Did you know that one in five Millennials provide financial support to their parents? If you’re not aware if your parents have a will, if they’re getting contacted about annuities or insurance, or even if they’re paying their bills on time, this holiday season may be a good time to talk to them about their finances.
Bill-Paying
Many of us struggle to meet our monthly obligations, especially seniors, who often face diminished retirement savings and high medical costs. Visit with your parents about their ability to pay bills or purchase essential expenses, like medicine or food. Help them explore ways they can revise their spending plan. Are there any expenses that can be cut or reduced, like cable or dining out?
Encourage your parents to contact the creditors/service providers for any bill they are struggling to pay. (If preferred, you may be able to talk to them yourself with your parents’ permission.) Many creditors offer hardship programs, short-term arrangements that allow you to make smaller payments. Utility companies frequently have payment assistance programs for limited-income customers.
For aging parents suffering from memory problems, bills may go unpaid simply because they forget. Handling the bill payments yourself is one possibility, but if you do not have the time, you may find it helpful to use the services of a Daily Money Manager (DMM). DMMs assist with financial tasks, such as opening and paying bills, balancing checkbooks, and organizing and filling out paperwork. Professional DMMs charge a fee for their services, but low-income seniors may be eligible for free assistance through a volunteer program. (You can contact your local Area Agency on Aging for more information.) Of course, since there is the potential for abuse, you should choose a DMM carefully and periodically check up on his or her work. For more information, visit the American Association of Daily Money Managers.
Long-Term Care Costs
Sometime in the future, your parents will likely reach the point where they are no longer able to live on their own without help. Unless you or a relative plans to care for them, they will need to consider a nursing home, assisted-living, or in-home care. It is not unusual for long-term care costs to exceed $50,000 a year, and Medicare and Medicaid only cover them in limited circumstances.
If your parents do not already have a plan for financing their long-term care, help them create one. Putting aside a set sum each month can help your parents amass a good chunk of change, but if they do not already have a significant amount of savings, it may be difficult to save enough now to completely cover their costs. Besides saving, another option is to purchase long-term care insurance. Many policies cover both nursing home and in-home care costs. The best time to purchase this insurance is when you are in your 50s or 60s. Since there are many different provisions to consider, you and your parents may want to talk with a qualified insurance advisor about what would best meet their needs.
Salespeople/Scammers
If someone is trying to sell your parents an annuity, timeshare, or other investment opportunity, review it in detail to see if it would make sense financially (it probably won’t). Explain to your parents why you think it is not a good investment. If they are getting calls from telemarketers, sign them up on the National Do Not Call Registry (donotcall.gov or 888-382-1222). Discuss common scams, such as the promise of lottery winnings if you send a check for taxes, and encourage them to talk to someone they trust before sending money to someone.
Estate Planning
The majority of Americans don’t have a will. No one wants to think about death, but having a will ensures your property goes to who you want it to go to and reduces the likelihood of conflict breaking out between surviving relatives. If you are not sure if your parents have one, ask. Those with more complicated financial situations may want to have their will drafted by a lawyer, but others may be able to create one with the aid of a book or computer software.
Even if you know your parents have a will, you can talk to them about whether they feel it is up to date or if they want to make any changes. For example, if they left part of their estate to a sibling and he or she died, they may prefer now to leave their whole estate to their children. Also discuss if they have other estate planning documents, such as durable power of attorney for healthcare and finances.
At Nusenda Credit Union, we’re here to help you and your loved ones achieve financial well-being in any stage of life. All the tools we provide are offered at no cost; most are available for both members and the public at-large.
- As a member of Nusenda Credit Union, you have access to complimentary investment consultant who provide long-term care planning assistance.
- Wealth News helps keep your investing and planning in balance.
- Security alerts let you know about any fraudulent trends, data breaches, phishing emails, or other suspicious activity.
- SavvyMoney is a free, anonymous online tool that helps you analyze your financial health, then builds individualized, realistic budgets based on your data.
- BALANCE Financial Fitness is a comprehensive financial education and counseling service featuring experts in all aspect of personal finance and credit.
- You can also stop by any of our more than 20 branches from Socorro to Taos to meet one-on-one with a financial consultant, either by simply walking in or by scheduling an appointment in advance for a time that fits your schedule.
- Nusenda Credit Union member-owners have access to Money Manager, a financial management tool that helps track spending, set savings goals, pay down debt, and see all your accounts in one place – even if they’re from other financial institutions!
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