Maybe you have seen those will-in-a-box kits. Maybe you have even considered picking one up. Think twice about that. While you can draft a will on your own, there are plenty of reasons why you may not want to go that route. Most people do it to save money, but they may overlook or forget […]
Estate planning is a task that people tend to put off, as any discussion of “the end” tends to be off-putting. However, those who pass away without their financial affairs in good order risk leaving their heirs some significant problems along with their legacies. No matter what your age, here are some things you may […]
No married couple should suffer from financial infidelity. If you hide debt, income or assets from your spouse, it can lead to a fight and possibly even an impasse in your relationship. Communication & transparency are essential when it comes to money. That truth should be recognized by every couple tying the knot, or even […]
If your loved ones have invested, saved or insured themselves to any degree, you may be named as a beneficiary to one or more of their accounts, policies or assets in the event of their passing. While we all hope “that day” never comes, we do need to know what to do financially if and […]
How will you pay for long term care? The sad fact is that most people don’t know the answer to that question. But a solution is available. Many baby boomers are opting to make long term care coverage an important part of their retirement strategies. The reasons to get an LTC policy after age 50 […]
Financially, many of us associate April with taxes – but we should also associate April with important IRA deadlines. Here is what you need to know for 2014: *April 1 is the absolute deadline to take an initial IRA Required Mandatory Distribution (RMD). *April 15 is the deadline for making annual contributions to a traditional […]
Life expectancies have exploded over the last 50 years, and for most couples, at least one spouse will live until age 90 or older. Yet along with age come a variety of maladies — everything from diabetes and high blood pressure to broken hips or dementia. Often, these types of illnesses and accidents require health care expenses […]
You have worked hard all of your life. You have raised a beautiful family that you are proud of, and you and your spouse are finally ready to enjoy your golden years together. And yes, you have also planned and saved for these future retirement years. Maybe you planned many years ago or maybe you […]
Life insurance may not sound all that exciting, but when you do stop to think about life insurance it’s not uncommon to assume that since the concept is simple enough, so too are the products. It’s also fairly easy to rationalize the things you really don’t understand about life insurance, and before you know it, […]
We’ve all heard the horror stories about the investor who did everything right, who had the right job, maxed out their 401k, diversified their portfolio until comfort in retirement was assured, only to have the rug swept out by a debilitating illness. For this exact reason, insurance companies have created a product called long-term-care insurance. […]