Expert Column
Suzanne Wolfson, MBA, CFP 
Financial Planner for Retirement
Suzanne Wolfson, CFP® is the founder of For Retired Only™, a fee-based financial planning...read more
Articles In This Column
- Financial Planning Do's & Don'ts in Today’s Economic Crisis
- Financial Planning: What Those Professional Designations, Credentials & Titles Really Mean
- Who Can You Trust for Financial Advice?
- Advice for Seniors: Managing the Financial Market Turmoil & Economic Crisis
- Seniors: When is it Time to "Let Go" of Control?
- The Real Cost of Reverse Mortgages
- Fund Unexpected Elder Care Costs with Your Personal Resources
- Paying for Senior Care with the Inheritance
- Lessons I Learned after My Father’s Death
- Thinking of Selling Your House? Read this First!
- How Much Can You Save with Advance Planning?
- How to Pay for Long-term Care without Breaking the Bank
- What’s in Your Parent’s Wallet? (And What That Means for You)
- Financial Planning for the Elderly: Assisting Clients & Their Caregivers
- Financial Planning for the Elderly: a Personal Perspective
Financial Planning for Retirement
Comments For "What’s in Your Parent’s Wallet? (And What That Means for You)"
Wow what a thorough assessment. I printed this out to take with me when I meet with my mom next week to discuss her finances. Just curious...why would I need a financial planner when I can just use this type of information online. Is a financial planner more for people who have a lot of different assets and money in different places? Its pretty cut and dry with my mom, I think.
Jane,
A list is merely a guide, and it can be limited in assisting you with important financial decisions. There are so many variables that need to be considered like taxes, market variable, and evaluation of possible choices to meet needs. After all these years of assisting families and individuals I still find that a financial planner’s knowledge and wisdom can bring clients invaluable information and direction. Generic information does not always apply.
Not all financial planners require their clients to have large portfolios—it is by no means only about asset management. Frequently I work with people who have only a home and a few other assets. This doesn’t affect their need for financial advice, both for now and for the future.
What I am able to present in these blogs is actually very limited. After setting the ground work, however, I’ll be able to address more specific issues, options, and consequences.
Thank you for your response,
Sincerely,
Suzanne