Blog

Written by: Michele Procino-Wells, Esquire

A Caregiver Agreement, also known as Personal Care Contract or a Personal Service Contract, is a written contract between an elderly person in need of care and a person that can offer them the care they need. Generally, the caregiver is an adult child or other family member, who is under contract to complete specific services for the elderly parent/person in exchange for money or other considerations. The services generally include things like meal preparation, bill paying, laundry, housekeeping, transportation, etc.

These contracts have various benefits for both the elderly person and the...

Much like the dynamics of our lives evolve over time, so too should the contents and structure of our estate plans. It is a mistake to believe you only need an estate plan upon reaching a certain age or milestone like retirement. To the contrary, estate planning is necessary from college to the nursing home, and at many points in between. The following examines various life stages and estate planning suggestions for each:

The Young and the Invest-less: You are never too young to consider an estate plan. For instance, who will handle your student loan debt if you pass away? What about your car, musical instruments or beloved pet? As well,...

In the wake of the death of a spouse, there are few things you’d rather put off more than handling your household financial portfolio. Especially if your spouse was more involved in the day-to-day management than you, it can quickly become burdensome to locate accounts, pay bills and re-budget on one income. The following set of tips will hopefully be of some help to you as you navigate this difficult journey and provide comfort as you face this overwhelming task.

Tip #1 - Implement a “Decision Free Zone:” The worst time to make a major financial decision is during a highly-emotional period in your life. We encourage you to set aside at...

Written by: Michele Procino-Wells, Esq.

Joint ownership of assets with a person’s children or other individuals can lead to disastrous results if not used properly. “Joint tenancy” is the legal term for joint ownership and it applies to any asset that is “titled,” including bank and investment accounts, real estate, cars or boats. When a joint tenancy is created, two (or more) individuals own the asset together and, upon the death of one joint owner, the remaining owners take over that person’s interest. Many mistakenly believe that placing a home or account in joint names with their children is a fast and easy estate planning tool that av...

“Lost & Found Author, Barbara Webster, Wants you to Know” Barbara J. Webster, Author – Lost and Found: A survivor's guide for reconstructing life after brain injury.

I need a lot more rest than I used to. I’m not being lazy. I get physical fatigue as well as a “brain fatigue”. It is very difficult and tiring for my brain to think, process and organize. Fatigue makes it even harder to think.

My stamina fluctuates, even though I may look good or “all better” on the outside. Cognition is a fragile function for a brain injury survivor. Some days are better than others. Pushing too hard usually leads to setbacks, sometimes to ill...

Contributed by Catherine M. Seeber, CFP®, CeFT®, Vice President & Financial Advisor

It’s apparent that Americans, both women and men, have not saved enough money for retirement. Studies have increasingly indicated that many baby boomers have no financial plan in place to protect themselves against outliving their assets and the rising cost of health care should they live longer than expected. So what makes women so much more vulnerable than men?

Longevity. It’s a phenomenon seen in every population: Women live longer than men. In the most recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017 Tables), life expectancy at a...

Written by: Michele Procino-Wells, Esq.

Preparing an estate plan is often a bittersweet experience. On the one hand, you may feel gratified about the notion of leaving behind financial stability and security for your loved ones to rely upon. On the other, you may feel uncomfortable facing your own mortality and would rather quickly circumvent the estate planning process.

Both feelings are common emotional components of any estate planning process. However, what you should try and avoid at all costs – and trust us, it can cost you – is rushing through the process to the detriment of your family’s financial future. By not taking the time to...

Written by: Michele Procino-Wells, Esq.

We plan to go on vacation. We plan to have dinner with friends. But when it comes to planning for our care as we advance in age, many of us prefer not to think about it, believing it will somehow all work out. Consider the two scenarios below that contrast the different outcomes of planning early and choosing the “wait and see” approach for long term care.

The Facts Hank is 72 and Ellen is 69. They have been retired for several years. Recently, their oldest child asked them whether they had made any plans if one of them suddenly got sick. Hank and Ellen had not thought much about this sin...

