How Will You Die?

There is no statistical proof that doctors enjoy a better quality of life before death than the rest of us. But research indicates they are better planners. An often-cited study, published in 2003, of physicians who had been medical students at Johns Hopkins University found that they were more likely than the general public to have created advance directives, or living wills, which lay out specific plans for care if a patient is unable to make decisions. Of the 765 doctors studied, 64 percent had advance directives, compared with about 47 percent for American adults over 40.

I have posted this piece out of simple pragmatism. If you are  a trader and one who is not prepared for death then your passing will leave an unholy mess for someone else to clean up. You may have contingent orders for both buying and selling left in the market with accounts scattered all over the place. Someone will have to decipher your scratchings and make certain your estate does not do itself damage courtesy of a lack of planning.