Why it’s Time to Start Asking More Questions

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®

I recently took a week-long family trip with my husband and son (a senior in high school).  This was a rare occasion for the three of us to spend some time together and communicate — away from the TVs, devices and to actually get my son out of his room and away from his Xbox. Getting information out of teenagers — especially boys — about what is going on in their lives is like “getting blood out of a turnip” as they say. 

As with many of our family members, friends and co-workers that we may have difficulty communicating with, rather than become frustrated that we are not getting the information we are looking for, or find that we are “stuck” trying to help or plan for someone that is not helping in the process, we took a different path on our trip.  We decided that I would try to open the door by asking some open ended questions...and then try being quiet.  We just listened and gave space.  It took several days into our trip for our son to start opening up, but once he started, the results were amazing — he talked to us about things that he had never spoken about, asked our advice about some things that were going on at school, and began taking part in “adult” conversations right before our eyes.

Such conversations can and need to take place in many circumstances in our lives.  Whether it be our aging parents that we are beginning to assist, and we aren’t sure of their future desires for their own aging futures; our children as they transition into adulthood; or conversations with ourselves as we determine our next steps in life (transitioning into retirement, transitioning into a new career, figuring out what life looks like after divorce or the death of a spouse).  All of these conversations start with asking the right questions...and then listening...to others or ourselves.  Spending time on this process is important and does not happen overnight, but the results can be life changing.

Start the New Year by committing to start asking questions of those people you want to communicate more clearly with, or about those situations you want to move forward on.  If you are not sure what questions you need to be asking or how to start this process, please feel free to reach out for our help!

Sandra Adams, CFP® is a Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Sandy specializes in Elder Care Financial Planning and is a frequent speaker on related topics. In addition to her frequent contributions to Money Centered, she is regularly quoted in national media publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Research Magazine and Journal of Financial Planning.

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Any opinions are those of Sandra Adams, CFP®, and not necessarily those of Raymond James.

Helping Older Relatives? How to Help Without Jeopardizing Your Own Finances

Contributed by: Matthew E. Chope, CFP®

Helping elderly family members with financial issues can be tricky.  In many cases, you may feel an obligation to assist, especially if the older adult is on a fixed budget and has limited financial resources. In fact, a recent MetLife study found that 68% of American caregivers have been found to spend their own money to support the needs of their older adult relatives, which drained funds that they had planned to use for their own financial independence. If you sense that an elder you care about is on a trajectory for financial ruin, what can you do to help? 

How do you step in and assist without putting your own financial security in jeopardy? 

The first thing to do is to gather some information to get a better sense of your loved one’s financial picture.  You’ll want to have an understanding of their assets and debts, and their budget:  their sources of income and their expenses. With the understanding of what income and what bills and expenses the older adult is dealing with, you can better connect with resources that may be able to assist them.

A client (let us call him John) told me a story recently about how he helped his older sister in-law (let us call her Bonnie) make some difficult decisions.  Bonnie was not a high-income earner in her working years. Although she was able to purchase her home and pay off her mortgage; she didn’t save much, and she had now depleted her savings.  At age 75, the reverse mortgage that Bonnie had put in place, in addition to her minimal Social Security income were not enough to keep up with her rising costs for health care (Medicare premiums and prescription drug co-pays), property taxes, insurances and utilities.

Here are the actions John took to help Bonnie with her situation:

1. John discovered that the county would allow her to apply for a reduced or total removal of real estate taxes through the property tax poverty exemption. As a result, Bonnie received a full exemption from her property taxes. Each county has a program for low-income folks - you need to complete an application and appear before a board of review annually. Here is a link with more information: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/treasury/Bulletin7of2010_322157_7.pdf

2. John contacted low-income home energy assistance (LIHEAP) and received a reduction in electricity and heating costs for Bonnie. https://www.benefits.gov/benefits/benefit-details/1545

3. John contacted Human ARC Premium Assist about receiving a significant reduction in Medicare Part B premiums; as an added bonus, they also provided assistance with Bonnie’s prescription drug costs. https://screening.humanarc.com/PremiumAssist

4. While online at the premium assistance site, John found more information about special coverages for things like medical alert, ambulance/transportation assistance, and a 1.25% copay for prescriptions.

