Estate plans are as individual as the families that they are created for. Blended families need estate plans that address their own dynamics, including the resources and children that each spouse brings to the new family. Blended families who marry, when children are young, are different from those who marry…
Watching Anthony Bourdain travel the lesser known corners of the world and relish exotic foods and people was fascinating. However, that same approach does not work well, when it comes to more mundane matters, like estate planning. What Anthony Bourdain’s family could have used was a disaster plan, based on…
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…