Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Turner.
Hi Julie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Many businesses begin with a business plan. Ours began with a personal loss.
I’m Julie Turner, co-founder of Pathways Plus. My business partner, Angie, and I share something that no one ever wants to have in common–we both lost a sibling unexpectedly.
When Angie lost her sister, her brother-in-law suddenly found himself responsible for managing everything his wife had always handled. When my brother passed away, he didn’t have a spouse or partner to take care of those responsibilities, so our family was left trying to piece together the information and decisions that no one was prepared to face.
Grief left us feeling completely frozen, yet we were being expected to locate important documents, close accounts, and make countless decisions; the responsibilities couldn’t wait. Questions came one after another: was there a life insurance policy, which banks did they use, what are the passwords.
When you’re carrying the weight of loss, even simple tasks can feel impossible. Grief has a way of clouding your thinking, making it difficult to know where to begin or what to do next. As Angie and I helped our families navigate those responsibilities, we kept thinking what if families didn’t have to figure it all out alone? Those experiences became the foundation of Pathways Plus.
Today, we help individuals and families navigate the financial, legal, and administrative responsibilities that arise after a loved one passes away. We don’t hand people a checklist — we walk alongside them with compassion, organization, and practical support.
We also offer educational workshops to help individuals prepare before a loss occurs, making a difficult time a little less overwhelming for those left behind.
Our mission is simple: replace confusion with clarity, reduce stress, and ensure no family has to navigate the journey alone.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the biggest challenges has been marketing my service and building trust with people who don’t know me. I’m asking families to allow me to help with very personal and sensitive information during an emotional and vulnerable time, so establishing that trust is extremely important.
To overcome this, I’ve been focused on building relationships with professionals in related fields who already have trusted relationships with families. My goal is to develop a referral network with funeral home directors, hospice professionals, and others who can introduce my services to families who may benefit from them. I’m learning that building this type of referral network takes time, consistency, and genuine relationship-building, so I’m continuing to network and make those connections.
We’ve been impressed with Pathways Plus, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What sets my service apart is that I help families navigate both planning ahead and the many responsibilities that come after a loved one passes away.
I offer informative workshops that provide an open discussion about what comes after the funeral, along with simple, practical guidance through the financial, legal, and administrative tasks that families often don’t know they need to address. Whether someone is planning ahead, supporting a loved one, or simply wants to be better prepared, they leave with practical knowledge, helpful resources, and greater confidence about what to expect.
I also offer Planning Ahead with Confidence, a service designed to help individuals organize their important personal, financial, and other essential information before it is needed. This information is compiled into a user-friendly binder, creating a valuable gift of organization and clarity for loved ones.
My goal is to make an overwhelming process easier by providing education, organization, and personal guidance when families need it most.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Currently, I’m not regularly listening to any specific audiobooks or podcasts. When I’m in the mood to listen, I tend to gravitate toward self-help and personal growth podcasts because I enjoy learning new perspectives and ideas that can help me grow both personally and professionally. For entertainment, I also enjoy listening to drama and mystery audiobooks.
Pricing:
- Workshops are free to attend
- Planning Ahead Binder is $100
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aftertheservice.net
- Instagram: pathways_plus
- Facebook: Pathways Plus
- LinkedIn: Julie Turner
