Plan Your Legacy, LLC was established in 2003 to make a difference in people's lives and in the lives of their survivors. Through our members, who are all professional advisors, we’ve helped thousands of people build personal legacy plans that preserve their life values and memories, record their final wishes, and positively influence future generations.

Our Executive Team

Mark Colgan
Founder and CEO

Mark intimately understands the pressures and burdens that fall upon a surviving spouse; he lost his wife when she was only 28 years old. It was this personal tragedy, combined with over a decade of financial planning experience, that led him to create Plan Your Legacy and its unique set of tools that are sensitive to the special needs of survivors.

As the CEO, Mark implements the strategic goals and objectives of the organization. He also gives direction and leadership toward the achievement of our philosophy, mission, and strategy, as well as our annual goals and objectives.

Mark has a unique background. In 2001, he was a successful Certified Financial Planner^TM professional and had been married to his best friend, Joanne, for seven years. When she died unexpectedly, Mark's wonderful life was dramatically changed forever.

Within minutes of her passing, I found myself in the midst of a crowd of emergency medical technicians, firemen, policemen, relatives, neighbors, and the medical examiner. Within hours of her death, I was writing her obituary, selecting her casket, planning the details surrounding her funeral, purchasing a gravesite for both of us, and even designing her headstone. Within six hours, I had gone from waking up with my wife to beginning the process of burying her.

And aside from the paperwork, legal details, and planning, Mark was dealing with emotional issues—what about preserving Joanne's final wishes, her life story and her values?

Inspired by the challenges he faced as a young widower, Mark authored The Survivor Assistance Handbook: A Guide for Financial Transition in 2002. The following year, he took his idea a step further and created a personal legacy journal for individuals to use to establish a record of their lives and final wishes. It was also in 2003 that Mark founded Plan Your Legacy, LLC and began a national speaking tour on the important topic of legacy planning.

Today, Mark is a sought-after national speaker and trainer for both individuals and professional planners on the topic of legacy planning. His articles have appeared in many national publications and he's been cited in several national media.

Mark and his current wife, Kathy, have two young children and live in Pittsford, New York. Mark is also the founder and president of Colgan Capital, LLC, an independent financial services firm that specializes in serving the unique financial planning needs of families, widows, widowers, and domestic partners.

Fred Beer
Chief Operating Officer

Fred oversees the company's day-to-day operations, including revenue and sales growth; expense, cost, and margin control; and financial goal management. He is also responsible for directing the company's information technology development and overseeing product Web sites and all aspects of legacy planning software.

Fred is an accomplished entrepreneur, having started and grown several successful companies. His specialties are Web technologies, culture development, and business growth.

In 1995, Fred co-founded Auragen Communications, Inc., a full-service interactive design and development organization. He was CEO of the organization until August 2006, when he stepped back from day-to-day operations to focus on other business ventures. Under Fred's leadership, the company experienced 100 percent organic growth each year from 1995 to 2001. In November 2007, Auragen merged with Catalyst Direct.

Fred has guest lectured at the University of Rochester Simon Graduate School of Business, and serves on the board of directors of Junior Achievement of Rochester, New York Area, Inc. In 2006, Fred was accepted to attend the Entrepreneurial Masters Program; a three-year executive education program involving 60 entrepreneurs from around the world, The program is co-sponsored by the Entrepreneurs' Organization, Inc. and the MIT Enterprise Forum. In 2007-8 Fred also served as president of the board of the local chapter of the Entrepreneurs' Organization.

Fred lives in Perinton, New York with his wife Cathy, their daughter Caroline, and their son Connor.

Our Extended Team

To maintain a strong business with satisfied clients, it’s our responsibility to have a strong and enthusiastic team. To accomplish this, Plan Your Legacy is staffed with top talent and employs a strong employee recognition program. Whether it's clerical assistance, IT support, or business consulting, we pride ourselves on the ability to surround ourselves with a team of experts whose efforts allow us to provide exceptional client service.