Policy experts and families alike have long noted that the United States lacks a comprehensive public system for long-term care. Medicare generally does not cover these services, and while Medicaid can help, it is available only to people with very limited assets, often requiring a spend-down that can leave little or nothing for loved ones. […]
Continue reading…Understanding Long-Term Care Insurance: Insights for Advising Your Clients
One way to manage long-term care risk is through a dedicated insurance policy. Long-term care insurance (LTCI) covers care at home or in assisted living, memory care, or nursing facilities—services that standard health insurance and Medicare do not typically pay for. Although roughly 70 percent of people turning 65 will need some form of long-term […]
Continue reading…How to Protect Your Estate If Long-Term Care Becomes Necessary
Once you understand what long-term care (LTC) is and the real risks it can pose to your finances, goals, and family, you can begin to plan accordingly. Addressing the possibility of long-term care early puts you in a stronger position to manage its potential financial and personal impact. What Are the Goals of LTC Planning? […]
Continue reading…Strategies to Help Clients Protect Their Assets If Long-Term Care Is Needed
Long-term care needs can introduce significant risk to a client’s estate and financial plan. Advisors should take a layered approach, integrating strategies that address private-pay options and potential public benefits while preserving client objectives. Not all long-term care risks or planning needs are the same, so asset protection strategies must be evaluated in the context […]
Continue reading…Why Long-Term Care Planning Is a Critical Part of Estate Planning(Even If You Are Healthy)
For many people, estate planning sounds like a final act—a set of instructions for what happens to your accounts and other assets only after you are gone. In reality, a truly comprehensive estate plan also helps protect you during your lifetime. While a standard plan covers medical and financial decisions if you become incapacitated (unable […]
Continue reading…Why Long-Term Care Planning Matters to Your Client’s Financial and Estate Plan
An effective plan for the future goes far beyond controlling and directing asset transfers at death. When structured properly, an estate plan also protects against incapacity during life, ensuring that a client’s medical and financial affairs can be managed without court intervention. But one risk that many estate plans overlook is the potential need for […]
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Love, Loss, and Legacy: Handling Sentimental Belongings After the Death of a Loved One
Personal items accumulated over our lifetimes may be left in estate planning limbo when we pass away. You may have kept many personal effects and everyday items more for sentimental reasons than for financial value, such as your clothing, jewelry, books, quilts, collectibles, and religious items. Each item we leave behind tells part of the […]
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Estate Planning Tips for Someone Facing Major Surgery
Receiving news that you need major surgery is never easy. Preparing for work absences, planning for childcare and household responsibilities, and understanding the procedure itself and your recovery timeline may be among the things you are worried about. If you have only a short time (weeks or days) to react, focusing on the essentials is […]
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What to Do When Your Doctor Tells You to Get Your Affairs in Order
Five words no one ever wants to hear from their doctor are “Get your affairs in order.” Unfortunately, 76 percent of Americans do not have a will, and it often requires a chronic disease, terminal illness diagnosis, or other life-changing event to prompt people to start the estate planning process. If you are facing a […]
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Talking to Aging Parents About Estate Planning
Beyond the practical purpose of transferring assets and reducing taxes, an estate plan reflects love, responsibility, and values. That emotional heaviness may be part of why many families avoid the subject. Pew Research reports that only about 3 in 10 US adults have created a basic estate plan (a will and a living will or […]
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