Special Needs Trust Fairness Act Becomes Law

From: wealthmanagement.com

Individuals with disabilities can create their own self-settled trusts

On Dec. 13, 2016, President Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act (H.R.34 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)). Section 5007 of the Act, titled “Fairness in Medicaid Supplemental Needs Trusts” incorporates language from the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act of 2015 by adding two words (“the individual”) to an existing statute. With the stroke of a…

Do You Even Know How Bonds Work? Now’s the Time to Brush Up

From: time.com

Test your knowledge with this quiz.

Bonds have been in the news a lot lately: Yields on 10-year Treasury bonds have risen amid concerns that tax cuts and infrastructure spending in a Trump administration could spur inflation. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen recently told Congress that the Fed could begin moving to boost interest rates “relatively soon.”…

“You either get bitter or you get better. It’s that simple. You either take what has been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to you.”

–Josh Shipp

Brexit – Don’t panic!

From: financial-planning.com

I watched in shock as the Brexit results were reported Thursday night. Then, on Friday morning, I watched as stocks tanked.

Global equities, especially foreign, tumbled. Money poured into safe havens, such as U.S. Treasuries. I knew advisers would be wondering if they should get their clients out of the stock market until the uncertainty vacuum dissipates. I say “don’t even think about it!”

It’s not that I…

The Policy Lapse Lawsuit

From: inforcepro.com

As many of you have heard, there has been another tragic case of a life insurance policy lapsing and not catching it until the policyholder had already passed away. The insured, David Stewart, was separated, living alone, and battling depression, therefore opening up his mail was not a major priority in his struggle with his health. Stewart was issued a $500,000 policy from Northwestern Mutual…

The great lie of a stalled global economy

From: americanthinker.com

Perhaps the greatest deceit peddled on publics across the West is that the global economy is struggling. It is not.

A classic example of the incorrect information being disseminated is the following claim from an article by Doug Saunders in the Globe and Mail:

We are in an era – perhaps transitory, maybe longer lasting – in which the world economy has stalled,…

The Current Market, North Central Florida

From: REAP

AN OVERVIEW: The Current Market, North Central Florida

I. The Market:

The focus of my firm has been on the less populated counties and cities (referenced also as “B” markets) and surrounding rural areas.

A. Primary: I-75 Corridor: Marion, Alachua & Columbia counties, which are populated primarily by Ocala, Gainesville & Lake City, respectively;

B. Primary: I-95 Corridor: Volusia, Flagler, St. John’s & Putnam counties, or Daytona Beach/Deland,…

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Tax Law Changes Affecting Your Clients

From: thinkadvisor.com

Yes, it’s tax filing season again, already!! And again for this year, we had some tax laws extended by Congress through 2016 or 2019, but some were actually made permanent.

So for the context of this article, we’ll discuss only those changes affecting your individual clients.

Nurse Reveals the Top Five Regrets People Make on their Deathbed

From: wakeup-world.com

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives. People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality.

I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some…