Botsford

For starters, Ms. Botsford asks new clients questions about the likelihood that they might have to support their parents in the future, along with information about the family's medical history.

Will Cousins Cost You? Kelly Greene 2011

In addition to covering the risks of supporting other family members through life insurance or long-term-care coverage, and insuring against their accidents with your stuff through umbrella liability policies, Ms. Botsford also recommends setting up a separate limited liability corporation for any rental property you own.

Will Cousins Cost You? Kelly Greene 2011

"The student can sue the client for the value of the home if it's in an LLC," Ms. Botsford says, "but he can't sue the client for the value of his stock portfolio."

Will Cousins Cost You? Kelly Greene 2011

To help clients keep it all straight, Ms. Botsford formalized her process a few years ago in a " Risk Quantification Questionnaire ."

Will Cousins Cost You? Kelly Greene 2011

Steve Adams "It made me realize we are inextricably tied to those we care about," Ms. Botsford says.

Will Cousins Cost You? Kelly Greene 2011

Ms. Botsford often shares her own experiences to help get clients to open up.

Will Cousins Cost You? Kelly Greene 2011

Find out how much your state's insurance guaranty association guarantees per person in the event of a company failure—it may range from $100,000 to $250,000, says Erin Botsford, chief executive of financial planning firm Botsford Group.

An Annuity Can Still Make Sense Andrea Coombes 2012

Compared with other human-rights and civil-liberties groups, PEN's added value, said Marian Botsford Fraser, chair of International PEN's Writers in Prison Committee, comes by virtue of its members, many of whom have devoted their careers to thinking and writing about freedom of expression.

Mightier Than the Sword Anna Louie Sussman 2011

Diane Paddison, a commercial-real-estate executive turned nonprofit founder and consultant in Dallas, started working with Ms. Botsford two years ago.

Will Cousins Cost You? Kelly Greene 2011

Screening for Risks Ms. Botsford began screening her clients for financial risks in their extended families, probing for "potential train wrecks," as she calls them.

Will Cousins Cost You? Kelly Greene 2011