BenefitsCheckUp® is a free service of the National Council on Aging, showing you what FREE benefits

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Apr 20, 2021

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Have you heard ofBenefitsCheckUp? It is a free service of the National Council on Aging, that lets you search for benefits easily, securely, and accurately. In the US, there are over 2,500 federal, state, and private benefit programs available. Start finding benefits with ourBenefitsCheckUp questionnaire or browse our Resource Library to learn more about programs and eligibility.

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Be alert for caregiver financial abuse

Do you have a parent or other elderly relative who may soon need a caregiver? If so, be diligent when selecting the right person for the job because choosing the wrong one could lead to big financial problems.            You might find a close family member or friend to serve as caregiver someone who is honest and trustworthy, with good judgment and strong money management skills. However, in many cases, people hiring caregivers just dont know how theyll perform until the caregivers have begun work. A dishonest caregiver could steal valuables or cash from the person they have been paid to assist or incept their mail to obtain credit card numbers and other sensitive information to commit identity theft.             So, if you enlist a caregiver and begin having doubts about them, youll need to watch out for these warning signs of possible financial abuse:            Efforts to prevent the individual receiving care from speaking to family members             Inquiries into the location of estate-planning documents, such as a will             Interest in brokerage and retirement accounts, possibly with the intent to change transfer-on-death designations            Withholding financial or medical information from the family            Missing jewelry or property            Requests to be a joint holder on bank or brokerage accounts, sometimes followed by large cash withdrawals paid to the caregiver            Request for legal authority, such as a financial power of attorney naming only the caregiver            This last item the request for financial power of attorney, or POA is particularly concerning because of the scope of duties covered by this type of authority. Thats why its so important that all family members understand what a financial POA can and cannot do.             A general financial POA provides the agent with the authority to act on behalf of an individuals finances, while a limited financial POA gives the agent the authority only for certain actions, such as paying bills, making withdrawals and opening or closing bank accounts. A general financial POA and a limited financial POA both can be durable, which means they take effect once executed, or springing, which is contingent on a specific event, such as a physical illness, mental incapacity or even a hospitalization.             Unfortunately, some POA agents have abused their responsibility by stealing money, making unauthorized transactions and even attempting to change the beneficiary designations on retirement accounts or insurance policies owned by the people for whom they provide care. These beneficiary designations can even supersede the instructions left in a will or living trust and they cant be changed by a financial POA.            If you suspect financial abuse by a caregiver, you can consider contacting your loved ones financial advisor or attorney, if you know who it is. While they can't share information with you, they can check for red flags and contact your loved one directly. You also can get help from your state government. The National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) provides a listing of offices in each state at napsa-now.org/help-in-your-area.            Finding a caregiver for a parent or other elderly relative can be emotionally difficult but it doesnt have to be financially draining. Get to know the caregiver if you can and watch for any red flags, so you can take comfort in knowing that your loved ones finances are in good hands.  Chad Choate III, AAMS 828 3rd Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-462-2445 chad.chaote@edwardjones.com This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Financial moves for a growing family

