Last week’s column concluded that, while long-term care insurance is unaffordable for most Americans, everyone needs a long-term health care plan. Knowing how long you may live is one of the first variables to consider in putting together such a plan. A number of...
If you want to stop a conversation cold, just ask a group of friends, “Do you ever worry that you might outlive your retirement income?” The response is likely to be nervous laughter. It doesn’t occur to most people to seriously consider this possibility. The greatest...
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...
What makes life worth living? This question is at the heart of financial life planning and financial therapy. I remember my late mentor Dick Wagner, CFP, talking about reviewing a person’s financial statement during a visit to Japan. Along with the normal...
Is maintaining good physical health a worthwhile investment? The statistics suggest that in the long run, poor health will cost far more than the money or time it takes to maintain good health. Most of us might say we agree with this conclusion, but our behaviors say...
“What do you do for a living?” is a common question when we’re introduced to someone new. If there’s no time for conversation I’ll answer, “I am a financial advisor.” The discussion is usually over. If the social situation allows...
