The secret, experts say, is to find a balance between keeping some comforting traditions and letting go of ones that obviously no longer fit. How do you manage the holidays on a retiree budget? If you are a retiree or will be retiring in the coming year or years, then…
Articles Posted in Elder Law
Ring In the New Year with a Roth IRA
Sharron Epperson, who is CNBC’s senior personal finance correspondent, stressed the importance of retirement planning in the coming year — with two products in particular. Need a financial resolution for 2015? Save as much money as you can in a Roth IRA. One of the best things you can do…
Recent Survey Says 80% of Americans Failed Retirement Literacy Test
“We’re not surprised by the fact that people don’t know a lot about retirement income planning,” says David Littell, program director at the American College. “I was surprised at how badly they did.” Could you pass a retirement literacy test? Apparently, 80 percent of Americans surveyed did not. These Americans…
Caregiving for Loved Ones, Without Family Feuds
Although nobody can be forced to participate as a caregiver, there are ways to approach the situation that are more likely to have a positive result. Families encounter many issues when planning care for a loved one. A common issue is the unwillingness of siblings to “step up to the…
WWII Vet Victim of Elder Abuse
Through a series of legal maneuvers and Iowa's then-blind eye toward financial elder abuse, his caregiver betrayed the World War II Navy veteran's trust and drained his savings over a number of years, according to friends and court documents. According to an article reported in The Des Moines Register, titled…
Four Quick Facts About the U.S. Tax Court
Recently, I attended the American Association Attorney-Certified Public Accountants (AAA-CPA) symposium at the United States Tax Court in Washington, D.C. I heard U.S. Tax Court Chief Judge Michael B. Thornton discuss court operations in the context of assisting taxpayers "get their day in court." Chief Judge Thornton stressed that the…
Plan Wisely for Medicaid or Else! One State’s Warning
This case has drawn plenty of attention due to its legal and financial implications. Essentially, the case has escalated to the point of a federal judge warning state regulators that she would consider issuing an order to drop Ohio from Medicaid enrollment altogether, leaving the Buckeye State without federal funds to provide medical care for…
The More Candles on the Cake, the Higher the Risk of Driving Accidents
Auto accidents are the second leading cause of injury-related mortality among people 65 and older. “It is everyone’s responsibility to identify and assist a mentally impaired driver,” she said. Another birthday coming up for an elderly loved one? It may be time to evaluate their driving skills, especially in Houston.…
L.A. Says “No!” to Elder Abuse
The new programs will be working with those in the private sector and nonprofits to help law enforcement attune to impalpable signals that could indicate mistreatment of this vulnerable population. Los Angeles is taking a stand against elder abuse with new training programs for the private sector and nonprofits. “Our…
Plan Before Alzheimer’s Strikes Your Houston Family
Medical research confirms one of the first things people have trouble with in the very early stages of dementia is managing personal finances. This means people can make very expensive financial mistakes, often before anyone notices there is a problem. I have seen this happen, and it is heartbreaking. You…