Having a will and a final plan in place is recommended as soon as we enter into adulthood. If we don’t take care of it then, we should make some decisions when a major life event has occurred such as a marriage, birth of a child or on receiving an inheritance.As daunting as tackling issues related to our own mortality is, it is inevitable. The best option is to deal with these issues head on, and sooner rather than later. But long before your family members will be dealing with your mortality, you’ll likely be dealing with your parents’ final arrangements. The reality is, your aging parents will need assistance with their personal and financial planning affairs.
How to Talk About a Will and a Final Plan
Talking with your parents about mortality and money is never easy but it’s an important thing to do. If you find it difficult to discuss these issues, you can start by discussing your own will and final wishes. Getting their input on your decisions can help you understand the choices that they have made. Hopefully this will open the door to discuss their wishes.
Things that you need to discuss:1.
What they owe, where and to whom. Understanding their level and type of debt is essential. This can include investment properties and investment accounts, as well as lines of credit, credit cards, auto loans and home loans. Although you may not go over this during your initial conversation about their financial planning status, it’s important that you understand exactly what is owed and where those accounts are held.2.
Their will. Although it may seem grim, you need to know what to expect when your parent passes. Be sure to discuss the pertinent details of the will and know who the executor of the will is. This discussion should also include whether they have signed a living will and what their wishes are regarding end of life care.3.
Power of attorneys or representation agreements These documents are essential in a health crisis, and it’s important for you and your parents to have them signed well ahead of time. It’s far better to have these documents in place long before they are needed.4.
Care scenarios. Do you and your parents have plans for what will happen if they become ill or incapacitated? This may be the most difficult of all conversations, so you may want to handle this separately from the other financial issues. Be sure to cover whether they’ll downsize and move in with you or go into care facilities. Be honest about whether you are willing and able to provide care.You may want to put your parents’ name on a waiting list for a seniors’ residence or long-term care facility in anticipation of their future needs anyway in case your situation changes in the future.5.
Final arrangements. Burial arrangements and other final arrangements are important to cover with your parents as well. If you understand what your parents’ final wishes are, it will make it easier for you to follow through with them.You need to talk early and often with your parents about finances. As they grow older, they’ll become more in need of your assistance with their day to day lives. Whether this comes in the form of financial assistance, shared living space or medical care, it’s important to understand exactly what you’ll be facing when that time comes. Don’t try to talk about all of these issues at once. Make it a point to talk with them regularly so you can keep the lines of communication open.As an
experienced financial advisor , I can provide assistance in getting the conversation started and offer advice with planning for future needs for both you and your parents.
