We're getting bad news from what seems like every direction these days. Governments and media are all talking about wars and destruction.

But this is not new. We've been through these kinds of events before, too many times, and we're still here and moving forward.

We can't let panic, wars and market crashes control our choices. These thnigs happen without our input.

We can control our clarity, courage and conviction to stay on course.

If you've been considering planning for future extended care needs, or if you've been working on your plan, don't stop now. Too many find a reason to pause and then forget their reasons for planning in the first place. Then, 10 or 20 years go by, and something happens to them or someone close to them, and they restart their search.

At that point, plans are much more expensive or not available due to age or health concerns.

Let's work together to design your plan today and protect those you love most tomorrow.

Schedule here

Hello all,

I recently had cataract surgery in both eyes, and my eyes get tired if I look at the computer too long. I need to take breaks while recovering.

Instead of discussing shared and individual LTC annuities this week, I need to share an episode that was aired last summer.

This will remind you how LTC annuities can help both protect your family if you need extended care and also eliminate all those gains on your non-IRA annuities you've been holding on to because you don't want to pay more in taxes.

LTC annuities have very few health questions and are more easily approved.

Schedule with me here to learn how you can avoid sharing your annuity earnings with Uncle Sam.

After reviewing planning strategies for hybrid or linked benefit LTC plans, this week we are comparing shared and individual traditional or stand-alone LTC plans.

Yes, there have been rate increases on these plans, but over the last 20 years or so, traditional LTC plans have gotten much healthier. Listen and learn how.

When funding using income or on a budget, these plans can help families afford to get through an extended care need without bankrupting their loved ones.

It's easy to see that there are several ways to design and fund your long term care plan.

Schedule some time to start preparing for your tomorrow here

Learn what your state Medicaid program lets you keep to qualify for state Medicaid benefits (not recommended by us) here

View both current and projected costs of care here

Anna & Marty compare shared hybrid life/LTC plans with separate LTC plans for each of them.

It's a matter of preference and goals.

The LTC and death benefit are directly related, so plans with higher LTC benefits have larger death benefits.

The death benefit acts as a return of premium if care isn't needed.

The key differences in shared and individual plans is who can use the LTC benefits and for how long, who can be beneficiary, and when does the death benefit pay?

Listen and learn how these plans differ and what Anna and Marty decided.

Schedule an initial free consultation here

View current and projected costs of care where you live here

Learn what your state's Medicaid system lets us keep and receive care here

Estimate rates for 6 year plans with 3% inflation growth here

Many don't want a full 6 year benefit period, so please understand that smaller plans have lower rates.

This week, Jen asked if she and her husband can own a long term care plan together and share the benefits with each other.

She asked what happens if one person uses all the benefits.

And what happens if neither of them need extended care services.

She wants to know if it would be better to have two separate plans or share one and can they be each other's beneficiary.

She also asked if this is the same as LTC Partnership.

Listen and then schedule with me to design a plan to protect your loved ones if you need extended care at home, in assisted living, in memory care or elsewhere schedule here

See current and projected costs of carfe where you live here

Learn what your state Medicaid program lets you keep and qualify for government funded care here

This week, we need to pay attention that LTC is not just a women's issue. It used to be more focused on women because we live longer and are more likely to live alone when help is needed.

Today, with so many divorces, we have a lot of single men who will also be living alone when help is needed.

But men are the providers for their kids and familiues. There is no time to consider that you won't be providing.

LTC insurance helps you continue to provide for and protect your kids, even if you can no longer provide for yourself. It's hard to think and talk about this today, but without a plan, it will be more difficult and costly to your kids later.

Watch this 3 minute tear jerking video of a son showering and shaving his dad video

When we have help helping our parents, it doesn't mean we don't love them as much. It means they loved us enough to prepare for this day and not overwhelm us.

View current and projected costs of care where you live here

Learn what your state's Medicaid program lets you keep to qualify for state benefits here

And then schedule a phone or zoom meeting with me to design your LTC plan here

This week, Diane shares what she learned while attending the 2025 Genworth LTC Symposium "Sustainable Solutions: The Future of Long Term Care Financing".

We all agree on the problem and wonder how long it will take for all parties (public & private) to agree on a solution.

The links below provide info on who is supporting the Well-Being Insurance for Seniors to be at Home (WISH) Act.

Please reach out to your Congressmen/women and ask then to support this Act as it will help our most vulnerable population while fostering a more vibrant and affordable LTC insurance solution.

Schedule with me to start planning here

WISH Act summary and links to full bill text here

National Council on Aging https://www.ncoa.org/

American Geriatric Society https://www.americangeriatrics.org/

American Academy of Physicians https://www.aapa.org/

American College of Physicians https://www.acponline.org/

National Alliance for Caregiving https://www.caregiving.org/

Government is talking about cutting Medicare and Medicaid funding while costs of care are increasing.

Dementia used to be considered a mental defect, and people were hidden from the rest of society and not talked about publicly

Today, we know tis is a disease that needs to be managed. We also know that younger people are developing memory concerns.

The plus is that we're not afraid to talk about it anymore.

The negative is that we're delaying the needed planning until it's too late to design meaningful planning strategies.

Here are links to the resources I discuss in this episode.

Alzheimer's Disease International shares different forms of dementia here

Mayo Clinic dementia info here

National Institutes of Health here

McKnight's Senior Living on budget cuts here

View current and projected costs of care where you live here

Learn what your state's Medicaid system let's you keep here

Schedule a free consultation with me here