Monthly Archives: January 2012
How to Ensure Your Valuable Antiques Don’t End Up in Someone’s Yard Sale
Have you seen Antiques Roadshow? It’s a PBS television show in which antique experts travel around the country to critique and appraise antiques brought in by local people. Quite often on the show someone will bring in an old knick-knack they found in grandma’s attic, only to find out it’s actually worth hundreds or… Read More »
The Joys and Sorrows of Gift-Giving During Your Lifetime
“You can’t take it with you.” These are good words to keep in mind as we go through life, they remind us not to take ourselves too seriously, not to hold onto things we don’t need, and to be generous to those less fortunate than ourselves. Whether you’re thinking about estate planning or gift… Read More »
Chesapeake Regional Medical Center Discontinues Geropsychiatric Services
Chesapeake Regional Medical Center recently announced that it is closing its geropsychiatric unit due to a change in federal Medicare funding. This unit treated adults 55 and older who suffered from mental disorders such as depression and dementia. The geropsychiatric unit was unique because it provided treatment to patients with mental issues who also… Read More »
Republican Primary Inspires Discussion of Trusts
If you follow current events at all it is impossible to ignore the fact that we are now in the thick of the Republican primary race—and that the Presidential election will not be far behind. With the political machine in full swing there have been quite a few news stories about the candidates’ financial… Read More »
The Bum Rap of Prenups: Why They Are More Romantic Than You Thought
Valentine’s Day is only a couple of weeks away, and love and marriage are in the air; but going hand in hand with love and marriage should be the wisdom to protect yourself and your beloved with a prenuptial agreement. We know that most people don’t consider prenuptial agreements a very romantic gesture, but… Read More »
The Other Side of “Putting Your Affairs in Order”
Everyone knows that because 2012 is the last year on the Mayan calendar it is thought by some to be “the end of the world as we know it.” Most of us don’t believe that the end of the world is nigh, but that doesn’t stop us from contemplating how we’ve lived our lives,… Read More »
If I Have Power of Attorney, Can I Access My Spouse’s Account Online?
We always advise our clients to have a power of attorney in place so that they can handle their spouse’s finances if their spouse becomes unable to do so. However, according to the Chicago Tribune, some banks have changed their power of attorney policies for online banking. Many people who have managed their spouse’s… Read More »
The Family Vacation Home: A Place to Make Memories or Enemies?
A family vacation home—whether it’s a summer house on the beach or a winter skiing bungalow in the mountains—can be just the thing that brings a family together. Unfortunately, it can also be just the thing that tears a family apart when parents pass away and the time comes to decide what to do… Read More »
What Will You Be Doing With This Year’s IRA Withdrawal?
Many of our clients who are 70 ½ or older have chosen in the past to give a certain portion of their required IRA withdrawal to charity each year; doing so has allowed them to take the required withdrawal, keep their taxable income down, and give to a cause they care about all at… Read More »
VA Benefits and Long-Term Care Insurance
Many of our clients find it helpful to use a long-term care insurance policy to help pay for the cost of assisted living facilities or nursing homes. However, if you use your policy after you have begun receiving VA benefits, it is important to remember to notify the VA about the new policy as… Read More »