Indiana Estate Planning & Elder Law

Friends of the Firm Friday - JDog Junk Removal & Hauling

 

JDog Junk Removal & Hauling recently sat down with our Medicaid Paralegal, Lisa Burris to share about their business and how their services may still be utilized - even during a current global pandemic. 

This junk removal and hauling company specializes in estate clean outs, clean outs due to hoarding, and senior downsizing.

Exclusively owned by military veterans and veteran family members, JDog Junk Removal is a national franchise. The Indianapolis JDog Junk Removal & Hauling location is owned by Patrick Cummings, a United States Navy Veteran with more than nine years of active service. Cummings operated JDog Junk Removal & Hauling - Drexel Hill Pennsylvania beginning in 2016, however he desired to return to his hometown of Indianapolis and relocated in August 2017.

JDog Junk Removal & Hauling emphasizes doing each job correctly the first time. Their team puts an extreme emphasis on the company's core values: respect, integrity, and trust. 

• When members enter a home, clients can expect that their dwelling and belongings will be respected.
• The price a client is quoted is what they will pay.
• When the team at JDog Junk Removal & Hauling leaves a client's home, it will be swept clean and free of clutter.  

JDog Junk Removal & Hauling serves Marion County and surrounding counties including Anderson and Lafayette.  You can reach them by calling (317) 719-2420.

Written by:  Lisa Burris

A Look at Social Security for Millennials

When the US federal government established its social insurance program on August 14, 1935, its purpose was to provide retirement, disability, and survivors’ benefits. Since that time, in part due to the disappearance of extended family networks, an increase in population, and a profound increase in life expectancy, it has become challenging for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to maintain the benefits promised to Americans.

Apprehension Among Millennials

According to a Transamerica survey, 80 percent of Millennials (born between 1979 and 2000) do not think they will receive any Social Security benefits at all. This apprehension comes as no surprise because for decades Americans have been saying that the Social Security benefits system is going to go broke. Millennials may be right to be skeptical about receiving benefits three and four decades hence, and the program does have problems but is not going broke, yet.

By its admission, the Social Security Administration reports that the Old-age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund and the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund are scheduled to be depleted in the year 2034 if Congress doesn't act. However, there is another source of income for Social Security benefits. Even in the absence of both SSA Trusts, hundreds of billions of dollars in payroll taxes will still be collected and billions in benefits will still be paid. Even if Congress did not intervene to address the current challenges, the system would still be able to pay 77 percent of projected benefits beyond the year 2034.

Intervention by Congress Could Strengthen Social Security

Because of the bipartisan support the Social Security program receives and influential lobbies including the very powerful American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), it is highly probable that Congress will intervene to strengthen Social Security’s finances. Millennials' uncertainty about the program's solvency may lead to poor decision making regarding their retirement savings and plan. It is never too early to start looking at the basic tenets of when you will be able to retire successfully. Just because Millennia consider the future of Social Security benefits as tenuous, it should not deter them from saving money, investing, and reviewing and updating plans as circumstances change.

The average Social Security benefit is currently slightly less than 1,500 dollars a month. To successfully use the financial planners 4 percent rule would require a savings of 400,000 dollars to generate a similar income to the average Social Security benefit. Projections by the Urban Institute estimate that Millennials will receive about one million dollars for a single adult of average-income and 2 million for a couple.

Early Retirement Planning

Maybe the good news about Millennials’ skepticism about the solvency of Social Security is their interest in starting retirement savings planning earlier than the generations before them. Millennials who are saving are beginning around 24 years old and with good reason. Pensions in the private work sector are becoming increasingly rare, employers may go out of business, and job-hopping is much more common among younger American workers, which can easily lead to errors in income reporting.

Understanding Your Social Security Benefits

All Americans should create an account on the Social Security Administration's website, which allows you to check your earnings records and have errors corrected. Even checking every three years is good enough to know that your Social Security benefits will track accurately based on your income. Before ever claiming your benefits, be sure to employ one of many software tools that educate you about claiming strategies for Social Security. Millions of Americans make the mistake of taking their benefits too early, which locks them into permanently reduced payments. The financial incentives the SSA provides for delaying when you take your benefits can net you up to 250,000 dollars more. Benefits currently increase between 7 to 8 percent for every year you delay after the age of 62, capping at maximum benefits at the age of 70. 

