OUR STORY
In mid-2023, my father, a retired attorney, asked me to meet with him to discuss his DIGITAL LIFE before a major cancer-related surgery.
He had an estate plan but he had never thought about a plan for his digital assets. He wanted to ensure that my family could locate and access them in case something happened to him. His Estate Planner did not do this type of work. Neither did his Accountant or his tech person. He couldn't find a professional who could handle this type of specific work. So he called me.
I started my career at ABC World News Tonight as their digital library's first hired archivist. I moved to CNN and then transitioned to the film and TV industry where I Line Produced movies, TV shows, and documentaries. A Line Producer organizes a project's logistics, crew, contracts, budget, etc. For 25 years, I produced content internationally. (I've worked and visited over 100 countries.) During the latter part of my career, I began thinking about a career change.
Covid created a teacher shortage in L.A. so I decided to leave Hollywood to become a public school teacher.
We scheduled a time to meet for 30 minutes. The meeting lasted 4 hours over 2 days. Together, we uncovered forgotten online accounts, photographs buried on a site he no longer used and didn't tell anyone about and loyalty points he would not have been able to transfer had he died. His file organization, passwords, and security plan needed an overhaul. I worked with him regularly over the next few months fine-tuning his plan.
Archiving, producing, educating, and a 3-year stint in the tech industry, led me to Digital Life Advisors. We continued working together over the next few months.
My dad passed away on March 15, 2024. Although his health was failing, his death was completely unexpected.
I now more fully appreciate what we accomplished. My family won't be spending the 570 hours over 15 months the average American family spends settling an estate. We'll have more time to be there for each other.
I am proud that my dad was DLA's first client. I will put the same passion and purpose that I put into organizing his digital life into organizing my clients' digital lives. So that their families can receive the same thoughtful gift that my father gave mine.
- Jeffrey Berk
Los Angeles, CA
April 6, 2024