get your ducks in a row! - estate planning in north … your ducks in a row! estate & long-term...
TRANSCRIPT
October 2017
Stop Living in the Cone of Uncertainty: Plan Ahead My heart goes out to those who have been affected by hurricanes and other disasters recently. We have heard from many clients and colleagues whose family members were in the path of either Harvey, Irma, or Maria last month, and thankfully, everyone we’ve spoken to is doing okay, though not all were completely unscathed.
There was an interesting phenomenon that kept coming up as I monitored the forecasts last month, and it got me thinking. You may remember, as Irma swept in, the Na-tional Hurricane Center put out reports several times a day about where the eye of the storm was headed. The pictures looked vaguely like a bent ice cream cone. The pointy part was where the eye was currently, and the cone extended all the way to a “scoop” at the end—a large cir-cle that represented where the eye might be a few days from now. They kept calling this projected path “the Cone of Uncertainty” because they couldn’t predict exactly where in that region the eye of the hurricane would hit.
That got me thinking: during a disaster, the Cone of Un-certainty is the last place you want to be. Taking the term literally, you ultimately don’t want to be where the hurri-cane is likely to go. But to use a little literary license, also consider this: in the midst of turmoil, the people who fare the best are the people who have planned ahead.
Of course there is an Estate Planning tie-in. We talk about this all the time. If you don’t establish certainty about
what you want to happen with your health and finances, the alternative is pretty lousy. For anyone in the Cone of Uncertainty about their Estate Plan, Estate Planning Awareness week is October 15th-21st. We have a semi-nar on the 19th. You should come!
Estate Planning aside, last month was a powerful reminder about Emergency Preparedness. While we weren’t sure where Hurricane Irma was going to land, Jackie and I took some time before the storm to review our own plan. It was too late to get milk, bread, and eggs. But we did take the time to fill up jugs of emergency water and stock emer-gency kits around the house with flashlights, batteries, and other supplies. We also went over our family emergency plan: a written document to remind us whom to call and what to do in the case of fire, flood, or other disaster.
You can and should have your own Emergency Prepared-ness plan for your family. This is doubly true if you have family members who need extra help. I recommend the following resources from FEMA to get started:
Prepare for Emergencies Brochure: vip.carolinafep.com/prepare
Additional Materials: vip.carolinafep.com/fema-materials
May this material give you and your family certainty, comfort, and hope if you find yourself in need. —Dan Bedard Executive Director
Get Your Ducks In a Row! Estate & Long-Term Care Planning News
from Carolina Family Estate Planning
Carolina Family Estate Planning
51 Kilmayne Dr., Suite 203, Cary, NC 27511
919-694-4437 | CarolinaFEP.com
Email: [email protected]
Facebook.com/CarolinaFEP
Practice Areas:
Wills • Living Trusts • Asset Protection Trusts Powers of Attorney • Health Care Directives • Living Wills
Long-Term Care Planning • Medicaid Planning Veteran’s Aid & Attendance Benefits
Special Needs Planning • Children’s Safeguard Planning Probate & Estate Administration • Trust Administration
This publication is for general education purposes. It is not intend-
ed to be legal advice. This newsletter may be freely copied and
distributed so long as it is copied in its entirety.
The National Hurricane Center’s “Cone of Uncertainty”
Heads up! Medicare Open Enrollment begins on
October 15th and runs through December 7th for changes
that will be effective on January 1, 2018.
The Medicare open enrollment period is the time during
which people with Medicare can make new choices and
pick plans that work best for them. Each year, Medicare
plans typically change what they cost and cover. In
addition, your health-care needs may have changed over
the past year. The open enrollment period is your
opportunity to switch Medicare health and prescription
drug plans to better suit your needs.
During the open enrollment period, you can:
• Join a Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) Plan
• Switch from one Part D plan to another Part D plan
• Drop your Part D coverage altogether
• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare
Advantage Plan
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original
Medicare
• Change from one Medicare Advantage Plan to a
different Medicare Advantage Plan
• Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers
Medicare Open Enrollment Begins October 15th! Jackie Bedard
prescription drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage
Plan that doesn’t offer prescription drug coverage
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t
offer prescription drug coverage to a Medicare
Advantage Plan that does offer prescription drug
coverage.
Now is a good time to review your current Medicare plan.
As part of the evaluation, you may want to consider
several factors. For instance, are you satisfied with the
coverage and level of care you’re receiving with your
current plan? Are your premium costs or out-of-pocket
expenses too high? Has your health changed, or do you
anticipate needing medical care or treatment?
Open enrollment period is the time to determine whether
your current plan will cover your treatment and what your
potential out-of-pocket costs may be. If your current plan
doesn’t meet your health-care needs or fit within your
budget, you can switch to a plan that may work better for
you.
