We are often asked, “What happens if I die without a will?” The answer is simple: You leave behind a mess for your family – one that will be managed by strangers through the court system. Leaving clear directions upon your death isn’t just a way to exercise control over your assets and important matters; it’s an act
The “Greek drama” is over – or at least at an intermission. But for investors, the dire headlines generated by the country’s financial crisis provided a stiff test of self-discipline. First, a recap: Earlier this week, Greece and its Eurozone creditors tentatively agreed on a last-minute bailout package that could stave off economic collapse in
Warren Buffett has attributed much of his well-known investment success to two rules. Rule #1: Never lose money. Rule #2: Never forget Rule #1. What the Oracle of Omaha is reminding us, in a humorous way, is to keep our eye on the return of our capital, even more so than the return on our
Financial fraud has been with us since ancient times, but it has exploded in the Internet age. According to the 2014 Identity Fraud Study, there is a new identity fraud victim every two seconds. The more resources you have for fighting fraud, the better. In a blog in November, we gave you tips for Keeping
If you use a budget, then you know it’s one of the great tools for helping you better manage your cash flow, especially when living off of investment income. If you piggy-back your budget with a second tool ‒ a saving and spending policy ‒ then you can better meet your savings goals and protect
To most people, Social Security seems like a very simple concept: You pay in to the system during your working years, then you retire and start getting those monthly checks. But if you want to maximize your benefits (and who doesn’t), you need to study how and when to start taking your benefits. You need
Once people start to learn about Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI), they often have questions. Here, we answer those we hear most often. What is the underwriting process for LTCI? Whether you’re considering a traditional or asset-based LTCI plan, step 1 of the process is to answer a preliminary health questionnaire. This helps to determine which
Americans have a retirement savings problem ‒ for some Baby Boomers, “crisis” is not too strong a word ‒ and it’s causing a fair amount of anxiety. Recent surveys cite statistics like these: more than a third of all working-age adults haven’t saved any money toward retirement; 41% of folks in their 50s are not
While many people think they know what Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) is, there are many misconceptions out there. Here, we review three important facts to help you gain a clearer understanding of LTCI. Fact #1: Medicare Isn’t the Same as Long-Term Care Insurance According to AARP, a surprising number of people still believe that Medicare will cover
You’ve heard about Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI), but do you really know what it is, not to mention if you need it? LTCI reimburses policyholders a fixed daily or monthly amount when they require assistance with two of six specific activities of daily living or because of cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease. The six
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