Michigan Association of CPAs and Hospice of Michigan Join To Assist Families Through End-of-Life Financial Decisions

TROY, June 23, 2009 –The Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA), in partnership with Hospice of Michigan (HOM), has created a resource guide, “Financial Affairs: At the End of Life.”  The guide is designed to help counsel families of patients under the care of Hospice of Michigan, on how to attend to the financial issues and responsibilities that often accompany the traumatic days, weeks or months at the end of life. This is the second manual developed by the MACPA in partnership with HOM

“The first guide was originally created to assist Hospice of Michigan social workers and grief counselors with financial information for patients and their families,” said Judy Trepeck, a member of the MACPA Financial Literacy Task Force and Board of Trustees for Hospice of Michigan.  “This new manual will help families address specific financial issues and utilize the expertise of CPAs to help ensure the proper financial and family decisions.”  

Families with loved ones in the final stages of life often become overwhelmed with financial and estate planning documents and responsibilities.  “Financial Affairs:  At the End of Life” quickly and easily guides them through lists and directives of how they should manage certain situations and tasks.  It includes a list of tools and documents needed; guides on how to assess various situations; directives on how to handle issues such as life insurance, retirement accounts and pensions, wills, and funeral services; a glossary of terms and a list of resources for CPAs, attorneys and financial planners.  

“We are so pleased to provide this powerful resource guide to our members and to those who are going through the most difficult of times,” said Peggy Dzierzawski, MACPA president and CEO. “This is just another example of how our Michigan CPAs are making a difference in the community at large.”


The Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants is a diversified, professional, member-driven organization serving nearly 17,000 CPAs and affiliated professionals throughout Michigan. Visit MACPA’s web site at www.michcpa.org.