Recent Blog Posts
End of Life Planning Challenges: Preserving Quality of Life
As a lawyer, I am a firm believer in end of life planning. I prepare powers-of-attorney documents (Healthcare Powers of Attorney and Living Wills) so that when my clients can no longer act for themselves, the documents will convey on other trusted people the authority to act on my clients’ behalf. But when it… Read More »
How Technology is Changing In-Home Health Care for Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has become an unlikely and innovative pioneer in the quest to provide cost-effective, quality in-home care for veterans. Although the agency has long been mired in controversies surrounding its programs, particularly arbitrary caregiver dismissals, the home health services sector of the VA has long been touted as an… Read More »
Don’t risk making these 11 costly estate planning mistakes!
Unfortunately, estate planning is often viewed as a “luxury” that is only necessary for the wealthy. In reality, a properly executed estate plan is an important financial document that everyone should have, regardless of how many assets they have to their name. That being said, even if you do have an estate plan, it’s… Read More »
How to Protect Assets in a Second Marriage (The Right Way)
When people marry for the second time (or more), losing assets to pay for their new spouse’s serious illness is probably the last thing on their minds when they say “I do.” But that could happen. Current costs for long-term care facilities can run between $70,000 – $150,000 annually. Studies show that 70% of… Read More »
How to Avoid the Medicaid Penalty for Gifts
Michelle’s children were concerned that Michelle would need long-term nursing-home care in the near future. It was the holidays, and Michelle always got a lot of joy out of generosity. But her children also worried that her generosity could hurt her in the long run, because they had heard that people in Michelle’s circumstances… Read More »
The Stress of Caregiving for the Sandwich Generation
Dorothy Miller, a social worker, first created the term “sandwich generation” in 1981. A Journalist, Carol Abaya, continued to study and add to what the term means. In 2006, Miriam Webster included the term, sandwich generation, in the dictionary for the first time. The sandwich generation is defined as a generation of people who… Read More »
3 Liability Planning Tips Every Physician Should Know
You probably know that the practice of medicine is a profession fraught with the risk of liability. It’s not just medical malpractice claims either (although those are certainly scary enough). It’s the entire scope of risk from being in business, including employment-related issues, careless business partners and employees, and contractual obligations, as well as… Read More »
3 Common Mistakes When Planning for a Disabled Family Member
There are 58 million Americans five years of age or older that are identified as special needs, making them the largest single minority in this country. The majority of federal and state benefits available to help persons with disabilities are needs-based, meaning income and assets are strictly limited and can often by misinterpreted, resulting in costly… Read More »
3 Reasons Veterans Should Have a Professional Advocate
The number of stories of veterans’ benefits getting tied up in the system is not only sad, but startling. A quick internet search can lead to story after story of veterans who have struggled to receive the benefits that are owed to them. Robert DiCicco, a former United States Marine, spent his final years… Read More »
Wills, Trusts & Dying Intestate: What’s the Difference?
“Estate planning is for the rich! I don’t have enough assets to do an estate plan!” Sounds familiar? These are some of the excuses folks make in order to justify not creating an estate plan. While most people understand that having some sort of an estate plan is a good thing, many of us… Read More »
