There’s a good chance you will have to get involved with your parents’ finances either while they are living or when they die. That’s why it’s so important to start talking with them about their finances before an emergency strikes.

That might seem like a difficult conversation to have — but it doesn’t have to be. Below you’ll find a conversation starter cheat sheet that will help you prepare and make the process easier. The cheat sheet is a great companion to the advice offered in my book, Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances.