Addressing Transportation Needs for Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities
By Grace DeRose-Wilson, Screening Integration Coordinator at Elder Law of Michigan About 90% of adults 65 and older want to age in-place according to AARP. There are many reasons older adults don’t want to leave their homes and communities as they age. Maybe they have friends and family in the area, or maybe they are attached to the land where they live. Whatever the reason, individuals who … Continue reading Addressing Transportation Needs for Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities
Why You Should Shop at Farmers Markets
By Nicholas Goodman, MiCAFE Network Specialist at Elder Law of Michigan What do cherries, pickles, and beans have in common? They are just a few of over 300 commodities produced in Michigan according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Michigan has a rich agricultural past and present. You can take advantage of local bounties at farmers markets throughout the state. The Michigan Farmers … Continue reading Why You Should Shop at Farmers Markets
Social Security Q&A Part 23
By Vonda VanTil, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Question: How much will I receive if I qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits? Answer: The amount of your SSI benefit depends on where you live and how much income you have. The maximum SSI payment varies nationwide. For 2020, the maximum federal SSI payment for an eligible individual is $783 a month and $1,175 a … Continue reading Social Security Q&A Part 23
(Mid-America Pension Rights Project): Stop ‘Dollar-Cost Ravaging’ Your Portfolio in Retirement
Via Kiplinger By Jason Lambert It’s been more than seven years since Wade Pfau, one of the top experts in retirement research, wrote a column for MarketWatch urging readers to “Say Goodbye to the 4% Rule.” In it, Pfau suggests that the “rule” — which is more of a theory, really — made too many assumptions based on old numbers that didn’t necessarily translate to … Continue reading (Mid-America Pension Rights Project): Stop ‘Dollar-Cost Ravaging’ Your Portfolio in Retirement
(Mid-America Pension Rights Project): The (Partial) Death Of The Stretch IRA: How The SECURE Act Impacts Inherited Retirement Accounts
Via Kitces By Jeffrey Levine In December 2019, the retirement planning community was rocked when the Setting Up Every Community for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, which seemed destined to remain stuck in Washington gridlock indefinitely, was whisked back to life and attached to a year-end appropriations package that ‘had’ to be passed to keep the Federal government funded. Within a matter of days, the bill passed the … Continue reading (Mid-America Pension Rights Project): The (Partial) Death Of The Stretch IRA: How The SECURE Act Impacts Inherited Retirement Accounts
(Mid-America Pension Right Project): 5 Common Blind Spots on Social Security
Via ThinkAdvisor By Ginger Szala Social Security can be complicated, which is why an individual needs an advisor to walk them through salient points, and advisors need to be up to speed on the program. A majority of people don’t know the standard benefits they could be receiving, according to a SimplyWise survey that found less than one in eight Americans aged 60 to 70 … Continue reading (Mid-America Pension Right Project): 5 Common Blind Spots on Social Security
(Mid-America Pension Rights Project): Here’s a way to beat the tax burden for IRA heirs
Via CNBC By David Robinson New federal rules for individual retirement accounts greatly increase the tax burden for some heirs by telescoping the allowable period for withdrawals. Yet this pain can be greatly reduced by converting regular IRAs to Roth IRAs before bequeathing them. Previously, all heirs had their entire life expectancy to take withdrawals from inherited IRAs, so they were able to stretch out … Continue reading (Mid-America Pension Rights Project): Here’s a way to beat the tax burden for IRA heirs
Apply Online for Medicare
By Vonda Van Til, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Did you know that you can apply online for Medicare, even if you are not ready to retire? We can help you make an informed decision about when to apply for benefits based on your individual and family circumstances. Applying online can take less than 10 minutes. There are no forms to sign and usually no … Continue reading Apply Online for Medicare
Hoarding Part 1: How Did We Get Here?
By Betsy Smith, Network Partner Manager at Elder Law of Michigan The cause of hoarding is not clear, but what we do know is that it is becoming more of a commonly discussed topic and is an emerging issue with the aging population. In fact, in 2013, hoarding was classified as a mental illness. According to the Mayo Clinic, hoarding is “a persistent difficulty discarding or parting … Continue reading Hoarding Part 1: How Did We Get Here?
Importance of Pet Companionship
By Abigail Haller, Screening Integration Coordinator at Elder Law of Michigan According to a survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA), approximately 85 million families own a pet in the United States. Having a pet comes with many physical, mental, and emotional health benefits. It’s no surprise many households have a furry family member. One commonly known benefit of having a pet is companionship. … Continue reading Importance of Pet Companionship