This is a sampling of questions I might help my clients explore and answer.
Before our first meeting, I recommend you make a list of the issues that are top of mind for you personally. Don’t worry if something isn’t on this list—we can discuss whether it’s something I can help you with, or whether a different type of professional would be better to ask.
Parents
- How do I balance goals such as buying a home, paying for my kids’ education, or paying off debts with saving for retirement?
- I have young children—how can I best provide for them, even if I were to die or become disabled before they are independent adults?
- My child just turned 18 and/or started college. How do I help them get off on the right foot managing their finances and credit score?
- How can I make sure I don’t become a burden on my adult children as I age? How can I help them out with caring and providing for my grandchildren?
Everyone
- Who will make important decisions for me and manage my affairs if I’m incapacitated?
- Who will inherit from me when I pass away?
- If I already have legal documents to override state law default rules, are they outdated or unclear?
- If I’m already working with an attorney to create/update these documents, can you help me understand in plain English what the lawyers have drafted for me, and help communicate to them what I really want?
Transitions
- I am planning to get married soon—how can I and my spouse-to-be set ourselves up to minimize financial stress in our marriage and plan for our future together?
- I am getting divorced and need help understanding what I have a right to financially and making a plan for my self-sufficiency moving forward.
- I am changing jobs and want help understanding and selecting my new employee benefits.
- I’m thinking about starting a business or leaving a salaried job for freelancing—what should I be considering before I make that leap? How do I replace my employer-provided benefits?
- I am widowed and unsure about what benefits I’m entitled to or how to manage the resources my late partner used to handle.
Relationships
- How can I help my aging parent(s) live in safety and comfort without undermining my own family’s finances and well-being?
- My partner and I have very different opinions about spending and/or debt. Who is right, or can we find middle ground?
- I have a blended family or other non-traditional family structure. What steps should I take to make sure my wishes are carried out if something happens to me and that all my loved ones are taken care of equitably?
- I have a child or other loved one who has a chronic physical or mental health condition. How do I help support their quality of life without disqualifying them from government benefits? What if they don’t qualify for government benefits but I’m concerned about their ability to manage their own finances long term?
Retirement
- I am nearing retirement age and need to know if I’ve saved enough to pay for the retirement lifestyle I want, or if I should keep working and saving longer.
- I want to understand my options around claiming Social Security and/or pension benefits.
- What are my options for making sure I have the care I need and a safe and comfortable living environment as I age?
Tax Efficiency
- How can I use tax advantaged accounts or assets (e.g. traditional or Roth retirement accounts, 529 plans, FSAs/HSAs, annuities, cash value life insurance, real estate investments, etc.) to make my money go farther?
- I expect to have a windfall such as selling a business or receiving an inheritance in a few years. What can I be doing now to reduce the taxes that may be due from this?
Legacy & Trusts
- I have been very fortunate and feel pretty confident I have enough money to cover my life expenses. How can I share the wealth with loved ones and important causes, save on taxes, and make sure I can maintain my own comfort at the same time?
- I am the beneficiary of a trust. I want to understand better what options I have for accessing funds in the trust, whether they are protected from creditors, and whether I have rights to change the trustee or redirect what is left over when I die.
- I am the trustee of a trust created by a close friend or family member. I need help understanding and carrying out my responsibilities.
- I need an independent, unrelated person to act as trustee for a trust I am creating or the beneficiary of, and I don’t want to give that role to a bank or other institution that could swap out the person doing the work without my approval.
Curious Financial Counsel 