Top 10 Tips
Get a quick recap of some of the most helpful tips to keep in mind as you start conversations about finances, the future or... just about anything.
- 1.Look for clues (bank statements tossed unopened, change of subject).
- 2.Lower the bar and invite the conversation (sometimes it’s not just one conversation).
- 3.See what you're bringing to the "party" (see your contribution and family history around money, family, decision-making).
- 4.Don't get typecast in your usual family role (as bystander, initiator, opposer).
- 5.Choose good purposes (explore feelings vs. solve problem).
- 6.Prepare (just like you would for other things in life).
- 7.Be open to persuasion (recognize you may learn something you didn't know).
- 8.Don't hit and run or use humor as a weapon (share information).
- 9.Use "and," not "but" (don’t need to accept or reject a story, embrace both).
- 10.Don't assume (never assume you know someone else’s intentions).
BONUS POINT:
Conversations about money are never just about money. They're about feelings, relationships, family history, emotional coping mechanisms, self-image and self-esteem!
