AUTHOR: Rick Connor on 4/27/2026 FIRST: Mark Crothers on 4/27 | RECENT: Kenneth Tobin on 4/29
Comments
I found this article to be very challenging, both poignant and heartbreaking. Like many, I was amazed by Jonathan's equanimity during his journey. But I knew how much his family meant to him, and this article demonstrates the pain he felt. I recently lost a close friend to a butterfly glioblastoma that covered both hemispheres of his brain. He was about the same age as Jonathan, very sharp, with a big loving family, and young grandkids. His disease took his cognition first, and then his body. It was hard to know what he understood of his condition as it progressed. Two good friends, one stayed mentally sharp until the end, one lost his cognition well before he lost his life. I guess there are blessings and curses with each. I apologize for the mournful thoughts. My wife says the thing she dislikes the most about aging is that the challenges your loved ones face are big deals. As Jonathan often wrote, my takeaway is what a gift he gave us by allowing his family, friends, and the HD community to share his life, until the end.
Javier, thanks for an interesting post. A few years before I stopped working full-time I took a CFP course and passed the test. I then took the Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP) course. I took the courses for my own education, in large part after being put in a position of managing my parents and in-laws finances as they aged and became infirm. That experience was a crash course in all things retirement, and shaped a lot of my thinking. I also considered switching to a second act career in financial planning, but chose not to. My first article for HumbleDollar was about looking at financial planning as more than just investment management. I know planners who provide holistic planning - investments, insurance, estate, taxes, cash flow, ... I also have friends who pay a significant AUM fee for wealth management - with all other services either not provided, or at additional cost. I would only work with a planner who does holistic planning. I don't have an answer to your second question. Like many others on HD, I do volunteer tax preparation. I am certain that many of the lower and middle income clients we serve would benefit from some basic financial planning. I've looked for organizations or programs that provide pro-bono planning but haven't found one similar to the tax preparation program. Far too often we have clients who could have made small choices that would improve their finances, but it's too late when they get to us.
Dana, congratulations on the move. I wish you many happy years in your new home. We moved in 2021 and, then moved again in 2023 to our current home. It's never fun but both moves went OK. I noticed your mention of extension cords and three prong adapters. I think you previously wrote that the new home was built in the 60s, and I was wondering if the outlets are ungrounded? If so is this something that can be addressed during renovations?
Dennis, I'm very sorry to hear about your health challenges, and wish you a speedy recovery. Your article is terrific, and touches on many important topics for those of us in retirement, or those of us with loved ones who need help. I love your sentence "Allowing someone to help you can also be an act of trust and love". My mother was a great example of accepting help gracefully. She had helped so many people in her life, and they, and their families, were a big help to me and my family as we cared for her. Allowing them to help, and say thank you, was a final gift she gave them.
Andrew, like Dan I wasn't sure how to respond. Jonathan had written about his boarding school experiences, but your article adds additional insights. In addition to my admiration for yours and your brother's resilience, my strong take-away is to remain humble and not assume I know what others have faced and overcome.
Andrew, thanks for an honest and insightful article. A number of HumbleDollar contributors have written about their experiences with family and friends dealing with emotional and mental health issues. My life has also been touched in many ways by various forms of mental health challenges with family members. One of the insights I've struggled with is that mental health and intelligence aren't the same thing. My father was very intelligent, and had some strong career success, but his career, and financial security, was eventually destroyed by mental health issues. Another insight I've tried to accept is that reason and logic don't work when someone is having a serious anxiety or panic attack. They need kindness and patience - not a rational argument. I'm heartened that society is much more willing to discuss this, as I'm sure we are all touched with this in some way. I have tremendous empathy for anyone suffering from this, and anyone living with someone suffering.
Comments
I found this article to be very challenging, both poignant and heartbreaking. Like many, I was amazed by Jonathan's equanimity during his journey. But I knew how much his family meant to him, and this article demonstrates the pain he felt. I recently lost a close friend to a butterfly glioblastoma that covered both hemispheres of his brain. He was about the same age as Jonathan, very sharp, with a big loving family, and young grandkids. His disease took his cognition first, and then his body. It was hard to know what he understood of his condition as it progressed. Two good friends, one stayed mentally sharp until the end, one lost his cognition well before he lost his life. I guess there are blessings and curses with each. I apologize for the mournful thoughts. My wife says the thing she dislikes the most about aging is that the challenges your loved ones face are big deals. As Jonathan often wrote, my takeaway is what a gift he gave us by allowing his family, friends, and the HD community to share his life, until the end.
