Category: Family & Relationships

There are some subjects that we just don’t like to talk about and can make us feel really uncomfortable. One of these subjects is our own death and how our assets and property will be distributed when that event ultimately occurs. Having said that, it is imperative that everyone think about their estate plan and what they need or want to do with their assets when they’re gone. You have the final say as long as you do something about it while you are alive and well. While many people choose a Last Will and Testament, another option is a Revocable Living Trust (RLT). So you may be wondering, what is a Revocable Living Trust?

The RLT Option

Most of us, when we do think about what will happen to our families when we are gone, think about a Will. But an RLT is becoming increasingly more popular as an estate planning tool since changes have been made to make them friendlier to establish and use. An RLT lets you determine who receives your property and assets, and divides them while you are still alive and helps you avoid probate court. Continue reading“What Is A Revocable Living Trust and Why You Need to Know”

Researchers will tell you that we are all basically a combination of the beliefs, habits, and opinions of the people we surround ourselves with and spend the most of our time in life with. That starts in your childhood and is the unreal influence that a parent has on a child. Think about it. You probably believed almost everything you believed as a kid because of your parents through at least the first 10 years of your life.

Unless you came of age in the ’60s like me, that probably continued right on through adulthood, because everyone knows that my generation was the dawning of “The Age of Aquarius” and was a totally enlightened generation, a totally innovative and newly ordained very special generation with all the answers to all the questions of the ages…not!!! We just thought we were that at the time.

But seriously, when you really think about it, it does seem true that you probably get most of your opinions just because of how your closest influences (like Mom) think and that gets reinforced constantly by them. At least that’s my “uneducated” opinion here.

Discussing money—the nitty, gritty details—with our friends and families is a real taboo subject. You may be thinking, really? There are thousands of personal finance blogs around and libraries full of books about personal finances, money, budgeting, retirement planning, and I could go on and on here. But the truth is that we just don’t have any informal, detailed conversations with each other about these topics. Money talk is the last taboo.

Taboo Talking Points?

People will talk about their sex lives before they discuss their finances. Money talk and personal finances may be the most challenging topic to discuss with other people that there is. It begs this question: if no one is talking to each other about it, how do we ever find out what the beliefs and behaviors are of those who get rich and manage to stay rich as opposed to those who do not and never will?Continue reading“Money Talk is the Last Taboo”