Retirement Planning

Do You Know Your Long-Term Care Options in Houston?

Published on: February 11, 2015 | By McCulloch & Miller, PLLC

When asked about long-term care insurance, one senior said, "I've thought about it. I don't think it's worthwhile to buy at my age." She's 83. "I've thought about it but I really haven't looked into it," another woman said. Others simply don't want to talk about it. But a don't-ask-don't-tell attitude toward paying for long-term care isn't an effective strategy for the 75 million baby boomers, the oldest of whom will start hitting age 70 in 2016.

A recent article in the Memphis Daily News, titled "OK, Baby Boomers: Time for Some Hard Decisions," reminds us that care for seniors can come from family members or from outside services such as adult day care, assisted living centers, home-care services and nursing homes. These services often include assistance with daily activities, home health care, respite care, hospice care, adult day care, care in a nursing home, and care in an assisted living facility.

People pay for long-term care by using personal resources, long-term care insurance, and Medicaid if they qualify. Medicare, Medicare supplement insurance, and private health insurance typically don't pay for long-term care. Individuals may also look to other resources such as veterans' benefits, Social Security, community services, and family caregivers.

Health Care Costs: Integral Part of Retirement Planning

Published on: February 6, 2015 | By McCulloch & Miller, PLLC

Consulting financial and tax advisers as part of planning the retirement process is essential to get the health-care piece covered. Enjoying truly golden retirement years means a lot of different things to different people, but it should include planning for long-term health care now so we obtain the end-of-life care we desire without becoming a burden on our children or the state.

According to a recent article in cincinnati.com, titled “Consider health care when retirement planning,” long-term health care may be a considerable expense during our retirement years, with most of this spent during the last three years of life.

Health care spending has outpaced inflation over the past decade—from a 6percent increase to just 2.5 percent for core inflation.

Retirement Planning Changes for Houston Families to Note in 2015

Published on: January 5, 2015 | By McCulloch & Miller, PLLC

There were five changes that occurred in 2014 that everyone planning for retirement needs to know about.

The phrase "roll with the changes" may be 2014's retirement planning motto. While we could review political, economic and international, those affecting IRA planning have been especially interesting for retirees and the estate planning attorneys who advise them. Not surprisingly, Forbes has weighed in with an article chock full of advice titled “5 Biggest Retirement Planning Changes for 2015”.

A Change in Creditor Protection for Inherited IRAs. Overall, qualified retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s, pensions, and IRAs, have good creditor protections. However, in 2014 the Supreme Court cut back on some protection for IRAs. Typically, up to $1.25 million are protected from creditors if it’s in a Roth or Traditional IRA under federal bankruptcy laws. But the U.S. Supreme Court, in Clark v. Rameker, held that inherited IRAs are not “retirement funds.” So these don’t get creditor protections afforded under federal law. This might change how you want to bequest assets to your heirs. You should speak with a qualified estate planning attorney if you have questions.

Recent Survey Says 80% of Americans Failed Retirement Literacy Test

Published on: December 30, 2014 | By McCulloch & Miller, PLLC

“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 were polled on 38 retirement literacy questions on basics like Social Security, life expectancy, IRAs, life insurance and investments, and the mechanics of bonds. Sadly, only 20 percent were given passing grades, the college said. This isn't the first survey to raise concerns about Americans’ retirement readiness. In an article titled “Americans fail in retirement literacy,“ The (Palm Springs, CA) Desert Sunnoted similar shortcomings in a 2011 report.

Leaving Texas or Home State to Retire? Do Estate Planning Homework First

Published on: December 8, 2014 | By McCulloch & Miller, PLLC

"During their careers, their 'acquiring wealth years,' many people live in places that have lots of jobs – and the higher cost of living that goes along with that," Friedman says. "In retirement, many of them want to move to a state where they can enjoy the same or an even better lifestyle with less money. For that, it's essential to consider not only the cost of living but the state laws that affect your accumulated wealth and income."

Pre-retirees need to consider a lot more than snow days and tradition, according to a 2014 Bankrate report and a recent Investor Ideas article titled "3 Tips for Retiring Out of State."

