Ask Amy: It would be wrong for me to keep all this money. My husband insists we need it.

: My mother recently died, and I’m expecting a relatively substantial inheritance from her. Related Articles My dad died several years ago. My brother is also dead, and he is survived by two adult daughters.

My mother (who was a difficult person) told me she intended to halve the inheritance between my brother and me when he was still alive, but after he died, she then decided to pass her entire inheritance to me and leave nothing to my brother’s daughters (her only grandchildren). My beloved brother always believed in fairness, and to me my mother’s favoritism is unacceptable. These granddaughters were good to her.

I would like to take half of my inheritance and gradually gift it to my two nieces on an annual basis, so the gifts will stay under the legal limit where taxes would be incurred. The problem is that my control freak, anxiety-ridden husband of 40 years, who feels we need more money (most people could use more money), has told me what he intends to do with the inheritance. He wants to keep and invest it all, and to give a tiny amount to my sweet nieces.

He sees this as a financial issue of our “need,” and feels it is generous to give anything to my nieces. I view it as a marital issue and an issue of my wanting to do right by my dear brother, who would be brokenhearted to know about the situation. Your thoughts? Before making any decisions, you should consult a financial planner with experience dealing with inheritance in your state.

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