What is Executorium.com? A Conversation with George Compton, Founder

I had the opportunity to sit down recently with the Founder of Executorium.com, George Compton, to discuss his inspiration for starting this online executor resource, and as suspected, it was precipitated by his own personal journey through probate that prompted him to create this online resource tool for executors and estate administration. Here's a few of the questions from our talk....

What inspired you to create Executorium.com, and what gap did you see in the resources available to executors that prompted its creation??

GC: Gap is right. Maybe "void” is better. As an executor, I was just amazed at the void I found. No organization, no media, no context. Just, “Wander through and bump into stuff till you get there. Here’s some reading material.” I think the big disconnect I experienced was, in the day to day of settling an estate, this is everyone’s everyday world. Across the many areas an executor wades into, you’re the new guy. So, we created Executorium.com to show executors the environment, context.?

?Could you walk us through the main features and sections of Executorium.com and how they cater to the needs of executors??

GC: Every estate is different. So, this is not a “how to.” its intended to touch on topics an executor might experience. For example, Poof you’re an executor! You may not even know there’s a category of service provider called an Estate Concierge, or Estate Settlement Service, or After Loss Professional. You may not know where some local donation facilities are, or grief support services are around if you need them. It’s good to know that. The Estate Service Providers Directory can show you that. It may even help you find an estate attorney or other service that helps estates. ?

Many States have reading for executors and materials for estates. So do many counties. We want to point these out. Hence the county-by-county Government Directory.?

In Articles we cover the vast scope of experiences and challenges an executor may face. This is help for the new guy. Fundamentals. 101. Basics. Having some context on the subject matter if only so you can ask better questions is a win. ?

An Atheneaum is a repository for knowledge. Sounds fancy, but that’s what we envisioned when we imagined a section where we collect and organize good estate related resources from around the internet for the same purpose – putting estate relevant information on executors' radars. That’s the point.?

You emphasize the importance of practical context and open access on Executorium.com, how do you ensure that the platform remains user-friendly and accessible to executors who might be navigating this process for the first time??

GC: Advertising. Relevant advertising. Look, we have to keep the lights on and various other expenses. People have said, “Look you’re got to have a pay wall, or a subscription fee, or do referrals...” No. Our model is advertising. No paywall. No subscription, No referral nonsense. Open access. The site has got to be open so executors can dive in and out and use this resource to settle the estate. This allows us to maintain it as a resource?fully accessible to executors. Even?better, we seek advertisers with products or services executors should know about, like Archival Methods.?

The Directory of Estate Service Providers sounds like a valuable resource. How do you curate the listings to ensure quality and relevance for executors??

GC: On every county page (Both Directories or organized by county) it states, “Service Providers listed are not vetted and it is the responsibility of the estate to qualify any service provider for hire.” So, I think that speaks for itself. Listing in your home county is free for estate service providers – we're building an asset for executors. Again, we’re not in the referral business. Ultimately executors are fiduciaries, they need to vet and be accountable for their engagements. But we can provide a good list of companies in this area of estate work and that area of estate work.?

Your website offers articles on various topics related to estate administration. Can you highlight some of the most popular or impactful articles and their significance to executors??

GC: Well again, every estate is different. Every executor is different. Our article “Inheritance? Don’t Blow it!” is for the guy who in 5 years wishes he had treated his inherited money better. Our Understanding Dumpsters Article is just a heads up for the executor who might not have ever rented a dumpster before. There are things to consider when renting a dumpster. We have several articles on Alternate Dispute Resolution for when things get dicey. Many executors don’t realize they can call everyone to the table along with a professional mediator. Cheaper than litigation, easier on the family.?

So “Estate Administration” conjures the idea of filling out forms, talking to attorneys, and having a nice tidy estate sale or auction, everyone gets a check and goes their way. The reality is very different.?

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The Athenium Page provides curated estate-related information from across the internet. How do you select which resources to feature, and what criteria do you use to evaluate their usefulness for executors??

