Moms taking Estate Planning to the Tech level

In today’s rapidly advancing technological world, our digital lives often outlive us. Yet the question remains—how prepared are we to pass on the virtual legacies we cultivate every day? Natalia Parker and Tatyana Thurston the founders of Dexit, are bringing light to an often-overlooked facet of estate planning: your digital assets. With a venture driven by curiosity, experience, and a touch of serendipity, they are unraveling the mysteries of the digital afterlife, ensuring that our online footprints are not left behind as orphaned digital residues.

For Natalia and Tatyana, the inception of Dexit began long before they recognized an untapped niche in the tech world. The two mothers understood the power of juggling myriad tasks—parenting, volunteer work, and managing personal commitments. This multi-tasking was the genesis of their entrepreneurial spirit. "Being a mom is running a ship. We juggle jobs, kids, dogs, cats, guinea pigs," Natalia reflects with a laugh.

Their paths aligned at their children's school, where they spent countless hours volunteering together. It was here, amongst bake sales and school fairs, that the partnership rooted itself into something enduring. “We realized if we could do so much for free, we could very well launch a purpose-driven business,” notes Natalia.

The realization of their business opportunity stemmed from personal and professional awakenings. During COVID-19, Natalia worked under a business owner battling cancer, tasked with running his enterprise. As she took charge of multiple accounts with no clear continuity, Natalia recognized the absence of a digital succession plan. "There's so many accounts out there," she recalls. This revelation was compounded by her own experiences navigating estate planning post-divorce, where digital and legal directives seldom aligned.

Tatyana’s experience echoed this, and together, they unearthed the need for a robust digital exit strategy—a Dexit—ensuring valuable digital assets do not fall into oblivion post-mortem. “Your accounts are immortal, even though you aren’t,” they emphasize.

Establishing Dexit was a baptism by fire. The duo plunged headfirst into entrepreneurship, learning the intricacies of marketing, public speaking, and web planning from scratch. They credit entrepreneurial ecosystems in Charlotte for the invaluable support, stating, “We've been selected a few times and even won a grant, which bolstered our journey forward.”

Embracing a dual-focus strategy, they pitched to estate planners whose clients required protection for their digital landscapes alongside direct consumer interactions. “The estate planning attorneys and wealth advisors are the ones we want to educate,” Natalia explains. Yet, it was not an easy sell—most individuals remain unaware of a need until it's too late.

The passionate founders are driven by legacies—not just of people, but of businesses and brands that live online. Tatyana enjoys the “detective mystery part of what to do with digital assets,” adding a layer of excitement to the groundwork. They're venturing into uncharted territories, tackling issues like domain ownership of the deceased and what happens when influencers pass away.

For Natalia and Tatyana, the quest is rooted in understanding and catering to technological and legal nuances, ensuring what’s left behind is protected and properly managed. As Natalia succinctly frames it, “Everybody, whether you go to an estate planning attorney or a wealth adviser, could use one of these plans.”

They continue to expand Dexit, bridging the gap between technology and estate management, creating a newfound dialogue that is both necessary and inevitable. With every conversation, they seek to prepare people for their digital exits, breathing life into the age-old question of legacy.

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