Changing the Conversation About End of Life

(Advances in science and public health are increasing longevity and enhancing the quality of life for people around the world. In this series of interviews with the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging, 14 visionaries are revealing exciting … Continue reading

How to Disinherit a Family Member

We live in a world of fractured relationships. For example, there are blended families that never truly blended; kids who feel left behind because of their parents’ divorce and loved ones who’ve gone completely off-the-tracks because of an addiction or… Continue reading

How the Tax Laws for Divorce Will Turn Upside Down in 2019

Nobody ever said going through divorce is easy. Aside from the normal emotions of a broken relationship and family, there’s the paperwork, the attorneys, the courts and, of course, the money. As if dividing up assets wasn’t difficult enough, new tax ch… Continue reading

How to Have Difficult Conversations With Your Aging Parents

(This article is an excerpt from Estate Planning for the Sandwich Generation: How to Help Your Parents and Protect Your Kids by Catherine Hodder.) An important part of caring for your aging parents is understanding their situation and knowing what they… Continue reading

Sara Zeff Geber: Offering Retirement Advice for Solo Agers

With her recent book, Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers: A retirement and aging roadmap for single and childless adults, Sara Zeff Geber brought the term “solo agers” into the national vocabulary. By Geber’s definition, a solo ager (sometime… Continue reading

Saying ‘No’ to Power of Attorney Duty

Does the thought of being power of attorney (POA) for a parent or another loved one fill you with dread? Maybe Mom thinks you’d be the best choice to make business, financial or medical decisions for her if she becomes unable to do so on her own becaus… Continue reading

What Nora Ephron Can Teach Us About Planning a Funeral

In June 2012, Meryl Streep gave one of her finest performances to a limited crowd. She hadn’t had much time to prepare, but it was a role that had been planned for her months, if not years, earlier. It’s just that the planner hadn’t thought to tell her… Continue reading

Avoid the Estate Planning Mistakes of Aretha Franklin and Prince

Aretha Franklin and Prince were undoubtedly brilliant performers, but they made giant estate planning mistakes that you’ll want to avoid. Franklin, who was divorced, reportedly died without a will or a trust despite having four grown children, one of w… Continue reading

How Your Adult Children Can Help You Plan for Retirement

A couple of years ago, my then 39-year-old brother, our divorced mom, and I went on a tropical vacation in Hawaii. The trip coincided with my mother, in her late ‘60s, entering semi-retirement. After working two full-time jobs as a nurse for over 25 ye… Continue reading