Sponsored News: Do your children have your back? It seems that they do, perhaps more than you realize.

The third biennial offers the best hope for the most dreary American subject, the elderly parents. “Fidelity Investments Family & Finance Study.”It is less heartening to note that almost 4 out 10 families are suffering from what can best be described as — hat tip for “Cool Hand Luke”– “a failure to communicate.”

Let’s begin by giving credit to at least some offspring:

* While 93 percent of parents felt it would be “unacceptable”70 percent of the adult kids did not fear opening their wallets if they were financially dependent on their parents.

* Children were much more likely to expect that either they or a sibling would care for an ill parent than their moms and dads were (47 percent vs. 11 percent).

“Despite this welcome news for parents, the study suggests several areas where they need to speak up to ensure their wishes are heard, as it appears the children may not be getting the message,”John Sweeney is Fidelity’s executive vice-president of retirement and investment strategies.

Yes.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s estate administration, long-term caregiving in cases of illness, or assistance in managing investments or retirement finances. Sometimes, the child parents assume will take care of things is not the case. This can reach up to 44 percent of children in the case where they are helping their parents manage household expenses.

The miscommunication may partly be attributed at “timing,”Only 33% of parents and their offspring are in agreement about when it’s. “appropriate”To start conversations about aging. What happens before you retire? Upon entering retirement? You are closer to when your finances or health start to become a concern? (The correct answer is before retirement.

The problem is compounded by the fact that, even when these conversations do take place, the study revealed that they are not as detailed and meaningful as they should be.

It’s worth thinking about: How will your family cover the estimated $245,000 that the average couple can spend on healthcare throughout retirement?

Most likely not. Sweeney points out that it is possible. “At some point, every family will face issues relating to aging — perhaps even dementia — and there are real emotional and financial consequences when family conversations either don’t happen or lack sufficient depth.”

Online tools can help you achieve peace of mind if you are looking for it. At least 93 percent of parents and children report having achieved it after those important talks.

Fidelity is one example. They have many resources. Fidelity.com/familiesThis document lists, among others, the documents that you will need in case a financial decision-maker passes away.

Let us not forget: “Cool Hand Luke”Moments are best saved for the movies