5. John contacted Social Services about food stamps and Bonnie is now receiving about $97 more a month through a program called SNAP. http://www.feedingamerica.org/need-help-find-food/

6. For Bonnie’s auto insurance, John pays the whole year upfront and Bonnie pays John back monthly so she can take advantage of the discount for paying the premium annually.

7. John pays Bonnie’s utility bills via automatic payments from his account to avoid late fees, which in the past were a wasteful and unnecessary expense. Bonnie also reimburses John monthly for this.

8. To save money on her cell phone bill, John added Bonnie’s phone line to his plan as an additional line.

9. Bonnie was willing to give up cable TV – John found that an inexpensive antenna works fine and they were able to rid Bonnie of her monthly cable bill.

With a little bit of creativity and resourcefulness, John was able to assist Bonnie while also preserving his own financial resources.  If you or someone you know is in the position of assisting an older adult and needs help putting together a strategy, please let us know.  We are here to help!

Matthew E. Chope, CFP ® is a Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Matt has been quoted in various investment professional newspapers and magazines. He is active in the community and his profession and helps local corporations and nonprofits in the areas of strategic planning and money and business management decisions.

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This information has been obtained from sources deemed to be reliable but its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. The case study provided is hypothetical and has been included for illustrative purposes only. Individuals cases will vary. Links are being provided for informational purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize or sponsor any of the listed websites or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any website or the collection or use of information regarding any website's users and/or members. Neither Raymond James Financial Services nor any Raymond James Financial Advisor renders advice on tax, legal, or mortgage issues, these matters should be discussed with the appropriate professional. 

Tax Reform Series: Business & Corporate Tax, and Pass-Through Entities

Contributed by: Timothy Wyman, CFP®, JD

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is now officially law. We at The Center have written a series of blogs addressing some of the most notable changes resulting from this new legislation. Our goal is to be a resource to help you understand these changes and interpret how they may affect your own financial and tax planning efforts.

The elimination of the corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (“AMT”) and a new single 21% tax rate provides significant tax savings for corporations. In general, this is viewed by most as a net positive, at least in the shorter term, for earnings that can influence stock prices and the overall economy.

The purpose of this blog post is to focus on how the TCJA provisions may affect our clients that own businesses and specifically Pass-Through Entities such as partnerships, LLCs, or S corporations.

At this early stage, we see a few potential opportunities and potential trends:

• Many business owners will want to review the appropriate legal structure of their company in 2018.

• Pass-Through entities may see significant tax reductions

• Due to the “Pass-Through entity” changes discussed below, some employees will likely consider becoming independent contractors

• Large service businesses may consider converting to C corporation status

Pass-Through Entities

Pass-Through entities general include partnerships, LLCs, and S corporations.  Essentially, the net income from the business flows through to the owners; meaning they pay federal income tax at their personal marginal rate, as high as 39.6% in the past.

The good news is that many of these entities, and therefore their owners, will experience meaningful reduction in income taxes. The quid pro quo is that the tax system in this area has become more complex.

How might Pass-Through Entities benefit?

The TCJA provides for a 20% deduction on what is termed Qualified Business Income (“QBI”).  In the end, those that would normally be taxed at the new highest marginal rate of 37% may pay at a top rate of 29.6% (80% of their rate). The chart below, from www.Kictes.com, illustrates the lower Pass-Through rate at different income levels.

As you might expect, the devil is always in the details. Do all Pass-Through entities receive said benefits? What exactly is considered Qualified Business Income? In addition, will the provisions truly be “permanent” to name a few. To further complicate the issue, the actual deduction will be claimed on the business owner’s personal tax return and not as an above the line deduction or itemized deduction.  Essentially, the affect is that it will not lower Adjusted Gross Income (which can have an effect on taxation of social security, Medicare premiums, and deductibility of some itemized deductions).  On the plus side, this method of reporting will not affect the ability to take the new increased standard deduction if that is of greater value than your itemized deductions.

