Gift giving can be a risky venture for people who may need Medicaid coverage within five years. For example, Jennifer and Ryan recently got married and her grandparents Rose and Lou would like to give them a Christmas gift of $10,000 for their nest egg.  If Rose’s health suddenly declines and if she requires nursing […]

With 2013 almost upon us, now is the time to act for matters like planning for your estate and gifts to loved ones.  Depending upon your goals and hopes for the coming year, it might still be time to wait when it comes to charitable gift planning. If you’re one of the tiny percentage of […]

President Obama is proposing a 45% estate tax after the current 35% rate expires on Jan. 1, 2013. His proposal would exclude from the tax the first $3.5 million of an estate’s assets, down from the current threshold of $5.12 million. Under his proposal, nearly 7,500 estates would owe taxes next year, compared with 4,000 […]

This week, we celebrate “Special Education Day” and “Special Kids Day.” Attend our Special Needs Planning Event on December 11. Find out more and register. Twenty million American families have at least one member with special needs.  Parents of those with special needs are tasked with planning for their children throughout their lifetime, as many […]

On December 11 at 6 p.m., we celebrate “Special Education Day” and “Special Kids Day” with a Special Needs Planning Event. Join us for an event focused on Special Needs Planning and enjoy some delicious refreshments! The majority of American families who have a loved one with special needs require legal planning to ensure that […]

The reelection of President Obama has brought the topic of estate tax back into the limelight. For 2011 and 2012, we have had the largest federal estate tax exemption in 50 years (currently at $5.12 million) and the lowest federal estate tax rate (at 35%).   The present law is set to expire at the end […]

Thanksgiving for caregivers is about much more than a plentiful family meal.  It’s a special time for those entrusted with caring for a loved one. For some, gratitude is a way to keep the cup half-full, especially when someone you love is suffering from Alzheimer’s. Four years ago, Mary Anne first showed symptoms of Alzheimer’s.  […]

During the month of November, we recognize National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregiver Month.  These observances bring attention to Alzheimer’s, which is the only illness among the top ten for which there is no known effective prevention. Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects approximately 1 in 8 Americans, making it the sixth […]

This month we recognize both National Alzheimer’s Awareness month and National Family Caregivers Month. These are nationally recognized months seeking to draw attention and raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and issues that affect family caregivers. Caring for another person can be both rewarding and demanding. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be especially challenging, even […]

“There are only four kinds of people in the world — those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers.” — Former First Lady, Rosalynn Carter National Family Caregivers Month is a nationally recognized month seeking to draw attention to the many challenges […]

Estate Planning is about carrying out our wishes after we die,  But in addition to a good Estate Plan, everyone over the age of 18 also needs a good Incapacity Plan that takes care of you during your lifetime if you become incapacitated. Blues singer Etta James signed her Power of Attorney in 2008, granting […]

President Obama’s re-election means Medicaid and Medicare will likely be preserved for at least for the next four years and the Affordable Care Act (ACA, a.k.a. Obamacare) will be fully implemented. When questioning whether the ACA is good for seniors, ask those who have already benefited from parts of the law that are already in […]

Martha Simms, 78, had been living off of her husband’s pension, her own Social Security and the proceeds from the sale of her home in Fairfax.  As her nest egg began to shrink, Simms’s son, Craig, wasn’t sure how she would continue paying the monthly bill of her in-home caretaker. (Note: Ms. Simms is fictional, […]

A new report issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) confirms that the Medicare Part D drug discount included in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is working as intended and saving seniors’ money.Before the passage of the act, seniors who were caught in the Medicare Part D coverage gap (known as the “donut hole”) […]

Attention Veterans: Take advantage of a 20% discount this month, just by mentioning this posting! This week is Veterans Awareness Week!  In recognition of this important week, we will focus on personal stories based on real veterans and the long term care decisions they have made.  (Although we have of course changed names and certain […]