Fiduciary Blog

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the 2018 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 who have been "held harmless" from higher Part B premiums in the last two years...

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...

The month of May is Disability Insurance Awareness month.  Yes, there is an entire month devoted to spreading the message about the importance of protecting your income!  The likelihood of a disabling injury or illness is 3-4 times higher than dying prematurely (depending on your age), yet many ignore the risks of becoming disabled.   According to...

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...

On November 10th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) officially announced the 2016 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 Remember that those already receiving Social Security...

On October 30th, the Senate approved the House-passed budget/debt ceiling limit deal (H.R. 1314).  President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law this week.  This bill avoids a default and government shutdown, but the Medicare premium updates and Social Security benefit changes are quite possibly the most important to the average...

It can be very easy to make mistakes when becoming eligible for Medicare.  Medicare enrollment is incredibly time-sensitive, so that’s why it’s important to be fully informed on your options. Here are the most common Medicare misconceptions we see on a regular basis that can cause trouble for...

  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...