Beyond The Grave

While the title of this book may sound a little creepy, we promise you that it is anything but that. It is a must read for every frugal family. The authors deal with every aspect of how to thoughtfully and carefully leave an inheritance to your children when you die, including such touchy subjects as: how to deal with kids who are financially irresponsible; what to do about kids with addictions; planning fairly when you have kids from multiple marriages; and how to distribute your family business. They also make suggestions about what you should do if you have no children or if you have the mindset that your estate is just too small to be concerned about, “We just have our house, yes, it’s paid-off, but that’s about it.” Another section that was a real eye-opener was when they discussed what to do if you trust your kid, but not their spouse — how do you distribute your wealth to ensure your child gets it but not the “schnook” they married. And if you have a handicapped child who will need care after you’re gone, they make several suggestions to ensure continued physical care for your child and protection of their portion of the inheritance. They had a chapter devoted to dividing your possessions — this was one topic which we think they could have gone into more detail. Does anyone know of a book out there that covers this topic?

The Condon’s advice may rattle your common sense and family assumptions about inheritances, but we can see the wisdom behind much of their advice. Read this book, digest it for a few weeks, then read it again, before making any final decisions. If you are living and breathing, this book is essential to making sure that your nest-egg is used to help and not hinder your children and your children’s children. A big thank-you to Steve’s Aunt Alice for sending it to us – what a terrific book!