5 Things Your Kids Should Know Before They Inherit Your Money

Many parents fail to get their financial affairs in order, neglecting to take care of such things as wills, living wills and powers of attorney. But even those who think they've covered all of their estate-planning bases often leave one of the most important tasks undone: They fail to talk to their adult children about the money they'll be leaving them someday.

For many, I've found, it's because it's a private topic -- and an uncomfortable one.

Wealthy people often say they don't want to take away their kids' motivation for doing well on their own. Others worry more about becoming a burden while they're still alive than what