Like most people, you probably don’t expect to become disabled. However, you are three times more likely to become disabled due to illness or injury than to die during your earning years (Source: 1985 Commissioner’s Individual Disability Table A). That’s why it’s important to know what disability benefits you may be entitled to under Social Security.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two programs that pay disability benefits. The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program pays benefits to qualified individuals who are under age 65, regardless of their income. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to qualified individuals with limited income. Only the SSDI program is discussed here.
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Posted by Michael Chapman at 8:36 PM PDT
- Earnings, catalyst for new highs
- Large Cap Stocks lead the way
- Stage set for new all time highs in S&P
- Short term consolidation then higher
In my April 4th posting I stated that earnings might well be the catalyst to send the market to new highs for the year and that has proven to be the case. The market continues to discount a plethora of bad news; housing foreclosures, rising interest rates, the carry spread, and the geopolitical environment. This market wants to move higher.
Read the Bull Bear Review (PDF) >>>
Posted by Michael Chapman at 4:58 PM PDT
It’s a fact: People today are living longer. Although that’s good news, the odds of requiring some sort of long-term care increase as you get older. And as the costs of home care, nursing homes, and assisted living escalate, you probably wonder how you’re ever going to be able to afford long-term care. One solution that is gaining in popularity is long-term care insurance (LTCI).
What is long-term care?
Most people associate long-term care with the elderly. But it applies to the ongoing care of individuals of all ages who can no longer independently perform basic activities of daily living (ADLs)–such as bathing, dressing, or eating–due to an illness, injury, or cognitive disorder. This care can be provided in a number of settings, including private homes, assisted-living facilities, adult day-care centers, hospices, and nursing homes.
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Posted by Michael Chapman at 12:00 PM PDT
It’s tax season and the sub-adviser to our Large Cap Value accounts, Boston Private Value Investors, points out that taxes are one of the most overlooked costs of doing business in the investment world. In the attached article, BPVI does a good job of highlighting the cost of taxes to an investors overall returns. They build a strong case for active verses passive portfolio management and give you a great list of ten questions that will provide insight into a manager’s tax conscious investing capabilities.
Tax Conscious Investing: Do Taxes Really Matter? (PDF) >>>
Posted by Michael Chapman at 12:52 PM PDT
