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Dear Quentin,
My wife and I were unable to have children and we both had successful careers. We retired just before the COVID-19 crisis hit. I have not spoken with or heard from two of my siblings and their children in the last 10 years.
We own several rental properties that generate a solid income, and we live a pretty frugal lifestyle. Our estate has a value in the neighborhood of $7 million. We have a total of six siblings, and my family trust currently divides our estate equally between them all, regardless of the number of children.
“‘I feel closer to some of the nieces and nephews on my wife’s side than some of her other nieces and nephews.’”
My issue is that both of my siblings are no longer on speaking terms with me due to my political beliefs (I’m a Trump supporter) and my decision to not get vaxxed. I have not spoken with or heard from my nieces and nephews in the last 10 years. I think it is pathetic to isolate a family member for those reasons, but that is a choice they have made.
When I die I don’t want my siblings and their children to enjoy inheriting several million dollars from me. I feel closer to some of the nieces and nephews on my wife’s side than some of her other nieces and nephews. I am considering leaving my half of our estate to just two of her nieces. This could create some family friction, and that concerns me.
What would you advise?
Husband, Uncle & Brother
Dear Husband, Uncle & Brother,
When faced with deeply personal decisions, I ask myself, “How will this make me feel?” With that in mind, ask yourself: “How would it make me feel to cut my siblings and their kids out of my will?” Or: “How would it make me feel to leave the children of my estranged siblings far less than what I leave my other nieces and nephews?” The answer may — or may not — be: “Great!”
Thanksgiving dinners across this magnificent and troubled land have, no doubt, had some barnstorming, roof-raising, pitchfork-wielding debates between diehard Republicans and Democrats (and Bernie supporters, let’s not forget them). The goal is being able to sit down over a plate of turkey breast and cranberry sauce, and talk about our differences. Or even better: Pass the salt, and avoid them.
I’ve lived in this country for 10 years and nothing could have prepared me for the profound divisions between its people along party — and ideological — lines. Supporters of different political parties go after each on social media every second of every day and, yes, the media and political classes play to the peanut gallery, keeping the embers of conflict burning brightly, nightly.
“‘Thanksgiving dinners in America, no doubt, have had some barnstorming, roof-raising, pitchfork wielding debates between diehard Republicans and Democrats.’”
But it’s a tragedy when this environment tears families apart, pitting brother against brother, and generation against generation. It takes a lot of hurt and momentum to keep those fires burning at home. We all have white lines — on what our loved ones do or say or believe — and “never cross” red lines, and they vary wildly from person-to-person.
As a rule, I gently caution you against making final decisions based on anger, righteous or not, even if you believe you are on the receiving end of that same brand of stubborn self-will and political intractability. So what about your $7 million? Leave the most generous sums of money to your closest siblings and their kids and, perhaps, a more modest amount to your estranged siblings’ children.
That token gift says: “I see you and acknowledge that you are part of our family, and on the day of my death I want you to know that I truly believe in a time and place where we can all see eye to eye, and bring more compassion and understanding to the table on Thanksgiving and every other day of the year, and that any issues between me and your parents end here.”
You can email The Moneyist with any financial and ethical questions related to coronavirus at qfottrell@marketwatch.com, and follow Quentin Fottrell on Twitter.
Check out the Moneyist private Facebook group, where we look for answers to life’s thorniest money issues. Readers write in to me with all sorts of dilemmas. Post your questions, tell me what you want to know more about, or weigh in on the latest Moneyist columns.
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More from Quentin Fottrell:
• My married sister is helping herself to our parents’ most treasured possessions. How do I stop her from plundering their home?
• My mom had my grandfather sign a trust leaving millions of dollars to two grandkids, shunning everyone else
• My brother’s soon-to-be ex-wife is embezzling money from their business. How do we find hidden accounts?
• ‘Grandma recently passed away, leaving behind a 7-figure estate. Needless to say, things are getting messy’
