Roughly 70% of Americans who reach the age of 65 will need some sort of long-term care, and nearly one in five of them will need care for five years or longer. Given the odds you will need care one day, and given the rising cost of that care, it is essential to include this possibility in your financial plan. But should you consider long-term care insurance? What sorts of strategies can help you effectively pay for your care? Besides saving, what else do you need to do to be sure you’re ready for any needs that may arise? Melinda Kibler, CFP®, EA, is here to answer these questions and more. Melinda and host Amy Laburda discuss how to navigate the realities of needing support without disastrously draining your assets — or inadvertently burning out your loved ones.

This episode compares investing to many things, from roller coasters to maintaining a healthy diet. But what do you really need to know to make wise investment choices? And why do even financial professionals sometimes struggle to make prudent choices with their own money?

Benjamin C. Sullivan, CFP®, CVA, EA, breaks down the fundamentals of investing in this wide-ranging conversation. Ben and host Amy Laburda also discuss some of the common biases that can trip us up even when we try to make sound investment decisions. Investing isn’t always easy, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Listen in to learn more.

Many people think of life insurance as a way to protect people, like your children, who depend on you financially. This assumption has basis in reality, but life insurance has other uses too. What type you need and how much can vary depending on your goals. Whether you’re considering your first policy or looking to review your approach, this episode is for you.

Shomari Hearn, CFP®, EA, returns to “Something Personal” to guide you through the basics of deciding why you need life insurance, what sort of policy you are looking for, and the details you will need to understand to find the right policy for your situation. Shomari and host Amy Laburda also discuss how to review your existing policy, what to do if you need to make changes, and some of the ways life insurance can complement your estate planning.

Grandkids are a joyful part of life. They also can, and should, be part of your overall financial plan.

Anthony Criscuolo, a Certified Financial Planner™ and IRS Enrolled Agent, walks listeners through the practical side of offering financial support to your grandchildren in the most effective ways possible. He and host Amy Laburda cover how to make gifts in a tax-efficient way; how to financially support a grandchild’s educational pursuits; how trusts can help with the uncertainty of grandkids’ future abilities and temperaments; and more. They also touch on leaving a legacy for any grandchildren who may arrive after your lifetime.

Vice president David Walters dispels the myth that estate planning is only for the very wealthy or very old. In this episode, David explains why sooner is better for financial planning around what happens after you die, and where someone should begin when preparing wills and other estate planning documents. He and host Amy Laburda also dive into the basics of the federal estate tax, along with the federal gift tax and how the two taxes are related. Discover who needs to pay estate taxes; some dos and don’ts of designating executors or trustees; the pitfalls of “sweetheart” wills; and much more.

Shomari Hearn is Palisades Hudson’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. He’s also a dad with an adult child of his own. In the firm’s book Looking Ahead: Wealth, Family, Wealth and Business After 55, Shomari wrote a chapter focused on how to have conversations with adult children — and other family members — about your financial plans. This episode covers that advice, as well as widening the scope of the discussion. Shomari tells host Amy Laburda about tricky decisions about how best to assist or support adult children or grandchildren; ways to prepare family members who might receive significant assets after your death; the pros and cons of intrafamily loans; and much more.

Senior client service manager Rebecca Pavese has a frank but sensitive conversation with host Amy Laburda about how to plan for times when you can't make your own decisions. Whether your incapacity is temporary or permanent, you may not be able to express your wishes for health care, handle your own financial obligations or decide who will take care of your children. While such scenarios are more common for older adults, Rebecca makes clear that it is just as critical for young adults to make decisions about what they want and who they want to carry out those wishes. Rebecca also covers a variety of legal and financial strategies individuals can use to empower their loved ones to offer help while knowing they are honoring the incapacitated person’s intentions.

Palisades Hudson managing vice president Paul Jacobs wrote “A Second Act: Starting A New Venture” in the firm’s book Looking Ahead: Wealth, Family, Wealth and Business After 55. In a chat with host Amy Laburda, Paul discusses why some retirees may want to start their own business. He also offers advice to entrepreneurs of any age considering taking the plunge and starting their own enterprise. Listen in for an overview of basics including financing, creating a business plan, deciding on a structure, mastering taxes and more.

Vice president Eric Meermann stops by the podcast to talk about his chapter in Looking Ahead: Life, Family, Wealth and Business After 55 on philanthropy. Eric talks with host Amy Laburda about how he advises clients to approach their goals when it comes to charitable giving. While not everyone has access to philanthropy on the scale of MacKenzie Scott or Bill Gates, taking the time to think through the fundamentals of a giving plan can help anyone to maximize their gifts’ impact. Eric walks listeners through the basics of how to think strategically about charitable giving to support their most generous impulses.

In the first episode of our first season, Palisades Hudson founder and president Larry Elkin discusses how he went from a journalist with the Associated Press to running a business that recently marked its 30th anniversary. In an in-depth conversation, host Amy Laburda asks Larry about how the founder of a family business can avoid ending up like Succession's Logan Roy; the ups and downs of working with your spouse; how to attract and keep talented employees; and much more. Listen in to learn about Palisades Hudson's origins and for advice on taking a family business from the start to your eventual exit.