A Power of Attorney (POA) document is a common estate planning tool. Whether it’s classified as General, Durable, Non-Durable, Medical, Limited, or Conditional, every POA is advance preparation to take care of you should something happen that prohibits you from taking care of yourself.
Every POA names an agent and...
The checklist when preparing for retirement is a long one. But you need to be aware of one item in particular if you intended to start taking Social Security before your Full Retirement Age (FRA) and continue working—the Social Security Earnings Test. It can suck Social Security dollars out...
Revocable Living Trusts have become a very common estate planning technique. A Trust can replace a Will because it outlines how your assets are to be distributed. But a Trust can also protect your assets while you’re living and provide a process of caring for you if you become...
If your childhood was like most, when you made mistakes or something went wrong, you really wanted a do-over—another shot at making the right decision? You’re not a kid anymore, but it’s nice to know there’s still an opportunity for a do-over—a Medicare test drive.
When you’re eligible to sign...
We dream all year about that perfect, stress-free, vacation. Yet, sometimes the planning itself can be a source of stress. Use the enclosed checklist to make the planning process a bit easier and help make that next vacation a relaxing one.
While we know the enclosed list is different for...
The Power of Attorney (POA) is one of the undisputed kings of planning documents. You appoint someone as your agent and give them authority to act on your behalf if you can’t—authority to pay bills, manage assets, make medical decisions, etc. If your physical or mental capabilities decline to...
Every vehicle in the world operates best with regular maintenance. A regular tune-up finds what’s still working well, what parts need to be replaced, and what changes are necessary to keep it running the way it’s supposed to. The same thing applies to your estate plan. Without a regular...
One of the advantages of the Social Security system is the Survivor Benefit. Of the 65 million people receiving Social Security, approximately 6 million receive the Survivor Benefit because they are the widow, widower, surviving ex-spouse, minor children or permanently disabled adult children of a deceased worker. The amount...