When and How to Talk to Your Parents About Their Finances

Learn how to have crucial financial discussions with your aging parents while preserving their dignity and security.

In this Nerdy Book Club episode, personal finance Nerd Kim Palmer talks with journalist Cameron Huddleston about insights from her book “Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances.” In their discussion, Cameron shares her personal journey of stepping up to manage her mother's finances after an Alzheimer's diagnosis and offers guidance on how to have critical discussions about money matters with parents.

Cameron breaks down why it’s important to understand different aspects of your parents’ financial situation, including their income sources, bills, debts and investments. She also provides strategies on initiating difficult financial conversations in a respectful, loving manner and shares how to spot changes in your parents’ financial situation or cognitive abilities. You’ll walk away with tips for timing your conversations and strategies for broaching the subject, even if your parents come from a generation that is typically reluctant to talk to their kids about money.

In their conversation, Kim and Cameron discuss: difficult conversations with parents, financial affairs, legal documents, power of attorney, health care power of attorney, advanced directives, living wills, paying someone else’s bills, debt, navigating parental finances, elderly parents' finances, estate planning, dementia, financial scams and protecting parents from scammers.

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.

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