The Life and Legacy Show

Caring.com did a study recently that said only 32% of people have a will.  Far fewer have a good estate plan.  Why is this?  Let's dig in.

In our Elder Law practice, we see lots of crazy situations.  That's because these laws are crazy. This week we ran into a particularly tragic (and preventable) case where the family ended up losing tens of thousands of dollars.   Let's avoid these mistakes together. 

The term Disease Discrimination has been floating around the elder law community recently.  It's absolutely a thing and you need to be on the lookout for it.   Luckily, the Pennsylvania allows you to keep $60/mo to fight it (sarcasm intended). 

It's Small Business Saturday!  A day we support the local businesses that support us and our communities.  Let's say a special thank you to the entrepreneurs out there with some tips on how to protect everything they've built. Also, Tim answers a few questions that always come up around the holidays.  We're often asked "I think my family member needs long term care, are th...

Around the holiday season, you will likely spend lots of time with your family.  This time of year, we are frequently asked this question - "How do I start the conversation with my parents about estate planning?"   In this episode, Tim gives you some tips for how to help your family members get the peace of mind they're looking for.  

The number 1 thing our clients seek to achieve is Peace of Mind. Does your estate plan actually provide you with Peace of Mind?  If so, for how long?  If not, how can you do it better the next time around. 

We've been getting lots of questions recently about Asset Protection for middle class families. Here are the most common questions we get and the answers you need.  

Our law firm gets asked this question almost every day.  You probably want to know the answer too.  But here's the thing.... what if it's the wrong question?  The real question is "how do I best plan for my family?".  If you want to know the answer to that question... push play now.

The week of Oct 21 is Estate Planning Awareness week.  So, what can we do to make you more aware of estate planning?  How about a rapid fire episode with all the things Tim wishes you knew about estate planning.  Hold on tight... lots of info in this two part series. 

The week of Oct 21 is Estate Planning Awareness week.  So, what can we do to make you more aware of estate planning?  How about a rapid fire episode with all the things Tim wishes you knew about estate planning.  Hold on tight... lots of info in this two part series. 

At a recent Red Wagon Club event, one of our members stopped me and said - "Hey. I listen to your radio show.  You occasionally mention the RWC, but you don't actually tell people what it is.  You should. It's Great."  Well, thanks for the suggestion.  Here you go!

Is the Federal Estate Tax coming back?  Looks that way.  Here's what to know. In this episode, Tim also dives into the PA Inheritance Tax and how the Secure Act imposes a new death tax on the middle class.   Want more money to get to your family rather than the government?  Start here.

When retirees do proper estate planning, it becomes necessary to start to hand over some responsibilities to family members.  That said, that doesn't mean you have to give up control.  This week's episode dives into how to do proper estate planning without losing control. 

There's a dirty secret everyone knows, yet no one is trying to improve it.  Here it is: Our Government is Failing Our Seniors.  See, you knew that already, right? Well if you did, what have you taken to prevent them from failing you?  Join us for this episode to learn how to protect yourself and your family. 

"Once someone goes into a nursing home, there's nothing you can do."  "You can't protect assets if you need care in the next five years."  "It's illegal to give your stuff away within 5 years of the nursing home."  These are all comments we have heard from our clients and other lawyers.  Unfortuantely, they're all untrue.   The 5 Year Clock is one...

The primary role of a parent is to raise good humans.  This duty exists even if parents pass away young due to an accident.  We can't let our childrens' future depend on our good health.  We need to plan.  On this episode, I'll teach you how to set up an estate plan that actually works. 

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported on June 9, 2024 that 21 long term care facilities have filed for bankruptcy protection since the beginning of May.  Separately, 2 others are simply closing their doors.   What the H*%@ is going on here?  What can we do to stop it?  Listen up (especially if you're in politics). 

If you've been listening a while, you know that most of our conversations are about retirees.  So, we thought we'd do something a little different.  In this episode, Tim explains effective estate planning for families with younger kids.  Great ideas in this episode for your kids and grandkids. 

Yes, you read that correctly.  You love your kids too much than to leave them an inheritance outright.  Instead, what you should be doing is leaving them their inheritance in a trust.   In this episode, Tim discusses what he calls a Separate Share Trust that is set up to protect your kids from their future creditors and predators.  Truly a situation where they can have their cake and eat it too!

I get it... it's nice outside.  It's warm.  It's sunny.  There are burgers and dogs on the grill.  Even though Memorial Day coincides with the beginning of summer, doesn't  mean it's a festive holiday.   In this episode Tim talks about the real meaning of Memorial Day and tells some personal stories that he's thankful he has.  Have you told anyone your stories?

For years there was something that bothered me about my estate planning practice and I could never quite tell what it was.  We had lots of clients.  They chose the plans they though fit the need.  What was wrong? The problem was that the clients didn't know what they needed.  How could they?  They don't have a crystal ball and they don't know what problems they will face in the futu...

You read that title correctly.  In Pennsylvania, nursing homes can sue adult children for their parents' care under our Filial Support law.  It only applies in limited situations and can be avoided with proper planning.  Listen to this weeks episode to learn how to avoid this nightmare. 

In this episode, Tim discusses the three time periods when people do planning: 1. Young with young kids 2. Empty Nesters 3. Retirees The goals of each of these groups vary.  The tools we use to accomplish the goals may vary.  But a few things remain constant.  Regardless of your stage of life, you want your money to support your family.  You don't want it to be lost to broken government ruleb...

Shhhh..... Here's a dirty secret.  Most law firms don't fund trusts.  If you have a trust already, there's a decent chance it's not funded properly (or at all).   In this episode Tim talks about why most firms don't fund trusts and how estate planning works when done properly.  

Of all the cruel legal rules impacting seniors, the Estate Recovery Program  has got to be the worst!  It's sole purpose is to take your house after you die! A new piece of legislation seeks to end the program.  Will it pass?  Who knows... but I wouldn't bet on it. I'd rather you understand now how to avoid the awful program and keep your savings out of the clutches of the governmen...