How Not To Pull Your Family Apart

Ho, Ho, Ho or Uh-Oh, Uh-Oh, Uh-Oh

Planning for extended care is not everyone’s strong suit. That’s when reaching out a professional is essential, even if you are a professional but extended care is not your specialty. You hesitate for many of the same reasons that your clients hesitate. It’s our behavioral wiring that’s gets in the way. It goes to our feeling or in this case, our excuse, that planning for something that is not a quantifiable certainty can be put off. We get caught up in the treadmill of life where everyday things rush in and tomorrow seems way into the future. So many families just don’t talk about unanticipated care needs. However, holiday celebrations and interactions can bring the future into better focus. Gatherings where you see your parents, grandparents, sisters, or brothers can be eye-opening- even if it’s virtual. Do you notice things that indicate they are not as physically or mentally sharp as a you remember them to be? What does that tell you? It’s the warning sign that the future is not so far off. People underestimate the power of small steps and how it leads to a solid plan over time. My three-step roadmap offers a formula to start and continue to build a plan for every life stage. Today’s advisors/specialists are better at focusing on fitting the plan to the need, current and future. You need to trust them with the right information to understand your own or your client’s risk level, budget, and personal support resources.