Ok, what is the big deal? Paraphrasing commentator Michael Kitces, “for the first time ever, self-employed individuals (either as sole proprietors or as owners of partnerships, LLCs, or S corporations) will have a lower tax rate than employees doing substantively similar work, thanks to the 20% QBI deduction.” 

Switch to Independent Contractor status? Proceed with Caution

As you might imagine, the new rules contemplate and try to prevent owners from simply reclassifying their income or wages to benefit from the 20% deduction. Much like under current rules covering social security taxes, “reasonable compensation” to an S corporation owner does not qualify for the 20% deduction. Additionally, there are other limits that are beyond the scope of this article designed to reduce the 20% deduction that generally come into play once the owner’s taxable income exceeds $157,500 for individuals or $315,000 for married couples and become totally phased out at $207,500 and $415,000 respectively.

A special note to our Medical, Legal, Accounting, and Consulting Clients:

Your lobbying groups were not as effective as those representing engineers and architects! The TCJA defines your business as a “specific service trade or business” and special rules apply that essentially limit or eliminate a Qualified Business Income Deduction.  By the way, this also includes financial services practices such as ours. The law is designed to exclude “any other trade or business where the principal asset of the business is the reputation or skill of 1 or more of its employees.” As a result, some commentators have opined that large service business may consider converting to a C corporation as the top corporate rate is now 21%.

How are specific service trade or businesses affected? If you are a specified service business and your taxable income exceed the thresholds described above ($207,500 for individuals and $415,000 for married couples filing jointly), then you lose the deduction completely. This means you are subject to the old pass-through rules and therefore pay tax at your individual tax rate.

We hope that you enjoyed our early take on the changes that will likely affect businesses and specifically Pass-Through entities. While tax simplification it is not, many business owners should experience a net gain.   We will continue to monitor the tax landscape, including any Technical Corrections to the legislation and look forward to working with you in 2018.

Timothy Wyman, CFP®, JD is the Managing Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® and is a contributor to national media and publications such as Forbes and The Wall Street Journal and has appeared on Good Morning America Weekend Edition and WDIV Channel 4. A leader in his profession, Tim served on the National Board of Directors for the 28,000 member Financial Planning Association™ (FPA®), mentored many CFP® practitioners and is a frequent speaker to organizations and businesses on various financial planning topics.

Check out our other Tax Reform articles:

Changes to Federal Income Tax Brackets

Changes to Standard Deduction, Personal Exemption, Misc. Deductions, and the Child Credit

Changes to Investments and the Financial Market

Changes to State and Local Tax Deduction

Changes to Mortgage Interest Deduction (including Home Equity Loans and LOC Implications)

Changes to Estate Tax Planning in 2018 and Beyond

Changes to Charitable Giving and Deductions

Changes to Medical Deductions

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The information contained in this blog does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Timothy Wyman and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Please note, changes in tax laws may occur at any time and could have a substantial impact upon each person's situation. While we are familiar with the tax provisions of the issues presented herein, as Financial Advisors of RJFS, we are not qualified to render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.

Managing our Minds as We Age

Contributed by: Matthew E. Chope, CFP®

I recently read an article about cognitive decline as we age.  The article shocked me and made me realize why a strong partnership with a good financial planner can be absolutely vital as we get older.  The research article by Michael Finke, John Howe, and Sandra Huston called “Old Age and the Decline in Financial Literacy” describes the situation well. The authors provided a financial literacy test to older populations and found that while financial literacy tends to decline by about 1% per year after age sixty, financial confidence remains the same.  The chart below illustrates this dangerous paradox:

Source: retriementresearcher.com, August 4, 2017

One of our most important responsibilities as financial planners is to make sure that our clients are thoughtful about their financial decisions.  We consider ourselves managers of risk even more than managers of return, especially for our older clients.  This is paramount in what we do because many clients are focused more on matters of living – health, family, etc. – than on diving into the details of their investments or retirement cash flow in order to know their best path forward. 

