Do you have an estate plan? You should. Estate planning is a way to ensure that your assets are distributed the way that you wish. It can also help protect you in cases where you are incapacitated and need a trusted loved one to make decisions for you. Here are some common myths about estate [...]
If you are looking to come in to the Stano Group’s offices to have an elder planning discussion, you might want to prepare ahead of time. Here are some things to bring with you when you are ready to sit down to prepare your elder planning documents. A List of Names You are going to [...]
As families get more complex, so does the estate planning. Since most families have some sort of mix of children and stepchildren now, how do you ensure that your mixed family does not end up fighting over inheritance after you are gone? Here are some things to do to prevent family conflict during an emotional [...]
The death of a loved one is a very emotional experience. During that time close loved ones might not be thinking clearly and may not be able to handle the stress of making certain decisions. Because of this you might want to consider leaving a letter of instruction. Funeral Arrangements The first thing that you [...]
The sudden death of a loved one is hard to deal with. This can only be compounded by your loved one not having a life insurance policy. What if the death occurs after the underwriting of the policy but before the policy is delivered. This is where a conditional receipt can come into play. What [...]
Having someone that can act for you when you are unable to is the whole reason for drawing up a power of attorney. Are you in danger of having your representative not be allowed to speak on your behalf with some agencies? Banks, investment houses and other agencies may not accept your representative due to [...]
Having a person appointed as your power of attorney is a necessary step to ensure that your wishes are followed if you are incapacitated or unable to speak for yourself. However, due to liability lawsuits there are certain banks, investment houses and other entities that might not accept your power of attorney. Why Would they [...]
The chance of something serious and health related occurring as we age increases. If you have are a senior or have a loved one who is elderly and living alone, you may want to make sure they are prepared for a medical emergency. The importance of these preparations only increases if they are living alone. [...]
Seniors who are on fixed income may be facing a hard time. With retirement accounts still not fully recovered from the 2008 recession or even due to improper retirement planning, meeting the costs of living as a senior on a fixed income can be challenging. Fortunately there are many programs that can help supplement a [...]
If you suspect that an elderly loved one is being abused you need to report it. Here are some things to have prepared to give the agency that you report it to and what to expect when reporting elder abuse. Making the Call Whether you are reporting to law enforcement, an ombudsman or Adult Protective [...]