For many people, financial planning starts with a simple goal: provide for your family and retire comfortably one day.

What many don’t anticipate is that those two responsibilities may overlap.

Today, millions of Americans find themselves part of what has become known as the “Sandwich Generation.” These individuals are simultaneously helping aging parents while continuing to support children or young adult family members. As life expectancy increases and economic pressures continue to affect younger generations, more families are finding themselves pulled in multiple directions at once.

The challenge is not simply financial.