When you inherit a retirement account from a parent, it’s more than just a financial transaction it’s a moment filled with emotion, responsibility, and the need to make thoughtful decisions. That’s exactly the position one client recently found herself in. She wrote: “Dear FineMark, My mother passed away earlier this year, and I inherited her …
Dear FineMark: How can co-trustees identify estate beneficiaries without bank help?
Today’s Dear FineMark question comes from a Frustrated Administrator who writes: “My sister and I are co-trustees of our brother’s estate. We brought his legal documents and death certificate to his bank, but they wouldn’t share any information with us. They said only the beneficiaries can claim the funds in person. How are we supposed …
Dear FineMark: Can Mom’s Assets Cover Care Costs and Family Compensation?
Today’s Dear FineMark comes from a daughter preparing to welcome her mother, who has mid-stage dementia, into the home she shares with her husband and children. She writes: “My mother will soon be moving in with us. We are remodeling the bathroom to add a walk-in shower, our grocery bill and utilities will increase, and …
Dear FineMark: How Do I Manage Finances During Divorce After 20 years?
Today’s Dear FineMark comes from a woman navigating a divorce after 20 years of marriage and realizing just how much she doesn’t know about her family’s finances. She writes: “After 20 years of marriage, my husband and I are getting divorced. He’s always handled our finances, so I’ve never really paid much attention. I know …
Dear FineMark: How to secure grandchildren’s future financially smartly?
Today’s Dear FineMark comes from a grandfather who’s thinking about his legacy, not just in dollars, but in opportunity. Here is the question… “I’m 79, recently retired, and my wife and I have been fortunate. We’ve built up about $15 million in assets over the years, and we live comfortably. We have four grandkids and …
Dear FineMark: My father keeps his finances a secret. What should I do?
Today’s Dear FineMark covers a common and complicated reality: a parent’s financial secrecy and an adult child’s desire to be prepared. Here is the question… “My dad has always been private about money. My mom doesn’t know what they have or where it is. I found a joint account in my name and his that …
Essential Roles in an Estate Plan
When most people think about estate planning, they immediately picture a will. But a complete estate plan is made up of several important documents, generally falling into two categories: distributive documents and emergency documents. Each type names specific individuals or entities to help carry out your wishes. Understanding these roles is critical to ensuring your …
Dear FineMark: Who can access a safe-deposit box after death?
Today’s Dear FineMark comes from a family trying to help settle a loved one’s estate. “My uncle recently passed away and we’re trying to find his will. Everyone says it’s in his safe-deposit box, but no one in the family is listed on it. We have the key, but the bank won’t let us in. …
Dear FineMark: Do stepchildren have legal protection in remarriages?
Today’s Dear FineMark is about marital trusts, remarriage, and whether stepchildren have any legal protection when the family dynamics change. “My stepmother remarried after my father passed away. They had been married for 30 years and built a life together—raising me, building a business, and accumulating investments and property. I’m named as a beneficiary in …
Dear FineMark: Should we gift adult children now or wait for inheritance?
This is one of the most meaningful questions we hear from clients with considerable wealth—and there’s no single right answer. Ultimately, it depends on your financial situation, your values, and the dynamics within your family: “Dear FineMark, My husband and I are in our early 70s. Over the years, we’ve been fortunate—built a successful business, …
Dear FineMark: Should We Leave More to One Child Than the Others?
It’s a dilemma many families face—how to divide an estate fairly among children with different financial circumstances. In today’s Dear FineMark, we’re addressing a heartfelt question from a couple in their 80s: “My husband and I are both in our 80s with three grown children. Our estate plan currently splits everything equally, which I’ve always …
Dear FineMark: How to navigate estate planning in blended families?
Today’s Dear FineMark involves Suspicious beneficiary designations. Divorce decrees. And a $500,000 life insurance policy. Here is the question… “I’ve been married 16 years and am planning to file for divorce. Before my husband and married, I bought a home on my own, and throughout our marriage, I have been the only person working-and I …
