Personal Finance

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The Medicare Star Rating System—Help to Choose the Right Plan

Talk to anyone who’s about to go on Medicare and they’ll tell you that figuring out what plan to choose will make you pull your hair out (which is probably not covered by Medicare). There are so many things to consider, from drug coverage, to copays and coinsurance, emergency room visits, hospital stays, the network of available doctors, the network [...]

By |2021-10-19T09:07:08-04:00October 19th, 2021|Financial Planning, Retirement Planning|

Estate Planning Review

We’ve been focused on Covid for so long that a lot of things have taken a back seat. We’re still regrouping, trying to find the new normal. Estate planning is one of the things that’s easy to forget in this new normal. Why not? You did the estate planning, you listed your wishes, and you put the document in a [...]

By |2021-10-11T12:16:35-04:00October 11th, 2021|Estate Planning, Financial Planning|

The Sunny Side of Inflation – Maybe

It may not be public enemy number one, but inflation is certainly near the top of the list. Since the beginning of 2021, prices of almost everything have gone into orbit. Energy prices are up an average of 56%. Airline tickets are up almost 25%. Used car prices have jumped more than 45%. And it seems there’s no slowdown in [...]

By |2021-09-29T09:41:12-04:00September 29th, 2021|Financial Planning, Retirement Planning|

Paying More Taxes Because Your Spouse Dies

It’s one of the most obscure taxes in the IRS code, but it can be one of the most devastating at a time when you can least afford it. It’s called the Widow’s Penalty Tax—a stealth tax you never see coming—that can cause a widow or widower to struggle financially. When one spouse dies, the surviving spouse is now responsible [...]

By |2021-09-27T11:44:47-04:00September 27th, 2021|Estate Planning, Financial Planning|

Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts—a Treasure Chest for Married Couples

There’s an old axiom that says, “All good things must come to an end.” And unless Congress makes some changes, that’s what will happen to the current level of the federal estate tax exemption. As it stands now, every individual can give away $11.7 million of their estate free of inheritance and gift taxes. Married couples have a combined exemption [...]

By |2021-08-16T13:11:12-04:00August 16th, 2021|Estate Planning, Financial Planning|
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