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Power of Attorney: The Broader, The Better By: Jessica L. Whaley, Esq.

When speaking about estate planning in general terms, most people tend to direct their attention to those documents that plan for after they have departed this life (i.e. a will or trust). However, when we prepare an estate plan for our clients, we not only want to prepare documents to assist in the administration of their estate, but also to aid in the years of life ahead. This is where a Power of Attorney (“POA”) becomes a useful document - when it is drafted correctly. As we will discuss below, without the proper powers assigned within the document, a POA can be a s...

Contributed by: Catherine M. Seeber, CFP®, CeFT® A Certified Financial Transitionist (CeFT®) is trained to help clients navigate through major life events and the financial transitions that accompany them. The CeFT® is the industry’s first designation specifically geared toward financial change and transition.

As seen in recent headlines, the term pandemic fatigue describes the impact of COVID-19 related stressors on our feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. I am writing not to explain how to define it, or suggest how one might deal with it, but to relate it to any life transition one faces during their lifetime and the resilience one c...

Contributed by: Amber B. Woodland, Esquire

Any well-rounded estate plan plans for your incapacity and ultimately your death. With the use of foundational, thoroughly drafted estate planning documents, you can ensure that your affairs are in order. But, if you have a special needs child, grandchild or other beneficiary, there is a bit more you should consider.

Outlined here are 3 common myths associated with special needs planning along with an ideal solution:

Does your child with special needs have to be disinherited? No. While we recognize and understand that disinheriting your child with special needs may seem like an easy solution to...

Written by: Michele Procino-Wells, Esquire

Management of household finances can be complex, particularly when a surviving spouse is left with the daunting task of decoding a recently-departed partner’s precise methods of paying bills and keeping accounts in order. For many adult children, watching their parents endure this can bring about added stress and concern, as well as anxiety over whether timely payments are made and assets are handled prudently.

This conundrum, coupled with the onset of senility and forgetfulness, can leave many adult children pondering what they should do – legally speaking – to ensure their parent’s affairs ar...

There's a chill in the air this week and it has us craving comfort food. This recipe is a team favorite!

Blue Ribbon Meatloaf

Recipe adapted from: https://eatingwell.com

2 t. canola oil

2 c. chopped onion

12 oz. bottle of dark or amber beer

1 t. dried thyme

1 t. mustard powder

3/4 t. salt

1/2 t. pepper

1 1/4 lbs. lean ground beef

1 1/4 lbs. lean ground turkey

1 c. breadcrumbs

1/4 c. chopped fresh parsley

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a loaf pan with cooking spray.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until translucent and starting to brown, or...

Social Security Announces 1.3 Percent Benefit Increase for 2021 October 13, 2020

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 1.3 percent in 2021, the Social Security Administration announced today.

The 1.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 64 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2021. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2020. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits). The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the...

Worried. Overwhelmed. Exhausted. Stressed.

The local chapter of a health advocacy group did an informal survey of their members aimed at understanding the experience of family caregivers, those people taking responsibility to provide care to a loved one with a health need. These are spouses, adult children, nieces and nephews, even elderly parents caring for an adult child. These words describe their experience.

Caring for someone else full time is an enormous undertaking and usually so demanding that most caregivers lose sight of taking care of themselves with breaks and rest. Mixing in the emotion of caring for a family member...

Generously contributed by Vital! Magazine. You can read more at www.vitalmagonline.com)

No matter how much you look forward to retirement, you may wake up the morning after your last day at work and feel sadness or anxiety. For decades, your days and weeks were structured. You knew what you had to do, where you had to be, what time you had to be there, and who you’d see when you arrived. Now you’re without that structure and community. Sometimes we don’t know what we’re going to miss until it’s gone, and structure and community are things you may be surprised to miss. Whether you recently retired or are thinking about your future retireme...

