Article Category General Articles Page 9

Medicare open enrollment is coming! During the annual open enrollment period, which runs from November 15 to December 31, you may switch Medicare drug or health care plans. While you should review your coverage every year, this year it is particularly important because of changes brought on by the new health care law. As the Read Full Article

Q. My wife and I signed basic wills in our 40s when our concern was passing our assets to our children in the event of death. However, we are now both in our mid 70’s and we are now more concerned about the cost of long-term care for ourselves. Should we now redesign our estate Read Full Article

Q: I hear that there are many federal and state programs designed to help seniors of limited means apply for extra help with prescription drug coverage, pay utility bills, groceries, health care and other needs. However, I don’t know where to go to find out about them. Is there some central source that might be Read Full Article

Q.  In connection with creating our estate planning documents, my husband and I would like to leave our children and grandchildren something more than just our money and assets. We would like to leave them a sense of our values. A friend mentioned something to us about an “Ethical Will”. Can you tell us anything Read Full Article

 For many years, banks have been touting the advantages of so-called “reverse” mortgages as a way for cash-strapped seniors to tap into the equity in their homes in order to meet expenses, whether simply for day-to-day living or to pay for the increased cost of home care. The basic concept of a reverse mortgage is Read Full Article

Q: I am approaching age 66 and my wife is almost 62. Each of us has a work record, although my earnings are greater. I heard that there may be a way for us to receive a larger Social Security retirement income by my opting for only a Spousal Benefit now based upon her work Read Full Article

Last Updated: 12/17/2010 10:38:06 PM  On 12/17/2010, President Obama signed major legislation implementing the tax-cut deal negotiated with Congressional Republicans. As expected the legislation restores the estate tax for two years with an exemption of $5 million and a 35 percent tax rates for estates over that amount, but the new law also contains several unexpected provisions that Read Full Article

  Death for Beginners: Your No-Nonsense, Money-Saving Guide to Planning for the Inevitable Last Updated: 9/24/2010 3:49:01 PM Karen Jones. Death for Beginners: Your No-Nonsense, Money-Saving Guide to Planning for the Inevitable. Linden Publishing. Fresno, CA. 2010. 244 pages. $11.01 from Amazon (click on book to order) This is the one “how-to” book that no Read Full Article

Online Legal Documents Company Sued Over Flawed Estate Plan Last Updated: 6/18/2010 11:50:08 AM LegalZoom, one of the most prominent sellers of do-it-yourself wills and other estate planning documents, is the target of a class action lawsuit in California charging that the company engages in deceptive business practices and is practicing law without a license. Read Full Article

  Social Security May Soon Put Lid on Benefits 'Do-Over' Strategy Last Updated: 9/17/2010 4:15:07 PM The Social Security Administration may soon eliminate a loophole that allows Social Security recipients to claim benefits early and then apply for them again years later when they are eligible for larger checks. Although you can collect Social Security Read Full Article