The Smart Stepfamily Guide to Financial Planning: Money Management Before and After You Blend a Family

by Ron L. Deal, Greg S. Pettys, David O. Edwards

Overview

Money issues are a frequent source of conflict in all marriages. But blended families are a monetary minefield. Debts, bills, and child support payments from previous relationships often influence the finances of a blended family. And planning for college expenses, retirement, and inheritance gets even more complicated in remarriage. These issues can explode couple unity and blow up developing family harmony.

However, proper blended family money management can make money an asset to your relationship, not a liability. The authors use over 50 years of combined financial planning and blended family educational experience to help you envision your combined financial future and plan for how you'll get there. You'll discover practical ways to merge your current financial realities and protect your marriage while doing so.

Get real-world financial advice specific to unique blended family legal and relational matters so you can provide for your family both now and in the future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764233357
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/17/2019
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	1,223,375
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 5.50(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Ron L. Deal is founder of Smart Stepfamilies™, director of FamilyLife Blended® for FamilyLife®, the author of numerous books on stepfamily living including the bestselling The Smart Stepfamily, and consulting editor for the Smart Stepfamily Series of books. Ron is a licensed marriage and family therapist and popular speaker. He and his wife, Nan, have three sons and live in Little Rock, Arkansas. Find resources at SmartStepfamilies.com.

Greg Pettys, CLU, ChFC, CFP, has thirty-four years of specialized experience in securities and life insurance sales and services. Ron has known Greg for twenty years, and Greg speaks regularly at Ron's Smart Stepfamily events.

David O. Edwards is an estate planning and elder law attorney based in Springfield, Illinois. David speaks regularly at Ron's Smart Stepfamily events.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 11

Introduction 13

Part 1 Laying the Groundwork 19

1 Taking Stock 21

2 Creating a Togetherness Agreement 31

Part 2 Merging Day-to-Day Financial Responsibilities and Relationships 47

3 Merging Yours, Mine, and Ours 49

4 Love and Boundaries 67

5 Money and Former Spouses 79

6 Computers, Cars, and Cash 95

7 Parenting Adult Children and Caring for Aging Parents 107

Part 3 Planning for the Future 121

8 Planning Your Child's Education 123

9 Planning Your Retirement 147

10 Planning for Healthcare Needs 167

11 Planning Your Estate 183

12 Stay Calm and Stay the Course 199

Appendix 1 Pension Options Case Study 203

Appendix 2 Create an "Own and Owe" List 205

Appendix 3 QTIP Trust Case Study 209

Notes 211