Services to Budget for as You Age

As you age, it's important to plan for the future and ensure that your finances are in order. While many services are available to seniors, some may only be necessary for some.

Here is a list of five essential budgeting services that all seniors should consider.

Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance can protect you if you need long-term medical or custodial care. It can cover nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home health aides, and more costs. 

If you feel that long-term care insurance is right for you, shop around and compare premiums and coverage levels before signing up with any company.

Life Insurance

Life insurance can provide financial security for your loved ones in the event of your death. 

It can also be an excellent way to ensure that your estate is distributed according to your wishes. Life insurance policies allow you to designate beneficiaries who will receive the proceeds from the policy upon your death. 

Be sure to carefully research different policies and insurers before deciding on one that meets your needs and budget.

Retirement Accounts

Retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs can ensure that you have enough money saved for retirement when the time comes. 

Evaluate different retirement accounts offered by different companies to find one that fits both your lifestyle and budget best.

 

Consider factors such as fees, investment options, employer matching contributions, etc., when deciding which account is right for you.

Home Maintenance Services

Home maintenance services can help keep your home in good condition so it doesn’t become a financial burden later on down the road. From lawn mowing services to plumbing repairs, these services can save you money in the long run by preventing costly repairs or replacements due to neglect or wear and tear over time. 

Research local home maintenance companies near you and compare prices before signing up with one that fits both your needs and budget best.

Legal Services

Legal services are invaluable for estate planning or writing a will—two tasks every senior should undertake at some point in their life. 

A lawyer can also provide legal advice on taxes, healthcare directives, power of attorney documents, and guardianship arrangements for minor children or grandchildren in the event of incapacity or death of a parent/grandparent, among other matters related to aging adults’ finances or estates. 

It’s important to find an experienced lawyer who specializes in elder law issues so they can provide sound advice tailored specifically for seniors’ needs—so make sure you do plenty of research beforehand.

Home Care Services

Home care services can help seniors remain independent in their homes by assisting with daily living activities like bathing, dressing, cooking meals, and more. 

There are a variety of home care services available, such as companion care, personal care aides, and nurse’s aides. 

Research your options to find a provider that best fits your needs and budget.

These are just five essential budgeting services seniors should consider as they age—but there are countless other services out there designed specifically with aging adults in mind. 

No matter where you are in life financially, smart planning now will help secure a better tomorrow. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of these valuable services while they are available. 

Make sure you do plenty of research beforehand to make well-informed decisions when investing in these important financial planning tools.

Six Ways to Prepare your Family Financially for Retirement

Every family does what it can to financially prepare for retirement. As you prepare to enjoy your golden years, there are things you and your family can do to make sure that the necessary financial resources are available. 

Move Your Retirement Account To Something More Stable

For years, you have allowed your retirement account at work to remain aggressive and build as much value as possible. As you hit the home stretch and are preparing to use that retirement account, you will want to move your investment options to more conservative choices to make sure that you do not lose value in your account. Now is not the time to make risky high return investments. Stick with safer more stable accounts.

Pay Off Your Home

By paying off your mortgage before you retire, you will eliminate that expensive monthly payment and you will open up the equity in your home. If you ever need to borrow money for any reason during your retirement, your home's equity makes an excellent borrowing option.

Buy Long Term Care Insurance

The long term care insurance Spokane residents use helps to supplement any other kind of health insurance that your family may have. It is difficult to predict what kinds of health insurance resources you will have when you retire, and you also never know what kinds of health care costs you will incur. Long term care insurance helps to preserve your retirement savings by providing the care you need later in life.

Look Into Health Care Options

Along with long term care insurance, you will also need a general health insurance policy to cover your healthcare costs after retirement. Always purchase the most complete health insurance coverage you can to help save money as your care needs get more expensive. For example, Medicare offers several supplement options that will help pay for the costs that basic Medicare insurance does not cover. Without these supplements, your out of pocket costs could have a significant negative effect on your finances especially if you require complex prescriptions or anything else not covered in the standard plan.