The Importance of Retirement Planning

Millennials are expecting their prime source of retirement money to come from self-funded financial vehicles like a 401(k), IRA, and other savings and investments and ultimately that is a good thing. There isn't such a thing as "too much money" in retirement, so additional sources of income beyond Social Security benefits is an excellent strategy. The social contract the federal government made for, and funded by its citizens, in all likelihood will be there for the Millennial Generation but no one knows the future. With 18 percent of Millennials expecting to live to 100 years of age or more getting information and advice about how to achieve retirement goals is more important than ever before.

If you have questions or would like to discuss your particular situation, please contact our central Indiana office for assistance.  Call us in Fishers at (317) 863-2030 or in Rockville at  (765) 569-1060.

Recent Trends in Senior Living

The traditional senior housing market is undergoing a profound change. In 2018 senior housing occupancy fell to an eight-year low, even as the senior population continues to increase, as competition for the younger baby boomer market is ramping up and forcing a change to more traditional independent and assisted living options. Active adult concepts like Margaritaville are addressing this market segment that is turned off by the idea of "senior living." Atria Senior Living is in a joint venture with Related Companies to build $3 billion in senior luxury housing in major metro areas while overall multifamily development with an intergenerational mix of renters is also fragmenting the traditional senior housing market. Occupancy challenges in traditional independent living and assisted living communities are also finding the retention of a reliable workforce to be a continuing challenge. The truth is that the advent of smart home technology and on-demand services ordered via a smartphone, as well as home care aides,  are enabling apartment and single dwelling living for more extended periods than ever before. Younger seniors tend to want to age in place for as long as possible. 

Medicare Reform in Skilled Nursing Facilities

In the skilled nursing arena, Medicare fee-for-service payment reform brings forward three major provisions: the change to the case-mix classification system, the skilled nursing facility Value Based-Purchase Program, and the skilled nursing facility Quality Reporting Program. The case-mix model focuses on the patient’s condition and resulting care needs rather than the number of care services provided to determine Medicare payment. The Value Based-Purchase Program shifts the Medicare payments from volume to value driven. Finally, the skilled nursing facility Quality Reporting Program is designed, through innovation, to provide meaningful, quality measure reporting, a reduction of paperwork, and a lowering of administrative costs.

New Approaches to Senior Living Needs and Services

These and other changes in Medicare are helping to create an influx of capital into the senior care market incentivizing innovative partnerships and cross-continuum service development. Investors and providers will be partnering with Medicare Advantage payors, retail giants, home health, pharmacies, technology, and other provider groups to reinvent and manage the quality and cost of senior care housing, products, and services. This influx of investment capital combined with technology is destined to create fresh ways to approach senior living needs and the services that provide for them. Web-based platforms and data analytics software continue to address the battle for the retention of the health care workforce while Telehealth solutions are enabling elders in rural markets to reach providers and connect with specialists. Voice recognition software is increasingly being integrated into resident units whether they are private homes or pay for service facilities. Partnering opportunities and joint ventures will continue to create new service models that will, in particular, meet the needs of home and community-based services.

Data-driven Marketing to Children of Seniors

When aging in place is no longer a viable strategy a senior is faced with where to go next. Marketing senior housing to the younger baby boomers is changing, and it is data-driven. In particular, the adult Gen X children of these seniors are helping their parents to make informed decisions, and they typically get their information from online sources. Social media has become a tech tool replacing older marketing models of senior housing communities. Operators can tell their stories, address negative reviews, promote positive news items, and create conversations. Gen X adult children will be looking to social media platforms to get real and varied opinion to validate their parents’ choices.

As Medicare Advantage increases its integration in the overall health care system, data collection and its conclusions are more critical than ever. Potential residents will also be addressing concerns about health care data. More data is being gathered than ever before by Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) on hospital readmission rates, the prevalence of falls, and other related health information and consumers will demand to know what these statistics are before entering into a contract with a senior living community.

A Competitive Senior Living Industry

Seniors are being presented with more living options than ever before and the competition for their dollars will keep providers in the senior living industry highly focused and fiercely competitive. Questions facing seniors include: How and where do you want to live as you age? Are you well informed about the changing options available to you? Do you have a plan in place that is legally documented for the stages of your senior life? Hunter Estate & Elder Law in central Indiana can help. Contact us by calling (317) 863-2030 in Fishers or (765) 569-1060 in Rockville and let’s start planning together.

