Barbara Bush – A Lesson On Comfort Care
When word was released recently that Barbara Bush, wife of former President George H. W. Bush and mother of former President George W. Bush, was seriously ill and opted for “comfort care,” discussion arose regarding the meaning and uses of comfort care for end of life measures. Barbara Bush was suffering from congestive heart failure […]
Continue readingMedical Bills – New Developments
Years ago I remember sitting with a representative of a hospital billing department trying to determine the meaning of medical bills regarding a family member’s treatment. One aspect that was especially odd was that, for the same treatment, an infusion, the bill to us could be $200 or it could be $2,000. How could there […]
Continue readingRetire Without A Mortgage
Other than health care, one of the most substantial drains on retirement funds can be an outstanding mortgage. Years ago when homes were less expensive and older adults rarely moved, mortgage issues were less common. Today, mortgage debt among retirees seems more likely than in the past. Here are some plans, some of which take […]
Continue readingPlan Early But Keep Changing the Plan to Age Well
Many of the plans our office handles are what we call “crisis plans.” While crisis planning may seem a contradiction in terms the thought being that, if there had been planning there would not be a crisis, this is not necessarily so. Stuff happens. Plans change. After thinking through a well considered plan for future […]
Continue readingA Social Security Representative Payee -Not the Same As Power of Attorney
If you are caring for an elderly parent who is no longer able to handle his or her finances or you are handling Social Security funds for your minor child who is entitled to benefits because of disability, the death of your spouse, or your reaching full retirement age or otherwise becoming eligible for Social […]
Continue readingAdvice on Loans From Parents and Grandparents
If you have saved over the years and even if you have only a few thousand in the bank above your living expenses, you might at some point be approached by an adult child or college aged grandchild for a loan or, what sometimes might be even more dangerous, cosigning on a loan or credit […]
Continue readingTurning 65? -What To Know About Social Security and Medicare
Retirement used to be simpler. At age 65 you would generally start collecting Social Security and also begin to be insured under Medicare. It was the frequently accepted retirement date from your job and, with your gold watch and farewell party, everything was set. Today Boomers might decide to begin collecting Social Security at 62 […]
Continue readingBusiness You Need To Know When a Family Member Dies
When you are dealing with illness and grief the chances are that you may not be able to pull together what to do when your husband, wife, parent or sibling dies. You might look for a Will or the location of bank accounts but decisions likely pass in a blur. This column is to help […]
Continue readingWhy We Make Wrong Long Term Care Decisions
Long term care can be confusing and frightening. It can help to know why and when some commonly held ideas are wrong and when to go for more information. Here are some misconceptions that need correction and redirection. I can stay home no matter how sick I am and people will come in. It will […]
Continue readingWhen Should You Stop Managing Your Own Money
A recent article appearing in Next Avenue, www.nextavenue.org, a trendy new website for seniors, reprinted with permission an article from MarketWatch.com, and addressed a common question with no easy answer – how do you handle your finances as you age? The article, titled “At What Age Are You Too Old to Manage Your Money?” raises […]
Continue readingShould You Move Or Stay? – Questions to Consider
As we welcome the New Year, you might be thinking it is time to ditch the old house and move on for 2018. If you lived in your home for a long time and raised your children there you might consider the upkeep now of a larger property to be too much. On the other […]
Continue readingCreative Ways to Gift to Children and Spouses
Christmas holiday time is one when most of us think of gift giving. There are ways, longer range, to consider gifts to family and friends. Most clients know when planning their Wills who they want to name as their primary or most important beneficiary. They do struggle, though, sometimes for years, as to how to […]
Continue readingTax Reform – How It Would Affect You
As year 2017 comes to a close either the U.S. Congress will pass tax reform or it will not. The conclusion at the time of this writing is yet unknown. Congressional Republicans expect to act by Christmas and, if the proposed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act does not pass before the end of the year, […]
Continue readingRetire Without A Mortgage
Other than health care, one of the most substantial drains on retirement funds can be an outstanding mortgage. Years ago when homes were less expensive and older adults rarely moved, mortgage issues were less common. Today, mortgage debt among retirees seems more likely than in the past. Here are some plans, some of which take […]
Continue readingWhy Obamacare Is So Hard To Replace Part 2
Earlier this year, February 21, 2017, I wrote a column titled “Why Obamacare Is So Hard To Replace.” As most everyone knows, the various attempts of the Republican House of Representative and Senate to pass alternative health care plans to replace Obamacare failed thereafter as every Democrat and some Republicans voted against them. Now as […]
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