Getting your Affairs in order, and a book review: "Get Your Ducks In a Row" by Harry Margolis

[gwendally]

You know how everyone knows you're supposed to have a colonoscopy when you turn 50? When did that start? It wasn't a thing when I was a kid, but somewhere along the way it just became a rule that everyone knows

Comments

[crazyburro]

“vagaries of Massachusetts”

You mean besides the estate tax starting at levels so low, and a real estate market so high that half the people in the Boston area will hit them based solely on the value of their primary residence?

[gwendally]

Yes, that $1M estate tax is horrendously low. That's one paid-for house in the Boston area plus maybe a life insurance pay-out. I know it's literally a tax break for millionaires to lift the estate tax, but it was NEVER supposed to be such a nightmare to the mass affluent.

I love the estate tax for preventing dynastic wealth, but this is hitting basically every upper middle class person in Massachusetts.

[crazyburro]

no life insurance needed. In my gentrifying working class neighborhood that's a triple decker, maybe with a side yard. Depends where. People are house-rich-cash-poor.

[jette]

I've had the preliminary discussion with the law office weeks ago but have been dragging my heels. I now have a hard deadline to get my trust, living will, etc in order - thanks!

[jette]

Also nowadays you can just throw a spatula of poo in a tiny sealed bucket and send it to a lab in lieu of colonoscopy so do that if you haven't yet.

[gwendally]

Yeah, that's where I'm going next time. I *hated* the whole colonoscopy experience. Next time I'll be ten years older and not as much in danger of "dying young" from colon cancer.

[crazyburro]

wonder about the sanity of gastroenterologists... for them "stick it up your rear" means something different. Or does it?