Without a will, decisions about your life, property and children will be made by someone who does not know you or your family. With a will, you have the ability to express your wishes. You need a will! Having a will is not just for wealthy folks, who need to…
Consider these twin concepts—opportunity cost and delayed retirement credits—before you decide when to start taking Social Security. By waiting until age 70, you’ll increase your monthly benefit, but at what cost? A recent article in Forbes, “Social Security Benefits: Getting Paid To Wait,” examines the dilemma. Money managers call it…
Don’t delay finalizing your estate plan, because determining who to name as your executor is difficult. Here’s some help to figure out how to make this important decision. If there are no family members or friends with the necessary skills, your best option may be to name your attorney as…
People moving into an assisted living facility, should do a lot of research to make sure they get the quality care and the services they need. Their lives may depend on it. Life in an assisted living facility is a welcome alternative to aging seniors who are no longer able…
Even with the new tax laws in place, there are still advantages to philanthropy, at all levels of giving. There are many ways to support causes that matter to you. Some charitable giving can be incorporated into your estate plan, according to Investopedia’s article, “A Primer on Philanthropic Vehicles.” However,…
The saying “little children, little problems, big children, big problems,” is particularly appropriate for parents of special needs children. Preparing for the next phase takes time, so it’s best to begin the process, once they celebrate their 17th birthday. One of the many decisions that parents need to make before…
For younger patients, early-onset Alzheimer’s symptoms are usually disregarded or blamed on fatigue, depression or stress. It often takes a very long time before a young person having problems with memory loss or confusion is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The Concord Monitor reports, in “Stolen Memories: Problems with diagnosis of…
If you are 50 or older, you can put $6,500 into your Roth IRA: that includes a “catch up” contribution of $1,000. Typical Roth IRA contributions are still limited to $5,500 a year. There are income limits, which you’ll need to be careful about. One good thing about the new…
We insure our homes, our cars and even our ability to work. We also buy life insurance, which could be the most important insurance policy you own and not just for when you have passed away. People typically think of life insurance as a means of paying final expenses, such…
Use this checklist to be certain that you and your finances are properly prepared for retirement. According to The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, 20% of Americans are wrong about when they’ll be able to retire. That also means that 80% have it right—which group do you belong…