As I was reading the article about the average confidence vs. literacy I was stunned at the widening differential gap between financial literacy and financial confidence. The gap at age 70 was 15% but widened to over 40% by age 80! This gap is where people become permanently financially damaged by poor decisions.  Most of the work we do is focused on helping reduce the probability of poor decisions.  It’s akin to the doctors Hippocratic Oath, “first do no harm”.  Our goal is not to make people rich, but to structure a solid foundation to ensure our clients never become destitute.

Here are some questions to consider:

• Do you have the time, energy, interest, knowledge, and desire to implement all kinds of financial decisions on your own? Do you enjoy financial planning?

• Will you overcome the inertia of inaction to put together all the various pieces needed to create and implement an effective and coherent overall plan?

• Will you continue to periodically update your plan?

• Have you determined how to make sure your planning will be maintained properly if other family members need to take control of it?

• Are you working with a financial planner who does more than just manage investment portfolios – who helps you with all aspects of your financial picture -- and helps you to implement suitable financial planning decisions?

If the answer to any of these questions is “I’m not sure” or “no,” please reach out to a Certified Financial Planner™ professional to discuss how they can help.

Matthew E. Chope, CFP ® is a Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Matt has been quoted in various investment professional newspapers and magazines. He is active in the community and his profession and helps local corporations and nonprofits in the areas of strategic planning and money and business management decisions.

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The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Matt Chope and not necessarily those of Raymond James. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.
Source: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1948627

The Importance of Being Involved In Your Parents’ Financial Planning in Later Life

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®, CeFT™

There are a million reasons why we don’t talk to our parents about their financial situation…

• “I don’t want to be nosy.  What if I offend them by asking them about something so personal?”

• “What if they think I am asking because I don’t think they can handle their finances any longer?”

• “I have my own problems to deal with. I am not going to bother trying to handle my parents’ issues, too.”

• “I don’t need to know anything until they tell me, or until they’re gone.”

• And, the list goes on and on. 

And some of our parents may have their own hesitations about offering information to their adult children:  fear of loss of control, not wanting their children to be aware of all of their financial resources for fear that they will want/need more from them before they are able to give it, or simply discomfort with the conversations that may be involved about their own longevity and/or mortality.  However, in my experience, the majority of older adult clients are more than willing to begin to invite adult children, (at least those that are will be in charge of assisting with financial affairs in the case of incapacity or after death), into meetings to help them get a better understanding of the overall financial and estate planning picture.  We strongly encourage this with our clients and their adult children!

Some of the strongest and most successful family relationships we have are with generations of families that take advantage of these kinds of meetings.  Not only do they give us an opportunity to meet the family members that we will be working with if and when anything ever happens to mom and dad, but a number of additional items are uncovered during the annual meetings that can be extremely beneficial for the families:

• They can develop a strong understanding of the overall financial status and financial plan

• They have conversations about long term care planning, and reveal mom and dad’s preferences on how the finances fit into the plan

• They have conversations about the overall estate plan and structure (who will be in charge, the flow of the estate, etc.)

• They have conversations about charitable giving and its importance during life and after death

• They have conversations about how they wish their assets to be passed on to future generations (how, why, etc.)

It has been an amazing experience for many of our families, some of whom have grown so much closer through the experience.  If you have older adult parents and have hesitated to get involved or been afraid to approach the subject and need help getting started, please reach out.  We are happy to help!  We promise it will be worth the effort.

Sandra Adams, CFP® , CeFT™ is a Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Sandy specializes in Elder Care Financial Planning and is a frequent speaker on related topics. In addition to her frequent contributions to Money Centered, she is regularly quoted in national media publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Research Magazine and Journal of Financial Planning.

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Any opinions are those of Sandra D. Adams and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Every investor's situation is unique and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon before making any investment. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.

