Family Gatherings are Prime Opportunities for Discussions About the Future

Do you subscribe to the belief that family gatherings aren’t an appropriate place to discuss things like politics, religion or money? Many people feel this way, causing them to put off financial discussions about the future for another time. However, when your family is gathered together celebrating Thanksgiving and you’re feeling gratitude for the loved ones around you, it can open the door for important money conversations that impact your family’s future.

Why You Should Never Neglect Estate Planning

Topics such as where your assets will go when you die can be uncomfortable to broach, but estate planning is integral to your family’s financial future. Establishing a thoughtful succession plan using a document like a will or a living trust can benefit your whole family and ensure your wishes will be met. Ideally, you should have these plans in place before an emergency occurs, and while the oldest members of the family are still in good health, both physically and mentally.

There’s More to it Than You May Think

Imagine this: you plant a beautiful flower garden and tend it faithfully for forty years. You protect it from stormy weather and pests, you never pick its beautiful blooms and you don’t traipse through it for fun. You never even get close enough to smell the fragrant flowers or run your hands through them because you’re focused solely on growing them taller and stronger without hindering their progress.

Retiring rich is something we all dream of, but it requires dedication and planning to make this dream a reality. For many Generation X-ers, it’s a dream that could be beyond reach without intervention. A new study from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies showed that only 14 percent feel they will have saved up enough to live comfortably in retirement. This stunning statistic illustrates the importance of using your forties to examine your financial preparation for your retirement years.

Did you know that over 60 million Americans are living in a home with either grandparent, grandchildren, or with two or more adult generations? That’s nearly 20% of America.

Whether it was planned or not, you may at one time be living in a multi-generational household. Kids may need to move back in after college. In fact, over 36% of 18-31year olds are living at home. Forty-seven percent of adults aged 40-50 have a parent 65 or older and are still raising or have adult children with financial needs.  Whether it’s the cost of living increases, childcare needs, health issues, or a job loss, the trend of moving into a multi-generational family home has been on the rise since 1980, hitting a high point during the 2007-9 recession. Whatever the case, living in a multi-family household can be an enriching and positive experience. This article will go over some ways to streamline the process so that it is beneficial to everyone.