If youre adding a child to your family, its an exciting time, and you have much to anticipate. Of course, this new addition will bring many changes in your life, so youll want to be prepared  especially in terms of your finances.             What financial moves should you make as you welcome your new child? Here are a few to consider:            Estimate expenses and create a new budget. You will likely have several new expenses associated with a new child, ranging from relatively minor purchases car seat, stroller, crib, etc. to potentially much larger costs, such as a vehicle with more space or even a new home. Youll need to estimate what you can afford for these initial expenses and then work in to your budget the everyday additional costs food, clothing, uncovered medical expenses and so on.             Look at options to support taking time off work. Depending on where you live and where you work, you might have some sources of support if you take time off from work after the arrival of your child. These options may include paid time off such as sick leave and vacation time paid family leave, short-term disability insurance, and some benefits from the Family Medical and Leave Act.              Determine how child care will be provided. Child care can be expensive and, in some areas, hard to find. Well before the arrival of your child, start looking for child care, so you can explore your options and start factoring in the costs to your cash flow and monthly budget. During your search, look at offerings from local community centers, religious institutions and nonprofit organizations, some of which may offer low-cost child care programs.            Contribute to your emergency fund. Its generally a good idea to keep up to six months worth of living expenses in a liquid, low-risk account to pay for unexpected costs and with a growing family, these costs may well increase as your child grows older.             Look at your tax situation. You may want to consult with a tax professional to determine whether you qualify for credits or deductions, such as the dependent care credit, the federal child tax credit, and adoption-related credits (if you adopted a child). Also, you may want to update your Form W-4 to add a dependent a move that may lower your tax withholding and increase your take-home pay.             Start your education planning. Its never too soon to think about paying for costs associated with your childs education. You might want to consider a 529 education savings plan, which offers tax benefits and can be used for college and many vocational programs, as well as some K-12 costs. A financial advisor can help you explore all available education savings options.             Check your insurance. Youll need to add your child to your existing health insurance, but if you dont have insurance, see whether you qualify for Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or look for a marketplace plan at healthcare.gov. You might also need to purchase additional life insurance coverage. And with a growing family to support, you might want to add disability coverage to protect your income against short- or long-term disabilities.            Bringing a new child into your life is certainly a joyous occasion  and by being financially prepared, you can make the whole experience even more enjoyable. Chad Choate III, AAMS 828 3rd Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-462-2445 chad.chaote@edwardjones.com This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Three stops on the road to financial stability

            Achieving financial stability doesnt happen overnight it takes a journey. And, as with every journey, youll need to make some stops along the way. These stops, or milestones, can tell you how far youve gone and where you need to go next.            Milestone 1: Build a foundation            When youre first starting on your financial journey typically, when you are beginning your career youll want to build a foundation by acting on key issues, such as saving, paying down debts and investing for the future. Here are some suggestions:            Start your emergency fund. Eventually, youd like to have several months worth of living expenses kept in a liquid, low-risk account to deal with unexpected costs, such as large medical bills or a major car repair. For now, though, at least try to put away a few hundred dollars or a months worth of expenses. To make it easier, have some money moved automatically each month from a checking or savings account into your emergency fund.             Take your employers match. Contribute enough to your 401(k) and health savings account (HSA) to earn your employers matching contribution, if one is offered.            Pay down your higher-rate debt. Try to pay down as much high-interest, non-deductible debt as you can afford. If possible, refinance debt at lower interest rates.            Milestone 2: Gain a better foothold            Once youve got your financial foundation in place, and youre established in your career, consider these steps to gain an even better foothold:             Continue building your emergency fund. Try to get at least a couple of months expenses in this fund.            Put away more into your retirement accounts. If you can, try to put anywhere from 10% to 15% of your gross income into your 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan.             Check your debt-to-income ratio. Divide your monthly debt payments by your monthly gross income to calculate your debt-to-income ratio. If youre paying a mortgage, try to keep this ratio to 35% or less. Without a mortgage, try for 20% or less.            Milestone 3: Keep moving forward            As you move into your middle years and beyond its time to further solidify your financial situation and keep making progress toward a comfortable retirement. These moves can help:              Maintain your emergency fund. By now, you should be able to keep up to six months worth of expenses in your emergency fund. A sizable emergency fund can help you if you need to switch jobs, and enable you to meet larger expenses without dipping into your long-term investments.            Review your retirement goals. At this stage of your life, you should review your retirement goals regularly to determine whether youre still on track toward meeting them. If you arent, you may need to adjust your investment strategies. Of course, your goals may have changed over time, and this, too, may require adjustments on your part. You may want to work with a financial professional who can suggest appropriate moves to help you on your way.            Reaching all these milestones will take diligence and commitment but it will be worth the effort in helping you on your journey toward financial stability.Chad Choate III, AAMS 828 3rd Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-462-2445 chad.chaote@edwardjones.com  This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.