Determining what coverage you have now and comparing
it to other Medicare plans can be confusing and
complicated. Pay attention to notices you receive from
Medicare and from your plan, and take advantage of help
available by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or by visiting the
Medicare website, www.medicare.gov.
It is an honor when clients, partners, and friends refer clients to us. When you tell someone about your
experience with Carolina Family Estate Planning, you are helping them Get Their Ducks in a Row!
We would like to thank the following people and organizations:
Thank You For Introducing Your Friends & Family to Our Office!
Anne White
Ashley Crane, First Command Financial Services
Bob Villareal, Charles Schwab
Charlie & Nicole Feehely
Dan Stancil, Brookdale Cary
Daneene Barton
David & Sandra Buchin
Don & Liz Ramey
Doug & Carol Mistler
Edenton Street United Methodist Church
James and Susan Oates
Juliet Mallory
Keely Stone
Maura Silverman, Triangle Aphasia Project
Munir & Saeeda Ladhabhoy
NC State Employees Credit Union
Pastor Johnny Holloway, Cup of Salvation Church
Phil Sielatycki, Ameriprise
Steve & Elaine Wiercioch
Ted & Kris Kiegiel
Tom Gervase, Coastal Federal Credit Union
Tyler Dean, Edward Jones
Want to help your parents’ group, church group, or community organization “get their ducks in a row”?
Contact us at [email protected] to start planning a special CFEP presentation.
Free Seminars: RSVP required
October 19th: 6:30pm • October 26th: 6:30pm
November 9th: 6:30pm • November 21st: 10:00am
Register by phone: 919-694-4437 or online: seminars.carolinafep.com
Planning for the 2nd Half of Life in these Political and Economic Times…
11 Threats to You, Your Family, and Your Assets
Can’t attend? Call us & we’ll update you about future presentations or other resources.
Upcoming Seminars
Nala’s Nook
If you’re not in to zucchini noodles, you can use rice noodles —or even just plain pasta.
Nalsworth Dogglethorp, III, Esq. here (a.k.a, Nala). My job
is to bring you something fun or interesting each issue:
Thai Peanut Zoodles (or Noodles)
Directions
1. In a wok or large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until the oil sizzles.
2. While the wok is heating: in a medium bowl, combine sauce ingredients and mix well.
3. Place chicken pieces in the wok and cook all the way through.
4. Add zoodles to the wok and cook for 1-2 minutes to warm them up.
5. Add sauce and toss to coat the zoodles.
6. Remove from heat. Plate and serve.
Ingredients
2 medium zucchini, spiralized into zoodles 1/2 pound chicken breasts, cut into bite-
sized pieces 3 Tbsp olive oil Sauce 1/4 cup peanut butter 1/4 cup soy sauce 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 Tbsp honey 1 Tbsp ginger, grated 1 Tbsp rice vinegar 1 Tbsp sesame oil 1 tsp Sriracha
Join Us November 1st at Carolina Family Estate Planning for
How to Have “The Conversation” with Your Aging Parents A collaboration with LifeLinks: Aging and Geriatric Care Management for Families
Care Manager and Advocate, Erin Nortonen • Author and Elder Law Attorney, Jackie Bedard
Wednesday, November 1st, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
RSVP at VIP.carolinafep.com/Conversation The CFEP Learning Center 51 Kilmayne Dr., Ste. 203 Cary, NC 27511
CAROLINA FAMILY ESTATE PLANNING
51 Kilmayne Dr., Suite 203
Cary, NC 27511
Phone: 919-694-4437
www.CarolinaFEP.com
inside this issue
For up-to-date information and
recent announcements
Page 1
Stop Living in the Cone of Uncertainty
Page 2
Medicare Open Enrollment: Oct. 15
Thank You!
Page 3
Nala’s Nook: Thai Peanut Zoodles
Special Presentation and
Upcoming Seminars
Page 4
What’s New at CFEP
Special Presentations In and Around Town
We’ve been busy! In September, Jackie was fortunate to be invited to
several local speaking engagements, including “Exploring Long Term
Cary Planning Options” at Brookdale Cary and “Living into the Third
Third of Life” at Edenton St. United Methodist Church.
On October 12th, Jackie is presenting on long-term care considerations
for seniors for the Financial Planning Association of the Triangle. AND...
We have a special presentation on November 1st at the Carolina Family Estate Planning Learning Center:
“How to Have “the Conversation” with your Aging Parents.” This is a joint presentation with Erin Nortonen, care
manager and advocate at LifeLinks. More details on Page 3 and at vip.carolinafep.com/conversation
And if you haven’t been to our regular seminar, “The 11 Threats to You, Your Family, and Your Assets,” we
have a presentation coming up for you! See Page 3 for details.
What’s New at Carolina Family Estate Planning
Just a reminder! October 15th-21st is Estate Planning Awareness Week. Do you have your Ducks in a Row?
Jackie talking about powerful POAs at Edenton St. United Methodist Church