The Best Gift You Can Give Your Family

What is the best gift you can give to your family?  Is it college education for a grandchild?  Is it a paid family vacation for your children and their families?

Gifting to family members may be an important piece of your financial legacy plan.   You may desire to gift to family members during your lifetime – when the financial support is needed or when you can observe the enjoyment of the gift. 

The BEST gift, as it turns out, is for you to plan ahead for yourself.  Your ability to ensure that you can fund your own financial independence and any future long-term care needs can provide more of an economic (an emotional) benefit to your family than a gift now.

• According to a recent MetLife study, Americans who take time off work to care for their aging parents are losing an estimated $3 trillion dollars in wages, pensions and Social Security benefits.
• A 2010 study by Fidelity Investment Research found that a 65 year-old couple that plans to live into their 90’s spends $250,000 to cover health care expenses, including Medicare premiums, co-pays, coinsurance and some home care costs.  Note:  This does NOT include chronic conditions or long term care costs.  

Before significant gifting is done, it is important to do a realistic assessment of your ability to fund your own retirement and long-term care needs.   Make sure that the proper documents and financial tools are in place to fund your needs now and later. Take the first step now and schedule a time to meet with your financial planner to discuss long term care planning.

Medicare Open Enrollment Starts October 15th

As if Medicare and all of the changes in plans and formularies aren’t enough, you know have to make your choices sooner!  Beginning October 15, 2011, and ending December 7, 2011, you can make changes to your enrollments for:

• Medicare Part D plans
• Medicare Advantage *
• Medigap Plans

*Medicare Advantage plans can also be changed from January 1 to February 12, 2012.

Making the wrong Medicare choices can cost you hundreds of dollars per month.  It is important that during this limited period of time you carefully evaluate your needs and the available plans to make sure that you are in the most cost-effective plan for your situation.   You can do your own analysis by using the online tools provided by Medicare or look for the help provided by local senior organizations or independent Medicare consultants. 

 Taking the time to find the right plan for you can be financially life changing.  Contact your financial planner for resources in your area.