I was recently chatting with my friend Jennifer, whose parents live in a retirement community. I asked her, “How are your parents?” Her response? “My parents are a mess, but that’s the new normal.” She said this with resignation in her voice. As though she had let go of hope [...]
Death or incapacity can creep up on anyone. If you’re not prepared, your family could bear a heavier burden when handling your estate and financial affairs. Here are five tips to help everyone lighten the load. Make an estate plan. One of the most important things you can do to [...]
"Hope" is a comforting word that often gives us peace and calmness. It sometimes stirs emotions of confidence about our future. One of the most popular lines in the 1994 movie classic "The Shawshank Redemption" says, “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." [...]
Summertime is often a favorite time for families to get together at the beach house, the lake house, or other places of cherished family memories. If you are planning a backyard get-together or a more elaborate gathering, consider adding something significant as well as memorable to those precious moments together. [...]
We spend a lot of time daydreaming about and planning how to achieve our goals. Charting a new career, creating a bucket list, helping a loved one reach success, and other goals all have financial implications that deserve consideration. This is where a financial plan comes in. The goal of a plan [...]
What’s the difference between a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) or Medicare Advantage Plan? What’s my “best” option? First of all, most everyone should consider choosing either a Medigap or Medicare Advantage Plan because Original Medicare (Parts A & B) does not cover 100 percent of healthcare costs. Without an additional plan [...]
Former President Jimmy Carter, now 94, recently fell and broke his hip, drawing attention to one of our nation’s current epidemics—falls among older adults. Believe it or not, each year one in three Americans age 65 and over falls. It is also the leading cause of death by injury [...]
As a professional geriatric care manager, I sometimes get asked, “Why would someone use a service like yours? Anyone can do what you do.” Part of me wants to be offended by this statement, but the answer to the question is also exactly why the person is asking it. [...]
James M. Richardson was named to the list of “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” published by Forbes magazine. The list recognizes financial advisors who have demonstrated high levels of ethical standards, professionalism, and success in the business. The rankings are based on data provided by over 11,000 of the nation’s most productive [...]
When you get sick, you know you need to go see the doctor. When you get ready to sell your house, you know that a real estate agent can help you. When your mom is in the hospital and you need to figure out what to do next, do you [...]