Looking into Social Security Myths

According to NerdWallet, more than half of Americans apply for social security before reaching their full retirement age, and more than 30 percent of those apply for benefits at 62 years of age. Americans file early for benefits even though researchers claim it would be better to wait to claim their social security benefits. It DOES matter when you opt-in to take your social security benefit. Between the age of 62 and full retirement, your benefits increase by about 7 percent each year and additionally 8 percent each year between your full retirement age and 70. These percentages reflect an actuary adjustment to ensure those Americans who opt for a larger check for shorter periods do not receive less than those receiving smaller checks for more extended periods.

Currently, full retirement age is 66 for those born before 1960 and 67 for those born after that. Social security benefits will max out at age 70 and by waiting that long your checks could be 24 to 32 percent more than what you would receive at full retirement age and a whopping 76 percent larger than what you would receive at 62. However, statistics show that only about 1 in 25 applicants will wait to collect benefits at the age of 70 when monthly benefits hit their peak. Economic hardship for some seniors clearly defines part of the trend in early benefit assumption, but what of those who have retirement planning in place?

The Super Seniors

Currently, low-interest rates and survivor benefit rules coupled with longer life expectancies generally mean most retirees would benefit by delaying their benefits as long as possible. Those destined to become super-seniors, living well into their 90s and 100s, can quickly run out of savings and may end up depending entirely on their social security benefits check. Having delayed taking social security provides maximum benefits for these super-seniors. Additionally, this older age group typically has qualities in common like a strong work ethic, positive outlook, close bonds with family, and a tendency to be religious. These traits factor into a purposeful life so that even on limited social security benefits when combined with the help of their family and community systems, they can still make ends meet.

Most People Underestimate Their Life Span

At the other end of the spectrum are those Americans who feel, or know, they will have shorter life term expectancy. The Stanford Center on Longevity, however, reports that most people underestimate how long they will live. Today a 65-year-old man can expect to reach 84 years of age while a woman of the same age will probably reach 86.5 years. Studies by the Society of Actuaries are reporting life expectancies for those currently in their mid-50s (one in two women and one in three men) will live into their 90s. The cautionary tale is even if you project that you may not live long, you might indeed. It is best to anticipate being around and making financial decisions about social security benefits that reflect a longer life.

The Effect of Claiming Benefits Early

Claiming benefits early to invest the money does not mean you will come out ahead and may put you significantly behind. There is no guaranteed investment product with a return as high as delaying your application for social security benefits. Claiming benefits early can also shortchange your spouse. A married couple will lose one of their checks when the first spouse dies. The loss of a check can create a severe drop in income even if the survivor receives the larger of the two checks. This benefit loss should incentivize the higher earner of the couple, with the larger check, to delay taking their benefit so that the survivor spouse benefit is more substantial.

Delaying Benefits Can Provide Substantial Returns

You do not need to claim your social security benefit as soon as you stop working. Most financial planners will suggest tapping into other sources of income like a retirement fund or additional savings that allows your social security benefit to grow. Just delaying your benefits from age 62 to 66 can translate in a sustainable annual increase of 33 percent, so even a four-year delay can provide substantial returns.

Addressing Concerns of Insolvency

What about 2035 and the projected insolvency to fund social security benefits? If Congress does not act, the social security system will only be able to pay out 77 to 80 percent of the benefits promised. While this is not good, social security is not going bankrupt. The funding mechanisms must, however, get straightened out by politicians who want your vote to keep them in office. The silver tsunami of voters ensures that Congressional leaders and policymakers cannot overlook the senior demographic, which is critical to their re-election.

Creating a Successful Retirement Plan

Each person’s or couple’s situation is different; their savings, assets, debt, work history, and retirement planning all vary widely. Additionally, according to Barrons.com, every state has a distinct annual spending threshold recommended for a comfortable retirement. To learn your best options and create your plan for a successful financial retirement, including when to take your social security benefit, talk to elder counsel. The social security benefit structure and rules are changing, change with it to maximize your benefits.

Contact our central Indiana office to discuss your individual situation and how we can assist in planning for your financial future. We can be reached in Fishers by calling (317) 863-2030 and in Rockville at (765) 569-1060.

