There are a lot of TV shows and movies that show people and
their drama – from fiction police shows to reality TV.
And I watch very little TV, but shows are so ingrained in
our culture – especially reality TV – that it’s hard not to know something.
But one topic that is rarely covered is what happens after a
loved one dies. Plenty of shows have
people die, whether by natural causes, getting shot, or eaten by zombies.
Recently, I’ve been watching The Wlll on Investigation
Discovery channel and sister stations. Information on the show is here.
The show highlights the estates of deceased celebrities, but
it’s not a memoir of the famous person.
Instead, it’s a dramatized documentary style look at those who were left
behind.
The infighting. The
lawsuits. The hired hit men. Oh yes, it’s all there.
This show debunks the myth of “oh my family will just take
care of it” or “the kids know what to do”.
While some people may think that this type of things only
happen because large sums of money are involved, unfortunately that’s not the
case. Though the hit man part probably
doesn’t happen with smaller sums.
What does this mean for the rest of us?
Well, we all assume that our families will do the right
thing, but rarely does that happen.
Everyone has their opinion of what the “right” thing to do. And under times of stress, those differences
can be magnified.
The differences don’t even have to involve money. Loved ones could disagree over heirlooms, the
parent’s house, a vacation home, antiques, or jewelry that’s been handed down
from generation to generation.
Or more often today, who gets to care for dad (who’s 90
years old with Alzheimer’s) now that mom has passed away.
This show highlights the importance of planning and also
communicating with the rest of the family.
Don’t assume that everyone knows what you want.
If you don’t, maybe your family can be on the next episode
of The Will.
Answer to last week’s trivia question: C – 45%.
Almost half of people rely upon friends and family for financial
advice. This result is both surprising
and not surprising at the same time. Not
surprising because after all, those are the people you trust. But it is surprising given how many people
work in fields other than in finance. Think
about it – you ask your uncle for financial advice. How much of an expert is he? Does he even have time to become an expert
after he works all day at his job?
This week’s trivia question:
According to the Tax Foundation, where does the US
rank in terms of tax rate on corporations?
Out of the 34 countries in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation
and Development), the US ranks?
A – 1 (highest taxes)
B – 15th
C – 23rd
D – 34th (lowest taxes)
