One popular money script is, “I need to leave an inheritance to my kids.” Yet choices that parents make based on this money script can actually result in both failing to leave an inheritance and even costing children money. Here is one way that might happen. My town...
It’s not very often that I see an estate plan that treats children unequally. When I do, it is usually because a parent is estranged from one child and leaves him or her nothing. In estate planning, “equal” isn’t necessarily the same as “fair.” Recently, a client I’ll...
In last week’s column about grief, I suggested that all of our personal losses, such as the death of a loved one, have financial aspects. These may range from a severe reduction in family income because of a divorce or the death of a wage earner, to the complexities...
Based on my experience, American societal money scripts around estate planning appear to be “Good parents leave everything to family,” and “The more money I can leave my kids the better off they will be.” It’s not surprising, then, that estate...
For decades, financial experts like myself have implored you to have a health care power of attorney. Now, some health care experts say you don’t need one because they don’t work. “Decades of research demonstrate advance care planning doesn’t work. We need a new...
We’ve made it to the middle of January, that time of year that is the graveyard for so many New Year’s resolutions. Even if you abandon any other resolutions you may have made, though, please consider carrying out a very important one. Resolve to make a...
