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Building A Nest-Egg For Your Children: How To Future-Proof Your Finances

December 21st, 2016 Posted in learning about money, Money Tips
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Scientists and technology gurus are coming up with incredible advances that are changing the face of modern medicine year on year. However, we’re all still mere mortals, and aging is inevitable. It’s healthy to live by the carpe diem mantra, and focus on the present, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t look ahead. When you’ve worked hard for years, you want to be able to protect your money and assets, and create a nest-egg for your children and grandchildren. Here are some ways you can future-proof your finances.

Making a will

There may come a time when decisions need to be made, and you’re not capable of doing this. In this case, your legal rights and choices should be respected. If you make a will, this is not just about leaving instructions for who receives what when you pass away. A living will also gives you the opportunity to give your next of kin information about what you want and how you want to be treated if you’re no longer able to make the important calls. Many people think of a will as a document that is only required by old people or those in poor health. However, it’s advisable for everyone to make a will. If you have possessions, money in the bank or business assets, this is a way of ensuring they are passed onto somebody who deserves them. If you don’t make a will, there are procedures in place, which determine who will inherit your estate, and the legal way of processing the inheritance may not match your personal preferences. If you’re thinking of making a will, click here to see what a solicitors can do for you.

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Taking out insurance

Have you got critical illness cover or life insurance? If not, it may be time to consider your options. Unfortunately, nobody knows what’s around the corner. You may be absolutely fine one day. The next week, you may find yourself with life-limiting injuries. Life is unpredictable, and it can often be cruel. It’s not possible to prevent some accidents and injuries. However, it is possible to prepare for the future and protect yourself and your loved ones from financial ruin. If you take out insurance, this provides a nest-egg for your family in the event that you pass away or you develop a serious illness, which prevents you from working. You can compare insurance providers and policies online. The process takes minutes, and it will give you peace of mind, as well as financial protection.

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Every year, we read about incredible advances, which are saving lives all over the world. However, there’s no universal cure that fights every disease, and for now, none of us are immortal. It’s sobering to think of days when we might not be here, but it’s important to plan ahead, especially if you have a family. You’re never too young to make a will if you have dependents, business or property assets or cash in your account. It’s also advisable to consider taking out life insurance and critical illness cover.

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Parenting From Beyond The Grave. Teaching Children Finances For When You’re Not Around

November 16th, 2016 Posted in financial education, financial literacy, learning about money, teaching children about money
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Becoming a parent is a huge responsibility. That responsibility doesn’t end, even from beyond the grave. Every parent takes steps to ensure their children would be okay should anything happen. Discussing when you won’t be around anymore isn’t nice, but it’s necessary. It can be reassuring to have relatives who could take care of things. Even so, it’s important to talk things through with your children so they know what would happen. Don’t hide this from your kids, especially as they get older. How can they learn if you don’t teach them? Here are some things you should take time to explain.

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YOUR WILL

If you don’t have a will, you should write one. If you do have a will, it’s important to discuss the document with your children. Setting up a will is the best way to help them figure things out after you’ve gone. Bear in mind that it won’t be any good to them if they don’t understand it, or don’t know it exists. Talk them through the contents of your will and make sure they know where it’s kept. Keeping them in the loop will give them much greater understanding of things. Ensure they’re prepared for the worst. Thorough explanation helps avoid confusion or arguments when the time comes. It’s also worth discussing who will be taking care of them should anything happen. No one wants to have such a sombre conversation, but it’s necessary. It will put all your minds at ease.

LIFE INSURANCE

Explaining the value of insurance to your children will help them understand the need for insurance when they get older. It’s essential that they know how important these added policies are. While you’re explaining insurance to them, it may be worth mentioning life insurance. It’s crucial that your children are aware of any life insurance policies you have. That way, they’ll know what they’re owed when it comes time. This will also help them set up their own life insurance policy later in life. Our reference to our life insurance policies can make a real difference later down the line. Learn what your children will receive from your policy after your death so that you can explain it to them. Make sure they know what you pay in and why you do it. Show them phone numbers and who to contact should they need it in the future.

EXPLAIN TO THEM ABOUT ANY TAXES

There are often fees involved in death. Maybe you’ve got savings, or it’s just taxes on your estate that would need paying. It’s important to discuss this with your children too. Make sure they know what they would have to pay, and how to pay it. This knowledge is crucial. Make sure to explain it in terms your children would understand. This conversation may be best left until your kids are a little older and have some understanding of the tax world. Be realistic in how much your kids are going to understand at any given age.

 

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Why Teach Children About Wills?

January 10th, 2014 Posted in kids and money, learning about money, Uncategorized
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image of willTeaching children about all aspects of finance early in life is important, but it needn’t be boring. The trick lies in getting children to understand the whys and wherefores of money in a way that is both fun and which will carry them through life. This isn’t about attempting to get rich; rather, it’s about instilling in them the knowledge that the sensible management of money can help bring about freedom, independence and peace of mind.

As part of this overall process, it’s also important that children understand the whole principle of inheritance. In this way, they will be better prepared for their independent financial lives when the time comes when they do inherit money – and it will help develop in them a sense of the permanence of the value of goods, property and investments.

This is a desirable thing for most parents to achieve with their children. But it’s very important not to confuse this educational process with any sense of greed or materialism; it’s a fine balance which wise and far-sighted parents should be able to achieve. And there are fun ways this can be achieved – with plenty of resources on this website to investigate.

But when it comes to leaving legacies and instilling an understanding of this whole area in children – the process is a little more delicate. Most children instinctively understand, by the time they reach somewhere around double figures in age, that life is fleeting. At this age, they’re beginning to understand the permanence of death. They’ve usually had first hand experience of a grandparent or other family member passing away – or someone else close to the family – and understand what it’s all about.

Around his sort of age, it’s perfectly sensible and natural to talk to children about things like wills and probates – and to help them understand what happens after someone’s death – to all their belongings and assets. It’s easier to talk and think in terms of something that will mean something to children rather than a person’s entire estate. There may even be a keepsake that a relative or friend has bequeathed to a child – and this can become a pleasant and happy memory; a nice way of remembering someone fondly after the initial period of grief has passed.

It’s also a good way of understand the process of bequeathing things in the way you want them.

Overall, teaching children about wills is a natural part of understanding the basics of finance in a way which will help them in later life. The knowledge that they will inherit something at some point in the future – but not to rely on such inheritance – is also helpful in allowing children to come to terms with the one inevitability of life – which is, of course, death. But instead of being in any way morbid – this knowledge should help set children’s minds free to appreciate the present and to always carpe diem whilst simultaneously being sensible with money. As the saying goes; live as though you’ll die tomorrow, but farm as if you’ll live forever.

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