Fiduciary Blog

On November 10th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) officially announced the 2017 Medicare Part B premiums.  In addition, the Medicare Part A deductible and coinsurance amounts, and Part B deductible were released.  Check out the summary below: Medicare Part B Premiums Those already receiving Social Security retirement benefits who...

Should you purchase a traditional long-term care (LTC) policy or a hybrid long-term care policy?  This is a common question many ask when considering a long-term care insurance policy purchase.  Unfortunately, the answer is not so simple.  Each family has unique circumstances, and our recommendation will vary.   We always feel...

It's expensive...It's hard to get approved for coverage...It's possible I might never use it.  Right?  Right?  Well, maybe not... These are very typical comments about long-term care (LTC) insurance.  But let's look at each of these on a deeper level, and then finish up with a...

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the recent Social Security retirement strategy changes, since the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. As with any wide-reaching law change such as this, it can take time for governmental agencies to formulate and release guidelines for us to...

In 2014, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Treasury revised rules regarding RMDs (required minimum distributions). These rules may provide you with greater flexibility for a portion of your pre-tax assets (i.e. Traditional IRA), allowing you to delay taking income payments beyond the typical requirement at age...

The long-term care insurance industry has had a rough go the past 10-15 years.  Stories of dramatic premium increases have shaped the perceptions of long-term care insurance, and forced many to hesitate or entirely bail out on obtaining the insurance...

The Genworth Cost of Care Survey has been a resource for long-term care planning since 2004. Knowing the costs of different types of care — whether the care is provided at home or in a facility — can help you plan for these expenses and build a plan for long-term care. The 2015 survey, covered 440 regions...

  For most people, innovation and insurance don’t go hand-in-hand - and for good reason. The insurance industry has historically been slow to innovate and adopt new technology. But in the words of the great Bob Dylan, “ The Times They Are a-Changin’ “.   An example of this innovation comes from John Hancock Life Insurance Company...