About Us
Pathlight offers services to two groups:
Busy Executors
Family members or friends who are serving as executor to a loved one's estate. For them, this process can be overwhelming and confusing. We aim to make it as simple and stream-lined as possible.
Aging Seniors
Seniors who want help with the process of getting their estates in order, transitioning to senior housing or down-sizing. For these seniors, we aim to help them give their loved ones the gift of an organized estate with lower potential for conflict after they're gone.
A native of Toronto and Washington, DC, Caroline Barker received her BA from Dartmouth College and MBA from Duke University before spending over a decade as a corporate finance executive at companies like PepsiCo and American Airlines.
During that time, she also served as a passionate advocate for people victims of domestic violence and sexual assault through organizations like the Durham Crisis Response Center and the Dallas Area Crisis Response Center.
After leaving corporate life and moving to Colorado, Caroline founded Pathlight, an estate and after-loss advisory firm. She is also a National Certified Guardian, Certified Senior Advisor and Certified Estate and Trust Specialist.
Caroline believes what sets her apart is her unique combination of administrative expertise and lifelong passion for helping individuals and families navigate challenging times.
My Story
I started Pathlight to make the end of life process easier, simpler and more efficient for people and their families. I consider walking alongside my clients during times of transition is an honor and a calling.
Soon after the pandemic, my great aunt began to experience significant health issues. She had always lived a very full and independent life, moving back and forth between homes across the country. As her health declined, she increasingly called upon me to help manage her life. I helped automate her affairs, manage and sell her properties, distribute personal belongings to thirteen family members and transition her to assisted living. Throughout this time, I worked alongside her lawyer, accountant, financial advisor, medical care teams and more.
She spoke often of the relief and freedom my help brought her.
Soon after, a close friend’s mother tragically passed. In addition to navigating the shock and grief of her death, my friend lived across the country and was running her own company. She was understandably overwhelmed with the task of executing her mother’s estate.
Once again, I raised my hand, offering to take over and manage the process. Under my guidance, we worked through everything. We sorted several decades of documents. We also allocated, distributed and disposed of belongings. We communicated with and negotiated among beneficiaries, we paid and closed accounts, navigated court processes, retitled property and sold the house. Most importantly, I was able to walk alongside my friend. I helped carry the burden of executing the estate so that my friend could focus on grieving.
Through these two experiences, I realized the great need for the services Pathlight offers today. And that this was work I simply love to do.