Contributed by: Karen L. Hurley, Estate Administration Coordinator

My cat Frank lives for routine and predictability. He doesn’t want to be fed at 7:01, he wants to be fed at 7:00 sharp. He’s not alone. Most of us learn to appreciate or maybe crave some of the repetition in life. That’s not to say that surprises can’t be fun. Most of us love an unexpected visit from a close friend, receiving a thoughtful gift, or finding a refund check in the mail! But sometimes life has a way of poking holes in our routines and presenting surprises that aren’t so welcome.

Sudden news came for my family in the form of a phone call at 2am, f...

By: Carol Kellam, Social Security District Manager in Salisbury, MD

With so many services available online through my Social Security, signing up for a secure account will help you conduct Social Security business from home. With your personal my Social Security account, you can:

o Estimate your future benefits with our Retirement Calculator to compare different dates or ages to begin receiving benefits;

o Check the status of your Social Security application;

o Review your work history; and

o Request a replacement Social Security card (in most States).

If you already receive benefits, you can also:

o Get a benefit verification...

Generously contributed by Vital! Magazine. You can read more at www.vitalmagonline.com

Stay at home orders are finally easing up. But is it safe to visit older friends and family vulnerable to complications of COVID-19? Phone calls and video chats are great, but what if your parent relies on you for help around the house? Managing logistics while keeping your distance is even more complex when the older person's cognitive skills are compromised.

Balancing the risks Coronavirus may be spread both by asymptomatic carriers and those who feel sick, meaning any in-person visit carries some level of risk. But if you’ve been feeling well and t...

BrightStar Care of Anne Arundel County, Easton and Salisbury, Maryland were recently acquired by Thomas Graves, MBA, FACHE, president and CEO of Flat Creek Investments, LLC.

Previously owned and operated locally by Bob Brueckman, BrightStar Care is a Joint Commission accredited, full-service home care organization and staffing agency. Its locations in Anne Arundel, Easton and the Lower Eastern Shore are part of a network of more than 300 independently owned and operated locations nationwide. BrightStar Care provides medical and non-medical care to private clients – pediatric through end-of-life – in their own homes. Clients and their fam...

Contributed by: Jessica L. Whaley, Esq.

My road to becoming a practicing attorney has been anything but conventional. It started with me being a “night-student” during law school, which allowed me to work during the day gaining real-life legal experience. However, this also meant that law school lasted an extra year for me – turning an already long and tedious three years into four.

Following law school, I worked as a law clerk, first for an Insurance Defense Firm in Wilmington, Delaware and then with PWW Law in the Estate Administration department. While my goal always was to be a practicing attorney (that’s a story of let-down and...

Contributed by Sherri Holder, Firm Manager, Procino-Wells & Woodland, LLC

Last year at this time I wrote a piece on Women in Transition that focused on the importance of financial and estate planning. I was celebrating the last of my forties with very little trepidation about turning 50! Moreover, I was celebrating the growth and confidence that comes with maturity and experience (some might call that age). I pointed out the key to good planning is to first identify your goals and then, with the guidance of trusted advisors, understand your options.

Here’s what I didn’t say: Sometimes even when you execute on a well-made plan, things ...

Contributed by: Taylor R. DuVall, Estate Planning Coordinator

Last week as I passed my one year anniversary of working at Procino-Wells & Woodland, I was reminded of my interview with Sherri, our Firm Manager. I knew from the moment she discussed the firm’s values that these were the kind of people I wanted to work for. My first interview didn’t lead to a job offer; the timing wasn’t right for the firm to make a new hire of anyone. However, my impression of the firm from that first interview was lasting. At the time, I would have used different words to describe the firm in a glowing way. Now, I know that it was the firm’s pillars- their ...

You can read more at www.vitalmagonline.com)

Volunteers make an immeasurable difference in the lives of others. Oftentimes, they perform with the core intention of helping others. But did you know that volunteering can benefit your own health as well? Researchers have attempted to measure the benefits that volunteers receive, including the positive feeling referred to as helper’s high, increased trust in others and increased social interaction.

From lowering stress to boosting self-confidence, research has shown that volunteering offers many health benefits, especially for older adults.

