Case Study: Sandwich Generation Planning Across State Lines

Siblings coordinate parents’ at-home care with a simple budget while kids’ costs and retirement stay on track.

THE FAMILY STORY

Maya and Daniel, a Massachusetts couple with kids in elementary and junior high, want to keep retirement and 529s savings steady while also helping Maya’s parents in Connecticut stay in their home. The couple is asking themselves: What if a health scare happens? What if college costs keep increasing? What if parental support threatens to crowd out retirement or 529s?

When they came to Sachetta we talked about their life goals and created a plan to balance kids' activities and college savings with their own retirement and parental care. 
VP reviewing RSU diversification and donor-advised fund plan.

THE FAMILY PLAN

The plan centered on five priorities: calm what-if planning, steady retirement progress, predictable kids’ costs, a clear path for the parents’ care and assets, and coordinated legal details so decisions felt paced, not rushed:

  1. What-if planning: Scenario modeling points to staying at home now, with quarterly reviews and simple triggers to revisit care or costs within a 3–5 year window.
  2. Retirement & taxes: Right-sized contributions keep long-term savings on pace, with withholding and estimates aligned and a Roth conversion reviewed at year-end if income is lower.
  3. Kids’ costs: A monthly reserve makes sports and school expenses predictable while automated 529 contributions continue on schedule.
  4. Parents’ care & assets: Using Social Security, pension, investments, and savings first, and with some help from Maya and Daniel, the parents are living well at home. There is a plan in place to revisit the budget if health, safety, or costs change.
  5. Legal coordination: Massachusetts trust and estate documents are written for Maya and Daniel, and a Connecticut attorney confirms the parents’ and brother’s documents, with finalized files stored in a secure digital vault for everyone to easily access when needed.

ACTIONS IN THE FIRST 90 DAYS

The first 90 days focused on clear roles and rhythm, practical what-if planning, a steady care budget, keeping Maya and Daniel’s savings on track, and moving legal/tax updates forward—without overhauling the parents’ day-to-day.

  • Ran scenarios for the parents with a focus on helping them stay in their Connecticut home; set quarterly reviews and simple revisit triggers.

  • Created a current-year care budget with clear rules for what’s covered vs. what we discuss before spending.

  • Confirmed retirement deferrals and automated 529 contributions at a comfortable level.

  • Introduced the family to an estate planning attorney in Massachusetts and insurance professional for coverage review. 

RESULTS

A simple care budget guided parental spending. Kids’ costs felt predictable and 529s stayed automatic. Retirement kept pace. Each month had a next step, not a scramble.

WHAT'S YOUR STORY?

If this feels familiar, a calm, coordinated plan can help—paced decisions, and clear next steps that fit your family.

  • Keep retirement on track while supporting parents and kids.

  • Make kids’ costs and college savings predictable.

  • Support aging parents with dignity—and a care budget that works today.

  • Use tax projections to time any Roth conversions or bigger moves as needed.
Biotech executive reviewing an education-funding cadence for two children tied to RSU vesting.

 

 

 

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Sandwich Generation Financial Planning

Read more about how Sachetta helps families balancing aging parents and  kids manage their complex financial lives and reach their goals.

Sandwich Generation
Biotech executive reviewing 10b5-1 plan and RSU diversification schedule

Behind every financial plan is a real life—full of deadlines, family goals, and important decisions. This story reflects the kinds of challenges our clients bring to us, and how we build calm, clear strategies in response. While this story is fictional, the strategies are true to life.

Disclaimer: Action plans and results are shown for illustrative purposes only, are not indicative of any specific Sachetta client, and will vary based on each client’s individual circumstances and objectives.

Last updated September 10, 2025.