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Estate Planning for the Sandwich Generation: How to Help Your Parents and Protect Your Kids
Do you care for your children and worry about your aging parents? Congratulations, you are a member of the “Sandwich Generation.”
You probably have many questions about estate planning. You know you should be making a will and probably need some other estate planning documents, but which ones? What should you do to protect your children? How can you help your parents as they age? Where do you start?
This book will educate and empower you to secure your family’s future. You will learn:
+ 10 easy steps to creating your estate plan
+ 5 talks you should have with your parents
+ What to do if you are single, married, divorced, or remarried
+ What to do if there is a death in the family
+ How to handle it all
With conversation starters, questions to ask, and resources for the caregiver, you and your family will be prepared to handle future life events.
You probably have many questions about estate planning. You know you should be making a will and probably need some other estate planning documents, but which ones? What should you do to protect your children? How can you help your parents as they age? Where do you start?
This book will educate and empower you to secure your family’s future. You will learn:
+ 10 easy steps to creating your estate plan
+ 5 talks you should have with your parents
+ What to do if you are single, married, divorced, or remarried
+ What to do if there is a death in the family
+ How to handle it all
With conversation starters, questions to ask, and resources for the caregiver, you and your family will be prepared to handle future life events.
204 pages, Paperback
Published June 18, 2018
11 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Hodder
1 book8 followersCatherine Hodder, Esq. is an estate planning attorney turned author. She enjoys working with families who would rather be doing anything else than estate planning.
Her Florida law practice, featured in the Palm Beach Post, made “house calls” to help families with their estate planning needs.
Now residing in California, she writes helpful articles for members of the “Sandwich Generation" on her blog www.HodderInk.com.
Catherine is also co-author of Law Office on a Laptop: How to Set Up Your Own Successful Mobile Law Practice, an #1 Amazon bestseller in law office education.
Her Florida law practice, featured in the Palm Beach Post, made “house calls” to help families with their estate planning needs.
Now residing in California, she writes helpful articles for members of the “Sandwich Generation" on her blog www.HodderInk.com.
Catherine is also co-author of Law Office on a Laptop: How to Set Up Your Own Successful Mobile Law Practice, an #1 Amazon bestseller in law office education.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 18, 2018
As more people now than ever are providing support both to their aging parents and their own children, this book is incredibly relevant and useful. For me personally, my husband has been the financial planner of our family. While he has always kept me updated on the status of our affairs and involved in decision making, I have had little interest in participating more because of the seemingly complex legal process and terminology. You would see my eyes glaze over when we would talk about it.
Catherine has managed to simplify this process and given me the language and understanding to start conversations with my husband about our plan. She breaks down estate planning into ten steps outlining the key considerations and implications of different decisions made in each step. I especially love her idea of creating an “In Case of Emergency” binder to store and organize important documents and the checklist she provides on her website to do this. I see her conversation starters becoming increasingly important as our parents age allowing us to ensure that their desires are known, documented, and respected. As an occupational therapist, I was also excited to see a section on and resources for caregivers with an emphasis on ways to maintain their health and well-being while in this role.
Hodder (2018) likens estate planning to “eating an elephant” saying you have to do it a little bit at a time. This philosophy and her tips have made this task seem less daunting and more doable. Her mission to provide a simple step-by-step guide to estate planning for the sandwich generation in layman’s terms has been met. I highly recommend giving this quick read your attention if you are interested in getting your affairs in order to provide for your family and support your parents as they approach the end of their lives. I now feel well-equipped to participate in this process and start chipping away at that “elephant”.
*I received a complimentary advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Catherine has managed to simplify this process and given me the language and understanding to start conversations with my husband about our plan. She breaks down estate planning into ten steps outlining the key considerations and implications of different decisions made in each step. I especially love her idea of creating an “In Case of Emergency” binder to store and organize important documents and the checklist she provides on her website to do this. I see her conversation starters becoming increasingly important as our parents age allowing us to ensure that their desires are known, documented, and respected. As an occupational therapist, I was also excited to see a section on and resources for caregivers with an emphasis on ways to maintain their health and well-being while in this role.
Hodder (2018) likens estate planning to “eating an elephant” saying you have to do it a little bit at a time. This philosophy and her tips have made this task seem less daunting and more doable. Her mission to provide a simple step-by-step guide to estate planning for the sandwich generation in layman’s terms has been met. I highly recommend giving this quick read your attention if you are interested in getting your affairs in order to provide for your family and support your parents as they approach the end of their lives. I now feel well-equipped to participate in this process and start chipping away at that “elephant”.
*I received a complimentary advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2018
This book should be on every adult book shelf around the country! It is an easy to understand, how-to guide on managing estate planning and approaching those "hard to talk about" topics with your aging parents. I have always thought about estate planning as this big elephant in the room that I had no idea how to tackle. After reading this book, I now feel like I have a road map and a step by step guide to take me through this long-avoided journey.