Crowdsourcing Site Helps Seniors Research Retirement Destinations

While aging in place is very popular among the baby boomer generation, about one-third of those retirees would choose to live elsewhere. The family remains the most significant factor when deciding where retirees live, followed by the general livability of an area and desirable weather conditions. The decision about where to live should be a high priority as you approach retirement age. According to www.AgeFriendly.com, two out of three retirees feel they did not do the necessary in-depth research when determining where to live out their retirement years. Three out of four of the same group of retirees indicated that an online tool such as Age Friendly Advisor (a section of www.AgeFriendly.com) would be handy to determine what a location is really like from its current residents. This online crowdsourcing site designed for those aged 50 or more allows the user to tap into advice about good cities to live in, get care, and even get a retirement job to improve and enhance the quality of life.  

Utilizing a User Review Approach

This user review approach is similar to other sites where consumers can give product reviews and read opinions about the product before purchasing. This approach provides an “upvote” function that allows easier navigation of the more popular and valuable topics addressed. Age Friendly Advisor answers questions for three distinct purposes: everyday living, working and volunteering, and caregiving. The living section helps older adults connect with available resources, engage with one another and communicate with their city or town. The working and volunteering section connects the user to a list of age-friendly employers and businesses including customer/employee reviews and job listings. The caregiving section is for those who opt to age in place while staying connected to their communities. The cities and towns support of the elderly community are assessed and rated by Age Friendly Advisor. As a location becomes responsive to their older citizens, the steps taken to improve their support is recognized.

Free Information for Seniors

This website is part of a larger corporate entity known as Age Friendly Ventures, and the use of and information from their websites are free. Age Friendly Ventures operates other retirement friendly sites such as RetirementJobs.com and MatureCaregivers.com. The sites are all geared toward persons age 50 or more and support the mission to fight ageism and provide resources for a successful aging experience. “When managed well, user-contributed reviews reveal an extraordinary wisdom of the crowd,” Age Friendly Ventures founder and CEO Tim Driver said in a statement. “Just as consumers read and give product reviews on Amazon and restaurant and hotel ratings on Yelp and TripAdvisor, Americans can now go to agefriendly.com to read and publish crowd sourced reviews tackling complicated topics around aging.”

Supported by Senior Living and Corporate Entities

Age Friendly Ventures and their subsidiary websites currently enjoy the support of at least one major senior living operator and other corporate entities. More will surely follow as these websites gain traction on influencing the process of and choices about aging. Sponsorship and brand exposure to the baby boomer (and older) community while providing them with a reliable and free set of information services is destined to become more popular as the corporate world chases retirees’ purchasing power and retirement dollars. Finding trusted information about health and wellness, lifestyle and retirement options with the bonus of user reviews can help a senior successfully navigate the many options available to them and make an informed decision.  

Gathering trusted peer-reviewed information from sites like agefriendly.com is one of the first steps to take in your plan for successful aging. Your choice may lead you to a new state or just a new town. Wherever it takes you, a trusted elder law attorney can help you review your plan and make any necessary adjustments. Contact our Fishers or Rockville office today and schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help you with your planning.

 

The Baby Boomer Retirement Crisis

A study conducted by The Blackstone Group, an independent research firm, on behalf of Bankers Life Center for a Secure Retirement outlines some very unsettling data regarding middle-income baby boomer retirement care preparedness. According to the survey above, the bleak financial reality of this demographic is that 79 percent of middle-income baby boomers have NO savings put aside to cover their retirement care. Couple this disaster savings scenario with the US government’s admission that for the first time since 1982 Social Security trust funds are being used to pay current benefits to recipients and Medicare’s reserves are being used to cover the costs of that program as well. It is the perfect storm of a looming retirement insolvency crisis.

The Disconnect Between Preparedness and Need

Middle-income baby boomers for this study are defined as aged 53 to 72 with an annual income of $30,000 to $100,000 and less than one million dollars in investable assets. For those baby boomers in this demographic, a mere 4 percent of them have more than $100,000 saved for health care retirement planning, long term care, and general retirement preparedness. While 65 percent of these survey respondents prefer to receive retirement care in their current homes only 55 percent of them expected to be able to do so, and there is a disconnect at what age these care services will be required. A full 45 percent thought that assisted living circumstances would be needed between the ages of 71 and 80 while 37 percent said it would be between the ages of 81 and 90. The problem with these hopes is the ever-increasing presence of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia which can push retirees younger than ever into the need for assisted living and retirement care.

The Need to Set Priorities

According to the survey, 40 percent of those surveyed consider retirement care planning to be a low priority or not one at all, 42 percent thought it to be a medium priority and only 18 percent identified retirement care planning as a high or very high priority. Incredibly 56 percent expected that Medicare would pay for retirement care as needed, including long-term care needs which Medicare does not cover. The costs of long-term care policies are cited as the biggest reason for not making the prudent insurance purchase. 

