Do you have a Will? Do you have children? One of the survey’s most surprising findings was that just 36 percent of those with children under 18 have an end-of-life plan in place. This is a potentially devastating oversight. There are two crucial reasons to have a Will when you have minor children. First, if… Continue Reading
Author Archives: John
Power of Attorney for Health Care – How Important is it Really?
Every adult should have a power of attorney. Powers of attorney work while you are alive, but are incapacitated. If you become incapacitated and do not have a power of attorney a guardianship proceeding will likely be required. Such a process is more complex, time consuming and expensive. The study shows, however, demographic disparities play… Continue Reading
Asset Protection Planning – Perils of Doing it on Your Own
Dealing with long term care planning, and especially asset protection planning, is a daunting process. Very complicated state and federal Medicaid laws and regulations present many pitfalls for those who try to engage in the asset protection process on their own without working with a competent elder law attorney. A 2015 Medicaid case from New Jersey… Continue Reading
Social Security and Medicare Part B Increases for 2017
Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase 0.3 percent in 2017. The 0.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 60 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2017. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries began on December 30, 2016. The Social Security Act… Continue Reading
A Positive Outlook Can Lead to a Longer, Healthier Life
A positive outlook tends to make life more enjoyable than a negative outlook. Wallowing in pessimism for most people is not the best way to go. You could say – generally speaking – that optimists have more fun. But there’s more to being a positive person than simply enjoying life. There is now some evidence… Continue Reading