For Aff Managers: In the event of passing?

A question to affiliate managers:

I am putting together a plan of action should I no longer be able to run my affiliate business should I get caught in an Ash cloud on the way back from Budapest.

My question is: what is the procedure for when an affiliate is no longer able to run their accounts and passes control to a spouse/friend or whoever? Is there a standard procedure, can they just access the program, notify you and change payment info? What do you require and how does it work?

Cheers,

Simmo!

This is actually a bloody good question? Would some programs void an account if its passed on?

This is a good question that I've never thought of.

There should be a plan definitely as they have in banking.

I recall this came up in the private section back in 2007. I've managed to dig up the link for those who have access to the private area: https://www.gpwa.org/forum/proverbial-bus-171355.html (note: only accessible to private members). One of the points that came up in that discussion was the suggestion of making sure there is a company set up rather than having everything in a personal name.

While on the topic of end of life planning, there was another related discussion that came up last year (separate from the affiliate account question). That was a public thread and the discussion is available at https://www.gpwa.org/forum/morbid-poll-182035.html.

The biggest issue I can forsee is that the affiliate's bank accounts/company may have to be closed so there will be nowhere for affiliate programs to send earnings to.

Ideally, the affiliate program would have an alternative banking option available "in the event of passing" or something, but that would require extensive changes to affiliate systems. It's something that maybe Income Access and Net Refer could provide, which would take care of a fair few programs, but that wouldn't be extensive enough.

One solution - as alluded to in that thread link Stephen posted - is for an affiliate to make their bank account and company joint owned, but that isn't an option to many of us.

Another option might be for the programs to provide an authorised secondary contact who has the authority to change settings and payment info if the original account holder cannot be reached, perhaps after a 3 month period or on production of satisfactory proof.

I asked this question years ago and the only real conclusion that was reached was that one should try to arrange for a friend in the business to help transition the site to the Heirs.

It would be nice to come up with a formal procedure that is endorsed by both affiliates and operators to allow an "executor" access to a particular affiliate's accounts.

Very good question. Off the top I would have an encrypted spread sheet locked up as part of your will. Allow beneficiary full access to all online assets. The confusion starts will the programs accept new ownership under the circumstances. As for the banking side who knows?

Power of Attorney for banking?

greek39

Perhaps the GAU or someone else can help? more of a central system where you can enter your "next of kin"/emergency contact details kind of thing....

It would be good for programs as well, if we haven't heard from affiliates in over 3 months, especially with pending/bounced payments we would have a central point to contact.

Just a though.....

Great thread. Something all affiliates need to think about.

Most programs have 'death' terms. Sorry - morbid. I looked at one of the Rivals, for example, and it has instructions for aff death. Beneficiaries must provide proof they they act on behalf of the estate. Commissions (for players prior to death) will be paid for 12 months to the estate if I read that right.

That's fair. 12 months is plenty of time to change tags, or sell, as long as someone knows to do it.

I almost think it would make more sense to assign a beneficiary before death directly to the program. I imagine many beneficiaries to affiliates right now have no clue on this stuff and it may be too complicated for family members. Assigning a trusted affiliate or group to act on behalf of the family may be a solution.

I can only speak for myself here and what I have set up in case anything happens to me.I own 51% of the corporation that owns all my websites and my husband owns the other 49%.In april this year we made a will and our lawyer asked us to pick two people we trust to oversee the running of the websites and seperate two people to oversee the financial process of collecting the payments and to ensure they are all paid.When my daughter turns 18 we will add her as a director of company with no voting rights just so that at least one of my heirs are on the corporate books if anything happened to both me and my husband.We have an accountant and a lawyer as part of the 'departure plan' when/if anything happens to me.
All my accounts are set up in the corporate name ,if you are acting as an individual make sure you document all accounts and try to have your significant other know at least how to logins to check stats and know where the online wallets are.Some groups may shut down accounts if a person dies so that is risky to work as an individual and my advise is if you earn more than $3000 a month it is worth forming a business.

Judy

That's a tough one. As a program manager you want to make sure you give these real assets to the proper person. I think setting up a corporation is an ideal solution.

I think that the affiliate's family should receive the funds for as long as there is revenue being generated.

thx for raising the point again,
been thinking abot that for years also
link on cap from 2007 http://www.casinoaffiliateprograms.c...-question.html

have a company now

A company would take care of it.

