ONE CONVERSATION YOUR FAMILY
WILL BE THANKFUL YOU HAD

Thanksgiving usually brings families together around food, traditions, and plenty of conversation. It can also be a good opportunity to talk about something that often gets pushed aside: what happens if a loved one needs help managing their financial life.

This does not mean pulling out account statements at the dinner table. The goal is much simpler. It is making sure the right people know where to turn if something unexpected happens.

Start with the basics
Does your spouse or an adult child know who your financial advisor is? Your attorney? Your CPA? Do they know where important documents are kept?

A simple list of key contacts, account locations, insurance information, and estate documents can save your family a great deal of stress later.

Make sure your wishes are clear
Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and beneficiary designations all serve diff erent purposes. What matters most is that these documents are current and that someone you trust knows they exist.

Major life changes such as a marriage, divorce, death in the family, move, or new grandchild are all good reasons to revisit your plan.

Talk about the “why,” not just the numbers
You do not have to share every dollar amount to have a meaningful conversation. Instead, explain what matters to you. Maybe you want to help grandchildren with education. Perhaps charitable giving is important to you. Maybe your priority is making things as simple as possible for your spouse. Those intentions can be just as important as the paperwork.

Do not wait for a crisis
These conversations are much easier when everyone is healthy and there is no immediate decision to make. A little preparation today can give your family clarity when they need it most. This Thanksgiving, consider adding one more conversation to the table. It may not be the most festive topic, but it could be one of the most valuable.

Want to make sure your financial plan reflects the legacy you want to leave?

Schedule a no-obligation consultation for a financial plan review to make sure your money, your wishes, and your strategy are working together.

Disclosures: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks Certified Financial Planner® and CFP®. Financial planning and investment management offered for a fee through Certified Advisory Corp, a registered investment advisor. The information contained in this article is not written or intended as financial, tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for educational purposes only. Neither rankings and/or recognition by unaffiliated rating services and/or publications, nor the achievement of any designation or certification, should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if CFG is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A full list of our disclosures can be found at www.financialgroup.com/disclosures and www.financialgroup.com/awards.