Tempus Fugit, Vol II

Last month, I wrote about a spate of funerals my wife and I attended.  Since then, I recently found out that a close friend and colleague in his early 60s was diagnosed with a “butterfly glioblastoma,” a rare and aggressive form of brain tumor. It’s a recent diagnosis, and his treatment plan is being finalized. A few friends and I drove an hour and a half to take him out to lunch earlier in the week, and to offer our support. This friend has a keen interest in investing, and a group if us would frequently talk about stocks and markets. I was always the one to add a cautionary note, and tell them to make sure they took care of the other, highly important parts of their financial lives – namely estate planning, insurance, tax planning, risk management.

That’s where my mind went shortly after I first spoke with his wife. I went back and reread much of what Jonathan has written since his diagnosis.  I was doubly impressed by the way he approached this challenge, using his time and experience to bravely face the issues at hand, and make sure matters were addressed to the best of his ability. It’s a great model for all of us. In the context of my friend, one thing that greatly concerns me is that his diagnosis will likely cause some cognitive decline. Some of it was noticeable at lunch – he complained that he is struggling to keep on top of things at home and work.

At the lunch, I brought up that my wife and I had recently redone our wills and POAs. The two guys who also attended lunch acknowledged that their estate.plans could use a review. But our friend with the diagnosis was quiet on the subject. It concerns me, and I intend to find a time to approach his wife and see if I can help.