Dealing with the Loss of a Spouse

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®, CeFT™

Whether you have time to prepare for it or it is sudden, the loss of a spouse is one of life’s most traumatic events. For most, it means the loss of one’s soul mate and life partner, one with whom so many past memories and future goals and dreams are woven.  If you have recently lost a spouse or know someone who has, it is an understatement to say that there is an initial feeling of being overwhelmed – there is so much to do at a time when you feel the least capable (and the one with whom you’ve always shared the decision making duties in the past is no longer there to help you). There seem to be lots of people around but you are feeling numb, lost, and alone. 

To make things a little easier to handle at this time, you can break things down into things you really need to do now, things that need to be done soon, and things that can be done later. 

There are very few things that need to be done immediately/now (see my previous blog: Dealing with Death: A Financial Guide). We often encourage clients at this time to do only what is absolutely necessary and leave any bigger decisions for much later when you find yourself in a better place where you can think more clearly and confidently. This space we provide is called the Decision Free Zone – it gives you permission for yourself (and others) to not make any big decisions until you are comfortable moving forward in this time of transition.

Starting soon, it’s important to make sure you are taking care of yourself; eating well, trying to get enough rest, exercising, and trying to stay social. Support groups and counselors can be extremely helpful during this time. You will also need to meet with your professional advisors to make sure needed details and changes are taken care of on financial accounts, legal documents, etc. You will work with your financial planner to determine your income and budget needs for yourself going forward during this transition period, determine how cash will flow, etc. Decisions during this time can take months to years to refine and complete.

Later (and depending on the person this can be a few months or a few years since your spouse’s death), you will be able to look forward and visualize your new life and future. You will be able to work with your advisor to create a Bliss List that will include new goals and a plan for your “new normal.” You will determine: how you want to live your life going forward; what makes you feel joyful and fulfilled; and what is on your bucket list that is left undone? 

The devastation that you feel with a loss of a spouse seems insurmountable. With time, self-care, and the help of your financial planner who can hold your hand through the painful transition, for as long as it takes, you will be able to get through this! If you or someone you know has suffered the loss of a spouse and could use our guidance, please contact us at Sandy.Adams@centerfinplan.com.

Sandra Adams, CFP® , CeFT™ is a Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Sandy specializes in Elder Care Financial Planning and is a frequent speaker on related topics. In addition to her frequent contributions to Money Centered, she is regularly quoted in national media publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Research Magazine and Journal of Financial Planning.

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Opinions expressed are those of Sandra Adams and are not necessarily those of Raymond James. Raymond James Financial Services and its advisors do not provide advice on tax or legal issues, these matters should be discussed with the appropriate professional.

Planning Ahead: How Having an Estate Plan can avoid a Headache

Contributed by: Matt Trujillo, CFP®

Can you believe 2017 is half over already?! That New Year’s resolution that you had to get your estate planning documents drafted is already getting a little stale. For those procrastinators amongst you, I thought I would write about what happens if you pass without a will or trust in place.

First let’s define what the legal term is for people that pass away without a valid will or trust in place. The term used is “Intestacy.”

What is intestacy?

You are said to have died intestate if you pass without a valid will. Intestacy laws govern the property distribution of someone who dies intestate. Each of the 50 states has adopted intestate succession laws that spell out how this distribution is to occur, and although each state's laws vary, there are some common general principles. The laws are designed to transfer legal ownership of property the recently deceased owned or controlled to the people the state considers their heirs. These laws also control how these individuals are to receive this property and when the property is distributed.

Example:

Frank is a Michigan resident and is married with two minor children. He keeps meaning to write his will but hasn't gotten around to it yet. One day, Frank gets hit by a truck while crossing the street and dies instantly. Because he has no will, the intestate succession laws of Michigan govern how his property is distributed. Under Michigan law, 50 percent of Frank's property passes to his wife, and 50 percent passes to Frank's two minor children (25 percent each). Had Frank had a will, he could have left everything to his wife.

