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Three Factors To Keep In Mind When Buying Long-Term Care Insurance

On August 11, 2020   /   Blog  
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Three Factors To Keep In Mind When Buying Long-Term Care Insurance

Many families consider purchasing long-term care insurance in advance to help pay for expensive long-term care in the future. Here are three important factors to keep in mind when buying long-term care insurance. Your daily benefit requirement. Many people look at the national averages for long-term care costs and neglect to factor in regional differences. Don’t make this mistake. Be sure to find out the care costs where you live now or where you want to reside in the future. Timing. The issue here is two-fold: The age at which you apply for the policy initially, and the waiting period you choose for the policy to take effect before you begin receiving benefits. Typically, the younger you are when you apply, the cheaper your policy. Of course, the benefits of the lower premium must be factored in against the amount of time a younger person will likely continue to pay

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How to Protect Against Identity Theft

On August 6, 2020   /   Blog  
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How to Protect Against Identity Theft

It is estimated that someone’s identity is stolen every two seconds. Security expert Frank Abagnale offers some suggestions on how to prevent it from happening to you. Lock your mailbox. If your mailbox doesn’t lock, you can buy one that does for about $40 Don’t leave valuables in your car, particularly your laptop, mobile phone and wallet Shred sensitive documents, don’t just throw them in the trash or recycling bin. Micro-cut shredders, which shred documents into confetti, are available for around $30 Use a password to secure your smartphone. Avoid obvious passwords, such as your birthday, pet names and sequential numbers like 1,2,3,4 Change the password on your computer regularly, at least once every three months. In addition, use strong passwords on all your financial accounts Don’t share your Social Security number unless it is absolutely necessary Don’t carry your Medicare card unless you are going to a health care

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How to Augment Your Retirement Income

On August 4, 2020   /   Blog  
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How to Augment Your Retirement Income

Most people rely on IRAs, 401(k)s and Social Security benefits to fund their retirement. An article in U.S. News & World Report explored some other options to boost your retirement income. Here are some highlights. Renting out part or all of a home. If your children are on their own, you may have more house than you need. Renting out a room, or making improvements like a kitchenette and bathroom to create an “apartment” within your home, can have a dramatic impact on your income. If you don’t like the idea of having a permanent housemate, websites such as HomeAway and Airbnb allow you to rent out a room or your entire home on a temporary basis. Taking out a reverse mortgage. If you are a homeowner age 62 or older, you can use a reverse mortgage to receive regular payments based on the equity in your home. However, when

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Brain Health, Myths Versus Reality, Continued

On July 30, 2020   /   Blog  
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Last time we discussed the myths, and the realities, of keeping your brain healthy and boosting memory. Now let’s look at some more examples. Myth: You can’t stop Alzheimer’s disease. While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, research suggests that eating well, staying engaged with others, reducing stress and stimulating your brain with new activities can slow the onset of symptoms by several years. In a study by Rush University in Chicago, making just one change—eating plenty of fruits and vegetables while consuming less meat and sweets—can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia by as much as 53 percent. Myth: Brain games make you smarter. 70 of the world’s leading brain scientists released a statement in 2014 rejecting the idea that computerized brain training can improve cognitive powers. Until we know more, you are better off using proven bran boosters such as meditation and

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Six Reasons to Revise Your Estate Plan

On July 28, 2020   /   Blog  
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Six Reasons to Revise Your Estate Plan

For your estate plan to meet your needs, it must be kept up to date. We recommend having your plan reviewed at least once every two years, but there are certain situations where you should have your plan revised immediately. Here are some of the most common reasons to do so. You get married. Getting married, or re-married, doesn’t automatically change the provisions of your will or trust. While marriage can give each spouse some rights with regard to one another’s property, you should have your plan revised to make sure it addresses your new goals and those of your spouse. You get divorced. Providing for your spouse is likely one of your estate plan’s most important goals. If your marriage ends, chances are you will no longer want your spouse to receive the majority of your estate. You should update your plan as soon as possible after a divorce

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Brain Health: Myths Versus Reality

