For Stonebridge resident Kristen Pandhi, the idea behind her business, Life Preserver, was born from a simple but powerful question: what happens when someone is no longer here to explain the details of their life?

Life Preserver is an end-of-life and emergency planning system designed to organize the essential components of a person’s life in one secure, comprehensive binder. The goal is straightforward but deeply meaningful—help families avoid confusion, stress, and missed information during already difficult times.

“Could someone else step in and manage the details of your life, if something were to happen?” Kristen asks. “We all have a story of a friend or relative who passed away unexpectedly, and their family spent months searching for information—some of which was never found.”

That experience, she explains, is exactly what inspired her to create Life Preserver. After two years of research and development, Kristen built a system that goes far beyond basic estate organization. It accounts for the everyday, often-overlooked details that can become overwhelming during a time of grief. “I really went ‘in the weeds,’” she says. “Who mows your lawn? Who has access to your home? Where do you keep the key to the shed? Trying to sort through all of these details while grieving is not only stressful, but there is a high likelihood of mistakes.”

What sets Life Preserver apart is its level of completeness. Designed as a turnkey system, it requires no setup or guesswork. Everything is already structured into 17 detailed sections that guide users through organizing their lives step by step. “It is fully comprehensive—even down to the secret family recipes,” Kristen explains. “You do not need to worry if you are missing anything important. It is all there.”

Sections range from Family, which includes information about children and pets, to Subscriptions, ensuring that loved ones know what needs to be canceled, preventing unnecessary expenses or complications. While most sections are designed for independent completion, Kristen recommends working with an estate-planning attorney for the legal-focused Estate section. Each section includes clear instructions and thoughtfully designed layouts with large tables and alternating colors, making the process easier to navigate and visually accessible.

Beyond the structure itself, Kristen has also made Life Preserver more accessible to the Stonebridge community. Readers can receive a $40 discount by using the code “stonebridge40” when purchasing through the company website: https://life-preserver.com.

Kristen and her family have lived in the Brookside area for three years. She describes it as the kind of place that feels immediately like home, thanks in large part to its supportive neighbors. “Our neighbors have been so supportive of the launch, and I am grateful,” she says. “We cannot think of anywhere else we would rather raise our kids.”

Originally from San Diego, California, Kristen jokes that she has developed “trust issues when it comes to weather”—a sentiment many Midwest transplants can likely appreciate. Outside of running Life Preserver and raising two children, ages 9 and 5, Kristen enjoys traveling as a family. Like many young families, however, she notes that no matter the destination, they often end up spending the most time where kids are happiest: the playground.

Looking ahead, Kristen hopes to continue raising awareness about the importance of proactive planning. This summer, Life Preserver will be featured in a community event alongside an estate-planning attorney, offering residents both education and practical guidance. “We will provide information that will both inspire action and grant peace of mind,” she says.

In a world where so much is unpredictable, Life Preserver offers something rare and valuable: clarity, structure, and the reassurance that the people you care about most will not be left searching for answers when they need them most.

Web: https://life-preserver.com/ 

EM: ahoy@life-preserver.com

Mobile: (619) 788-6624

IG: Life_Preserver_Planning

FB: Life Preserver 

TikTok: @life.preserver