Tigress Tales

Important and sometimes irreverent personal finance tips, strategies, and stories to educate, amuse, and motivate. It’s a big job, but someone has to do it!

Talking to Your Parents About Money

Talking to Your Parents About Money

A Journey Worth TakingMoney is one of the most emotionally laden topics to discuss with a family member. You have to realize that the conversation is not A conversation, but a series of trust-building exchanges. It is best to start long before a crisis situation...

Open Season: MEDICARE

Open Season: MEDICARE

What does Annual Medicare Enrollment mean for You?Every year, as you approach age 65 or if you are beyond that age, you start getting bombarded with ads about Medicare enrollment starting in August.  If you are like most people, you probably stop paying attention...

The Toll of a Scam

The Toll of a Scam

A Real-life Story A few weeks ago, a client of mine was scammed. Doubled scammed really. I’m still not completely clear on the sequence of events but I will share this story anonymously with you in hopes that you can learn something to protect yourself. The Events...

Pillar II: Paper or Digital Systems?

Pillar II: Paper or Digital Systems?

Tips for establishing systems for tax-time Do you groan every year when tax-time rolls around? You are not alone. Many people do not have good systems for keeping track of taxable information throughout the year. Nearly 10 million have to file an extension, which ends...

Get Ready for a New Year!

Get Ready for a New Year!

The thought of planning ahead may seem a bit useless after the year we have just been through.  Nevertheless, time marches on and when you get ready for a new year, it helps you get organized and maybe even generates a little excitement over what is to come!  Unpaid...

Tax Changes to Plan For

Tax Changes to Plan For

With Change Comes More Change: A few key points A new presidency will likely bring sweeping tax changes to the current economic environment. There are a few, related to estate planning, that I wanted to bring to your attention before the end of the current tax year in...

The Dream Team

The Dream Team

Clare was mentally acute but had physical challenges that prevented her from writing checks legibly.  She had no children and gave power of attorney to her niece.  Her niece used the bank account to live a high lifestyle, thinking she would not get caught and that her aunt wouldn’t need ‘all that money’.  One hundred thousand dollars later, Clare caught on

The Parent Trap

The Parent Trap

Addressing financial issues when a parent’s health declines Polly is getting toward the end of her career but she plans to work a while longer because, although her job is very demanding at times, she loves her work.  Her biggest concern right now is her mother. ...