By Jason Brown | When my wife passed away just two weeks after giving birth to our son, my entire world stopped. What was supposed to be the beginning of a new chapter in our family’s story instead became a test of faith, endurance, and purpose. I found myself holding a newborn in my arms, facing questions I had never imagined having to answer so soon What happens now? Who will guide him if I’m not here? What will he know of her, of us, of love?
In those quiet moments of grief and clarity, I realized how unprepared most of us truly are for life’s inevitable transitions. We insure our cars, our homes, even our phones but we often avoid the conversations that truly matter: What if something happens to me? What if I’m not here tomorrow?
That’s where The Legacy Deck was born.
The Birth of The Legacy Deck
The Legacy Deck is more than a card game it’s a conversation tool designed to help families talk about life, love, money, faith, and preparation before tragedy forces them to. Each deck includes 52 thought-provoking prompts that spark meaningful dialogue between spouses, parents and children, or even friends.
These questions touch everything from “What legacy do you want to leave behind?” to “What lesson would you want your children to remember most?” I wanted to make it approachable, engaging, and safe because talking about death, finances, or emotional healing doesn’t have to feel heavy. It can be an act of love.
What started as therapy for my own healing has grown into a movement. Families, churches, and even financial professionals across the country are now using The Legacy Deck to help their communities plan better, love deeper, and live with peace of mind.
Why These Conversations Matter
Too many families are left unprepared when tragedy strikes not because they don’t care, but because they didn’t know how to start the conversation. We avoid the uncomfortable, not realizing that avoidance often becomes the inheritance we leave behind: confusion, conflict, and chaos.
Having “the talk” about legacy is not about money it’s about meaning. It’s about ensuring your values, your stories, and your faith continue long after you’re gone. It’s about protecting your loved ones emotionally, spiritually, and financially.
The truth is, we don’t get to choose if life will change but we can choose how prepared we’ll be when it does.
Carrying the Mission Forward
Today, through my podcast When What If Happens and the growing Legacy Deck community, I’m on a mission to normalize these conversations especially within Black and brown families, where generational wealth and emotional healing are often topics left for “later.”
But later isn’t promised.
That’s why I believe we must start now one question, one conversation, one card at a time.
The Legacy Deck reminds us that the greatest gift we can leave behind isn’t money or material things — it’s peace, clarity, and love in written, spoken, and living form.
A Final Thought
Every card in The Legacy Deck was born from the same place my healing began: love, loss, and the determination to make sure my son — and families everywhere — never have to wonder what their loved ones wanted, believed, or stood for.
It’s not just about preparing for death.
It’s about planning to live intentionally.
So pull up a chair.
Ask the questions that matter.
Because when “what if” happens and it always will your family deserves to have answers rooted in love.
Jason Brown is the creator of The Legacy Deck and host of When What If Happens, a podcast focused on life transition planning, faith, and family. To learn more or order your deck, visit www.TheLegacyDeck.com.
