Author Archives: Andre O. McDonald
Alzheimer’s Disease 101: What You Need to Know to Be Prepared
(Updated November 2021) November is Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. In 1983, then-President Ronald Reagan made November the designated month for National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. Then fewer than 2 million Americans were diagnosed with this devastating illness that then and now destroys the lives of the people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and the families who… Read More »
Yes, You Do Need an Advance Directive. Here’s Why.
Most of us don’t like to think about the possibility of something harmful happening to us or a loved one. Because of this, we rarely think about how to protect ourselves and our loved ones if the worst were to happen. However, just as it is important to buy homeowner’s insurance to protect your… Read More »
The Staggering Cost of Dementia to Society
Many Marylanders know of someone who has been diagnosed with dementia. It is a costly, heart-breaking and life- altering syndrome that is nearly doubling in the numbers of people affected worldwide every 20 years. Dementia has affected the likes of Rosa Parks, James Doohan, Robin Williams, Ronald Reagan, Charlton Heston, Norman Rockwell, and many… Read More »
10 Tips for Using a Special Needs Trust to Protect Your Child
When caring for a child or loved one with special needs, it’s important to understand what resources are available to you, and what steps can be taken to provide quality care and financial security is vital to your dependent’s lifetime needs. Careful planning and a properly executed special needs trust can protect your loved… Read More »
How Your Health Savings Account (HSA) Works with Your Estate Plan
If you’re enrolled in a qualified high-deductible health plan (HDHP), you must consider how your health savings account (HSA) fits into your estate plan—especially to make sure that any hard-earned money left in your HSA when you die goes where you want it. What is an HSA? An HSA is an account whose… Read More »
Why Your Estate Planner Needs to Know If You’ve Lent Money to Family
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, millennials have surpass the baby boomers to officially become the largest generation in the United States. Millennials age range from 18-35 years-old and they are poised to be the engine that drives the U.S. economy in the near future. With that said, many millennials are skipping… Read More »
Debt After Death: Why You Should Think About It When Estate Planning
It may be a dirty word in some quarters, but debt is a fact of life for more and more Americans. According to a study by the Pew Charitable Trust, 8 in 10 Americans are in debt is some fashion, . . . and that debt is not limited to young people starting out… Read More »
How Does the New Tax Law Impact Seniors and Persons with Disabilities?
On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) into law. The new tax law represents the largest overhaul of the tax code since the passage of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, during the Reagan Administration. This vast legislation was passed by both the House and Senate with… Read More »
How a Spendthrift Trust Keeps Your Heirs from Blowing their Inheritance
There are many tools that can be used when putting together your estate plan. One such tool- a trust- is a fiduciary arrangement, established by a grantor or trustmaker, which gives a third party (known as a trustee) the authority to manage assets on behalf of one or more persons (known as a beneficiaries). Since… Read More »
Better to Play It Safe: Proactive Estate Planning and Cognitive Impairment
Most financially savvy individuals begin planning their estate when they’re in peak mental shape. The idea that this might change at some point in the distant future is an unpleasant one, and they would rather go about their estate planning as if they’ll be as sharp as a tack late into their golden years…. Read More »