1. Volunteering decreases the risk of d...

By: Katherine Burke The April issue of Vital! Magazine is out - Click here to check it out! https://tinyurl.com/AprilVital You can read more at www.vitalmagonline.com)

Contrary to Gen X, Y and Z’s popular opinion, there are a lot of great things about aging – wisdom, a self-assuredness that young people lack, experience, better income, and a host of other attributes. However, as we grow older, we may also become more vulnerable to unsavory characters looking to take advantage of us.

Particularly because Boomers tend to be less internet-literate than younger generations, we also tend to be the target of many online scams. Here are the...

By: Kim Elliott, RN The April issue of Vital! Magazine is out - Click here to check it out! https://tinyurl.com/AprilVital You can read more at www.vitalmagonline.com)

The doctor knows best. That’s typically our mentality when we’re diagnosed with an illness or prescribed medication. However, that notion can get complicated with age and as more chronic conditions present themselves. These chronic conditions lead to more doctors’ appointments, varying treatment plans and a multitude of prescriptions.

The effects of taking multiple medications to manage co-existing health problems is called polypharmacy. Medication side effects and in...

The April issue of Vital! Magazine is out - Click here to check it out! https://tinyurl.com/AprilVital You can read more at www.vitalmagonline.com)

Growing your own food isn’t rocket science. It takes a bit of time, but the end result is well worth it, and the basic crops, like lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, are very forgiving. The best part is that you don't even necessarily need a garden to grow your own food. You can grow herbs indoors; depending on what you’re growing, you can use grow bags or hanging planters; or you can go to a community garden.

Why grow your own food?

Your food is fresher. It’s literally farm to table. And you ca...

Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security, reminds the public that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit payments will continue to be paid on time during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency also reminds everyone to be aware of scammers who try to take advantage of the pandemic to trick people into providing personal information or payment via retail gift cards, wire transfers, internet currency, or by mailing cash, to maintain Social Security benefit payments or receive economic impact payments from the Department of the Treasury.

“Social Security will pay monthly benefits on time and these payments will not be a...

Contributed by: Catherine M. Seeber, CFP®, CeFT®.
A Certified Financial Transitionist (CeFT®) is trained to help clients navigate through major life events and the financial transitions that accompany them. The CeFT®is the industry's first designation specifically geared toward financial change and transition.

During times when the anxiety level is high, and well-being is at risk, the potential for fear-based decisions, or indecision, is at an all-time high. In fact, it is so heightened that we can actually get in our own way. Please allow me to share some sequential steps that have helped me during client conversations. These same ste...

Contributed by: Procino-Wells & Woodland, LLC*

My parents purchased a business from my grandparents in 1986 - my dad managed our family, the business and a full-time job for many years. My parents divorced when I was 13. As part of their divorce settlement, they agreed that my dad would keep the business and my mom would keep the home we resided in. The business was solely in his name and remained his livelihood for 33 years.

In the spring of 2018, at 67 years old, my dad decided that it was time to retire and sell his business. Over the next several months, he remained active preparing for retirement. However, in the middle of all this...

Contributed by: Procino-Wells & Woodland, LLC

When an adult lacks the ability to make legal, financial and/or healthcare decisions for themselves, a family member or friend may seek to be appointed as guardian of their property, their person or both. Guardianship in Maryland requires court approval and oversight. Therefore, knowing what to expect and who to turn to can be critical to those exploring guardianship as a solution.

Less Restrictive Means

Guardianship significantly limits an individual’s rights. Therefore, courts take petitions to appoint a guardian seriously, and require that strict requirements be satisfied. If a person h...

A Miller Trust is an Irrevocable Income Trust that is required when an individual is applying for Delaware’s Long Term Care Medicaid program and the applicant receives more monthly income than the State of Delaware allows. Income is defined as Social Security, pension, rental and annuity payments

The State of Delaware is known as an “income cap state”. This means if an applicant’s monthly gross income exceeds $1,957.50 (2020), the applicant is not eligible for Medicaid without additional planning. The resolution for the applicant’s income eligibility is to create and fund an Irrevocable Qualified Income Trust, also known as a Miller Trus...