Technical Note:

Real property is distributed under the intestacy laws of the state in which it is located. Personal property is distributed under the intestacy laws of the state in which you are domiciled at the time of your death.

Why should you avoid intestacy?

• Cost

  • Intestacy can be more costly than drafting and probating a will. In most states, an administrator must furnish a bond, where you can often waive this requirement in your will. Also, an administrator's powers are limited, and he or she must get permission from the court to do many things. The cost of these proceedings is paid by your estate.

• You can't decide who gets your property

  • State intestacy laws will determine who receives your property. These laws divide up your property among your heirs, and if you have no heirs, the state itself will claim your property.

  • Unlike beneficiaries under your will who can be anyone to whom you wish to leave property, heirs are defined as your legal spouse and specific relatives in your family. If the state can find no heirs, it could claim the property for itself (the property escheats to (goes to) the state). The laws of your state determine the order in which heirs will receive your property, the percentage that each will receive, and in what form they will receive it, whether in cash, property, lump sum, annuity, or other form.

• Special needs are not met

  • State intestacy laws are inflexible. They do not consider special needs of your heirs. For example, minor children will receive their share with no strings attached, whether they are competent to manage it or not.

• Heirs may be short-changed

  • The predetermined distribution pattern set out by state law can end up giving a larger portion of your estate to an heir than you intended for he or she to have. It may also leave one of your heirs with too little.

• You can't decide who administers your estate

  • If you die intestate, the probate court will name an administrator to manage your estate. You will have no say in who settles your estate.

• You have no say in who becomes a guardian for your minor children

  • A court will appoint personal and property guardians for your minor children, since you didn't specify otherwise. You will also expose the assets you leave your child to the management skills of someone you may not approve of.

• Relations take priority over friends and others

  • State intestacy laws will distribute your property to family members in a preset pattern. These laws do not take your relationship with your family into account when dividing up your estate. As a result, that brother that you haven't spoken to in 20 years may end up with a portion of your assets that you'd rather he not have.

• Tax planning options are eliminated

  • Without a will or some other means of disposing of your property, you can't plan to minimize or provide payment of income or estate taxes.

• Family fights can occur

  • Who gets Grandma's jewelry? Or what about that stamp collection that you began 30 years ago? Distribution by intestacy law provides no answers to specific questions like these. If these questions cannot be resolved peaceably, lawsuits may result or the property in question may end up being sold and the proceeds distributed to the squabbling family.

How is property distributed under intestacy?

The pattern of distribution varies immensely from state to state. You must check with your state to find out what its intestate's will looks like. Generally, the rules are as follows:

• If you leave a spouse, but no children, the spouse takes the entire estate

• If you leave a spouse and children, each takes a share

• If you leave children and no spouse, the children take the entire estate in equal shares

• If you leave no spouse or children, the entire estate goes to your parents

• If you leave no spouse, children, or parents, the entire estate goes to your siblings (or your siblings' descendants)

• If you leave none of the above, the entire estate goes to your grandparents and their descendants (your aunts, uncles, and cousins)

• If you leave no heirs, the next takers are your deceased spouse's heirs

• If there are no heirs on either side, the next to take are your next of kin, those who are most nearly related to you by blood

• If there are no next of kin, your estate escheats to the state

Matthew Trujillo, CFP®, is a Certified Financial Planner™ at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Matt currently assists Center planners and clients, and is a contributor to Money Centered.

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This information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete. While we are familiar with the legal and tax provisions of the issues presented herein, as Financial Advisors of RJFS, we are not qualified to render advice on legal or tax matters. These matters should be discussed with the appropriate professional.

Guidance for Caregivers

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®, CeFT™

Our experience with clients at The Center has shown us that caregivers come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and circumstances...no one is like another. What we do know, however, is that being a caregiver to someone needing assistance for a physical or mental incapacity of some kind is no “walk in the park,” as they say. According to AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, there are some 40 million Americans acting as unpaid caregivers in the United States – helping parents, grandparents, spouses, relatives and neighbors with basic needs – often while working, parenting, or both. Suffice it to say, caregivers themselves experience advances levels of physical, emotional, and often financial stress as a result of their caregiving responsibilities.

