Dr. Sara Zeff Geber, author of Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers: A Retirement and Aging Roadmap for Single and Childless Adults  and a pioneer in aging studies, shared how she coined the term “solo aging” over a decade ago. “I realized that because I didn’t have kids, even though I’m married, there was going to be nobody left behind,” Geber explained. “No one to rush to the hospital to hold my hand if I had a crisis.” This personal epiphany led her to research and advocate for those in similar situations, replacing the stigmatizing label “elder orphans”—a term that, as Gurney noted, brings many to tears—with the neutral, empowering “solo aging.”

Geber emphasized that solo aging isn’t inherently negative; it’s about control and preparation. “Most people think ‘solo aging’ is neutral. It doesn’t put a negative spin on things. It just works,” she said. Webinar attendees echoed this sentiment in the chat, with one participant proudly declaring, “I love that statement!!” reflecting a mindset of self-reliance over pity.

Surveys from the Positive Aging Community reveal a strong bond among solo agers without partners or children, who seek deeper connections. As Geber put it, “Build your social network, build your community around you because then you will have people to rely on.” Yet, she acknowledged limitations: “What happens when you’re not so healthy? What happens when you really need help beyond friends and neighbors?”

Financial Planning Tailored for the Childfree: No Assumptions Allowed

Enter Dr. Jay Zigmont, founder of Childfree Wealth and the innovative Childfree Trust. Zigmont’s journey began during his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) training, where every scenario assumed clients either had or would have children—a glaring oversight. “It’s bad advice,” he stated bluntly. “I mean, it really can be bad advice.” His firms now cater exclusively to childfree individuals, offering strategies unburdened by outdated assumptions.

Childfree Wealth, launched four years ago, addresses everything from retirement savings to legacy planning. But Zigmont identified a critical gap: decision-making in incapacity. “The hard question is, who’s going to make decisions for you when you can’t?” After three years of research, he created Childfree Trust—the first nationwide service providing medical and financial power of attorney, executor, and trustee representation for childfree adults in all 50 states.

Here’s how it works: Clients complete “care docs” outlining medical and financial wishes, which the trust uses to act as a professional fiduciary. Partnering with independent trust companies ensures scalability. “We’re going to be that person for people,” Zigmont said. For instance, if a client is hospitalized, the trust activates a 24/7 emergency response, coordinating everything from pet care to asset management. Chat participants were quick to engage, with questions like, “Is Childfree Trust a national company?” (Answer: Yes, all 50 states) and “What’s included in the $999/year?” Zigmont clarified it’s an annual fee for ongoing readiness, not activation-only.

A recent survey of over 600 childfree individuals, co-conducted with Geber, revealed a stark reality: Less than 20% have a will in place. “People go, ‘Well, but how do I know what I want?'” Zigmont noted. The trust bridges this by guiding users through personalized planning, including free estate documents via partners like freewill.com.

Addressing Real-Life Concerns: Social Support, Legacy, and Beyond

The webinar’s interactive format shone through as Gurney fielded questions. One standout: “Who do you usually turn to when you need help or companionship as a solo?” Geber advocated for a three-pronged approach—financial, legal, and social—stressing the latter’s primacy while healthy. “The social is extremely important,” she urged, advising against isolation post-retirement or relocation.

Zigmont added practicality: Communities can help with daily check-ins (e.g., door notes signaling “I’m up today”), but heavy lifting like long-term care shouldn’t burden friends. “It’s a lot to ask if you’re going to spend a couple of years in long-term care to ask a friend to take care of you.” He envisioned a hybrid model: Robust chosen-family networks enhanced by professional backups.

Other chat queries touched on legacy dilemmas: “If no one to leave physical and financial assets to, what alternatives are there?” Zigmont recommended “giving with a warm hand” (philanthropy during life) over a “cold hand” (post-death bequests), linking to his podcast episode on intentional giving. Attendees shared resources like the Snug app for daily check-ins (alerting contacts if unmet) and Five Wishes for end-of-life directives.

Practical tips flooded the chat:

• Estate Basics: Use freewill.com for wills if you have appointees; otherwise, Childfree Trust fills the void.
• Pet Planning: “Money in your will isn’t enough. You need people lined up to care for them immediately,” one user advised.
• Community Building: Explore villages, cohousing (cohousing.org), or Area Agencies on Aging (acl.gov).
• Check-Ins: Apps like CheckInBee or police “R U OK” programs; one participant uses Snug Safety, notifying police if unchecked.

Geber and Zigmont also tackled edge cases, like international travel for U.S. clients or couples with dementia but no POA—recommending aging life care managers (aginglifecare.org).

Why This Matters Now: A Call to Proactive Planning

As lifespans extend, outliving networks becomes a real risk. “Or they did what we’re supposed to be doing—eating and extending our longevity—and they outlived everybody in their network,” Gurney quipped. The webinar underscored that childfree solo agers aren’t “orphans” but architects of their futures.