Misperceptions About the Costs of Retirement Care

Dangerous misperceptions about how much retirement care costs and how to pay for it exist. It may seem incredible, but the truth is that baby boomers are better prepared to die than to live. Among middle-income baby boomers, 81 percent have formally made at least one preparation for when they pass away, usually in the form of a will or trust, while only 32 percent have a plan as to how they will receive retirement health care should it become necessary. 

The Time to Become Proactive

The message is unmistakable; middle-income baby boomers need to address their underfunded retirement plans pronto. There is an overconfidence in this demographic that allows them to think they will be able to manage their and their spouse's healthcare costs as they continue to age. The reality is that many of them are one bear stock market or health care crisis away from disaster. The federal government and its programs are just as unlikely to be able to stave off the financial crisis brought about by this willful ignorance of the costs of aging successfully. 

If you are in these incomes and age brackets, it is time to take a realistic look at what you can do to better prepare yourself for the coming years ahead. Being financially unprepared to age brings stress and family discord at a time when you should be living your best life. Be proactive, contact our office today and schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help you with your planning.

 

Bankruptcy in the Golden Years

The golden years are turning into bankruptcy red for many retired and aging Americans. While medical advances are keeping seniors alive longer, the associated healthcare costs in the quest for longevity are being off-loaded onto the older individual at a time when reduced income is a hallmark of senior living.  Older Americans are increasingly filing for consumer bankruptcy. According to the Consumer Bankruptcy Project, the population aged 65 or more are filing for bankruptcy at a two-fold increase, and there is nearly a five-fold increase in the percentage of seniors in the US bankruptcy system.  Below are 5 factors which commonly force a senior into bankruptcy:

1. Lack of Retirement Funds

The sentiment among Americans is that their standard of living will increase at the age of retirement when it is quite the opposite. The typical retiree has set aside about $60,000 for their old age living, and more than 50% over the age of 55 have saved less them $50,000; as much as 40% of these workers have less than $25,000 set aside. The stark reality is none of these “nest eggs” are enough to see a senior through old age and the unforeseen disasters that can deplete what little has been saved.  

2. Unforeseen Medical Expenses

One of the more common financial obstacles that create this bankruptcy scenario is a health issue. Medicare is not comprehensive. In the absence of a supplemental insurance plan picking up the non-Medicare funded 20 percent cost, a senior can be left with unforeseen operation and rehabilitation costs. Without full health care coverage, the cost of staying alive as a senior is practically prohibitive between prescriptions, treatments, surgeries, rehabilitation, and assisted care. The primary two options available to a senior to cover these costs of survival are credit card debt and loans. Suddenly, at a time when most seniors should have very low monthly living costs, they find themselves back in a debt slave scenario with little or no income to address their healthcare debt.  

3. Forced Retirement

Many seniors have concluded that retirement is not a part of their future as they will need a viable stream of income to avoid financial disaster. While this seems reasonable, it is not a good plan to assume one will be healthy enough to work forever. As we age, there is an increased probability that working will become impossible due to unforeseen illness. When this happens, debts begin to mount, and bankruptcy becomes a likely result. Additionally, the era of stable pensions afforded to a long time employee has gone by the wayside. Fewer companies even offer them anymore and those that do often modify and reduce pension benefits to meet corporate expectations of financial profits. 

4. The Rising Cost of Living

The cost of living rarely if ever is reduced over time and while social security benefits seem like the answer to a senior’s retirement years; these benefits seldom cover basic living expenses no matter how long an individual may have worked or how much they paid into the system. The senior who is faced with government social security benefits and very little additional income usually turn to credit cards to address the gap between low income and living expenses. This scenario takes a senior right back to debt slave mode. As many as two out of three seniors who file for bankruptcy cite credit card debt as one of the primary reasons.

5. Falling Prey to a Financial Scam

Scams that target the senior population are becoming more sophisticated and prolific with the advent of technology. What used to be a “one to one” scam can now be distributed via email to thousands of targeted seniors who are online in greater numbers than ever before. Often the unsuspecting senior will make passwords or personal bank information available to what they believe is a legitimate request for information from what appears to be a valid email. Seniors can also fall prey to predatory lenders as many seniors cannot read the fine print or understand the consequences of their actions. When scam artists victimize a senior, the senior often loses a large chunk of their assets which in turn can put them in a bankruptcy scenario.

