If you’re beginning to plan for the future with an estate plan, you may also want to consider funeral arrangement planning. Funeral arrangement planning best ensures that your wishes will be respected, and can help to keep your loved ones from having to make difficult decisions in a time of grieving. Take a look at the following information, to better understand this planning tool. If you have any questions, or if you’d like to discuss your own funeral arrangement plans, contact an estate … [Read more...] about 4 Reasons You May Want to Consider Funeral Arrangement Planning
Boomers Continue to Divorce Into Retirement Age
While the likelihood that a marriage would end in divorce has decreased slightly over the last several years, the number of Americans age 50 and older who are getting divorced is now at its highest level ever. A new study from researchers at the National Center for Family and Marriage Research shows that senior divorces have increased by 50% over the last several decades In 1970, about 13% of people between the ages of 46 and 64 were divorced. By 2010, that number had reached almost 33%. More … [Read more...] about Boomers Continue to Divorce Into Retirement Age
Medi-Cal Expansion May Prevent Deaths
Researchers at the Harvard University School of Public Health have recently released the results of a study which show that states that have expanded their Medicaid coverage provisions have a lower death rate than neighbor states which did not. The study used information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to compare death rates in New York, Maine, and Arizona, as well as their neighboring states, in 2001 and 2002. During those years the three states expanded their Medicaid … [Read more...] about Medi-Cal Expansion May Prevent Deaths
Veteran’s Aid and Attendance Pension Benefits – 3 Facts
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, about 2 million or more veterans qualify for the Veterans Aid and Assistance pension benefit program, yet few of them take advantage of it. The program was created to provide monthly payments to elderly or disabled veterans who require full or part-time care provided by an in-home caregiver or a nursing home facility. The program also allows veteran surviving spouses to receive payments, and the veteran need not have become disabled or infirm as a … [Read more...] about Veteran’s Aid and Attendance Pension Benefits – 3 Facts
Funeral Trusts Can Be a Useful and Flexible Planning Tool
Are you looking for a way to ensure that your wishes will be honored with regard to your funeral, making sure your family is not burdened with paying for your funeral, and sheltering money for Medi-Cal planning purposes? Consider creating a funeral trust which can accomplish all three goals, if drafted properly. A funeral trust is a specialized trust that is aimed at paying your final expenses. As with any trust, you must name a beneficiary. In this case, the funeral home that handles your … [Read more...] about Funeral Trusts Can Be a Useful and Flexible Planning Tool
VA Aid and Attendance: The Basics – Part 3 of 3
APPLYING FOR VA BENEFITS Gathering and preparing the right documents is critical. Once you gather the right documentation, the next step is to complete and submit the appropriate application form. The process generally takes at least several months, so make sure you do your best to avoid any additional delays along the way. Keep in mind, while applying and qualifying does take time, benefit payments are retroactive to the date the VA received the application. During this time, the applicant … [Read more...] about VA Aid and Attendance: The Basics – Part 3 of 3
VA Aid and Attendance: The Basics Part 2 of 3
QUALIFIYING FOR AID & ATTENDANCE BENEFITS Who is eligible for the VA Aid & Attendance Pension? First let’s look at the basics. For a qualifying wartime veteran or surviving spouse to qualify for this special monthly pension, the veteran must have: · Served at least 90 days of active military service · Served at least one day during a period of war (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan). The applicable periods are generally broader than expected. · Been discharged under … [Read more...] about VA Aid and Attendance: The Basics Part 2 of 3
VA Aid and Attendance: The Basics – Part 1 of 3
While many people are unaware it exists, the Veterans Administration (VA) Aid & Attendance Special Pension provides monetary assistance to wartime veterans – and their surviving spouses – who need regular personal assistance. Qualifying aid or assistance can be provided at home, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home, and can be provided by friends, family members, or healthcare professionals. Currently, the Aid & Attendance pension can provide up to $1,703 per month to an … [Read more...] about VA Aid and Attendance: The Basics – Part 1 of 3
GRAT-itude for Advanced Tax-Saving Planning Option
For many families, an estate plan based upon a revocable living trust may be all that is needed to protect their assets from death taxes. However, for folks with larger estates, it may make sense to look for ways to transfer assets in a tax-free manner. Though there is a gift tax in place there are ways to facilitate tax-free giving if you take the appropriate actions. One such strategy involves zeroing out a grantor retained annuity trust, often abbreviated as a GRAT. How does it work? After … [Read more...] about GRAT-itude for Advanced Tax-Saving Planning Option
Looking into Different Types of Trusts
Trusts have become a very useful tool in the estate planning field; in fact, you may be considering one yourself. If you are considering establishing a trust, you should be aware of the different types that exist. Revocable inter vivos trust This is the most flexible of all the trusts. The usual setup for this type of trust involves the trustor (i.e., trust’s creator) transferring legal title to property to the trustee (i.e., person entrusted with looking after the property). The catch is … [Read more...] about Looking into Different Types of Trusts
