Managing Money

Honestly, most of us dread, delay, or consciously avoid any discussion with our kids about our finances and particularly about their inheritance. Money is not an easy subject to broach. The topic often brings the fear that there may be a huge argument, feelings may get hurt, or even worse. However, the lack of any input from them could bring unwanted consequences…

If something happened to one of your parents OR you tomorrow, would family know what to do? Or where to find the financial information? Role reversal, at least at first, can feel awkward or just not quite right even when it may be needed. You may go from caring for children to caring for a parent in physical, financial or other ways…

A few years ago, I was going through our financial paperwork – really going through it, not just moving it from one pile to another – and I came across a beneficiary form I’d filled out years earlier. I didn’t remember completing it. I didn’t remember who I’d named. When I found it, my husband’s name was on it…

I’m in my late 60s. Like many women our age, I grew up hearing that money wasn’t a polite topic to talk about. Someone else handled it, or we handled it quietly and didn’t make a fuss. In all honesty, I can’t be quiet about money. I own a business. I pay staff, pay the bills, and charge for my services. How I use money is part of how I lead…

When it comes to your finances and investments, sometimes it makes sense to keep things relatively uninteresting. That’s not to say you can’t pursue some entertainment and growth with a portion of your holdings. Still, it’s wise to consider the potential risks…

Theresa is 72 years old, and she’s sitting at her kitchen table staring at a bill she doesn’t understand. It’s not an especially complicated bill. At least, she doesn’t think it is. It’s something to do with the homeowners insurance, and there’s a notice about a change in coverage that she isn’t quite sure how to interpret…

So my mom called me last week. Not to catch up, not to tell me about her neighbor’s new dog – she wanted to know why her tax refund was smaller than her friend Linda’s. Linda, it turns out, claimed a senior tax break 2026 deduction my mom didn’t even know existed. Six grand, just sitting there. My mom’s accountant never mentioned it…

In the spirit of October, which is not only National Estate Planning Awareness Month but also the month of Halloween, it seems appropriate to think about what can feel like a gruesome topic: when we stop breathing. What are the “morbid details” that you want to take place? Do you want CPR administered? Who do you want to speak for you when you can’t…

A woman once said something to me that I haven’t forgotten: “Every retirement article I read seems to be written for someone who has money.” She had worked most of her adult life. She paid her bills. She supported herself. But there was no large 401(k). No pension. No impressive investment account waiting for her…

Just because your 65th birthday is approaching doesn’t always mean retirement is. You may enjoy your work. Maybe you haven’t hit your retirement goal. Or maybe you have great health insurance via your employer. And if you have access to a Health Savings Account (HSA), you might enjoy contributing to it…