Most of us have been forced to make a decision we didn’t like. I think for many of us, that decision often has something to do with limited funds. Health care decisions, unfortunately, can involve those same decisions—particularly when it comes to long term care. As I say in my workshops, planning for potential long-term …

It seems that people are often only starting a conversation with me when something has already happened, someone fell, someone hurt themselves, someone is already needing long term care. But then I realized, before you can even have a conversation with a third party, you need to know what you’re even discussing.

Many often wonder if self-made wills are valid. In short, yes they can be valid. However, in creating a will without the guidance of an attorney, costly mistakes and errors can be made. One of the most common mistakes is the incomplete or unclear distribution of assets. For example, if you state that Person A gets everything, but later in the document also indicate that Person B gets a specific item. This simple mistake could end up causing a dispute.

This will be the last in my series of having tough conversations. Last month I gave some advice for parents who want to make sure their children understand their wishes and what to do when the time comes. This month is for children, who see their parents getting older and want to make sure they do what their parent would want when that parent is no longer in a position to tell them.

This is general advice and may not apply to every situation. It is no substitute for consultation with an attorney and should not be considered legal advice. Please contact the Law Offices of Aviv Bliwas if you have questions, concerns or to setup a consultation with our team!

The ABLE Act allows states to establish a savings program for persons with disabilities. The program is modeled after the 529 savings accounts. ABLE accounts may be used to accumulate savings, with certain restrictions, for use by a beneficiary with a disability.

You know, I wish I could say it surprised me how often people give me the wrong information but it no longer does. Some people think they know what they’re talking about but really don’t. Some are simply too lazy to verify information but too insecure to simply tell you they don’t know the answer to something. And I don’t know which type of person I have been running into lately, but it has made me more and more concerned for all of you. Because I’m talking to people who work for the government agencies who run the programs I’m asking questions about and the people who work there are giving me wrong information! And not

Okay, so they’re not a secret—it’s just that people don’t really know they’re out there. So this month I’m going to clue you in on some of the more “secret” benefits for seniors.

Debt is something that you do not want when reaching retirement. It can drain your funds that are supposed to sustain you for the rest of your life. But reducing debt before or during retirement can be difficult. Most advisers recommend first paying off debt with the highest interest rates, but Guy Baker, a financial planner in Irvine, CA, suggests to start small.

You probably know someone who has needed long-term care. Maybe you have witnessed a family member, friend or colleague struggle with the emotional and financial issues that can come with a long-term care experience. The truth is, no matter when the need arises, because of age, disability, or because of an unexpected illness or accident, long-term care can affect any age group, any social strata, and any geographic location. But what is it and how can you plan for it?