By Thomas A. Parmalee
If you’ve ever suddenly found yourself as the executor of an estate, you know that it can be a real chore.
As one of several heirs to a small estate that was recently “created” so to speak when multiple family members of mine died around the same time without a will, I know how complicated it can be firsthand … not as an executor but as someone who has simply been there to listen to an executor complain about the process.
As someone on the periphery, I’ve had to sign various things or give my opinion on how things should proceed, so I can only imagine what the executor has gone through trying to move things along.
And of course, I’ve also gotten dozens of mailers from companies looking to offer me an advance of whatever I may eventually receive once probate settles.
I know how this works … they’ll send me a $3,000 check and end up staking claim to five times that much two or three years down the line when everything gets settled. Sure, the $3,000 now would be nice, and whatever I receive will by no means be life changing, but no thanks.
These are issues George Robert Compton III (pictured at top) is all too familiar with as the publisher of Executorium.com, which aims to serve as a starting point for executors trying to navigate what is often an overwhelming process that they never saw coming.
He thinks his site can serve as a resource for funeral professionals who want to help families get the lay of the land of estate settlement after a loved one dies.
“Initially, I see Executorium.com of value to funeral homes as a good heads-up to pass along to clients,” he said. “We endeavor to be a site worth mentioning to people who have experienced a loss and now have work to do.”
He added, “Our mission to build estate administration awareness and improve the executor experience aligns with practical after-loss care without any barriers.”
FuneralVision.com recently caught up with Compton to learn more about the Executorium.com platform and the mission he’s embarked on. Edited excerpts follow.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am the publisher of Executorium.com. I am also a dad and husband, which involves baseball, Boy Scouts and driving endless loops through Northern New Jersey.
When did you start Executorium.com – and what is it?
The experiences I collected at a 501(c)(3) organization, DFI, shape Executorium.com. Dissemination of information, involving many interrelated disciplines, which are not commercial in scope. I’ve added a clear mission – “Be a Resource for Executors and Estates.” That is what Executorium.com is all about.
Do you do this full time? If not, what’s your day job?
I started Executorium.com while I was the full-time principal at Construct Marketing, LLC, which is now sunsetting. I will be operating Executorium.com moving forward. The Executorium.com logo is an arrow pointing forward to remind executors and families to move forward … the logo is also a house turned over.
I’m guessing that you had some experience as an executor that led you to start the site … what surprised you the most about being an executor?
Good guess. Ex-executor here. I was surprised by how complicated it could get. I was surprised in retrospect that the executor had to invest as much time as they do. The executor is basically the ‘new guy’ everywhere he or she goes, with a significant learning curve, even if things go smoothly. We want to flatten it.
How does someone typically become or end up an executor?
Poof! You’re an executor! No seriously, an individual may be named an executor in a will or appointed an executor by the courts. Beyond that, every state is going to have different laws.
What are some of the biggest pain points of being an executor – and how can your site help?
There’s a big difference between, “I’m the executor on Mom’s and Dad’s will” and when it gets real, “I’m the executor of the estate.”
I picture Executorium.com as a big newspaper an executor can page through and get some context, get a view of the landscape, maybe view some code, some statutes, at least know where to find them. Maybe see a page where estate service providers are listed by county. Seeing what estate services are out there educates them like an exhibit hall. You can be a better executor if you know what resources are out there.
In addition, executor-facing content, original and curated, covers practical and fundamental estate issues and challenges: liquidation, grief support, donation, alternative dispute resolution, appraisal, valuation, cleanout, real estate, etc.
Why was it so important for you to create an open-access resource available to everyone?
Paywalls drive me nuts. If you have to register to view content, it limits views. The best way is wide open, shared and fed.
What is your main driver in operating Executorium.com? What do you hope to achieve?
All estates are different. Some very simple, some gut-wrenching. If Executorium.com can hold the light over some information, share resources, or be a resource, so an estate moves forward, we’ve achieved our mission.
How much do things vary for an executor depending on what state they live in … and how challenging is it for you to provide resources that cater to everyone?
Executorium.com is an organism, but it is not a “how-to.” We can put information on peoples’ radars, but we can’t cater to everyone. As a growing organism, we continually update and populate the site.
Also, we don’t seek to recreate what’s done well somewhere else. Dissemination of information includes sending visitors to sites like NOLO and Justia because it’s laid out well for executors. We direct visitors to EstateExec because its excellent resources shouldn’t be missed. This strategy probably isn’t great for our SEO, but the Mission is “Be a Resource for Executors and Estates” not, Win the SEO Game.
Why should funeral homes be aware of this resource – and how can they work Executorium into conversations with families?
The funeral home makes a big difference from my personal experience.
I do have this vision of exiting the graveside, with a briefcase, because I was the executor. I had no idea what was ahead. So, I keep that guy in mind.
Executorium.com is built to educate an executor and expand his or her awareness of the landscape they now find themselves in.
You recently announced some advertising options for companies that provide services to executors. Can you tell us how that works and the cost?
Because so much of estate administration and probate is county based, both the Government Pages Directory and the Estate Services Provider Directory are organized by county. So, county ads are displayed in both. This gives small service providers a venue to reach executors. Monthly county ad prices are $5 and up depending on the size of the county. State and sitewide ads offer reach for national companies and products to reach up to the full demographic at $50 and up.
Beyond advertising, how do you earn revenue?
Advertising is the primary revenue source.
Estate Service Providers Directory: Service Providers list 1 location in 1 county, in 1 category in the directory. There is a fee if the company wants additional counties or categories.
We do have an Estate Wanted page, so executors can find direct buyers and resellers of personal property – i.e. “Wanted: Horatio Alger Collections” etc.
We have avoided affiliate marketing because we prefer adverting to be advertising, and editorial to be editorial.
We are not in the referral business or in the selling information business.
Are there any profit sharing/commission opportunities that funeral homes can participate in now or possibly in the future?
Not currently, but the current Executorium.com resembles the original Executorium idea only partially, so I assume more adjustments are ahead as well. I have only just begun to explore the possibilities related to the funeral industry, as our early focus has been, Be a Resource to Executors. I am open to ideas.
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