Pay Off Your Credit Cards

Most retirees live on a fixed incomes that can make it difficult to live if they rack up credit card bills. Pay off your credit cards before retirement and get rid of all of your cards but one. If you can't pay for it in cash when you retire, then you shouldn't have it. Living on a fixed income requires a well planned budget and you won't have room for extra credit card bills in that budget. 

Get Life Insurance

If you do not have life insurance, then get some before you retire. The last thing you want to do is saddle your family with a tremendous financial burden when you pass away. If you have a mortgage or children in college, this is a must.

Planning for retirement is exciting, but it is also a tremendous responsibility. Make sure that your accounts are in order before you retire so that you and your family can enjoy the plans you have made. The sooner you start saving and planning, the easier it will be once you actually retire.

Long Term Care Insurance: A Looming Problem for Baby Boomers

Living in a segment of town where there are a number of retirees renting their own homes make me wonder how fail-proof their retirement plans are. I wonder if they have planned for a rather long retirement phase ahead, as most of us will live longer than our counterparts in generations preceding us. I wonder what they used for their retirement plans, if they worked and put aside money in their 401K or equivalent pension plans, or if they invested their money and are living off of interest or monthly payments from the investment. I wonder how many of them take up odd jobs to keep the rent paid, and what those jobs construe. Retirement is both fascinating and frightening because it can seem like a daunting task to live several decades of your life without an income stream that is an active job you currently hold.

If you are a baby boomer, chances are you've already made your decisions on retirement plans. The Baby Boomer segment in the US has long been touted as the largest group to enter retirement with the most amounts of problems in long term care and Medicaid access. Many of us know that Medicaid is not sustainable in the long run, which makes the case for long term care for boomers even worse. This is because when the largest group requiring long term care retires, the ratio of working age to elderly population will be at its lowest. The tax base that ought to be providing the source for Medicaid funds will be the smallest in 80 years. This is a very bleak picture that has serious implications with very few concrete solutions. Long term care insurance can hedge against these problems, especially because Medicaid only steps in once a senior has spent down almost all their assets and retirement income. 

An interesting notes on the issue however, is that many boomers who can afford long term care insurance have still not bought any. Many boomers might think it unnecessary but LTC insurance covers an important segment of long term care that is the most expensive item on the LTC list: nursing home care. Nursing home care and home health care coverage are now standard on almost all LTC policies. 

As we all wait for the Federal Reserve to announce its decision on its updated economic policy, many are anticipating its call on the reduction in bond purchases if it decides that the economy has been faring well for itself and could do with a reduction in stimulus packages. With so much uncertainty looming in the economy still, it might be best to self-insure against long term care expenses right now while the market is still relatively stable. Last year, some prominent long term care insurance players including Prudential, Unum and MetLife disbanded their LTC offerings, saying that it wasn't a profitable enough business segment to offer any more new policies to new consumers. Before the supply of long term care insurance diminishes further or worse, becomes prohibitively expensive, look up some quotes and consider purchasing a policy if you are a boomer nearing or already in retirement.

The statistics predict a glut of boomers spending on nursing homes about 30 years out from now. This group includes forty year olds as well, so if you think you're too young to even consider LTC, think again! The need for long term care will come upon you closer than you think.

Author bio: Frank Mitchell has worked as a life insurance agent for 10 years. After an accident in 2011 that kept him at home for more than a year, Frank started offering advice on forums and other social media networks. He now works as financial advisor and in his spare time writes articles on subjects he is passionate about. On the weekends, you’ll find Frank dirt biking.

Reference:

http://www.acli.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/ACLI/PDFs/Public%20Affairs/LTCBabyBoomers05.pdf

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505146_162-57393433/prudential-quits-individual-long-term-care-biz/

Buying Long Term Care Insurance Should Be Taken Seriously

People who decide to buy a long term care policy are said to be good decision takers. But usually they tend to make mistakes and ignore the importance of buying process. This leads to having insurance that does not make a great difference. If you are thinking of buying a policy then it is important to be a good buyer and take the process sincerely. 

