<prompt> Human: Hi pf... curious if anyone else has been in this situation, or has advice on how to proceed.My dad and I were talking, and he mentioned that hes not making any money in his investment portfolio, and may move his investments to mostly cash-based funds before the election. The next day, he listed out his portfolio over the phone, with the various funds hes invested in, and their performance over the year. With one or two exceptions, the vast majority of his investment funds are returning around 2, which is hardly enough to support his monthly withdrawals. By my math, my parents will run out of money in 12 years.Now, hes almost 70, and my mom is 68, so maybe he thinks thats about as long as hell live hes been retired for 18 years, and my mom for about 10. Im not so much concerned about them blowing through any possible inheritance as I am them just having enough to live on my retirement plans assume nothing left to me. But I think they make questionable financial decisions as they get older -- for example, they just bought their third house in the last 8 years, each one more expensive than before. The current one bought last year for 305k has a 245k 1st mortgage PI payment 1100, and a 35k HELOC they just opened to put in a pool payment 280. They both collect SSI since they were 62, and are withdrawing around 3500month from their portfolio. To my knowledge, they have no other debt just traded two relatively new cars for one new car, but hold the title. Outside of 15k equity in the house maybe more, if the pool increased the value somewhat, their assets are solely in an investment portfolio worth in the neighborhood of 500k. Its not hard math to see that the 3500month withdrawal will deplete the accounts in around 12 years at their current 2 return, and maybe 18 or so if they were to get 8 returns.Without getting too relationship-y, is there a point I should step in? Ive already told my dad this week that he needs to ask hard questions of his FP about his returns, and why hes not keeping pace with the stock market if he were completely in an SP index, he should be up around 5-6 for the year. Should I push for more details about their monthly budgets spending? Suggest they lower the withdrawal amount from the IRAs? Or just let them be and theyll figure it out on their own?Appreciate the feedback.  <response>: Id veer away from pushing any on the lifestyle and focus more on the investment side. Easiest thing would be to point out to him that there are simple, inexpensive portfolios he can build that will track the market and ask what the expensesfees are on his portfolio. From personal experience, people are usually receptive to when you are looking for ways to save them money. Thats how you get the door open, and if when you find that his FP has him in expensive funds that pay a nice fee to himself, youll have the credibility to nudge them toward a more appropriate, likely indexed portfolio. 