Episode 44 – 5 Things to Know About Transitioning Your Cyber Identity

Published November 17, 2025.

Your financial life isn’t just on paper anymore—it’s online. From banking and investment accounts to email, government logins, and social media, your cyber identity follows you through every stage of life.

In this Money Monday episode, Darren Devine shares 5 important things to know about transitioning your digital identity, especially as you change jobs, retire, or simplify your online presence.

He’ll cover why it’s crucial to update passwords and recovery methods, and what to consider when it comes to fraud protection and digital estate planning. If you’re planning for retirement, helping aging parents, or simply wanting to protect yourself online, this episode will help you treat your cyber identity like an essential part of your overall financial plan.

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Darren Devine, CFP®, CLU®

Financial Planner, Sun Life
President of Devine and Associates Financial Services Inc.


When we talk about estate planning, most people think of wills, executors, and passing down assets. But here’s something many forget:
your digital life.

Darren here, Financial Planner with Sun Life and President of Devine and Associates. For over 20 years I have been coaching families like yours to take their digital life into account.

Think about it—Facebook, Instagram, X, Netflix, Amazon, online banking, even cloud storage. At death, all of those accounts remain active unless someone knows how to close or transfer them.

Here are five things you can do today to help protect and transition your cyber identity:

  1. Make a list of your online accounts. Social media, subscriptions, shopping sites, email—anything that requires a login or payment.
  2. Securely record your usernames and passwords. Don’t just leave them on a sticky note—use a password manager or a written log stored safely.
  3. Name a digital executor. Some provinces allow you to appoint someone responsible for handling your online presence. Even if not formalized, make sure someone you trust knows your wishes.
  4. Review platform settings. Services like Facebook and Google let you designate legacy contacts or decide what happens to your account after death.
  5. Include your digital assets in your estate plan. This ensures your executor or next of kin has authority to access or close accounts without legal roadblocks.

It’s a step most people overlook—but your digital life is just as much a part of your estate as your bank account.

If you haven’t added your cyber identity to your estate plan, now’s the time. We can help make sure nothing gets missed.

Thanks for tuning into Money Monday. Don’t forget to like and comment for more episodes filled with tips to help make your financial journey a breeze. Until next time, I’m Darren Devine, and you can always talk to us today at DevineAndAssociates.ca!

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