The Life and Legacy Show

This episode is full of useful information for business owners looking to transition out of their business in the next few years.  Tim is joined by attorney Marcy  Smorey who has some great tips for business owners to consider in anticipation of selling their business.  If you're a business owner, this episode is full of great information.

It's Independence Day Weekend and time to celebrate.  We Americans love our independence.... it's unique in the world and truly worth celebrating. Let me ask you a question though - How independent would you feel if you had to live off of $1.50 per day?  That is all you're allowed to keep from your monthly income if you need Nursing Home Medicaid!   Not enough for you to feel indepe...

Medicaid requires you to go broke in a nursing home before they help you pay for care.  After that happens you go on Medicaid.  However,  Pennsylvania's nursing home owners are claiming they are not paid enough by the state.  They're concerned they may have to close some facilities due to poor finances. With Baby Boomers becoming seniors and needing care, this is a crisis that needs to b...

In this episode, Tim chats with financial advisor, Keith Colonna, of Morgan Stanley.  Keith shares some of his core beliefs around investing and shares some market analysis.  They also discuss the intersection of financial advice and estate planning and why your professional advisors need to work together to accomplish your goals.  

There is a ton of talk about whether you should avoid probate.  There are several reasons given for the argument that you should avoid it.  These reasons include the expense, time and general headache it involves.  Here's the thing... most listeners probably already are avoiding probate with some of their assets.  The real question is... Are you doing it correctly.   Listen to this episode to...

The great estate planning debate: Do I need a Will or do I need  a Trust?  This is the most common question our lawyers get when chatting with our clients.  So, what's the answer?  It really depends on your goals.  This episode is very informative.  Check it out!

In this episode Tim talks about what Memorial Day means to him as a veteran.  He shares a powerful family story about service in the military and how that story has impacted his career.  This is a great episode on the importance of family stories as part of your overall estate plan.  

This has to be one of the most common questions people ask us... "If I go to a Nursing Home, Will I Lose My House?"  The answer is that YES, many people do lose their house.  So, then the next question is "What can I do to protect it?"  Listen to this episode to find the answer!

What the heck is Medicaid Spend Down and how do you do it correctly? In this episode Tim tackles the notion that Spending Down is a wise strategy.  He also gives a few tips on what you can and can't do.  If you have a loved one in the nursing home (or who may be soon), this is a good episode to check out. 

When people attend our estate planning workshops, the most common question we get is whether they should use a revocable trust or an irrevocable trust.  It's a great question. The answer depends on your goals.  Do you want to avoid probate?  Do you want to protect assets from the nursing home?   In this episode Tim explains the differences between these tools and lets you know which one may b...

This week Tim is joined by a financial advisory duo, Brian Eagon and Tim Seabolt.  Brian and Tim are Morgan Stanley advisors with tons of experience.  During the show you'll learn about how financial advisors and estate planners work together to protect you, your finances and your family.  This is a great episode to listen to if you need to get your financial house in order.  Check it out.

Take your child to work day 2022!  My 11 year old, Jack, and I discuss a few famous sports figures and their estate plans.   He thinks my work is boring, but this episode was fun!

We're sometimes asked, "what is elder law, anyway?"   Well, there are some complicated answers to that question.  In this episode Tim discusses some of the realities and also the misconceptions about elder law.  The goal of this episode is to help you understand if working for an elder law attorney is right for you.  Check it out!

April 16 is national Health Care Decision Day and it's a great time to think about your health care priorities.  Let's face it, we all will have health issues at some point.  Doesn't it make sense to think a bit about how you'd like to be treated?  Doesn't it also make sense to communicate these goals to your family so that they know how to proceed? In this episode we also...

In this episode, Tim interviews another member of our network of trusted advisors.  Brian Pitell is the founder of BPG Planning.  During this episode, Tim and Brian chat about the value of working with qualified advisors as part of your financial and estate planning team.   Brian's philosophy involves truly understanding a client's goal prior to giving advice.  This episode is great for...

A nursing home admission is a stressful time.  There's typically some guilt on the person who made the placement decision.  This impacts family relationships, often in a quick and unexpected way.  On top of all the emotion, there are also complicated legal and financial decisions that need to be made.  The nursing home staff gives you lots of information and options and you really have no ide...

It's been said that the only certainties in life are death and taxes.  These two certainties are more related than you may think.  In this episode, Tim discusses the various taxes that result from someone passing away.  Listen in to learn how to avoid major tax mistakes!

In this episode, Tim is joined by LIFE Butler County's own Jan Rodgers.  She discusses this most unique benefit that all seniors should know.  Get care in your community rather than in a nursing home.  And here's the best part... the government will pay for it if you know the rules!

In this episode, Tim reflects on the various stage families go through during their journey.  He discusses the commonalities and differences in estate plans that are completed by young families and older clients.   Whether you are 20 years old with your first child or 80 years old with great-grandkids, there is something to learn in this episode.  Enjoy!

In January of 2020, the US government dropped an enormous tax hike on middle class families with a law called the Secure Act.  It is a huge tax increase on your retirement accounts.   Recently the IRS released regulations with their interpretations of the new laws... and some of it is UGLY for your family.  Listen here to learn how to protect yourself. 

Have you ever wondered about what happens from a legal standpoint when someone passes away?   In this episode, Attorney Amy Rees joins Tim to share the timeline and what to expect during this process.  Attorney Rees  is Sechler Law Firm's Managing Attorney for our Estate Planning and Estate Administration departments.   This episode is full of useful info!

Over the years, our clients tend to come to us with some pre-conceived notions in their minds about what is and isn't possible in working with an Elder Law Attorney.   In this episode we dispel the myths and confirm some facts.  Listen in to learn how it really works. 

Do you have a Power of Attorney document?  No?  You probably should.  Yes?  You should probably read it to see if it is any good.  In this episode, Attorney Tim Sechler discusses the things you should know about having a Power of Attorney.   

A client leaves unfriendly nursing home A, where she was paying $12,000 per month.  She moves to friendly nursing home B for changing care needs.  The kind staff at the friendly nursing home makes a referral to our law firm.   The next month we are able to help reduce the monthly bill from $12,000 per month to $2,000 per month.   If you have a loved one in the nursing home, would you rather pay $1...

Most of our estate planning clients have the same goals: 1. Get it to our kids as easily as possible 2. Maintain control of my money 3. Protecting my money and home from taxes and long term care expenses. What if there was a trust that can allow you to do all three of these things easily? In this episode, Tim takes a deep dive into a tool called an Asset Protection trust.  He explains how it works...