What to do when a family member asks for financial help

Money and family – what two subjects bring up more for us?

And so when a relative comes to you asking for financial help, and the two are combined, it’s only natural to feel overwhelmed.

“Being solicited for money from someone you love can cause discomfort that you might not fully understand,” said Ashley R. Agnew, director of relationship development at Centerpoint Advisors in Needham, Massachusetts. “Perhaps it is due to a changing perception of the loved one, or perhaps it triggers some financial trauma that may have occurred in your past.”

Here’s how to handle the tricky requests, according to experts.