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Seniors Blue Book Greater Dallas | 2020 Edition
972-382-9900
Seniors Blue Book is celebrating 5 years in the Greater Dallas area and a lot has happened!
We partnered with Aging2.0 to focus on accelerating local, aging-focused innovation, where I serve as the DallasChapter Ambassador. We volunteer with a variety of local organizations dedicated to the aging population, such...
I Got the Call to Be Here in 90 Days…Now What?!?
You’ve been on a waiting list for a senior living facility for years. In the meantime, your “dream cruise” is planned and that family reunion is around the corner...then you get “the call." If you’re like many downsizing Seniors the question echoing in your mind is; “What do I do about the house?” ...
Many Seniors Want to Stay Living in Their Homes Despite Physical Barriers of Aging
There are companies that provide home modifications for seniors and others with disabilities who are finding it too challenging to perform their normal daily activities around the house.
AARP says the correct adjustments to homes can increase the safety, accessibility and independence for older adults,...
Understanding Your Medicare Options
You’ve earned that red, white and blue Medicare card, and deserve all the coverage that comes with it. But there are other health plan options available, and you may find that the extra benefits and comprehensive all-in-one coverage of a Medicare Advantage plan fits you – and your budget – best.
Original...
Family Decisions Can be Stressful – Help is Available!
Have you ever had a disagreement within your family? Everyone has. As things change, such as family members aging, there are many decisions to be made: healthcare, finances, guardianship, power of attorney, estates, wills...and so much more! These decisions may be challenging to make given that they...
Keep Your Money Safe – Scams and How They Work
In the good, old days, children played outside without fear. Americans left their doors unlocked at night. The thought of a robbery – or something worse – was incomprehensible. Unfortunately, we live in a different world now.
There are people who prey on others for their own financial gain. Sometimes,...
PA Link & You Working Together
1-800-753-8827
The mission of the PA Link to Aging and Disability Resources is to improve access to long term services and supports for individuals, their loved ones and caregivers, regardless of age, income, or ability, through an integrated network of partner agencies committed to expanding the use of community based...
The Importance of a Financial Power Of Attorney
Proper estate planning requires carefully crafted documents covering a range of matters. One of the most important is a financial, often called a durable, Power of Attorney (“POA”) which allows you to name the people who will act on your behalf in financial matters if you are cannot, or...
What is a Reverse Mortgage Loan?
303-791-9304
There are many different options you have available with a Reverse Mortgage. If you currently have a house payment and you owe 50% or less on the home, or want to purchase a home, you would never make another house payment again! With a home purchase, depending on your age, you would put 50% or less...
What Is a HECM Reverse Mortgage Loan?
720-849-7389
A HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage) reverse mortgage is a way for seniors 62+ to turn a portion of the equity in your home into cash. The proceeds from a reverse mortgage can be used to eliminate an existing mortgage payment or to pay for unexpected expenses, such as nursing home costs and long-term...
How Are You Going To Pay For “That”?
719-645-8350
Meet Charlie. His brother James has Alzheimer’s and needed a memory care facility. They are very close and when it comes to James’ care, the prospect of compromising care because of James’ limited income was not an option. Funds to pay for the care James needed was a real concern solved by getting information...
The Need for a Professional Fiduciary
303-651-9330
Through the course of your life, you work hard to build your assets. You spend a substantial amount of time, energy, blood, sweat, and tears to build up a foundation you can be proud of. While life certainly doesn’t just revolve around money, one of your biggest accomplishments is seeing all the hard...
How to Preserve Assets When Faced With Long Term Care Costs
303-800-1953
Meet Charlie and Fran. They have three children, 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren…so far! They have hopes and dreams for their future generations and have worked hard to ensure their legacy is passed on. As they age, they realize that if either one of them needs Long Term Care, that their property...
Success in Retirement Often Depends Upon Having Options
970-646-8908
Want to Stay in Place? - Typically, the home is one of your largest assets. It is often overlooked when seeking ways to fund retirement. I will help you determine if a Reverse Mortgage will enhance your retirement. For many retirees it provides both financial security and peace of mind. It is a safe...
FHA Lifts Ban On Non FHA Approved Condos For Future HECM Loans.
970-691-4648
The Door Opens For Spot Approvals For Reverse Mortgage Financing.
As the HECM loan, known by most as the reverse mortgage, gains momentum in our industry, there has always been one insurmountable wall that continued to prevent seniors from enjoying the home of their choice – the Non FHA approved Condo...
Will My Insurance Cover That?” Or “Is It Covered?
402-670-0357
That’s the question that is looming in every patient’s mind before a medical procedure, after a newly diagnosed illness, a hospitalization or worse yet a long rehabilitation stay. Let’s be honest. Healthcare expenses can add up in a hurry making it critically important that people understand (to the...