While it is impossible to know the exact future, it is possible to make reasonable plans for it. Learn the ways that you can protect yourself from becoming part of these bankruptcy statistics in your senior years. Even a modest plan is better than no plan at all.   Contact our office today to discuss how you can create a financial plan that will see you through your golden years.

 

Tips to Increase Your Savings for Retirement

A significant portion of Americans are saving nothing for retirement and very little in their day to day lives. While the unemployment rate is low and wages are seeing an increase the American worker is not saving enough of their income which will inevitably lead to short falls of operational cash during an unexpected crisis and in their retirement years further down the road. (https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/15/bankrate-65-percent-of-americans-save-little-or-nothing.html) 

Bankrate maintains that half of all Americans will not be able to maintain their standard of living once they have stopped working. GoBankingRates corroborates these findings citing that over forty percent of Americans have less than $10,000 dollars saved for their retirement. These statistics point to a dismal retirement future for nearly half of all Americans. 

This doesn’t have to be your future. It doesn’t matter how little you currently save. You don’t have to become the horror story of retiring and meeting financial ruin like so many do. What matters is that you change the trajectory of your retirement life by proactively examining how you are spending and saving. The sooner you begin the better your chances of success. Here are five steps you can take to increase your savings.

1. Live Beneath Your Means

The first and most important strategy to implement is learning to live beneath your means. That translates into saving money: probably more than you currently do. Saving money is an underestimated survival skill. To save begin by tracking your spending habits for thirty days. Once you have the data create a realistic and doable budget. Fluid expenditures like groceries, eating out, clothing, gasoline and auto maintenance need to have a set monthly budget. Create a simple two columned sheet of paper with budgeted and actual expenditures to monitor your progress. Typical categories where you can reduce expenditures include; cable packages, phone plans, groceries, entertainment costs, gym memberships, clothing and dining out. Start asking yourself over and over “Is this a need or a want?” and if it is a need, how can you make the cost lower. The game is how much money you can save, not spend.

2. Reduce Your Debt

Consolidate your non essential debt and pay it off, completely. Make it a primary goal to get out of debt. Stop being a debt slave. In the credit card industry there is an insider term used for people who fully pay their credit cards off each month. Guess what it is? It is a deadbeat. Companies cannot make money off of you if you stop becoming a slave to debt. If you can’t afford it then find a way to live without it.

3. Take Steps to Lower your Insurance Rates

Double check your insurance rates on your car, homeowner, and health. Do not purchase flight insurance, extended warranties, and disease insurance. Check this site for fifteen insurance policies you don’t need. (https://www.investopedia.com/insurance/insurance-policies-you-dont-need/). Get rid of the policy all together or find wiggle room for reduced premiums or get a more competitive provider to save money. 

4. Take Control of Your Monthly Payments

Get rid of automatic payments attached to your banking accounts. Most people can eliminate expenditures they forgot they are even locked into. This also forces you to take control of your bill/payment cycles. Being involved in the day to day of bill payment keeps you far more aware of your financial situation and keeps your mind active.

5. Downsize Your Home

Consider downsizing your home. If you are in a two story house it is inevitable that one day you will not be able to climb those stairs. A one story home or a first floor condo or apartment can help you purge your life of ‘stuff’ you no longer need. Some of those things can be sold and the proceeds can be saved. Any profit left over from downsizing immediately goes into savings or a financial investment vehicle to provide and protect your senior years. 

These are some but not all of the ways it is possible to change your savings habits. Guidance from a trusted professional is key to the pathway of success because there will always be roadblocks and setbacks that you must adjust for.  Contact our central Indiana office to learn how structuring a legal plan in connection with your retirement plan can help you to enjoy your retirement.

 

 

What to Consider in Retirement Planning

Most people dream of the day they can retire. The problem is that many do not move beyond dreaming to planning. Planning can be done no matter what your age, but experts encourage people to start as early as possible. Retirement planning can seem like a daunting endeavor for many people as they focus on day-to-day financial obligations. Many people have no idea where to start. A few simple questions can help people of any age plan for retirement.

What does retirement look like to you?

