Little book is making big impact

A year ago, Ken Hansen published his booklet, "Don't Let the Stuff You Leave Behind Destroy Your Family."

The book suggests that people should hold a family auction to disperse heirlooms and other worldly possessions when mom and dad leave this frail existence. Ken's brothers and sisters employed just such a strategy when their parents died, and not only are they all still friends, they go to dinner every year on money raised at the auction and set aside in a perpetual party fund.

"Let's go to dinner — Mom and Dad are buying" is the Hansens' mantra.

Curious if anyone's listened to him or read his book, I dropped by Hansen's office — he works in the D.A. Davidson brokerage office in the Deseret Morning News building — to ask for a one-year update.

Ken is in the semiretired stage of his life. He comes to the office two or three days a week, whenever his wife, Kaye, hints he's getting in the way in the kitchen. He is perpetually jolly. A small plaque in his office sums up his philosophy about finance: "Risk Not Thy Whole Wad."

He wrote "Don't Let the Stuff ... " for one reason: because he thought it might do the world some good. He charges $5.95 for the 35-page booklet, and that includes shipping and handling (which is handled by Kaye). Truth be told, he's probably lost money on the venture, although not his whole wad.

But, yes, he was happy to report, he has saved a few families from estate destruction. In the 12 months his booklet has been in circulation, he's received thank-you notes, phone calls and e-mails from people in more than half of the 50 states, the majority right here in Utah.

They read his book, held the auction and came out smiling (for details or to order the book, call Ken or Kaye at 801-299-9500 or e-mail Ken at khansen@dadco.com).

"Wonderful," one letter writer wrote. "Olympic-sized winner," wrote another. "Answer to a prayer," yet another.

Ken, who hasn't spent a dime on advertising or promotion, is nothing short of flabbergasted at how word of mouth has sent his simple idea around the country. "I had a call from somebody in Colorado who said they'd heard about it from somebody in Boston," he said.

He's had write-ups in newspapers and magazines, given dozens of speeches and been invited to seminars, including Sen. Orrin Hatch's annual seniors seminar last month at the Little America Hotel where he and Kaye sold more than 100 books.

All together, he's sold or given away more than 1,700 books — almost five a day for a year.

"This has gone beyond my wildest dreams," says Ken, who admits he's enjoying every minute of it. "I love to talk to people. I like what Mark Twain said, 'Though you have a thousand friends, you have not one to spare."'