How to avoid fumbling the football in the red zone of retirement
The 6 documents you need for your estate plan playbook

[May 02, 2014]  The start of football season may be months away, but the game’s on the minds of many after the NFL draft. Minicamps are gearing up and team personnel are organizing in preparation for the 2014-15 season.

Football is a big deal in the United States – and so is the surge of retirees – 10,000 baby boomers every day for the next 18 years, says multi-certified planner Larry Roby. The last thing pre-retirees want to do at this stage of their lives is to fumble while in the red zone of their retirement date, he says.  (Click here to continue reading)

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Return of the Medical Alert Scam

Call it the Ghost of Scams Past. Last year, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office warned about consumers in Illinois receiving unsolicited calls that they either were eligible for a free medical alert system or that a friend or family member had purchased one for them. The caller would then ask for personal information, which might include a bank account number or Medicare number. (Click here to continue reading)

“Pay Up or Face Arrest!” – Two Government Imposter Scams

Yesterday, an AgeOptions employee received a call on her cell phone. The caller knew her name and said he was calling from the “National Bureau of Crime Enforcement” because there was a warrant for her arrest. The caller then transferred her to a “senior officer” who said she owed the government money, and if she did not resolve this issue, he would arrest her.  (Click here to continue reading)
 

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May is Older Americans Month in Illinois
Observance highlights state’s leadership in providing quality programs that offer independence and protections to seniors

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn has proclaimed May as Older Americans Month in Illinois and joins the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) to honor more than two million adults, aged 60 years or older, who live in the state. (A copy of the full proclamation follows this release). Each May, a campaign theme is chosen to recognize older adults for the contributions they make. This year's theme Safe Today, Healthy Tomorrow focuses on injury prevention that emphasizes helping older adults stay active, which is timely as we are witnessing an increase in the number of adults reaching retirement age who are remaining strong and active for longer than ever before.  (Click here for the rest of the story)
 

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Long-term care crisis prompts more aggressive collection tactics

Insurance industry expert shares tips for protecting your family from 'filial' support laws

Most people do not understand filial support laws, which are spreading to more states — 28 and counting, says insurance industry expert Chris Orestis.  (Click here for the rest of the story.)

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New e-book, 'Help on the Way,' explores long-term health-care funding

Chris Orestis, senior health-care advocate and CEO of Life Care Funding, has published a free e-book, "Help on the Way," that details the slowly unfolding crisis happening now in the United States: a "Silver Tsunami" of aging Americans with no way to pay for long-term care.  (Click here for the rest of the story.)

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Three steps for turning a real estate or business sale into the ideal retirement

Financial experts share common mistakes & how to avoid them

Throughout life, we encounter a number of "financial impact points" -- pivotal events with the potential to make our dreams come true, say financial advisers Chris Snyder and Haitham "Hutch" Ashoo, co-authors of "Exiting Strategies: The CEO's Seven Critical Steps To Cashing-Out of a Business, Managing and Preserving Wealth."  (Click here for the rest of the story.)

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SOCIAL SECURITY COLUMN

Don't stress over fraud

By Becky Whitlow,
Social Security district manager in Springfield

April is Stress Awareness Month, but one thing that should never cause you stress is doing business with Social Security.    (Click here for the rest of the story.)

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6 signs your retirement plan is in trouble

Estate planner shares tips for avoiding a 2008-style disaster during the 'distribution' years

After the 2008 economic meltdown, when the stock market fell 37 percent, veteran financial adviser Curt Whipple met with clients from outside financial institutions who'd lost 50 to 60 percent of their portfolio in a single year.  (Click here for the rest of the story.)

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