Estate Planning Answers

Q: My boyfriend and I have been married before and we’ve been very good friends for the last year. We have very different financial situations and are thinking about living together. Do you have some financial guidelines for us? – J .& F—California  A: Before you begin your cohabitation, it’s worthwhile to have a frank [...]

Q: A close family friend had a stroke and became immobilized. The high costs of his caregivers have now depleted almost all of their family’s assets. They are now selling their home and are headed into poverty. We don’t want this to ever happen to our family. How do we protect ourselves? - L.R., Michigan  A: [...]

Q: We’ve been married for three years and are having our first child in a few months. We are both employed and are starting to think about the financial ramifications of having children. What should we be thinking about doing financially? - S. J., Alabama  A: Having a first baby is a new and wonderful experience, [...]

Q: We are getting married in three months. A lot of our married friends seem to be bickering over money issues all the time. We don’t want this to happen with us. What suggestions do you have to avoid this?  – P.S.—Washington  A: For starters you should have a very important talk with your partner [...]

Q: Next month we’re moving to a new state and we’ve begun reviewing our insurance policies and coverage. Is it important to check out the insurance companies, and if it is please provide us with some guidelines on doing it? - K.P., North Carolina A: Yes, in today’s world it is important to evaluate the financial [...]