We all think that we can help our parents as they get older and even as they begin to lose capacity. This may be true, but if a parent with dementia can no longer be safe at home, is combative, or can no longer manage their finances or basic needs, what do you do? Many people rely on estate planning…
Lisa stared at the stranger standing on her doorstep, suspicious. “Good morning, ma’am,” the man said politely. “I noticed you’re in need of a new roof. If that’s not in your budget, I’d like to tell you about an important government program that will loan you the money. And they don’t even run a credit check. If you have some…
Divorce, remarriage, and blending families are treacherous enough waters to navigate, let alone wondering if all sides of your family will get along when you die. Those are all critical junctures to update your estate plan, whether it be a trust, a will, power of attorney, health care directive, or just beneficiary designations. If all aspects of your estate plan…
It starts out innocently enough, you bank with Chase, but your new mortgage is through Bank of America, and they offer you a half a percent discount on your mortgage if you open a new account with them. Then a local credit union offers a great rate on a car loan, so you open an account with them and become…
After you retire, you may no longer wish to reside in California, instead opting for what may be considered a more “senior-friendly” environment. Where you move could have a significant impact on your estate plan. Therefore, it is important to consider the tax consequences of moving to a new state. If you choose to relocate to a western state—Arizona, Nevada,…
Mary slammed the cordless phone onto the receiver. Her husband, Tom, peered at her over the top of his newspaper, his eyebrows cocked in concern. “Now what was that about?” he asked. “That was Beth Willis. She says we can’t use Dad’s long-term care insurance for his home health care because he doesn’t meet the criteria of the policy.” Tom…
The U.S. Congress is attempting to help future retirees get their financial houses in order. The government is reacting to a recent study that claims only 51 percent of all Americans are employed by companies with retirement plans and of those employees, only 40 percent actually participate. In addition, experts say one in three Americans have less than $5,000 in…
The days following the death of a spouse can be confusing. There are a lot of decisions to make and tasks to undertake. One area that must be dealt with quickly and competently is your finances. It is very important to get a clear picture of what steps you must take to secure your financial future. For example, it is…