Written by: Michele Procino-Wells, Esq. Procino-Wells & Woodland, LLC serves the Eastern Shore from their offices in Seaford & Lewes, DE & Berlin, MD

On a regular basis someone asks me, “If I die and have debt, who will be responsible for paying back those I owe?”

When a person dies, a new entity emerges, called our estate. Your “estate” represents your assets and your liabilities. Upon death, the “probate” process (the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate), will resolve your debts and distribute your remaining assets to your heirs.

Creditors may legally claim assets within your estate (money or property)...

Contributed by: Carol Kellam, Social Security District Manager in Salisbury, MD

Scammers have become more aggressive and sophisticated in the digital age. With millions of people relying on Social Security and Medicare, scammers target audiences who are looking for legitimate program and benefit information. Scammers sometimes try to scare people into giving out their personal information. Never give someone who called you any personal information unless you absolutely know who they are.

The law that addresses misleading Social Security and Medicare advertising prohibits people or non-government businesses from using words or emblems that...

On a recent evening, our team was together for a dual baby shower. That's right- the PWW team is growing by four feet this fall! Part of the festivities included delicious snacks, but one snack in particular caught everyone's attention: The Ranch Snack Mix. We hope your family might enjoy this treat over the weekend while everyone recharges from the first week back to fall routines.

Ranch Snack Mix Erin Dukes, Estate Planning & Administration Coordinator

¾ cup vegetable oil 1 packet dry ranch dressing mix 1 9oz. package oyster crackers 1 11.5 oz. box reduced fat Cheez-its 8 oz. pretzels (waffle pretzels are the best!) 1 tsp. onion ...

The summer months are a good time to consider some ideas that will help cut your tax bill for the current year and minimize future taxes.

Gift Taxable Investments vs. Cash

Are you feeling generous? As you review your investment accounts for winners and losers, consider the optimal type of gifts to give your favorite relatives and/or charities.

Gifts to relatives. Instead of making cash gifts, give your loved ones taxable investments that have appreciated in value. If your relatives are in lower federal tax brackets, they’ll pay lower tax rates than you’d pay if you sold the same shares.

For example, relatives in the 0% federal income t...

A Message From the President, HealthFocus Summer 2019 Steve Leonard, Ph.D., MBA, FACHE, President/CEO Peninsula Regional Health System, Peninsula Regional Medical Center

Nanticoke, McCready and Peninsula Regional: Partners in Health

Steve Rose, President and CEO of Nanticoke Health Services, said it perfectly six months ago, announcing to his Sussex County team about choosing to affiliate with the Peninsula Regional Health System: “We share a similar culture and commitment to community. Combined, our two organizations will create a strong healthcare system for the Delmarva Peninsula.”

Similarly, Kathleen Harrison, CEO of McCready Hea...

(ARA) - How would you react if you were sitting in the back seat, one of your parents were driving, and they became slightly confused when it came time to take an exit? Or if they brushed a curb while driving down the road?

Most people wouldn’t consider either situation alarming, but what if your loved one got lost on the way to the grocery store or some other place they had been to dozens of times before?

It happened to 84-year-old “Mary” of Charlotte, N.C., about two years ago. She was supposed to drive herself to a dentist appointment, but somehow ended up about 10 miles away at a post office. Fortunately, she remembered her home p...

Hello. Bella here. If we haven’t yet been introduced, I’m the Chief Content Contributor for the Procino-Wells & Woodland, LLC quarterly newsletter. Also, and more importantly, four legged queen of the Wells’ home. I just left a spa day with my girlfriend Phoebe and she had the nerve to ask me who her humans should hire to create their estate plan. Like, hello, the Dremel isn’t so loud that you’ve never heard me talk about what my mom does for a living. Ugh. She gets my bandana in such a wad. I’ve told her before. Your human’s estate plan shouldn’t just make arrangements for the house and grandma’s piano. Four legged children need...

Contributed by: Jessica L. Whaley, Legal Assistant

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 source of grief for tho...

Contributed by: Michele Procino-Wells, Esquire

As more “baby boomers” are retiring and rolling over large 401(k)s and other retirement plans to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), proper tax and estate planning for IRAs has become increasingly important.

