Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums Rise Almost 9 Percent
Higher premiums mean that fewer consumers are buying long-term care coverage, and those who are buying are purchasing less protection, says Forbes magazine columnist Howard Gleckman.
To Ensure Your End-of-Life Wishes Are Honored, a Directive May Not Be Enough
There are two ways to better ensure this doesn’t happen to you. The first is to name a health care proxy – a person (or more than one person) who will make medical decisions for you when you can’t. The second strategy, one for patients who are already seriously ill, is an alternative to the advance directive that has emerged in recent years and has been implemented or is being developed in some 40 states: the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST). Read to find out more.
The Ins and Outs of Estate Sales
We accumulate a lot of stuff over a lifetime and at some point – perhaps due to death, divorce, debt, or downsizing – we need to get rid of it. An estate sale is one way to dispose…
White House Proposes New Rules to Protect Investors Saving for Retirement
Americans may lose as much as $17 billion every year because of bad financial advice from advisors with conflicts of interest, according to a report by the President’s Council of Economic Advisors. President Obama has proposed new rules to change this and require financial advisors to act in the best interests of their clients. The move is designed to increase the amount investors receive in retirement.
The 6 Biggest Estate Planning Mistakes
If you’re like most people, you have the best of intentions with regard to how you want your estate distributed when you die or your affairs handled should you become incapacitated. Unfortunately, without proper planning, your best intentions may not be enough. Here are six of the most common estate planning mistakes people make.
Mom Needs to Move Closer? Time to Protect Her Assets
The cost of long term care is more than just financial. Our aging loved ones face the challenge of change and the caregivers add more to their plate of responsibility. To lessen financial and emotional stress, Strohschein Law Group can help you maximize private assets, increase access to public benefits, and ultimately enhance quality of life for everyone involved. We can help, we do this everyday for our clients.
Case Illustrates Need for a Formal Contract When Paying Relatives for Care
If you intend to repay family members or friends for their caregiving work, you need to draw up a formal agreement, especially if you think you will ever apply for Medicaid long-term care benefits. It is important to get help from Linda Strohschein, and her team at Strohschein Law Group, in drafting this type of contract.
5 Estate Planning Tips for the Non-Traditional Family (Which Probably Means Yours)
Is your family of the “Leave It to Beaver” variety — opposite-gender parents, the first marriage for each, one or more kids, all healthy and thriving? If so, your estate plan will probably be pretty straight forward. But if not, it’s not as simple and you have a lot of company. Strohschein Law Group is aware of family dynamics and variety. We work with sensitive family situations every day. We stay focused on our core values of being approachable, client focused, collaborative, compassionate, and experienced. Your important issues will be heard and we will protect what matters most.
Tougher Reverse Mortgage Rules to Take Effect
A reverse mortgage allows a homeowner who is at least 62 years old to use the equity in his or her home to obtain a loan that does not have to be repaid until the homeowner moves, sells, or dies. But the homeowner is required to pay property taxes and homeowners insurance premiums on the property. Your assets can be protected to afford options like reverse mortgage when a proper estate plan is created to manage and allow smooth transition into long term care scenarios. Strohschein Law Group is here to help you protect what matters.
Can I Give My Kids $14,000 a Year?
If you have it to give, you certainly can, but there may be consequences should you apply for Medicaid long-term care coverage within five years after each gift. If you think there is a chance you will need Medicaid coverage of long-term care in the foreseeable future, call Strohschein Law Group before starting a gifting plan.