Considering the Rising Cost of College, Is It Worth Going Back to School?
For some seniors, college was a long time ago, and the last thing they’re thinking about is going back. The idea of continuing to learn is attractive; constantly changing industries can make going back to college a necessary move.
Regardless of age, college can improve your career options. It can also...
Senior Tax Advisory Group Publishes 2018 Tax Facts and Figures
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What is a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)*?
A HECM reverse mortgage loan is a way to turn a portion of the equity in your home into cash.
The proceeds from a reverse mortgage can be used to pay for unexpected expenses, such as nursing home costs or long-term care. It could also provide you with additional cash flow for all the expenses you have....
Is Paying your Property Tax Bill a Hardship?
Senior Citizens having trouble paying real estate taxes can apply for the Senior Citizen Tax Deferral Program. This program allows quali?ed Illinois residents to defer up to $5000 of the property taxes on their personal residence, giving seniors the ?nancial freedom to remain in their own home. Deferred...
Home Equity and the Retirement Crisis
The constant consternation played out by retirees over the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is bewildering. People choose to struggle in retirement by completely ignoring the fact that they have equity in their home.
Unlocking the equity in the home can greatly benefit the homeowner and make it...
Conflict & Family Caregivers – What You Need to Know
Conflict is a normal, natural part of everyone’s life. Factors that can exacerbate conflict include the well-known things to avoid in polite conversation: religion, politics and money. For families, these big three topics quickly trigger emotions that can be difficult to defuse and when things go awry...
ALPHA’s Urgent Mission – and we Need YOU!
Do you know a senior that needs some support? Perhaps they would do better with assisted housing such as a Personal Care Home or Assisted Living? Perhaps they would, but perhaps the monthly cost of a Personal Care Home exceeds $3,400 per month and is out of their reach? In York County, more than 17%...
Facing Conflict is a Healthy Choice?
Soon after four people in the mediated session sat down, they were wringing their hands with stress. Voices strained. The last months had literally brought headaches and sleepless nights for some. And now each was being asked by mediators to tell their story – to listen while others told things from...
Three Ways to Help your Favorite Charity and Yourself
Giving to charity isn’t necessarily a one-way street. There are many ways you can personally bene?t from such acts of kindness. Of course, the satisfaction you receive by helping a cause that is dear to your heart is vitally important. But your gifts, when planned smartly, can also help you – even financially!...
Attention Veterans - $2000 Tax-Free Dollars Every Month! Do you Qualify?
It’s hard to imagine that there is a pension benefit available to veterans that is largely unknown to the veteran population. Less than five percent of our veterans know about it, and less than two percent ever get it. It’s one of the most under-utilized federal pensions, and is available to many veterans....
Coastal Wealth Offers Comprehensive Financial Services
We have many offices across Florida including Fort Myers and Sarasota.
Our offices have diverse teams and more than 200 financial professionals and support staff, licensed in all 50 states, we serve more than 100,000 households in our community.
Coastal Wealth offers a superior client service experience...
Live Fully. Travel Safely!
We live in a world where driving and independence seem to go hand in hand. Yet for most indi-viduals, there comes a time when driving may no longer be safe. York County has seen a re-cent increase in the percentage of motor vehicle accidents where the driver is an older adult.
Our physical abilities,...
Family Decisions Can be Stressful – Help is Available!
Have you ever had a disagreement within your family? Everyone has. As things change, such as family members aging, there are many decisions to be made: healthcare, finances, guardianship, power of attorney, estates, wills...and so much more! These decisions may be challenging to make given that they...
Are You Owed Any Unclaimed Property?
The Pennsylvania Treasury Department is currently holding more than $2.3 billion in unclaimed property, with about one in 10 residents eligible to recoup that property.
Unclaimed property is any financial asset that has been left inactive by the owner for a period of seven years or more. If no lawful...
The Cost of Long Term Care in Idaho
Forbes magazine said recently that care for those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias could “break Medicare”. During 2017 alone, the cost of caring for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia in the United States will be about $259 billion. In Idaho, the monthly cost of nursing home care averages...
Let Us Help You Stay Comfortable, At No Cost To You
Idaho Power offers two weatherization programs for our customers. Both of these programs provide energy efficiency improvements to customer’s electrically-heated homes, apartments and manufactured homes so less energy is used and homes stay more comfortable. If you own or rent your home, you may be...
Senior Financial Fraud 101
If you are a senior, you are a target. Scammers and telemarketers want your money. And sometimes family members and caregivers want more than their fair share as well. The average financial cost for a victim of an elder abuse scam was $28,800, with the telephone being the most common way scammers contact...
