The SECURE Act & SECURE Act 2.0: Effects on Special Needs Planning

The SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act, passed at the end of 2019, changed a number of rules regarding inherited IRAs, making it more difficult for most beneficiaries to save on taxes by “stretching” distributions over many...

Key Decisions in Setting Up a Special Needs Trust

Simply defined, a trust is an agreement between two people — a grantor who donates funds to the trust and a trustee who manages those funds according to the grantor’s wishes, which are laid out in a trust document. The funds in the trust are typically used...

Medicaid Planning Protects Your Home

Your most valuable property may be your home, which is true for many people. You likely want your children to inherit that value when you pass away. However, you may also have concerns about planning for the future, especially if your health declines and you need...

Thinking About & Securing You Legacy

Worrying about your legacy is a personal choice, and individuals may have different reasons for considering the impact they leave on the world. From financial security of loved ones, preserving memories, passing down family traditions, community influence, and being...

Should I Maintain a Property Likely to Be Taken By Medicaid?

Question: My sister is in a nursing home for the rest of her life, and I have POA. Her care is paid by Medicaid. We pay utilities and property taxes on her vacant trailer to maintain it. Medicaid wants us to use our sister’s small income to pay the nursing home...

Will I Lose My Disability if I Work Part-Time?

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 7.4 million people received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments in 2023, including 89,000 spouses and 1.1 million children. SSDI supports workers who develop disabilities before they retire, as...

Should I Pay For Long-Term Care From My Savings?

When individuals and married couples are faced with the need for long-term care, immediate worries turn to affordability and the depletion of assets – especially one’s savings and retirement accounts. The decision of whether to pay for long-term care...

14 Essential Questions to Ask Aging Parents

Key Considerations in Aging Understanding how the older adults in your life feel about certain issues – such as where they want to live and what kind of care they would like to receive as they continue to age – can help you provide appropriate support. Having these...