Estate planning is not just about money and taxes. It’s about the people you love: Their character, their values, their hopes, your hopes for them. These things matter when you are deciding how you want your assets distributed, and who…
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Just 26% of Americans have any advance health care directive, according to a 2014 study by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. And as a May 2016 Gallup poll reveals, only 44% have a will. If you lack a written plan for…
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“Gloria” came to my office, convinced her 82-year-old mother was “losing it” after visiting her the previous week. Her mother had always been a fastidious homemaker, but now dirty dishes were piled up and enough trash was on the floor…
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The Social Security Administration has backed off its recently introduced multifactor authentication system. Intended to tighten online security in compliance with Executive Order 13681, the new system requires those checking and managing benefits on www.ssa.gov. to provide, in addition to…
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If you have a long-term care insurance policy, you’ve made a significant financial investment that can help preserve your assets, prevent your family from going broke, and provide you and your loved ones with a sense of security about the…
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Trustees, personal representatives and guardians seeking access to a decedent’s or disabled person’s digital assets are often rebuffed by internet providers citing privacy concerns. Digital assets are anything that exists online: documents stored in the cloud, email addresses, bank and…
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The annual gift tax exclusion is widely misunderstood. Many people believe that for tax purposes they must stay under the exclusion limit. In fact, for the vast majority of people, the annual exclusion – currently $14,000 – effectively has no…
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The Florida Supreme Court recently ruled that under certain conditions, the proceeds from selling your homestead property are protected from unsecured creditors (creditors other than mortgagors, mechanic’s liens, homeowner association fees, property taxes). The ruling should benefit empty-nesters and others…
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What hospital to go to? You will get more help with your decision now. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has just released its new rankings for 3,617 hospitals nationwide. Originally scheduled for earlier this year, the release…
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It is important to have a Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA). This key legal document allows you to name someone other than yourself to handle your financial affairs. If you become incapacitated, having a DPOA can make the difference between…
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