There is no such thing as universal financial advice. When reading any news story, blog post, or magazine article, one must remember that any advice or discussion about financial topics are general–they may not be best choice in your particular case. Many decisions about investments, use of trusts, and similar…
Articles Posted in Financial Planning
How Does New York Stack Up for Retiree Taxes?
Do you have enough money to retire? It is a questions that tens of thousands of New Yorkers ask themselves every day. When talking with attorneys and financial advisers, many factors are weighed to determine whether enough resources are available for one to have the type and length of retirement…
Is There a New Way to Test for Dementia?
It is a nightmare for many families. A senior shows signs of cognitive mental challenges–becomes forgetful and eventually is unable to live on their own. An adult child take control of the senior’s affairs in order to pay for bills and arrange for long-term care. But when the family member…
DOMA Ruling & Retirement for Same Sex Couples
Much discussion around the Windsor case that struck down DOMA dealt with the estate tax. As a result of the decision, married same sex will indeed be privy to the same federal estate tax exemptions as their heterosexual counterparts. But the effects will go well beyond taxes at death. In…
Taxes & Withdrawal From Retirement Accounts
Planning for retirement is rarely a simple task. For one thing, a resident must carefully ask the basic question: How much do I need? Sophisticated models and projections exists to help make educated guesses about this answer. But it is never an exact science. That is because it is impossible…
Are “Stretch IRAs” Going to be Phased Out?
Structuring an estate plan to account for taxes can be a complex task. While state and federal estate taxes make up the majority of discussion about taxation, there are other issues to consider. For example, there are ways to structure disbursement of various assets–insurance policies, retirement accounts, and more–so that…
“Financial Caregiving” for Ailing Senior Parents
One overlooked aspect of elder caregiving is the difficulty of the transition time itself. While some seniors may suffer serious medical events (stroke, heart attack, etc.) which require adult children to manage affairs overnight, in many cases the need for support happens only gradually. This presents a challenge as children…
New Study: Marriage Boosts Retirement Security
Do I have enough to retire? Countless New Yorkers ask their financial advisers, estate planning attorneys, and other professionals that very question each and every day. There is no one-size-fits-all response, as retirement is a personal matter based on individual expectations, goals, and perspective. Mountains of pages have been written…
Becoming a “Paradigm” of Financial Health
Money is always at the top (or near it) of lists describing issues that most commonly bring stress into our lives. It’s cliche to say that “money is the root of all evil,” but its obvious that dealing with financial issues is a common concern for families of all shapes,…
Editorial Calls for Preserving Medicaid Spousal Refusal in New York
It is not easy for many local residents to understand all of the ins and out of the Medicaid program. While Medicaid is a critical tool that provides support for local seniors who need long-term care, it can be a whirlwind of stress, anxiety, and frustration when families attempt to…