Costs of Some New Long-Term Care Insurance Policies Rise in Latest Survey

 

A couple who are both age 60 and who purchase new long-term care insurance coverage can expect to pay between 6 and 9 percent more compared to a year ago according to the 2017 Long Term Care Insurance Price Index, an annual report from the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, an industry group. But rates for single men and women remained fairly level or, in some instances, actually declined compared to 2016, reports the association.  

A married couple both age 60 would pay $2,200 a year combined for a total of $328,000 of long-term care insurance coverage. This represents a 9 percent increase from 2016, when the association reported that a couple could expect to pay $2,010. Adding an inflation growth option that builds the couple's benefit pool to a combined $660,000 at age 85 would cost an average of $3,790 a year, 6 percent higher than last year.

Rates for single men and women remained fairly level or, in some instances, went down compared to 2016. A single man could expect to pay an average of $1,050 a year for $164,000 worth of coverage, a 3 percent increase over last year, although the same policy with inflation protection is now 20 percent cheaper, at $1,665 a year. The same two policies for single women average $1,600 and $2,600 a year, respectively, essentially the same as 2016.

But the association points out that costs for virtually identical policy coverage still varies significantly from one insurer to the next. Its analysis found rates varied by as much as 70 percent for the same coverage. For example, a 55-year-old single woman could pay as little as $1,450 a year or as much as $2,650, depending on which insurer she buys from. "You generally only buy long-term care insurance once, so it's important to do it correctly the first time," said Jesse Slome, the association’s director.

As last year, this year’s index compares policies sold in Tennessee, which is viewed as a representative state. The survey was conducted in January 2017.

Is It Better to Use Joint Ownership or a Trust to Pass Down a Home?

 

When leaving a home to your children, you can avoid probate by using either joint ownership or a revocable trust, but which is the better method? 

If you add your child as a joint tenant on your house, you will each have an equal ownership interest in the property. If one joint tenant dies, his or her interest immediately ceases to exist and the other joint tenant owns the entire property. This has the advantage of avoiding probate.

A disadvantage of joint tenancy is that creditors can attach the tenant's property to satisfy a debt. So, for example, if a co-tenant defaults on debts, his or her creditors can sue in a "partition proceeding" to have the property interests divided and the property sold, even over the other owners' objections. In addition, even without an issue with a creditor, one co-owner of the property can sue to partition the property, so one owner can force another owner to move out.

Joint tenancy also has a capital gains impact for the child. When you give property to a child, the tax basis for the property is the same price that you purchased the property for. However, inherited property receives a "step up" in basis, which means the basis is the current value of the property. When you die, your child inherits your half of the property, so half of the property will receive a "step up" in basis. But the tax basis of the gifted half of the property will remain the original purchase price. If your child sells the house after you die, he or she would have to pay capital gains taxes on the difference between the tax basis and the selling price. The only way to avoid the tax is for the child to live in the house for at least two years before selling it. In that case, the child can exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 for a couple) of capital gains from taxes.

If you put your property in a revocable trust with yourself as beneficiary and your child as beneficiary after you die, the property will go to your child without going through probate. A trust is also beneficial because it can guarantee you the right to live in the house and take into account changes in circumstances, such as your child passing away before you.

Another benefit of a trust is with capital gains taxes. The tax basis of property in a revocable trust is stepped up when you die, which means the basis would be the current value of the property. Therefore, if your child sells the property soon after inheriting it, the value of the property would likely not have changed much and the capital gains taxes would be low.

In general, a trust is more flexible and provides more options to protect you and your child, but circumstances always vary. You should talk to your attorney about how to pass down your property.

Trump Delays Rule That Retirement Advisers Put Their Client's Interests Ahead of Their Own

 

President Trump signed an executive order calling for a review of the so-called fiduciary rule, which was intended to prevent financial advisers from steering their clients to bad retirement investments by requiring advisers to act in the best interests of their clients. The order delays the rule, which was scheduled to go into effect in April 2017, and the rule may ultimately be repealed.