There are a number of factors that need to be considered. You are preparing for situations where you might need a caregiver for doing all your daily tasks. This means that you will need money to pay for the services which should not pose a burden on you. Thus, a long term care policy bought in the right way can prove to be beneficial. 

Understanding What Is Best For You

When you start searching for a policy, the first thing that comes your way is the sales brochures of companies. Insurance companies design brochures to give you an overview of their offering. It has the benefits of buying insurance from them and thus it is not advisable to simply pick one which you find more appealing. The information is incomplete until you know everything about the policy. Thus, it is important to be engaged in the buying process and do proper research. 

Searching for the Best Option

Research is one thing that people often ignore as it involves a lot of efforts. However, it is important part since this helps in taking the right decision.

• Talk: You need to talk more with people around you to get information. You can consult your family members, friends and colleagues. Some would be having a long term care policy and therefore will be able to help you get deeper. 
• Ask: Since everyone you talk to is not an expert from insurance field, their knowledge is limited to options they know about. It is important that you talk to company representatives. Though they will tell you good things about the company and its offerings, if you start probing them, chances are you will get answers to some of your queries. But this is not the end yet. 
• Discuss: When you are done with the basic knowledge, time is to know how a policy will help in your case. You should discuss your financial and health status with the agent and ask him to provide solutions. Once you have different solutions in hand, you must get into comparative study. 
• Study: This is an important part since it will help you know about the process, coverage and the terms and conditions a company has. There are some who will offer coverage for a limited number of diseases. Also, some of them allow payouts to certain formats of long term care. 
• Know: When you have studied the policy options, you must be aware of your requirements like coverage value, its duration and when will it get activated. 

One can also opt to go online to research about long term care insurance. This facilitates quick information and less influence by company representatives. Thus, insurance buying process must be taken seriously to ensure hassle-free future.

Long Term Care Insurance: When Should I Buy It?

Image via WikipediaI am finally old enough to worry that I may need long term care insurance. I worry if I get sick and need long term care that it will probably bankrupt me. Still with kids in college and a 11 year old to raise maybe it's time to take the plunge.

The facts are if you obtain a policy at age 50 it will be cheaper than if I start one at age 60. Tempting the fates and waiting till 60 seems like a good idea because according to the Long Term Care Industry statistics, 90% of long term care claims do not occur untill the person is over age 70. So if your feeling lucky, maybe you should play the odds and wait.

The only problem with that decision is your health may decline before this time arrives, causing you to pay higher premiums or just being declined any insurance. You have to juggle this decision with the odds of you getting sick before then. The question also is does your family have any history of debilitating diseases that you probably will get. If you are looking at this future, the decision is almost made for you to get long term care insurance.

What if your healthy and your parents are in their 90's and completely healthy, will that effect your decision? 

I checked for some answers on this decision by going to DaveRamsey.com. Dave Ramsey has held the position that you should wait till 60 to purchase long term care insurance. He is totally against buying it early only to get a better deal. Dave came up with a good example of how to make the decision:

"The average LTC premium for a healthy 50-year-old man is $1,340 per year. If the policy remains in effect until this person is 95, he will spend $60,300 in LTC premiums. For a healthy 60-year-old, the average premium is $2,170; it will cost him $75,950 to keep the policy until he is 95. So buying LTC at age 50 is $15,650 cheaper than buying it at age 60."

Dave Ramsey suggested to invest the $1,340 each year from age 50 to 60.

"If his investment averages just 5% growth per year, he will have $17,412 when he turns 60—that’s all it takes to beat the “savings” on premiums for buying LTC at age 50. If he keeps that money invested until age 95, and never added anything to it, he’d have nearly $100,000 at 5% growth, and that is the low end of how he can expect his 35-year investment to perform."

It's a big decision and not knowing when to make the move just complicates it. These types of decisions have to be made using the math first but later the true reason is to decide is will the decision make you lose sleep or will you rest better because you know everything is taken care of for you and your family. Always seek professional counsel on important decisions.