Upon your death, the beneficiary of your IRA can take the money out as fast as all of it right away, or as slow as payments over the beneficiary’s life expectancy. If the beneficiary is taking the money out as slowly as possible, the amount she or he has to take out every year is known as the required minimum distribution (RMD). Taking the money out as slowly as possible is known...

The Basics

Q: What is a "Maryland crab feast"? A: Crab feasts are a time honored tradition during which friends and family gather around a large picnic-style table to eat Maryland blue crabs. Blue crabs take time to pick and eat so it becomes a very social activity. Typically held in the summer, crab feasts are best enjoyed with a cold beer in hand.

Q: When is Maryland crab season? A: The Maryland crab season typically starts in mid April and runs all the way through December.

Q: What is the difference between male and female crabs? A: Male crabs are generally larger & meatier than females. Females have sweeter meat and may contain...

Every day our office meets with families who want to prepare for the future whether that’s through estate planning or asset protection from long term care costs. When we talk to Veterans it is almost always unclear to them the benefits that could be available through the Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension Benefits program. Veterans or widow(er)s of veterans may be entitled to a non-service connected monthly pension to offset long term health care costs such as home health care, or care in assisted living or nursing facilities. Many veterans are unaware of this benefit or assume they don’t qualify because they didn’t retire from the milit...

Contributed by: Gary & Amy Feger of CarePatrol of Delaware & Maryland Eastern Shore

Many older adults, especially those with health issues, are lonely. According to a new study, one in four seniors say they feel isolated from other people at least some of the time, and one in three say they lack regular companionship.

Chronic loneliness doesn’t just affect older adults’ mental health. According to the study, it can also impact a person’s memory, physical well-being and life expectancy.

“In fact, some research suggests that chronic loneliness may shorten life expectancy even more than being overweight or sedentary, and just as much as...

My grandmother had a wooden cookie jar that lived on the back of her kitchen counter the majority of my life. Her grandchildren have always been able to count on that cookie jar to be full of something delicious. Although there have been times that we've found Little Debbie treats, it's always been much more common for us to find homemade cookies that our grandmother baked for us in anticipation of a visit.

There are so many forms of love and I believe baking is one of them. In our offices we find happiness in preparing freshly baked cookies that we can offer during our client meetings and hope that our token translates as an...

We help families protect their assets from the costs of long term care. Often times, however, we are not working with our elderly client directly, but rather with his/her Agent under a Power of Attorney (POA). Unfortunately, we regularly see POAs that do not grant the Agent full authority because items in the General Authority and Specific Authority sections have not been initialed. This has been especially problematic since the Powers of Attorney Act was passed in 2010. As a result, the Agent does not have the authority to make gifts or create irrevocable trusts, which are both commonly necessary to complete asset protection planning....

Contributed by: Tony DiPietro, State Farm Insurance Agent

What is Life Insurance?

Life insurance is a contract established during your lifetime where an amount of money (called the “death benefit”) is paid to a beneficiary (the person(s) or entity you choose to receive the money) at your death, in exchange for a premium that you pay to the insurance company during your lifetime. However, there are various types of life insurance products available, all designed to serve a particular purpose. An insurance professional can help you understand your options and make the best selection for you and your loved ones.

How can Life Insurance S...

*Contributed by Marie T. Chin, Estate Planning Coordinator

“Every patient is someone’s most important person”. This was the quote on my desk calendar that I saw every day for the entire month of July. At Procino-Wells & Woodland, I am so proud to be a part of a team that sees each client as “someone’s most important person”. When someone comes into our office, they are typically dealing with preparing for death or with the recent loss of a loved one. These are incredibly difficult conversations to have and I am grateful to be part of a team that not only acknowledges this but is there through the entire process. From supplying freshly bake...

Jeffrey D. Montgomery is the founder and president of Montgomery Financial Services LLC (www.mfswealth.com). He works primarily with pre-retirees, retirees and affluent small-business owners, helping them grow, protect and distribute their financial assets.

The stock market is an amazing thing, with so many moving parts that it's impossible to predict. So don't even try to determine what it's going to do next, and don't believe people who say they can. Here's what to do instead.

Hardly a day goes by without some self-proclaimed expert making lofty, and sometimes outrageous, predictions in the media about where the markets are heading and...