The book is broken up into two parts. The first part outlines 10 steps to create your estate plan. It is VERY easy to understand and the author defines any legal terms off to the side that may be confusing. I have no legal background and this book was written for someone like me! The second part of the book outlines 5 talks to have with your parents. The book thoroughly goes through why these talks are important and more importantly, how to go about them! What I loved most about this book was how the author outlined "conversation starters" and "questions to ask" in each of these chapters. These topics can be sensitive and most people may not even know how to start the discussion. This book takes the difficulty out of approaching these subjects and makes them more manageable. The author is also very empathetic to the fact that your parents may not want to have these discussions with you. You feel as if she is right there holding your hand, telling you how to get through these tough, "brick wall" moments.
I highly recommend this book. It will be of great resource to you and a book you will be coming back to over and over again as you go through the estate planning process.
June 13, 2018
Comprehensive and practical. Catherine's professional and personal experiences organized in this book allow an overwhelmed family caregiver to simply follow the steps. The sidebars provide the 'from the trenches' experience and tips for further information. I particularly found the conversation starters in Part 2 to be helpful since they questions to ask and suggested wording are spelled out on the pages. As a Certified Caregiving Consultant, I will certainly be recommending this book as a resource.
June 20, 2018
I was given an advance copy so that I could write a review. This book is very helpful for someone one who has no idea of how to start planning for their family's future. The idea of estate planning is very daunting for a new parent. Catherine Hodder tries to put to the reader's mind at ease. She easily describes the steps you need to take. This book also includes questions you need to consider while going through the process. As a layman, I like that the book is written in a way that makes me feel more knowledgeable and less anxious. I would recommend this book for anyone who has children and elderly parents to consider.
June 18, 2018
Estate Planning for the Sandwich Generation has motivated me to get my life organized! The author explains everything in terms that a non-legal person can understand. The whole idea of estate planning seemed overwhelming to me, but after reading this book I have confidence and knowledge that I did not have before. The book was easy to follow and walks the reader through the many stages of estate planning step by step. Catherine Hodder's book has valuable information that anyone can use, even if you do not have children or aging parents. I am going to recommend this book to my family and friends.
January 16, 2019
Full disclosure: I am related to the author. But I'm a scrupulously honest reviewer, and I'm not about to break my honesty rules now. Catherine's book is clear, easy to understand, and offers essential know-how on the duties that fall to both parents of children and adult children of aging parents. I used her advice in my own estate planning. I wish I could pass this on to everyone I know! If you don't know where your responsibilities lie, or if you know what you want to do but aren't sure where to begin, this essential guide is all you need to get started!
September 4, 2018
I just read a book that is the best book ever! Okay, I know that Estate Planning sounds like a boring topic for many of us and something we often avoid, but it IS important. I, personally cannot think of reading a whole book about it...until now. This book, written by an estate planning attorney provides a step by step guide with important points highlighted and even succinct and concise definition of terms so it makes it easy to do, to think about, and to discuss. I loved the enclosed boxes that made the most important things easy to understand and to act upon. It's kind of like Estate planning for, well, you know--DUMMIES! I loved it. I already recommended this book to a neighbor, who like me, was whining about having to think about all of those things that she doesn't have the time or desire to think about. I mean, for some people, you say the word "Insurance" and our eyes cloud over. "Assisted living" makes us choke, and "Funeral Arrangements" makes us run out of the room. I knew my neighbor felt that way but when I told her how easy to read and understand this book was she bought it the next day.
The author covers everything in ten easy steps holding your hand through each process and through each discussion. Then, the book goes on to discuss the all-important 'talks' with parents and with our children. Yes, we can all relate to having a conversation with our families and being told "Let's not talk about that!" In this book, the author shares from her own professional experience the easiest ways to hold conversation, things to think about, questions to ask. What was once an anxiety-ridden topic for me is now easily doable. I am so relieved to know that I now have an action plan and some excellent direction. Whew! I definitely recommend this.
The author covers everything in ten easy steps holding your hand through each process and through each discussion. Then, the book goes on to discuss the all-important 'talks' with parents and with our children. Yes, we can all relate to having a conversation with our families and being told "Let's not talk about that!" In this book, the author shares from her own professional experience the easiest ways to hold conversation, things to think about, questions to ask. What was once an anxiety-ridden topic for me is now easily doable. I am so relieved to know that I now have an action plan and some excellent direction. Whew! I definitely recommend this.
June 18, 2018
Read this book now! It explains how to protect the people you love and your assets in a clear and concise manner that you will enjoy. I received an ARC to read and review, and I can honestly tell you that “Estate Planning for the Sandwich Generation: How to Help Your Parents and Protect Your Kids” by Catherine Hodder should be your next book club pick!
This book takes into account all of the roles that I am juggling as a modern woman caring for young and adult children, aging parents, and especially my husband and myself. I feel more confident in my financial choices and better protected because Catherine presents a comprehensive to-do list for family care taking. She tells you why you need a revocable trust and a medical power of attorney for college students and also why this shouldn’t be your next DIY project. She also covers the stuff that really matters to me like my family’s health history, recipe lists, and all of the ephemera that could be lost and forgotten forever with the death of a loved one.