On July 23, 2020   /   Blog  
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Brain Health: Myths Versus Reality

You’ve no doubt heard plenty of stories about how to keep your brain healthy and boost memory. A recent article on AARP’s website explored this subject and distinguished between myth and fact. Here are some the highlights. Myth: Brain aging is inevitable. Although the brain does shrink with age, exercise has been shown to increase brain mass. Researchers at the University of Pittsburg and the University of Illinois asked 120 older, relatively inactive people to either walk or stretch three times a week. The researchers then took MRIs of the subjects’ brains. It took one year for the walkers to increase the size of their hippocampus by two percent, in essence reversing the shrinkage associated with one to two years of aging. In addition, people who exercise regularly may also have less amyloid (plaques found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease). Myth: Supplements can boost your memory. Substances

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Estate Planning Fundamentals

On July 21, 2020   /   Blog  
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Estate Planning Fundamentals

Clients often ask us about the estate planning tools we use and what each of them can accomplish. Here is a list of the most commonly used tools and brief descriptions of their purpose. Last Will and Testament This allows you to specify “who gets what” when you pass away. Without your own Last Will and Testament, your assets will be distributed according to state guidelines. A Will also allows you to name guardians for your minor children. This is important because if something happens to you and your spouse, the state will decide who will have legal authority over your minor children. This could very well be a person or institution you would never have chosen to have such authority. Durable Powers of Attorney These allow you to name people of your own choosing to make decisions for you in the event of incapacity. A power of attorney for

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Protecting Yourself Against The High Cost of Long-Term Care, Continued

On July 16, 2020   /   Blog  
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Protecting Yourself Against The High Cost of Long-Term Care, Continued

Last time, we looked at the cost of long-term care and two strategies frequently used to cope with it. Now let’s look at several other options.  Life insurance. Some insurance companies have begun to offer life insurance policies that can help pay for long-term care services. The options include combination life/long-term care products, accelerated death benefits, life settlements and viatical settlements. Combination products are relatively new and the features change constantly as the products evolve. Annuities. You may choose to enter into an annuity contract with an insurance company to help pay for long-term care services. In exchange for a single payment or a series of payments, the insurance company will send you an annuity, which is a series of regular payments over a specified and defined period of time. There are two types of annuities, Immediate Annuities and Deferred Long-term Care Annuities. You can learn more about long-term care

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Four Reasons You Might Want To Use A Corporate Trustee

On July 14, 2020   /   Blog  
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Four Reasons You Might Want To Use A Corporate Trustee

A trustee can be one person, multiple people, or what is called a “corporate trustee,” such as a bank or trust company staffed by people who manage and grow trust assets. People name corporate trustees for a variety of reasons, including: Necessity If you have no one you can count on to administer your trust, or you don’t want to burden a loved one with the responsibilities of serving as trustee, a corporate trustee may be the way to go. Avoiding family disputes When one member of the family is named as trustee, other family members might feel slighted. This can lead to arguments and even legal disputes. A corporate trustee is unbiased and can help eliminate infighting between family members. Also, if you are unhappy with how trust assets are being managed, it is much easier to fire a corporate trustee than, say, your eldest son. Experience In the vast

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Protecting Yourself Against The High Cost of Long-Term Care

On July 9, 2020   /   Blog  
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Protecting Yourself Against The High Cost of Long-Term Care

Thanks to improvements in medical science and healthier lifestyles, Americans are living longer than ever before. Unfortunately, many of us will require long-term care at some point in our lives, and one in five of us will require long-term care for at least five years. According to Genworth Financial, the median cost of long-term care nationwide ranged from $51,480 to $102,200 per year in 2019, depending on the type of care needed.  (Care costs also vary widely based on where you live. To see the cost of care in your area, visit https://www.genworth.com/about-us/industry-expertise/cost-of-care.html.) The median cost of in-home care provided by a home health aide was more than $52,000 in 2019, while care in a nursing home can easily top $100,000 per year. Worse, experts predict that the cost of nursing home care will more than double over the next twenty years. Tragically, many families exhaust their life savings within

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