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8 Keys to Effective Long-Term Care Planning
Long-term Care Planning is one of the biggest issues facing aging adults today. Experts project that nearly 70% of all individuals will need long-term care at some point in their life. And yet, that care is outrageously expensive at a time in life where one is...
Medicaid Help
When a loved one needs nursing home care, that is one of the most stressful things a family faces. We help families every day deal with this difficult issue. One of the biggest concerns is often “how do we pay for it?” Nursing homes are expensive, often $10,000 per...
Is Your Loved One in a Nursing Home?
Is your spouse, parent, sibling, or loved one in a nursing home? Are you worried about running out of money? Have you been told it’s too late to protect assets? These are common concerns we hear when meeting with clients for the first time. Our advice is this: It’s...
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What You Need to Know About Caregiving By 50, 60, 70
One of the best things about Edwards Group is the fact that so many of our clients become like family, so there is a lot of give and take. They learn things through our email newsletters, along with our extensive website and free workshops, but did you know that our...
Take Action Now: Update Your Beneficiary Designations
It is vitally important that you review all your beneficiary designations (life insurance, 401(k)s, etc.) every 2 years, or sooner in cases of births, deaths, marriages, divorce, job changes or retirement. Download our beneficiary designation form here. Read on to see...
3 Reasons the Majority of People Don’t Have a Will
It's vital that you do not take the ostrich approach to estate planning. A recent survey released by Rocket Lawyer found that 51% of Americans ages 55-64 don't have wills! That's a lot of people with their head stuck in the sand hoping things will just work out when...
Are Reverse Mortgages EVER Okay?
Reverse mortgages should only be used as a last resort. You know the old saying, "If it seems to good to be true, then it probably is." Well, it seems that saying could easily apply to the reverse mortgage industry. Because of that, if you are considering one, you...
Updated Dollar Amounts in 2015
Social Security and VA pension numbers will change in 2015, with Medicaid numbers staying the same in Illinois. Here's what you can expect: VA Pensions and Social Security will increase by 1.7% in 2015 Effective December 31, 2014 (but not seen in your checks until...
10 Non-financial Planning Issues You Should Consider
Effective planning doesn't just involve money... We tend to do things a little differently around here. After years of doing planning the traditional way (and seeing ways that the process could be improved), I started my own firm. Not only is it important for me to...
The Value of Family Traditions
Ah, the holidays... a time when Michelle and I enjoy spending extra time with family. Family history and traditions mean a lot to us. Part of that family history involves names. Here are some interesting name connections in our family: 1. Otis - Bailey and Cole are...
Halloween 2014
We ask our clients to share A LOT of personal information with us. It's necessary for us to help them in the most effective way possible. Because of that high level of trust we ask you to place in us, and because my family is so important to me, I love sharing my...
Summer 2014
Our clients share a lot of personal information about their families with us. And that's part of the reason I like to share my family with you. Families are why we do what we do! This summer we spent a week in Branson with my parents and brother's family. (The kids...
How to Avoid an Estate Battle After You’re Gone
Creating a "special stuff list" will go a long way in keeping the peace once you're gone. Sadly, in my line of work, I see families fighting much more often than I would like. And while the media might lead you to believe it's all about the money, oftentimes the...