THE FINANCIAL TALK THAT SPOUSES NEED TO HAVE

Women are poised to inherit significant wealth from their husbands. Here's how they can prepare for it.

- BY CAMERON HUDDLESTON

Within the next two decades, women stand to gain $9 trillion as baby boomer men age and pass wealth to their wives. How can spouses have more-open financial conversations to ease this transition, and what are the top things to discuss? I'm on a mission to start kitchen-table conversations, because money has always been a taboo topic at the dinner table. Women need to know where their investments are, in both non-retirement and retirement portfolios. They should discuss how much they are actively contributing to these accounts and whether they have the ability to save more. They should also review any debt they have. Is there a plan to pay off those loans, and what is the strategy to achieve it?