What can caregivers do to help those their caring for AND help themselves?

1. Understand the financial and legal situation of the person you are caring for. Understand what the financial resources are, what legal documents are in place (and where they are), and who the powers of attorney, Trustees, and important advisors are in the relationship. Knowing who is involved in helping make important decisions will be key going forward, and knowing where important documents are is invaluable (to help get this organized, find our Personal Record Keeping Document and Letter of Last Instruction document here).

2. Have conversations in advance about how the person wants to be cared for. Knowing (before it’s too late) what kind of care is desired, where that care should take place, and who should perform that care, as well as other end-of-life conversations, are important talks to have. These conversations, if had earlier rather than later, can help you avoid conflicts with the person your caring for and with others (particularly if you document the results!).

3. Ask for help! There is absolutely no shame in calling uncle if you feel like you need assistance for any number of reasons:

   • Maybe you feel like you need training for some kind of caregiving you are providing that you don’t feel prepared to give

   • Maybe you are just overwhelmed and need additional help – from another family member or friend, a community resource, or from a paid resource – there is help out there – ASK FOR IT!

   • Maybe you just need a break – there are respite services available to take your loved one for a few days to care for them to give you a few days off, even if you have no one else to take over the caregiving duties; this might be just what you need to rejuvenate you and to help get you back on your feet!

We understand that being a caregiver for someone you love can pause your personal goals and plans. Our job is to help you prevent the caregiving role from permanently halting your goals and plans due to overwhelming stress. Let me be a resource when it comes to planning for and managing your caregiving role – if there is anything I can do to help, contact me at Sandy.Adams@CenterFinPlan.com.

Sandra Adams, CFP® , CeFT™ is a Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Sandy specializes in Elder Care Financial Planning and is a frequent speaker on related topics. In addition to her frequent contributions to Money Centered, she is regularly quoted in national media publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Research Magazine and Journal of Financial Planning.

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The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Sandy Adams, CFP®, and not necessarily those of Raymond James.

What Help Do Aging Parents Want from Their Adult Children?

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®, CeFT™

The topic comes up often with our baby boomer clients: “Mom and Dad are getting older and they seem to need more help. We’re not sure how much is too much to get involved.” Adult children have the best of intentions of providing assistance to their adult parents without invading their privacy, but it is fine line to walk. A study conducted by public-health professor Mary Gallant and sociologist Glenna Spitze from the State University of New York at Albany in 2004 explored the very issue of what aging parents really want from their adult children. Their research team conducted actual interviews with focus groups of older adults and this is what they found:

• Aging parents who live independently wish for both connection and autonomy in relation to their adult children; most did not feel a need for assistance from their children.

• Most seniors desire control over their lives; at the same time, they want their children to intervene and offer help, if they express a need for assistance.

• Aging parents, while they may express some resistance to help offered by their adult children, do appreciate the help they are providing.

• Aging parents want to be treated as normal adults, not as incompetent individuals.

• Adult children need to understand that their aging parents my use a variety of strategies to deal with their ambivalent feelings toward receiving help; such as minimizing the help, or ignoring or resisting their children’s attempts to control situations.

It is important to remember that as your parents may need more assistance over time, it is still most important to let them lead the decisions that guide their lives as they age for as long as possible. So, unless there is an immediate threat to your parent’s health or wellness, it is best to allow them to be in control of their own decisions, while providing support as needed.

Here are just a few helpful hints when it comes to communicating with your older adult parent:

• Show respect. Always speak to your parent with respect; it will go a long way toward getting your point across.

• Don’t sweat the small stuff.  Let your parents do as much as they can and don’t make a big deal over small issues. Unless it is a threat to their health, safety or finances…let it go!

• Make suggestions instead of giving orders. Just like with your teenagers, asking questions about how they feel about something and about what they might need and allowing them to come to their own conclusions often work better than giving orders. Giving orders makes your parents feel like they are the children and like they are no longer in control.

