The Money Maze

Finding a financial advisor who understands elder care — what to look for

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Every family situation is different, and you should consult with appropriate professionals about your specific circumstances. Your parent has been working with the same financial advisor for fifteen years, and that person has done

The Money Maze

Social Security disability for seniors — when health forces early decisions

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Every family situation is different, and you should consult with appropriate professionals about your specific circumstances. Your parent got sick. Maybe it's cancer, maybe it's Parkinson's, maybe it&

The Money Maze

Required minimum distributions — the retirement account rules that change everything

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Every family situation is different, and you should consult with appropriate professionals about your specific circumstances. You get a letter or statement from your parent's IRA custodian, and it mentions something about

The Money Maze

Reverse mortgages — the risks nobody mentions

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Every family situation is different, and you should consult with appropriate professionals about your specific circumstances. I'm going to be direct about this: reverse mortgages have real downsides that don't

The Money Maze

Social Security strategies for elderly parents — timing and optimization

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Every family situation is different, and you should consult with appropriate professionals about your specific circumstances. Here's a conversation that doesn't happen nearly enough between adult children and their aging

The Money Maze

The cost reality — what elder care actually costs in America

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Every family situation is different, and you should consult with appropriate professionals about your specific circumstances. When I sat down with my parents' financial folder for the first time, I wasn't

The Money Maze

Reverse mortgages explained — when the house becomes the funding source

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Every family situation is different, and you should consult with appropriate professionals about your specific circumstances. Your parent owns their home. It's worth $400,000 or $600,000 or maybe more. But

The Money Maze

When they have no insurance — options for the uninsured elderly

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Every family situation is different, and you should consult with appropriate professionals about your specific circumstances. Understanding the Basics Your parent is 68 and has no health insurance. They lost their coverage when they

The Money Maze

Medicaid planning with an elder law attorney — when it's worth the cost

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Every family situation is different, and you should consult with appropriate professionals about your specific circumstances. Understanding Your Parent's Situation Medicaid planning with an attorney is one of those things that sounds

The Money Maze

The asset protection conversation — what's legal and what's risky

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Every family situation is different, and you should consult with appropriate professionals about your specific circumstances. Understanding the Basics Your parent is worried. They've heard stories about people losing their houses to

The Money Maze

Understanding Explanation of Benefits (EOB) — reading the paperwork

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Every family situation is different, and you should consult with appropriate professionals about your specific circumstances. Understanding the Basics The envelope arrives and your parent calls in panic. They don't understand why

The Money Maze

Insurance appeals — fighting denials across all types of coverage

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Every family situation is different, and you should consult with appropriate professionals about your specific circumstances. Understanding the Basics The denial letter arrives, and your parent thinks they've hit a dead end.