Author Archives: Linda Fisher
What Is a ‘Survivorship’ Period?
A survivorship clause in a will or a trust says that beneficiaries can inherit, only if they live a certain number of days after the person who made the will or trust dies. The goal is to avoid situations where assets pass under your beneficiary’s estate plan, and not yours, if they outlive you… Read More »
Is Your Estate Really as Set as You Think?
Next Avenue’s recent article entitled “Is Your Estate as Planned As You Think?” explains that when you pass away your executor will have many tasks to perform when settling your estate. It’s helpful to add clarity and lessen the burden of that person’s work in advance. Look at this list of things to make… Read More »
When Should I Update My Estate Plan?
Forbes’ recent article entitled “Do You Need A Trust? 8 Important Goals A Trust Can Help You Achieve” discusses eight ways a trust can help you achieve specific legacy planning goals. The first step is to meet with an experienced estate planning attorney. Everybody needs a will, but not everyone requires a trust. A… Read More »
What Do I Need to Retire?
Research from the Employee Benefit Research Institute’s Retirement Confidence Survey shows a lack of preparation in retirement planning. According to the annual survey, 66% of those 55 years and older said they were confident they had sufficient savings to live comfortably throughout retirement. However, just 48% within the same age group haven’t figured out… Read More »
The Symptoms of Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
Considerable’s article entitled “7 surprising early signs of Alzheimer’s” provides us with some signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Theft or other law-breaking. Any behavioral change as people age is of concern, but this can be a sign of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), another progressively damaging, age-related brain disorder. FTD usually hits adults aged 45-65. People’s… Read More »
What Should I know about Financial Powers of Attorney?
A financial power of attorney, or Durable Power of Attorney, is a document allowing an “attorney-in-fact” or “agent” to act on the principal’s behalf. It usually allows the agent to pay the principal’s bills, access her accounts, pay her taxes and buy and sell investments. This person, in effect, assumes the responsibilities of the… Read More »
How Do I Protect Property If I Need Long-Term Care?
Nearly 90% of those over age 65 would say they’d prefer to stay in their home and live independently as they age. However, even if you are one of those people, you need to make certain that you have a plan in place to ensure your assets can go toward the things you want,… Read More »
How Can I Be a Good Caregiver?
If you find yourself suddenly in a caregiving role, you may not know where to begin. CaringBridge’s recent article entitled “5 Tips to Be a Good Caregiver” provides some great advice. Communicate. This is the most important factor, when trying to be a good caregiver. Caregivers should strive to communicate with patience, understanding and… Read More »
What are the Alzheimer’s Signs?
Considerable’s recent article entitled “These are the 10 Alzheimer’s signs to watch out for, provides a list of symptoms but cautions that it’s important to note that every one of these 10 symptoms can be applied to other problems. The Alzheimer’s Association explains that there are 10 warning signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease… Read More »
Handing Kids Keys to Your Home Is Never Good Estate Planning
Transferring ownership of the family home to an adult child may seem like a simple approach for avoiding having the house go through probate, or even qualifying easily for Medicaid. However, this seemingly simple solution comes with many problems, including taxes and the potential for years of delay for qualifying for Medicaid. That’s the… Read More »