It starts out innocently enough, you bank with Chase, but your new mortgage is through Bank of America, and they offer you a half a percent discount on your mortgage if you open a new account with them. Then a local credit union offers a great rate on a car loan, so you open an account with them and become…
Margo stormed into her diner, slapped a newspaper down in front of her sister, Irene, and exclaimed, “Look at this! This could happen to us!” Irene glanced at the paper and her face scrunched up in confusion. “What on earth do we have in common with Tom Petty?” She peered up at her sister. “He died, you know.” Margo glared…
Finn slapped the pile of envelopes on the kitchen table and grunted at his wife, Lola. She peered at him over her coffee mug and gestured toward the pile. “What’s this?” “Credit card bills. For Mom and Dad.” Lola frowned. “How is that possible? We have responsibility for their financial affairs. We pay all of their bills. They live in…
Something we see quite often with our older clients is a joint bank account – parent’s money, child added to the account for convenience of the parent. It really can be very convenient, so, despite the list of problems I’ll get to in a minute, for some families in some situations, adding a child to your bank account can be…
The population of seniors in the United States is growing rapidly. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that people 65 and older will make up 20 percent of our country’s population by 2030. Along with this increasing population come increasing reports of elder financial abuse. It is only going to become more and more important for all of us,…
If the title of this blog caught your attention, possibly you have found yourself questioning whether your financial advisor’s recommendations for your portfolio are in line with the goals you both discussed. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to see if your situation may need attention: Have you seen a dramatic drop in your account value? You’ve been…
This is another installment in our very occasional series on estate planning lessons learned from celebrities. By now you all have heard the sad news that Aretha Franklin has died. She left behind a rich legacy of music she recorded for our enjoyment over her long career. But what she apparently did not leave behind is an estate plan. A…
“I’ll tell you, Marge, my attorney is a wizard, a downright magician. When the time comes and my kids stick me in a nursing home, I am going to be ready. She has created a plan that protects my assets and will enable me to qualify for Medi-Cal quickly.” Lynda smiled triumphantly as she sipped her coffee. Marge frowned. “I…
Eighteen-year-old Sarah tried to calm her excitement. She had been named the beneficiary of her Grandpa Jack’s IRA (Individual Retirement Account). While all of the grandchildren had been named in Grandpa Jack’s will, she was the only one to get a separate gift. Visions of a new car and new clothes began to dance through her head. “Your grandfather named…
Lisa studied her late son’s will and frowned. “To my mother and father, George and Lisa Cummings, I bequeath the contents of my wallet, to be found at Coinbase.” “George, you ever heard of a place called Coinbase?” George shook his head. “No. What about it?” “Well, according to Danny’s will, he left his wallet there and we inherit the…