren were meant to inherit sentimental possessions? What type of funeral did they really want? What final messages did they hope their family would hear?

When those answers don't exist, grieving families are often left making assumptions that can have devastating consequences.

“That is why we developed My TAP®, to help families solve these issues in life and we have been overwhelmed by the number of people wanting to use it.  It really is a form of lifemaxxing.  The app is giving people the opportunity to ensure their wishes and memories are extended and shared across their loved ones long after they are gone,” Ms George said.

The Australian-developed platform allows people to securely record their final wishes, funeral arrangements, life story, cherished memories, sentimental possessions, important documents and heartfelt written, audio and video messages, providing loved ones with clarity when they need it most.

Ms George added that too many families were paying an enormous emotional price simply because important conversations had never taken place.

"People often assume families fall apart because of money, but that isn't always the case," Ms George said. 

"Some of the biggest arguments happen over the things that carry emotional value rather than financial value. A family heirloom, a handwritten letter, jewellery, photographs or something that may be worthless financially but priceless emotionally.

"When nobody knows what Mum or Dad actually wanted, every family member believes they are doing the right thing. Unfortunately, those different interpretations can quickly become disagreements and those disagreements can destroy relationships that have lasted a lifetime.

"We've seen families stop speaking to one another, siblings become estranged and grandchildren lose contact with relatives because uncertainty created conflict that simply didn't need to happen."

George said many people spend decades building a life for the people they love but never take the time to explain what should happen when they are no longer there.

"One honest conversation today can save years of heartbreak tomorrow," she said.

Lisa Wendland said My TAP® was created after the founders experienced firsthand the emotional burden families carry when important wishes have never been documented.

"Losing someone you love is already one of life's most difficult experiences," Ms Wendland said.

"The last thing families should be dealing with is uncertainty, disagreement or guilt about whether they made the right decisions.

"We created My TAP® because we want families to stay together, not fall apart.  We want children to remember the love their parents left behind, not arguments over possessions. We want brothers and sisters supporting one another through grief, not becoming strangers because nobody knew what Mum or Dad really wanted."

Unlike traditional paper documents or conversations that may be forgotten over time, My TAP® allows users to continually update their wishes as life changes.  The platform works alongside a Will rather than replacing one, providing families with the personal guidance, explanations and messages that legal documents often cannot.   The founders believe Australians need to normalise conversations about planning ahead, not because they expect something to happen tomorrow, but because life is unpredictable.

"We insure our homes, our cars and our health because we understand the importance of preparing for the unexpected," Ms George said.

"Preparing your family shouldn't be any different."

Wendland said planning ahead was ultimately an act of love.

"One of the greatest gifts you can leave behind isn't money or possessions, it is certainty.  It's knowing your family won't be left wondering what you wanted,” Ms Wendland said.

"It's knowing they can focus on grieving, healing and remembering your life instead of arguing over your wishes.  My TAP® is about helping families have today's conversations so they can avoid tomorrow's heartbreak." 

 

About My TAP®

My TAP®, My Time and Place, is an Australian-developed digital legacy, lifestyle and end-of-life planning platform that helps people securely record their final wishes, life story, cherished memories, heartfelt written, audio and video messages, sentimental possessions, important documents and personal information in one secure place. Designed to complement, not replace, a Will, My TAP® gives users greater control over how their wishes are preserved and shared with loved ones through its innovative, patent-pending Nominee Access Methods. Founded by Isla George, Andrew Stephenson and Lisa Wendland following their own personal experiences of loss, My TAP® was created to help families have today's conversations for tomorrow, providing clarity, reducing uncertainty and helping loved ones focus on what matters most. The company is headquartered in Brisbane and has a long-term vision of becoming the world's most trusted digital legacy platform.

Mytimeandplace.com