If the affiliate isn't registered as a company but as an individual, I would require:
Death Certificate, Next of Kin and Sworn Affidavit that the person is the entitled heir (I think it is called Affidavit of Successor or Heirship)

And I would of course keep paying the affiliate commissions.

some programs cant/wont pay to corporations and need a "name" which they pay. In a case like that, it could be a real mess.

I asked this question a long time ago as well.

you may want to check out:
bank Account Designation form
Durable Power of Attorney

In addition you may want to get all your log-in/pw info along with links for those that are not technical or familiar with your business(s) with some basic procedures.

computer login, affiliate accounts, domain hosting accounts, financial accounts, etc.

You might also want to make a hierarchy of where files are located on your computer suchas your sites.

You can store this data on a flash drive with a read me 1st file that explains things further.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by slotplayer

In addition you may want to get all your log-in/pw info along with links for those that are not technical or familiar with your business(s) with some basic procedures.

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Yup. I have produced two documents. One with instructions, contact names etc. I have put Program usernames in this document with a reference number that equates to a second document with passwords. These are with different ppl in separate locations and one won't work without the other.

As for the company, seems from reading the advice above that I need to chat with my accountant and bank manager and see what options I have I guess, although it sounds like this isn't necessarily the only thing required.

I guess a standard policy is required. I wonder if this is something the GPWA could possibly work on? Some sort of standard procedure that affiliate programs simply agreed to would be fine. Nicolas mentions death certificates and power of attorney etc which is all well and good but a lot of affiliates work with a lot of programs and would this be practical? You'd need so many Death certificates to send out to and anyone who's been and Executor will know what a PITA tidying up someone's account after they are gone can be. If that sort of documentation could be sent to GPWA once, could not the programs accept that for themselves maybe?

I think there are also 2 points that a program needs to clarify:

1) Does it matter if an affiliate passes their sites to a spouse/friend?
2) How does this need to be authorised?

All it needs is for an affiiate to be able to give the name and address of an authorised person to manage the accounts in their absence. Although the "absence" bit is important.

I can't remember who said earlier that they would pay commissions for 12 months, but I am assuming that as long as the business is put in someone else's hands, that becomes irrelevant? I have a reciprocal arrangement with another affiliate that if one of us passes, the other will manage (simply maintain) the other's portfolio for a 25% cut which should prolong it's life, albeit gradually dwindling I suspect, for several years hopefully. If a program relied on me being there to pay, I'd ditch them tomorrow, but I am guessing this isn't what was meant.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by slotplayer

In addition you may want to get all your log-in/pw info along with links for those that are not technical or familiar with your business(s) with some basic procedures.

computer login, affiliate accounts, domain hosting accounts, financial accounts, etc.

You might also want to make a hierarchy of where files are located on your computer suchas your sites.

You can store this data on a flash drive with a read me 1st file that explains things further.

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Excellent idea, having all the information on the flash drive with a readme file first. I know my wife would be lost trying to even use the flash drive but I am sure my son would be able to sort it for her.

We actually have discussed coming up with a list of things to do, who to contact, what needs done (but have not done it yet). This would be so much easier.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LiveCasinoPartners

I think that the affiliate's family should receive the funds for as long as there is revenue being generated.

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I thought about this after I posted last. While I think many earnings would die out naturally, this could be an issue for large affiliates that earn substantial amounts from large player bases. I feel there should be an option to sell or take over a player base.

I checked one of the micros and they also had the 12 month rule.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mojo

I thought about this after I posted last. While I think many earnings would die out naturally, this could be an issue for large affiliates that earn substantial amounts from large player bases. I feel there should be an option to sell or take over a player base.

I checked one of the micros and they also had the 12 month rule.

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in the cases where there is a time limit suchas 12 months, a proceedure or a test run on how to open an affiliate account might be the way to go. The sooner the better so they can start to build up a new player base under their account.

Teaching someone to replace links/banners is another story but they could at least get someone technical to do it.

However, one of the most important things to emphasis is under any circumatances DO NOT let the domain registration expire.

I have taught a family member and have it all written down. I think that is key and the first step.

I also feel they (family) should be aware of the gpwa and other aff communities so that if a family member popped in here for help, we would all be able to assist and gladly so. I think that was mentioned in the old thread in the private section.

To lighten things up a bit, there is always the old song "Prop me up by the jukebox when I die."