by Samantha Shepherd | Oct 23, 2019 | Elder Law
Written By: Rick Pendykoski When it comes to retirement planning, many Americans find themselves underprepared. A majority of baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) and Generation X’ers (born between 1965 and 1978) often end up without retirement savings or don’t...
by Samantha Shepherd | Oct 21, 2019 | Elder Law
There are lots of misconceptions about estate planning, and any one of them can result in costly mistakes. Understanding who needs an estate plan and what it should cover is key to creating a plan that is right for you. A properly crafted estate plan allows you, while...
by Samantha Shepherd | Oct 21, 2019 | Elder Law
Yes, an annuity is like any other investment asset and must be liquidated and spent down before Medicaid will pick up the cost of your mother’s care. It may feel like the nursing home is “taking” the annuity, since it will likely be spent paying for your grandmother’s...
by Samantha Shepherd | Oct 14, 2019 | Elder Law
The Social Security Administration has announced a 1.6 percent increase in benefits in 2020, nearly half of last year’s change. The small rise has advocates questioning whether the government is using the proper method to calculate the cost of living for older...
by Samantha Shepherd | Oct 11, 2019 | Elder Law
Being appointed guardian of a loved one is a serious responsibility. As guardian, you are in charge of your loved one’s well-being and you have a duty to act in his or her best interest. If an adult becomes mentally incapacitated and is incapable of making...
by Samantha Shepherd | Oct 10, 2019 | Elder Law
Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period, during which you can freely enroll in or switch plans, runs from October 15 to December 7. Don’t let this period slip by without shopping around to see whether your current choices are the best ones for you. During this...
by Samantha Shepherd | Oct 7, 2019 | Elder Law
You have completed and executed your plan for your special needs child. Everyone you’ve selected to serve—your guardian, your trustee, your health care proxy, your executor, and possibly a trust protector as well—has signed the paperwork. All set? For now, yes. But...
by Samantha Shepherd | Oct 4, 2019 | Elder Law
Spending on social activities is fine, and in theory there is no limit on the cost. However, the issue is proving how the money was spent. If your mother spends the money as cash, how does the Medicaid agency know whether it was lost at the casino or given to someone...
by Samantha Shepherd | Oct 1, 2019 | Elder Law
As long-term care insurance premiums rise and fewer companies offer policies, alternatives to traditional long-term care insurance policies are springing up. Previously, we wrote about annuity “doublers” that help pay for long-term care. Another increasingly popular...
by Samantha Shepherd | Oct 1, 2019 | Elder Law
With careful Medicaid planning, you may be able to preserve some of your estate for your children or other heirs while meeting Medicaid’s low asset limit. The problem with transferring assets is that you have given them away. You no longer control them, and even...
Recent Comments