In This Economy, Know Who You Can Trust
The average income for an individual 65 years and older is $18,657 annually. The National Council on Aging reports that 25 million adults 60 + are at or below the federal poverty line, and in many instances, grossly below the federal poverty line as evidenced above. Older Americans are facing significant...
Can death be affordable? What some funeral homes don’t want you to know
The median U.S. funeral costs $8,508, not including cemetery costs – a 28.6 percent increase over the previous decade. This is just one of the reasons people are considering direct cremation which can be purchased for less than $800.
The good news is even for those opting for traditional burial, there...
Conservative Savings… Or Lifetime Retirement Income?
In uncertain times, sound financial decisions matter more than ever.
When it comes to securing guaranteed retirement income, it’s important to base your decisions on a clear understanding of available products. Since many people turn to both deferred fixed annuities and certificates of deposit (CDs)...
What exactly is a “Care Cost Advisor” and why should I work with one?
Traveling the caregiver road alone is never easy. Maybe it’s time for help.
When families faces health care issues and realize they need help for at-home or community based care, one of the first concerns is the financial burden to be faced. Because costs can be high, families may seek the lowest cost...
Top Ten Most Common Mistakes Made by Seniors When it Comes to Financial Planning
• Not allocating savings to cover out-of-pocket medical related expenses.
• Not understanding Medicare Parts A & B, Traditional Supplements, Part D for prescriptions, and how that differs from Medicare Advantage Plans.
• Not having a Power of Attorney, and how that can add to helplessness.
• Misunderstanding...
Survey Shows Concerning Knowledge Deficiency about Social Security Retirement Benefits
The results of a survey aimed to better understand how much Americans know about Social Security retirement benefits, which included a true/false quiz about Social Security facts, were concerning: only 28 percent of those surveyed received a passing grade when asked basic questions about Social Security...
Paying for Senior Living and Care
Senior Living and care is an extreme sport. Timely medication, good nutrition, discrete assistance, and new friends can breathe new life into. . . life. Finding and affording the right solution, however, is not easy. It can involve higher costs than home ownership, require as much trust as marriage,...
Using a Reverse Mortgage to Purchase a Home and Eliminate Debt
When people think about reverse mortgages they typically think about refinancing their existing home.
There is a new philosophy emerging among baby boomers, and that is purchasing a home utilizing a reverse mortgage. Reverse mortgages can be used purchases and often set seniors up for the best retirement...
Protect Seniors from Financial Abuse
It’s unfortunate but true: The elderly population is targeted for financial abuse.
If you have elderly patients, how can you help protect them from being victimized?
For one thing, urge them to never give personal information over the phone or in response to emails.
Also, talk with your parents...
Government’s Decision Expands Retirement Flexibility
Government’s Decision Expands Retirement Flexibility
It’s not often the federal government makes a decision that nearly everyone is happy with, but that’s what happened with a regulation that was recently finalized by the U.S. Treasury Department. Changes to the regulations under Internal Revenue Code...
Identify Your Family's Financial Priorities
Although the American family has always shown great resilience through the ups and downs of our dynamic economy, the slow recovery we’re experiencing now is compelling many to not only reconsider their priorities, but reevaluate the financial strategies they may have put in place only a few years ago....
Bookkeeping for Family Fiduciaries
When you take on the financial fiduciary role for a parent or family member, one of the most important aspects of the processes is bookkeeping. It is critical to give this area thought, especially if there will be a transition from your parent doing their own bookkeeping to you doing all the bookkeeping....
Long Term Care Insurance 101
Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI) can be very daunting and intimidating for just about anyone outside of an insurance agent or financial planner. There are so many nuances and requirements that it’s very important to read your policy in full and follow the exact procedures the policy outlines in order...
Save on Your Health Care
Health care costs have been on the rise over the past few years, with health spending for Americans costing more than $8,680 per person, according to 2011 data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.1 Making matters worse, about 80 percent of older adults have at least one chronic condition,...
Reverse Mortgages: An Important Retirement Financing Option
There are many factors in today’s society that have made reverse mortgages more popular—and more necessary. People are living longer than ever before, and spending more time in retirement. At the same time, many people underestimate their retirement savings needs.
“When it comes to retirement, you...
Paying For Assisted Living
Senior living care is an expense that most Americans forget to plan for as they move beyond retirement and reach their later years in life. As we age, we may not consider that additional help or aid will be needed with tasks that were once done with ease. However, if the need for help arises, there are...
Getting the Maximum Benefit From Your Medicare Advantage Plan
Getting the Maximum Benefit From Your Medicare Advantage Plan Take advantage of everything your plan offers to achieve optimum health and well-being By Dr. Richard Smith, Medical Director for Humana’s Senior Products in Idaho If you’re one of the 14 million Americans enrolled in a Medicare Advantage...