GC: Good question. I have no damn idea. But if there’s something we feel an executor should know about, we’ll feature it on the Athenium. For example, “The Executor Guide, State Estate Resources” (Example: Executor Guide: South Carolina Estate Resources) is just a list of links for that state: The State Estate Statutes and Code, the unclaimed property program for the state, Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets legislation by state (if the have one), The State Bar Association Estate & Trusts Section, etc. ?

So, I should have some fancy, professional sounding answer to this question but really, if its something that an executor should know about. we'll post it in The Athenaeum. If you or anyone listening has anything, I’m all ears.?

PS We also post curated material on our Facebook page too. A scroll through our Facebook Page might not sound as highbrow as visiting The Athenaeum, but executors will learn something.?

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Executorium.com is not meant to replace legal advice, but rather to complement it. How do you strike a balance between providing helpful information and encouraging executors to seek professional legal assistance??

GC: We just do not post legal advice. That’s an attorney’s job. There’s enough in meant to replace legal advice, but rather to complement it. How do you strike a balance between providing helpful information and encouraging executors to seek professional legal assistance??Do you strike a balance between providing helpful information and encouraging executors to seek professional legal assistance?? There’s enough in the scope of the administration of an estate that is not of a legal nature, that executors need to be aware of, and manage effectively. ?

Anything of a remotely legal nature in our content we steer readers to seek legal advice from an attorney. We state on every page of Executorium.com:

“Executorium.com?is not a substitute for professional advice. We strongly advise executors to seek professional counsel to guide the estate in any legal or fiduciary matters.” ?

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Can you share any success stories or testimonials from executors who have found executor particularly helpful in their estate administration journey??

GC: Unfortunately, no, we haven't crossed paths yet with any feedback. This perhaps is the downside of being open-access. Executors are free to come and go, no registration, and take what they need. I’ve had several experts tell me that we need to collect the executor information, to engage the executor, aggregate their data, etc. ?

Nope. Executors have enough people on their butts we’re not going to do it.?

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What challenges have you faced in building and maintaining Executorium.com and how have you addressed them??

GC: Yes, challenges have been everywhere. Like any new idea that sees the light of day and as its flaws were exposed, we just fixed the ones we could and recorded the ones we couldn’t. For the one’s we couldn’t fix, it became apparent that we needed to rebuild it. We needed to rebuild it from the ground. New code, new structure, new skin; a better user experience, simplified, and pour in what we have learned in 3 years.?

We launch Executorium.com 2.0 next week.?

Looking ahead, what are your plans for the future of Executorium.com? Are there any new features or expansions on the horizon??

GC: Tons. I can’t tell you what they are Melanie. I want them to be a surprise!?

Got it! Anything else you'd like to mention to executors?

I think one of the things driving Executorium.com is, just how incomplete the support and advice is for executors.

You just get such half-baked, general nonsense when what you need is practical advice: how do I do this job done, and that job done x 1000.

Attorneys know the law by profession, they know the executor experience vicariously. So even their advice is often wanting.

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The Finished Executor: “Now that I know how to do this, I’m done.”

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The Executor Experience…

- How much time do you need? ?A lot.? More than you think.

?? That’s important.? This isn’t something you just squeeze in between work and play.? Your life is affected.

- See the landscape.? Navigate the landscape. Flatten the learning curve.

- Awareness of the resources.

- You are on a steep learning curve, often across multiple disciplines.

- You’re under scrutiny.?

- The family dynamic just changed, whether you know it or not.

- It’s a solitary experience.? You likely just lost someone.? Not the best circumstances for decision making.

- It’s emotional.

- It’s overwhelming.

- Executors often feel the weight of carrying the family, and the expectations of the decedent.

- You’re new to the experience, and its tasks.

?These are the reasons we feel executors needed something like Executorium.com.

How to contact George:

How to contact George: Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.Executorium.com

Contact Us page: https://executorium.com/contact-us/

Phone: 973-500-2332

LinkedIn: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/compton/

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