#167 Getting your ducks in a row with Caro Syson

13.07.26

#167 Getting your ducks in a row with Caro Syson

In this episode it is my pleasure to talk with Caro Syson, founder of Your Final Matters. If you are listening and are thinking that you need to get your ducks in a row, this episode is for you. Caro shares how she works with groups and individuals to support later life planning and the story behind her sunflower journey.

This episode has been kindly supported by the Living Well Dying Well Trust. The creation, development and content of the episode remains the responsibility of Clare Fuller.


Key messages

  • Caro helps people “get their ducks in a row” for life and death admin – wills, LPAs, money and paperwork.

  • Talking about death, dying and money is taboo,  Caro creates safe, practical spaces for these conversations.

  • Caro’s diverse background (NHS physio, mortgage broker, property, software, celebrant, daughter of a 92‑year‑old) informs her work.

  • Good “triggers” to start planning include health scares, ageing parents, divorce and milestone birthday.

  • Everyone 18+ should have a lasting power of attorney plus  wills and LPAs are not just for the wealthy.

  • Planning early, when life is calm, is far better than scrambling in a crisis.

  • Caro prepares people before they see solicitors/financial advisers, saving time, money and stress.

  • Her workshops and toolkit cover personal details, key documents, care wishes, finances, funeral choices and probate.

  • Caro encourages small, practical steps – starting a list, creating a folder, attending a workshop.

  • Unclaimed money and “digital legacies” are major issues and clear signposting for loved ones is essential.

  • The Sunflower Project uses growing sunflowers as a gentle metaphor and prompt for conversations and paperwork.

  • Caro focuses particularly on supporting women to feel informed, organised and confident.

  • Her core message: “While you have a voice, you still have a choice” – write wishes down in legal documents.

  • Leaving “calm, not chaos” is a loving, highly achievable gift to our families.

Resource

Bio

Caro Syson is the founder of Your Final Matters, a service dedicated to helping people get their “ducks in a row” around life and death admin - including wills, lasting powers of attorney, funeral arrangements, digital legacy and probate.

Caro brings an unusually rich background to this work: she has worked in the NHS as a physiotherapist, retrained as a mortgage broker and run a property company, built a software business, and now also serves as an independent funeral celebrant. After supporting her own 92‑year‑old mum with later‑life planning, she realised that most people don’t have “a Caro” in their corner - and decided to change that.

Through her workshops, digital toolkits and 1:1 support, Caro focuses on making planning feel practical, accessible and hopeful rather than heavy. She particularly champions women to feel informed and in control of their plans, and uses creative projects like her Sunflower Project to help families - including children - start gentle but important conversations about life, death and legacy.

You can find Caro at https://yourfinalmatters.co.uk and on social media at @yourfinalmatters.

How to reach Caro:

Find out more about my Bespoke Consultancy

If you’d like to find out more about my work contact me.

 

What one thing will you do?

It would be great to share what resonated with you from this episode, what is the one thing you will do differently? Head to Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn to continue these important conversations.

Thanks to all my guests for working with me to share their knowledge, experience and stories about Advance Care Planning. I hope you enjoyed listening and have insights to take away; I love hearing your reflections on the series and look forward to reviews on Spotify where you can also subscribe to the series.

Clare

Important Conversations about Important Conversations.