As for the last conspiracy theory – elite families passing their wealth from generation to generation – evidence suggests that it is the exception rather than the rule. If you were able to create some wealth through the family business, how do you keep it going in future generations? It seems as though very few […]

Michael Pirron called John Hancock to ask about the care options covered by his parents’ insurance.“Their answer was, essentially, ‘What policy?’” he said. The policies had lapsed eight months earlier, and it was too late to send in the past due amount and get them reinstated. Long-term care planning is prudent for unforeseen care expenses […]

For years, it has been an article of faith that Medicare would not pay for services such as skilled nursing or physical therapy unless that care improved a patient’s health status. How did this misunderstanding go on for so long? Learning all the ins and outs of Medicare benefits can leave beneficiaries and patients more […]

A life estate is a deed that entitles you to remain in your home for the rest of your life and allows your designated heirs to inherit it without the hassle of probate-court proceedings when you die. How can you avoid probate when it comes to the transfer of your home after death? Maybe you […]

Could you be legally liable for paying for your parents’ care? Filial support laws exist in 29 states as well as Puerto Rico, and have quietly existed on the books for a long time. Now, however, these laws are a very real and present concern for the adult children of elderly loved ones. Fortunately, Forbes […]

New York’s governor, Andrew M. Cuomo, took a step toward bringing the state’s estate tax in line with the federal one. And he is not alone among governors of cold-weather states (along with the District of Columbia) that have realized affluent residents are moving to states without estate taxes (and in some cases, income taxes) […]

Whichever way you pass on your retirement account assets, leaving an IRA can provide a grandchild with a significant financial foundation. Think of an IRA as a potentially powerful estate planning tool. Properly structured, an IRA may transfer wealth to younger generations. In fact, the younger, the better. Kiplinger raised this point in its January […]

You were so helpful to me in September, clarifying the IRA charitable contribution. Do you know if the government is instituting that same contribution this year? We are well into tax season and planning for the upcoming year. Are you keeping up with the tax laws? As many retirees and their advisors review changes in […]

[Pacemakers] prolong lives, but “all those people will face decisions down the road,” Dr. Mueller said. “’Do I keep it going? Do I turn it off?’” Physicians have similar questions, including what kinds of patients confront these choices and who usually winds up making these decisions. Do you or a loved one live with a […]

Completing the following four tasks can help you meet any last obligations to your loved ones, ensure your final days are spent as you want, and reconcile your dreams with the realities of your life. Is a goal without a plan just a wish? Regardless of the goals you have for your estate, loved ones or […]