States have different tax laws and other regulations that can significantly affect your retirement funds. Be aware of these as you plan for where you want to live and how you want to live.

Hey Houston Millennials, You Better Start Saving!

Published on: November 21, 2014 | By McCulloch & Miller, PLLC

Cash-strapped millennials are slipping into the red. In fact, their savings rate has dipped to negative 2 percent, meaning that they're spending more than they have.

The unemployment rate was down to 5.8 percent last month and the U.S. economy added 214,000 jobs. However, a recent article on the CNN website, titled “Millennials aren't saving a dime,” reports that most millennials are in trouble even though the job market looks brighter.

Keep in mind, wages have remained flat without much increase since back in the 1990s. As a result, even with good news about jobs and the low unemployment rate, millennials continue to have a rough time making ends meet.

Money Mindsets and Financial Decisions for Houston Residents

Published on: October 14, 2014 | By McCulloch & Miller, PLLC

Money security, in most cases, is a choice. It requires the right mindset and consistent actions. Like learning a craft or skill, time, patience and devout determination is required, most especially if you are starting from a difficult position.

How do you deal with money? What is your "mindset" when it comes to finances? The way you think about money can largely affect your financial health.

A recent Forbesarticle, titled "Retirement Reality Bites: It's Time To Bite Back," says there are many controllable factors when it comes to how we think about and deal with money. The article terms this your money mindset. Beliefs about money are founded at an early age, when we are just children. These beliefs can be healthy and responsible, or they can be destructive and lead to disastrous behavior.

An Introduction to Retirement Planning for Houston Families

Published on: September 24, 2014 | By McCulloch & Miller, PLLC

Schwab-Pomerantz and Cuthbertson, who is publishing director at Schwab, have put together a comprehensive guide that will help you plan for retirement.

If you need to plan for your retirement, you may feel overwhelmed to even start the process. What steps do you need to take first? What type of planning is recommended for your age and stage of life?

A recent article in The Washington Post, titled "Headache-free retirement planning," considered “The Charles Schwab Guide to Finances After Fifty: Answers to Your Most Important Money Questions” by Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz with Joanne Cuthbertson.

Can Houston Baby Boomers Re-Write the Rules for Retirement?

Published on: September 18, 2014 | By McCulloch & Miller, PLLC

As the Boomer Generation continues to re-write the rules, the call for redefining "retirement" is growing louder each year. Our parents referred to their retirement years as "The Golden Years." However, our generation demands a completely new definition for "retirement." We're not happy with a word that shares a meaning with end-sound words like "depart," "relinquish," or "surrender." And "Encore Generation" sounds a bit too much like Madison Avenue for our generation. Some thought leaders are coining new terms such as "recreationist," as in recreating a new life. While a new term hasn't quite caught on for this wave of older adults, some linguists are batting around new terms such as "eldering" in hopes of defining the Boomer's next transition.

The "how's" and "what's" of transitions appear in many forms. A basic question is how does one really plan for thirty years of "retirement?" Do you remember what you were doing thirty years ago? Can you picture what you will be doing thirty years from today?

It used to be you retired at 65 and died at 66. Now, healthy 65-year old men can reasonably expect to live until they are 85, according to Age Tables provided by the U.S. Social Security Administration. A couple where one spouse is 65 today, can expect that one surviving spouse will live into their 90s.

Tips for Planning The “Financial Talk” With Houston Parents

Published on: August 21, 2014 | By McCulloch & Miller, PLLC

The best time to discuss finances with your parents is when they are competent, self-sufficient adults. Planning ahead and seeking out the appropriate professional financial assistance on their behalf can help ensure your parents enter their golden years in the most comfortable, stress-free and secure way possible.

You may dread having the "financial talk" with your aging parents, but this is one conversation that needs to happen sooner rather than later.

A recent article on KARE11.com, titled "Helping aging parents with financial matters," wisely advises approaching this topic in a respectful manner. The article stresses that you be extremely mindful of the delicate nature of your parents' financial and emotional needs, and that you should not step in if it is not necessary.