Estate Planning Workshop Series

Estate planning is when a person develops a plan to organize their personal and financial affairs to deal with the possibility of mental incapacity or death. Estate planning is not just a plan to die but addresses your plan to live. This session will review the essential estate planning documents we should have and why, including Wills, advance directives, and Powers of Attorney. Everyone has a story ~ does your estate planning address all your chapters? This workshop will touch on different types of planning tools to ensure your legacy passes according to your wishes.

Whether you have sizeable wealth or a modest estate, the cost of long-term care can quickly deplete your estate. Planning for home care, assisted living, or nursing home care may be complicated, particularly regarding Medicaid eligibility. Medicaid provides payment for nursing homes and some community-based long-term care. Unfortunately, many misconceptions surround the Medicaid program and how eligibility is determined. Knowing the rules is crucial to putting them to work with your own planning. This workshop will explain Medicaid eligibility, the rules for transferring assets, and other actions impacting eligibility. We will also discuss legal techniques that can be implemented to protect your assets, whether you are planning well in advance or have an immediate need for care. This program will provide the basic knowledge necessary to minimize the potentially catastrophic effect the cost of long-term care can have on family wealth.

Trusts play an important part in estate planning. Whether incorporating into your last will or creating a stand-alone trust, they serve different but important purposes, such as protecting a minor, protecting an heir with financial challenges or disabilities, simplifying estate administration by avoiding probate or taking steps to protect your assets, or minimizing estate tax. Trusts do not have to be complicated or scary. This session will discuss the many reasons to have a trust, the types of trusts available, how they work, and how they can be helpful to your family.

At the death of a loved one, everything may feel overwhelming. In this session, we will discuss estate administration, including subjects such as how assets pass to loved ones when it is an Estate Proceeding necessary in a Surrogate's Court to appoint an executor and how that process works.  It will also touch on methods to avoid probate to make things easier on your loved ones while accomplishing your estate planning goals.

The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in many families becoming caregivers because of the concern over safety and lack of access to facilities. Now, in addition to your life and responsibilities, a whole new commitment has been added to your already full plate. This session will address important considerations for planning when caring for an elderly or disabled family member at home. It will provide important information on different forms of Supplemental Needs Trusts for the protection of assets and excess income of the disabled individual while maintaining eligibility for government benefits. It will also cover special challenges when planning retirement benefits, reviews asset protection techniques, and Medicaid Planning considerations. It will also touch on the different forms of Guardianships.

Financial wellness for yourself and your loved ones is critical to your overall health.  As we age, we have our own financial security in mind, as well as that of our loved ones.  Having the tools available to be prepared and navigate these mazes is essential.  This program will share valuable information about family financial preparedness at all stages of life.  The program will discuss your goals and the risks of reaching those goals.  We’ll address more complex estate planning, including when an estate becomes taxable, discuss trusts as an estate planning tool, and touch on retirement, long-term care planning, and caregiving.