• If you think your parents can still do something, let them do it: It is like the old adage – if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. However, if you think they are not capable or could be harmed by doing something on their own, don’t feel guilty by stepping in and stopping them!

• Stop and think before you respond. If your aging parent spouts off and says something hurtful, stop and think before you respond; saying something mean in return will only make both of you feel worse!

• Think about how you would want to be treated. After all…you will be the aging parent one day!

Maintaining strong family relationships is something we all strive for, and it becomes more challenging when we are put in a position of needing to provide assistance for our aging parents. If you or anyone you know needs assistance in this area, please let us know.  We are always happy to help!

Sandra Adams, CFP® , CeFT™ is a Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Sandy specializes in Elder Care Financial Planning and is a frequent speaker on related topics. In addition to her frequent contributions to Money Centered, she is regularly quoted in national media publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Research Magazine and Journal of Financial Planning.

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This information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete. Opinions expressed are those of Sandra Adams and are not necessarily those of Raymond James.

The Responsibility of Handling Other People’s Money

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®, CeFT™

More and more often as we meet with clients, a recurring topic of conversation is the responsibility of handling the financial affairs of others. Whether that’s for an older adult parent or relative, or whether it’s the handing off of that responsibility to a son, daughter, friend, or other trusted party that concerns our older adult client. As the population continues to age, there is a growing need for older adults to plan for the shift of the responsibility of handling their financial affairs, either now or in the future, to someone else for a variety of reasons—medical, dementia or other incapacity issue, or simply the desire not to have to handle one’s own day-to-day financial affairs.

It is important to be aware that there are a number of roles that you might be assigned to in order to handle the financial life of an older adult; and it is important that these be planned for in advance to avoid potential conflicts in the future:

• Social Security Representative Payee – The Social Security Administration allows for a representative payee to be assigned in the case that there is an incapacitated recipient of Social Security (family or friends of the recipient that must be 18 years or older).

• Long Term Care Insurance Lapse Provision Designee – Someone assigned to receive notices in the case that long term care insurance premiums are not paid on a long term care insurance policy. The designee has the responsibility of making sure the premiums get paid until the insured needs to go on claim.

• Agent for Funeral Decisions – Some states (now including Michigan) permit the appointment of an agent to manage the funeral arrangements for a person, which can be separate from the Executor of the Will.

• Power of Attorney – General Power of Attorney for General/Financial Decisions allows the power to handle bill paying, banking, investments, IRA and other distributions, and any other financial decisions on the person’s behalf, serving as their financial fiduciary (and making decisions based on their best interests).

As the Power of Attorney, use the resources you have available to you:

• The professional team – the client’s Financial Planner, CPA, attorney, physician, etc.

• The client’s Personal Record Keeping Document and Letter of Last Instruction, if they have one.

• The client’s Financial Plan and history with their planner – this will tell a story about how they have lived their financial life and their historical patterns (especially helpful if you are assisting someone who has developed dementia or cognitive impairment). It’s helpful to begin to attend meetings with the client and their financial adviser, if the client is comfortable, as soon as you know there is an issue and if you know you will be involved in assisting the client now or in the future.

Planning ahead for your involvement in handling money for an older adult is always suggested, so that you can get familiar with the client’s situation, the team members involved, and the resources available. Being a financial fiduciary is a big responsibility, one that you don’t want to take lightly or push off until the last minute to tackle. Contact your planner or myself, at Sandy.Adams@CenterFinPlan, if we can be of assistance in handling these or other Long Life Planning matters.

Sandra Adams, CFP® , CeFT™ is a Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Sandy specializes in Elder Care Financial Planning and is a frequent speaker on related topics. In addition to her frequent contributions to Money Centered, she is regularly quoted in national media publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Research Magazine and Journal of Financial Planning.

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Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and its advisors do not provide advice on tax or legal issues, these matters should be discussed with the appropriate professional.