Basically, these are the CliffsNotes needed to elucidate everything that my attorney rattles off in our brief appointments, as well as how to have the difficult conversations about aging and end of life that we all need to face! The side bars bring the law alive and help illuminate how important decisions on seemingly trivial things can be. All of us, especially women, really need to know what we are doing with our finances, insurance, and inheritance and “Estate Planning for the Sandwich Generation: How to Help Your Parents and Protect Your Kids” explains it concisely in terms we all can understand.
This book takes into account all of the roles that I am juggling as a modern woman caring for young and adult children, aging parents, and especially my husband and myself. I feel more confident in my financial choices and better protected because Catherine presents a comprehensive to-do list for family care taking. She tells you why you need a revocable trust and a medical power of attorney for college students and also why this shouldn’t be your next DIY project. She also covers the stuff that really matters to me like my family’s health history, recipe lists, and all of the ephemera that could be lost and forgotten forever with the death of a loved one.
Basically, these are the CliffsNotes needed to elucidate everything that my attorney rattles off in our brief appointments, as well as how to have the difficult conversations about aging and end of life that we all need to face! The side bars bring the law alive and help illuminate how important decisions on seemingly trivial things can be. All of us, especially women, really need to know what we are doing with our finances, insurance, and inheritance and “Estate Planning for the Sandwich Generation: How to Help Your Parents and Protect Your Kids” explains it concisely in terms we all can understand.
June 19, 2018
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The author has miraculously packaged such a huge amount of valuable information in such easy to follow steps, and made what could have been a laborious undertaking into an engaging quick read! I love all the fun quotes, the sidebars with tips, the vocabulary boxes, the thought provoking questions and conversation starts. So helpful!
As a hospitalist physician who frequently has to do goals of care conversations with patients and families, I know how important it is to have an advanced directive and durable power of attorney. I have witnessed so much turmoil that could have been avoided if all my patients had had these documents and the conversations with their families that the author includes in this book. Even practicing these conversations now for 20 years with patients and families, I do not think I could have given more thoughtful or compassionate approaches than those that the author advises.
It has also prompted me to inquire of our parents and siblings about what estate planning they have done, and am shocked at how unprepared they are with regards to their own estates. I am planning to purchase a copy of this book for them all!
As a hospitalist physician who frequently has to do goals of care conversations with patients and families, I know how important it is to have an advanced directive and durable power of attorney. I have witnessed so much turmoil that could have been avoided if all my patients had had these documents and the conversations with their families that the author includes in this book. Even practicing these conversations now for 20 years with patients and families, I do not think I could have given more thoughtful or compassionate approaches than those that the author advises.
It has also prompted me to inquire of our parents and siblings about what estate planning they have done, and am shocked at how unprepared they are with regards to their own estates. I am planning to purchase a copy of this book for them all!
July 11, 2018
Educational and a must have in your book collection.
A book everybody over the age of 18 should read and apply in their life. It is a topic we should not neglect. Plain and simple. Estate Planning is an issue most of us don’t know about and should. This book teaches us the basics and helps us secure our family well-being.
The book is easy to read and comprehend. The author uses only the necessary legal jargon and explains its meaning. Well structured.
For me, one important aspect is the Health Care Power of Attorney. As a person living with Type 1 Diabetes, I am aware that anything could happen at any moment and then what? I could experience an extreme Low or High and go into a diabetic coma. Without that document, my family will not be able to make a decision regarding my health. It will be up to the doctors.
One clever advice the author gives is to create an “In Case of Emergency” binder.
I would recommend this book to everyone regardless of age. I believe even our children should know about this subject. So when the time comes they are prepared.
A book everybody over the age of 18 should read and apply in their life. It is a topic we should not neglect. Plain and simple. Estate Planning is an issue most of us don’t know about and should. This book teaches us the basics and helps us secure our family well-being.
The book is easy to read and comprehend. The author uses only the necessary legal jargon and explains its meaning. Well structured.
For me, one important aspect is the Health Care Power of Attorney. As a person living with Type 1 Diabetes, I am aware that anything could happen at any moment and then what? I could experience an extreme Low or High and go into a diabetic coma. Without that document, my family will not be able to make a decision regarding my health. It will be up to the doctors.
One clever advice the author gives is to create an “In Case of Emergency” binder.
I would recommend this book to everyone regardless of age. I believe even our children should know about this subject. So when the time comes they are prepared.
November 18, 2019
This Sums Up Estate Planning Nicely
I am an Estate Planning attorney. I was looking for a book to hand out to a few clients, and this is it. Most other books on point just try to get prospective clients to go to the author’s respective firm. This book is educational, creating an awareness of Estate Planning. A great read on the topic.
I am an Estate Planning attorney. I was looking for a book to hand out to a few clients, and this is it. Most other books on point just try to get prospective clients to go to the author’s respective firm. This book is educational, creating an awareness of Estate Planning. A great read on the topic.
January 19, 2026
A good primer for those completely unfamiliar with the concept of estate planning for themselves or their parents.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews