Protecting the Snowbird Estate

Many seniors do not think about how living in two states after retirement may impact their estate plans. A recent article discusses several ways that seniors who live in two states can protect their estate and ensure that their wishes will be carried out should they become incapacitated or pass away. Seniors must be sure[...]

Last Minute Gift Tax Exemption Planning for 2012

Unless you've been living under a rock, the news has been dominated by discussion of the fiscal cliff coming at the end of the year. One of the elements of the fiscal cliff includes a rollback of the estate tax laws to 2001 levels. That means there will be federal estate tax due when you[...]

Protecting Against Elder Abuse in Finances

A recent article suggests that, while senior citizens should plan inheritances and give gifts of money or property if they are willing and able, they should put their foot down when family members ask them to co-sign or guarantee loans. Otherwise, senior citizens may be left with nothing. A little discussed but serious problem facing[...]

Growing Number of Baby Boomers Opt-Out of Marriage

The traditional portrait of older Americans is changing. According to a recent article in The New York Times, the divorce rate among baby boomers has exploded to over 50 percent. This new trend will have a resounding impact on the lives of many older Americans. The baby boomers are very different from the generations that[...]

Veterans Benefits Will Not Be Affected By Defense Cuts

Amid looming defense cuts, President Barak Obama has assured veterans that funding for their benefits and health care will remain unaffected. As part of the debt compromise passed in July, the military budget will be cut by $500 billion over the next 10 years. Moreover, if Congress can’t find money elsewhere, the military budget may[...]

End of Life Decisions – A Medical Contract or Legal Document

Is a living will a medical contract or a legal contract? On this blog I've often raised the problems with having a non-lawyer do legal work - are there the same problems if lawyers are doing quasi-medical work? Assuming that input from medical professionals is warranted, is consultation with a doctor required or will a[...]

After 6 Months in a Nursing Home, Residents Are Effectively Broke.

How's that for a headline? A recent study, highlighted by Forbes in this article, has concluded that if you plan to spend 30 days or less in a nursing home, you will have a median net worth of $108,000 at the end. However, if you are unfortunate enough to require 6 months of nursing home[...]

Seniors Should Have Secure Passwords

Recently the Wall Street Journal published this article on passwords, seniors and how easy they are to crack (passwords, not seniors). It reminded me of a funny movie clip (watch it but come back here): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6iW-8xPw3k As you get more comfortable with living your life on the Internet, you begin to take advantage of things[...]

NYT: Testing a Drug That May Stop Alzheimer’s Before It Starts

Alzheimer's has become such a growing concern for the population that the federal government has created a national plan to address it. Through the National Institutes of Health, the government is investing $50 million in research this year, and $100 million in 2013. Some of the $50 million in 2012 is going towards a promising[...]

For Better, For Worse – What About “Forget”?

The New York Times recently published a heart-wrenching article entitled: A Rare Form of Dementia Tests a Vow of ‘for Better, for Worse’ It discusses a rare form of dementia called "frontotemporal dementia", which eats away at personality and language. The article goes over some of the science behind the disease, but what was staggering to[...]

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