Janet Berry-Johnson, CPA, CFEI

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Janet Berry-Johnson, CPA, CFEI I'm a CPA and Financial Educator. I help families organize their aging parents' paperwork and finances before a crisis hits.

Naming two siblings as co-executors sounds fair. In practice, it can be chaos.It often creates more conflict than it pre...
10/16/2026

Naming two siblings as co-executors sounds fair. In practice, it can be chaos.

It often creates more conflict than it prevents, especially if the siblings live in different states, disagree about how to handle things, or already have a strained relationship.

Most financial institutions and courts require both executors to sign off on decisions. That slows everything down when siblings can't easily coordinate.

Disagreements about selling a house, dividing personal property, or paying bills can stall the entire estate—sometimes for years. If the siblings are in different states, simple tasks like notarizing documents become logistical headaches.

A better approach could be naming one sibling as executor and the other as a backup. The backup steps in only if the first can't serve. The second sibling can still help with the workload, but there's no ongoing requirement for both to agree on every decision along the way.

If your family is navigating this, talk to your parents (and an estate planning attorney) about it while they can still put it in writing.

10/16/2026

I spent years as a tax advisor in public accounting. Today I help people handle the bills, paperwork, and financial tasks that overwhelm them when life gets complicated. This clip covers how I made the switch.

Listen to Caring for Your Aging Parents wherever you listen to podcasts or get the YouTube link in my profile.

The first new episode of Caring for Your Aging Parents is out today! 👏 I’m the new host, but the prior host (and my frie...
10/15/2026

The first new episode of Caring for Your Aging Parents is out today! 👏

I’m the new host, but the prior host (and my friend), Lynn Smargis, joins me for the handoff.

We talk about why Lynn decided to step back from the podcast, how I went from tax advisor to Daily Money Manager, and what will stay the same and what will change. You can find Caring for Your Aging Parents anywhere you listen to podcasts or on my YouTube channel (link in the comments).

If you know someone caring for a parent right now, would you send this to them?

10/14/2026

Open enrollment season is just about here and the dependent care FSA is an often-overlooked benefit for caregivers. For 2027, you can set aside up to $7,500 pretax to cover care for an aging parent, if you meet certain rules.

Is this something you plan to add to your benefit package this year?

Tomorrow morning, I’m sharing the first new episode of the Caring for Your Aging Parents podcast!My friend Lynn Smargis ...
10/14/2026

Tomorrow morning, I’m sharing the first new episode of the Caring for Your Aging Parents podcast!

My friend Lynn Smargis built this show, and she’s joining me for the handoff episode. I’ll keep the topics families need, like choosing care, Medicare, Medicaid, and more. I’ll also add what I know as a CPA, Daily Money Manager, and eldest daughter in the early stages of helping my own parents.

New episode Thursday!

I’m my parents’ power of attorney and executor. Nobody handed me a manual.I’m a CPA, and I’m still figuring out a lot as...
10/13/2026

I’m my parents’ power of attorney and executor. Nobody handed me a manual.

I’m a CPA, and I’m still figuring out a lot as I go. Like how to corral all those passwords, handle two-factor authentication, and know when to step in versus when to remember they're still independent adults who can make their own decisions (even if I don't always agree with them).

That’s why I’m taking over a podcast, Caring for Your Aging Parents, focusing on the financial side. The first new episode drops Thursday, but if you want to catch up on older episodes from the previous host, Lynn Smargis, you can find them anywhere you listen to podcasts or on my YouTube channel (I’ll share the link in the comments).

If you’re looking ahead 5 to 10 years and want to prepare, follow along so you don’t miss it!

Have you started the money conversation with your parents yet? Tell me where you are in the comments.

I have news! This Thursday, October 15, I’m launching something that’s been in the back of my mind for a while: a podcas...
10/12/2026

I have news! This Thursday, October 15, I’m launching something that’s been in the back of my mind for a while: a podcast!

It covers the money side of caring for aging parents and the decisions and conversations many families avoid until a crisis forces them.

I’ll share more this week. If you’ve ever wondered how you’ll handle your parents’ finances when the time comes, stay tuned!

Your parent doesn't need 6 bank accounts. Decades of accounts and subscriptions add up. By the time you're helping a par...
10/09/2026

Your parent doesn't need 6 bank accounts. Decades of accounts and subscriptions add up. By the time you're helping a parent manage their money, it might be scattered across more places than anyone can track, and that's when things start falling through the cracks.

A few ways to simplify without a huge overhaul:

- Cancel bank accounts your parent isn't actively using. Fewer accounts means fewer statements to watch and fewer places for fraud to hide.
- Automate what you can: bill pay, minimum payments, recurring transfers. Less manual work means fewer missed payments.
- Pause or cancel subscriptions they don't use. Streaming services, memberships, and subscription boxes drain money every month.
- Unsubscribe from store marketing emails. It sounds small, but removing the temptation to shop reduces impulse spending, especially for parents who are lonely or bored.
- Use Quicken Simplifi to pull everything into one dashboard. Instead of checking five different logins, you (or your parent) can see all the money moving in one place.

I've included a link to Quicken Simplifi in the comments so you can make the system easier to manage and avoid missing anything.

10/08/2026

Mom or Dad wants to stay at home. Maybe they even asked you to promise never to “put them in a home.” For some families, in-home care is the right fit. But before you offer to cover the cost of “a few hours of help” each week, figure out your limit. A little help can wind up costing thousands of dollars each month as care needs grow.

These aren’t easy conversations, but it’s better to have them now, before there’s a crisis.

10/08/2026

Many people think you can't contribute to an IRA if you have a 401(k) at work. You absolutely can. The rules are separate.

What does get limited is whether your traditional IRA contribution is tax-deductible, and that depends on your income.

A non-deductible contribution, or a Roth IRA if you qualify, may still make sense.

Don't let a half-understood rule keep you from saving more.

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6818 Grover Street Ste 402
Omaha, NE
68106

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