This week, we're describing who may consider different types of LTC planning strategies and why. Stand-alone/traditional LTC  vs. Hybrid Life/LTC vs. Hybrid Annuity/LTC. All provide tax-free benefits for extended care needs. Thank you to team for creating easy to understand documents that agents can share with their clients. Listen and consider which category of coverage can fit your needs and financial structure best and let's talk. Schedule a free consultation to learn more

In our third week with our couple in their 80s, we consider options to obtain the most LTC benefits from annuities. If you already own annuities, check for a Chronic Illness rider or LTC rider.  If there is one, read it carefully as different rules apply to access enhanced benefits for care.  If you need help understanding your rider, ask me for guidance Some pay the LTC benefits tax-free and some don't.   Some require your need to be permanent, some don't. Some will enhance benefits for both cognitive and physical needs, and some don't. If you own an annuity (non-IRA) with a good amount of earnings, it can be repositioned to an annuity that can pay potentially three times the account value of the annuity, or more, tax-free when used for care.  This eliminates all the taxable gains your current annuity has earned over the years. If your annuity IS your LTC plan, there are wiser ways to use it than simply withdrawing the earnings and paying taxes on the gains. Schedule with me to learn more

Last week, I shared how not having a plan can create chaos throughout the whole family when long term care is needed. This week, I used the same need and family but added LTC insurance as a tool to help pay for care expenses. Listen and learn how helpful even a small plan can work to make life a little less difficult during a very difficult time. Then schedule some time with me to design your plan See current and projected costs of care (use 5% COLA to project Learn what your state's Medicaid program let's you keep and qualify for help

This week, Diane shares a story of what can happen when there is no plan for extended care or long term care. With cataract surgery adjustments today and super dialated eyes, rhis is all that can be said this week. Sorry for any typos, I can't see well at all. Listen sand schedule to design your family's plan

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

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 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  Learn what your state Medicaid program lets you keep to qualify for state Medicaid benefits (not recommended by us) View both current and projected costs of care

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 View current and projected costs of care where you live Learn what your state's Medicaid system lets us keep and receive care  Estimate rates for 6 year plans with 3% inflation growth 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 See current and projected costs of carfe where you live Learn what your state Medicaid program lets you keep and qualify for government funded care

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 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 Learn what your state's Medicaid program lets you keep to qualify for state benefits And then schedule a phone or zoom meeting with me to design your LTC plan