It’s probably a topic you’d rather avoid, but since none of us leaves this earth alive, the question is relevant for all: How do you want to be remembered?  According to author and sociologist Lyndsay Green, writing in her new book, The Well-Lived Life: Live with Purpose and Be Remembered, it’s valuable right now to consider what your legacy will be, no matter your age or health, so that you can create more meaning in your current life and better ensure your legacy will match your values.

A recent survey from Merrill Lynch and Age Wave confirms that most of us are more concerned about the memories we’ve shared with our loved ones than about the money left in our bank accounts. When it does come to money, the survey picks up on a growing trend called “giving while living,” that is, distributing at least some of our money to heirs when they’re in need and while we’re alive to experience the benefits of giving, rather than waiting until after death.

Finally, the survey reports sobering results when it comes to the legacy we are leaving through more traditional estate planning methods. Nearly half of the respondents age 55 and over said they don’t have a will, and even fewer had both a will and such advance care planning documents as a durable power of attorney and health care directive. Even if you don’t have a lot of money or assets, going through the checklist of creating a will can clarify what’s important to you and what steps you may need to plan for life before you die. For a step-by-step guide of everything you’ll need to know about wills, click here. You may even be able to make do with creating a free online will, rather than paying for an expensive attorney. And speaking of a turn toward the web, make sure your estate planning covers your digital accounts and passwords. The last thing you want to leave your heirs is a locked online account!