This is an essential question to ask when beginning to plan for retirement. A good starting place is to start jotting down your ideas and, if married, your spouse’s ideas for retirement. Maybe travel is in your plan. If not travel, then how do you plan to spend your time? Will you want to downsize your home? Many people find that the home where they raised their family is too large or more than they wish to maintain. Will you continue working? If so, how much do you wish to work. Part-time or contract work can give more flexibility while still providing a source of extra income.

What assets do you have?

This is the beginning of financial planning for retirement. Look not just at your bank account and retirement accounts, but also property you own. Other assets to consider are collections that have significant financial value. Also, take stock of other investments that will be used to fund your retirement.

How is your health?

Personal health can play a large factor in retirement planning. The first step is to make sure you are up to date on all of your health screenings and check-ups. Once your health has been evaluated, you can better assess your plans for retirement. Health can affect finances and quality of life in retirement. There is no better time than the present to evaluate lifestyle and, if necessary, improve health habits to improve your quality of life and extend it.

When should you take social security?

There is no easy answer to this question and it is really a case-by-case decision that an attorney or financial professional can help you make. In the most basic terms, waiting longer to take benefits will increase the monthly benefits you receive. However, for many, this is not an option. It is important to assess your expenses and make the most informed decision possible with help from informed professionals.

How can I cut expenses to save more?

This is an excellent question for people of any age to consider. Cutting expenses can provide for extra savings to throw into your retirement plan. Cutting expenses can also help when creating a budget for retirement. If you can cut in some categories, then you can reallocate to other categories in order to be able to live more comfortably in the future. Paying off debt also becomes more manageable when other expenses can be cut.

How do I need to plan for the unexpected?

There is never any guarantee that the retirement you plan becomes reality. Many unexpected events can and will arise in retirement. These events can put a financial strain on a family, so it is important to plan a contingency for these events. This also good time to talk family and think about future care needs. Good health today does not guarantee it in the future – in fact, the possibility of needing long term care increases with each year we grow older. Creating a plan that includes legal and financial considerations helps get all family members on the same page and can greatly reduce stress should the unexpected occur.

Considering these questions can help you to begin working on a retirement plan that will fit your needs in the future. Contact our office for assistance with the legal side of planning for retirement, especially when considering the possibility of needing long term care in the future.  

 

Securing The Future For Aging Parents

An article in Hometown Life article, titled "Plan ahead to assure secure future for aging parents," stressed the importance of planning ahead for elderly parents are or may become physically or mentally unable to care for themselves. This process should include two important documents: a power of attorney—which can give an adult child legal authority to act on behalf of elderly parents with financial matters—and a patient advocate designation—to help them in medical matters. By starting early, children and their parents can work together to create these document.

The article also answers questions on a few other topics:

What about putting your name on your parents' bank accounts?

Children should not be joint owners, because you’ll be subjecting your parents' assets to all of your liabilities, causing issues for future benefits. The government is more likely to scrutinize a joint account if the parent applies for Medicaid when transitioning to a skilled nursing facility. Instead, a signed financial power of attorney allows an adult child to pay bills, sign checks, and help the parent with other financial matters—without the need for joint bank accounts.

Who pays when an elderly parent, on Medicare, needs rehab in a skilled nursing center?

Medicare may pay 100 percent of the first 20 days. After that, Medicare may pay 80 percent, and supplemental insurance may pay the other 20 percent of the bill. There is a 100-day Medicare benefit, but not everyone qualifies. You also need to have a 30-day wellness period outside the hospital or a skilled nursing center for that benefit to reset. For example, if the parent leaves the facility on Day 20—but returns the next week—they start where they left off at Day 21 because they didn't have a 30-day wellness period.

Should I give any money away if considering entering a skilled nursing home (with Medicaid)?

No, Medicaid will examine the past five years of your finances when you apply for coverage. If you have given money away, you could be severely penalized with long periods of ineligibility and you may not get Medicaid even if you have zero dollars.

So don't give away your money. There are other things you can do ahead of time. Talk to an elder law attorney to make sure you are maximizing your dollars, that you can still give your kids some kind of inheritance and still go into a skilled nursing home on Medicaid.

If you want to learn more about the basic requirements of Medicaid, exempt assets and transfers, rules of married couples and much more, join us for our FREE Lunch and Learn on Thursday, August 17^th in Noblesville, or Wednesday, August 23^rd in Greenwood. Click here to reserve your spot now or call 317-863-2030 to reserve your seat today!

Reference: Hometown Life (January 23, 2015) "Plan ahead to assure secure future for aging parents"