For many the talk about the birds & the bees seems to be the hardest but in reality, “The Talk” about money with your Parents is worse. My Dad passed away in a blink at the age of 50, this forced an abbreviated version of the talk, but it has been 28 years and we need to have the talk again.

My Mother recently went to see her 91 year old Brother who was put under Hospice care, this has forced the issue. I have found out that while she has paid for a cemetery plot, she has not arranged for or pre-paid for a funeral. She does have a life insurance policy that should cover that expense. I also found out that she does not get rid of any statements. She has about 40 years of statements neatly bundled together – why?! I told her that she only needs to keep a few years (but not really in our world today) if that would make her happy.

What we really need to find out is; does she owe on anything? Who does she hold credit cards with? Who is her health insurance with? What does that cover? Where is all of her liquid money and where are the retirement accounts? One would assume that I, of all people, would know these things. Our Parents that are in their mid 70’s or older do not like to talk about money.

You have to have “The Talk” – it will make things so much easier in times of illness and death.

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