The Biggest Mistake Families Make with Aging Parents (Ep. 80)
In Episode 80 of Harnessing Your Wealth, Billy and Shaun Peterson sit down with John Diehl, Senior Vice President of Applied Insights at Hartford Funds, to discuss one of the most emotional and important conversations families will face—caring for aging parents.
Drawing from his work with the MIT AgeLab, John shares practical insight into recognizing early warning signs of aging, navigating difficult family conversations, and planning for future care before a crisis occurs. The discussion explores the emotional and financial realities of caregiving, the importance of preserving dignity and independence, and why avoiding these conversations can create lasting stress and conflict for families.
The episode also dives into topics such as long-term care costs, fraud targeting seniors, powers of attorney, family wealth transfer, and the importance of passing down not only assets—but values, wisdom, and legacy. Through personal stories and real-life client experiences, Billy, Shaun, and John highlight how financial planning has evolved far beyond investments into helping families prepare for life’s most difficult transitions.
Takeaways
- Aging conversations are difficult, but avoiding them often creates greater emotional and financial stress later.
- Families should begin discussing caregiving, health concerns, and future wishes before a crisis occurs.
- Early warning signs of aging can appear gradually and may impact driving, finances, memory, and daily routines.
- Preserving dignity and independence is one of the most important parts of caring for aging parents.
- Financial planning today involves much more than investments—it includes family communication, caregiving preparation, and legacy planning.
- Long-term care costs can significantly impact retirement and family finances if not planned for early.
- Powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and estate planning documents are essential for every family.
About our Guest:
John Diehl has been with The Hartford and Hartford Funds for more than 30 years. He’s a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and also holds Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) designations. As Senior Vice President of Applied Insights, John leads Hartford Funds’ research efforts with the MIT AgeLab as well as other thought leaders. He oversees a team of industry experts who translate this research into actionable ideas for financial professionals and their clients across the U.S. John’s views on the future of retirement planning have been published in the Wall Street Journal, Financial Planning magazine, and other publications, and he’s been a featured guest on CNBC and Bloomberg Television. John also hosts the Hartford Funds’ newly reimagined Human-centric Investing Podcast.
Connect with John Diehl:
Resources & Previous Episodes of Interest:
- Real Stories of Fraud and Embezzlement – Part 2 (Ep. 46)
- Real Stories of Fraud and Embezzlement (Ep. 45)
- Investor Insights: The Current Market Mania (Ep. 30)
Books by Billy Peterson can be purchased This presentation is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as individualized investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy, or investment product. The views and opinions expressed by the guest speaker are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Peterson Wealth. The guest speaker is not affiliated with Peterson Wealth, and Peterson Wealth does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of third-party information. The guest is not paid compensation for their participation; however, he/she may receive a non-cash gift from the firm.
Peterson Wealth is a registered investment advisor with the SEC. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of principal.
Any examples or illustrations used in this presentation are hypothetical in nature and for demonstration purposes only. You should consult with your personal financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions.
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