Post: Mourning the World
Link to comment from June 7, 2026
Javier, thanks for an interesting post. A few years before I stopped working full-time I took a CFP course and passed the test. I then took the Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP) course. I took the courses for my own education, in large part after being put in a position of managing my parents and in-laws finances as they aged and became infirm. That experience was a crash course in all things retirement, and shaped a lot of my thinking. I also considered switching to a second act career in financial planning, but chose not to. My first article for HumbleDollar was about looking at financial planning as more than just investment management. I know planners who provide holistic planning - investments, insurance, estate, taxes, cash flow, ... I also have friends who pay a significant AUM fee for wealth management - with all other services either not provided, or at additional cost. I would only work with a planner who does holistic planning. I don't have an answer to your second question. Like many others on HD, I do volunteer tax preparation. I am certain that many of the lower and middle income clients we serve would benefit from some basic financial planning. I've looked for organizations or programs that provide pro-bono planning but haven't found one similar to the tax preparation program. Far too often we have clients who could have made small choices that would improve their finances, but it's too late when they get to us.
Post: The Quiet Failure of Good Advice
Link to comment from May 31, 2026
Dana, congratulations on the move. I wish you many happy years in your new home. We moved in 2021 and, then moved again in 2023 to our current home. It's never fun but both moves went OK. I noticed your mention of extension cords and three prong adapters. I think you previously wrote that the new home was built in the 60s, and I was wondering if the outlets are ungrounded? If so is this something that can be addressed during renovations?
Post: Moving is Expensive!
Link to comment from May 31, 2026
Dennis, I'm very sorry to hear about your health challenges, and wish you a speedy recovery. Your article is terrific, and touches on many important topics for those of us in retirement, or those of us with loved ones who need help. I love your sentence "Allowing someone to help you can also be an act of trust and love". My mother was a great example of accepting help gracefully. She had helped so many people in her life, and they, and their families, were a big help to me and my family as we cared for her. Allowing them to help, and say thank you, was a final gift she gave them.
Post: The Humbling Side of Aging
Link to comment from May 30, 2026
Thanks Adam. Great book review and great job on The Long View podcast.
Post: Money and Me
Link to comment from May 30, 2026
Andrew, like Dan I wasn't sure how to respond. Jonathan had written about his boarding school experiences, but your article adds additional insights. In addition to my admiration for yours and your brother's resilience, my strong take-away is to remain humble and not assume I know what others have faced and overcome.
Post: The Boy Who Tried Hard: A Reflection
Link to comment from May 29, 2026
Thanks Bill - I had not seen Adam's Boglehead presentation.
Post: Adam Grossman on The Long View
Link to comment from May 27, 2026
Thanks Ben. Adam was great. It was a very enjoyable conversation.
Post: Adam Grossman on The Long View
Link to comment from May 27, 2026
Andrew, thanks for an honest and insightful article. A number of HumbleDollar contributors have written about their experiences with family and friends dealing with emotional and mental health issues. My life has also been touched in many ways by various forms of mental health challenges with family members. One of the insights I've struggled with is that mental health and intelligence aren't the same thing. My father was very intelligent, and had some strong career success, but his career, and financial security, was eventually destroyed by mental health issues. Another insight I've tried to accept is that reason and logic don't work when someone is having a serious anxiety or panic attack. They need kindness and patience - not a rational argument. I'm heartened that society is much more willing to discuss this, as I'm sure we are all touched with this in some way. I have tremendous empathy for anyone suffering from this, and anyone living with someone suffering.
Post: My Father: The Peace He Never Found
Link to comment from May 21, 2026
Thanks Andrew. You are so right - Jonathan is truly missed. I look forward to reading the new book.
Post: Money and Me by Jonathan Clements
Link to comment from May 14, 2026