Prompted by concern that many financial advisers have a sales incentive to recommend to their clients bad retirement investments with high fees and low returns because they get higher commissions or other incentives, the Department of Labor drew up rules in April 2016 that would require financial advisers to act like fiduciaries.

The rule required all financial professionals who offer advice related to retirement savings to provide recommendations that are in a client's best interest. Currently, financial advisers only have to recommend suitable investments, which means they can push products that may benefit them more than their clients. The rule would require advisers to not accept compensation or payments that would create a conflict unless they have an enforceable contract agreeing to put the client's interest first. Advisers also would have to disclose any conflicts and charge reasonable compensation.

Americans likely lose about $17 billion from retirement savings every year because of bad financial advice from advisors with conflicts of interest, according to a 2015 report by the White House Council of Economic Advisors. 

Even though the implementation of the rule is delayed and possibly scrapped for good, financial companies have already spent money and time to comply with the rule. For example, Merrill Lynch said it was going to stop offering commission-based retirement accounts in order to comply with the new rule. Those companies may not change course even if the rule is rescinded.

Regardless of whether the fiduciary rule lives on or not, consumers should use caution when selecting a financial adviser. Ask your financial adviser if he or she is a fiduciary. If not, then be aware that the adviser is not required to act in your best interest. You should also check your financial adviser's experience and credentials and beware of phony credentials. 

Things to Remember at Tax Time

 

Tax day, which is April 18th in 2017, is approaching and it is time to begin crossing T's and dotting I's in preparation for paying taxes. As tax time draws near, you want to make sure you file all the proper forms and take all deductions you're entitled to. Following are some things to keep in mind as you prepare your tax form.

• Gifts. Did you give away any money this year? The gift tax can be very confusing. If you gave away more than $14,000 in 2016, you will have to file a Form 709, the gift tax return. This does not necessarily mean you will owe taxes on the money, however. 
• Medical Expenses. Many types of medical expenses are tax deductible, from hospital stays to hearing aids. To claim the deduction, your medical expenses have to be more than 10 percent of your adjusted gross income.  (For taxpayers 65 and older, this threshold will be 7.5 percent through 2016.) This includes all out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions (including deductibles and co-pays) and Medicare Part B and Part C and Part D premiums. (Medicare Part B premiums are usually deducted out of your Social Security benefits, so be sure to check your 1099 for the amount.) You can only deduct medical expenses you paid during the year, regardless of when the services were provided, and medical expenses are not deductible if they are reimbursable by insurance. 
• Parental Deduction. If you are caring for your mother or father, you may be able to claim your parent as a dependent on your income taxes. This would allow you to get an exemption $4,050 (in 2016) for him or her. 
• Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums. Premiums for "qualified" long-term care policies are treated as an unreimbursed medical expense. Long-term care insurance premiums are deductible for the taxpayer, his or her spouse and other dependents.
• Social Security Benefits. Although Social Security benefits are generally not taxable, people with substantial income in addition to their Social Security may pay taxes on their benefits. If you file a federal tax return as an individual and your "combined income," including one half of your Social Security benefits and nontaxable interest income is between $25,000 and $34,000, 50 percent of your Social Security benefits will be considered taxable. If your combined income is above $34,000, 85 percent of your Social Security benefits is subject to income tax. 
• Home Sale Exclusion. Married couples can exclude from income up to $500,000 in profit on the sale of a home ($250,000 for single individuals). If a surviving spouse sells the home, he or she can still claim the exclusion as long as the house was sold no more than two years after the spouse's death. 
• Elderly or Disabled Tax Credit. Some low-income elderly or disabled individuals are entitled to a special tax credit. To be eligible, you must meet income limits. For more information, click here.
• Tax Refunds. Getting a federal tax refund should not affect your Medicaid or Social Security benefits. For a year after receiving a tax refund from the federal government, the refund will not be considered income or resources for SSI or Medicaid purposes. You can also transfer the refund within a year without incurring a penalty.