Alta Vista Benefits Aug 2010 Newsletter

Issue #22


The monthly Alta Vista Benefits newsletter is provided as a service to help with issues in your every day life. Your suggestions and feedback can be e-mailed to lucy@altavistaben.com.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Life Planning

Get your life organized

Have you organized your life so that your family knows your wishes if you cannot make health or financial choices yourself?

Have you thought about the consequences to your loved ones if you should be seriously injured, become frail or have a cognitive impairment and need care over a period of years?

If that happens, what is your plan?
Having an overall life plan is important to:

1) Ensure that your family knows your wishes and is prepared to support you.

2) Maintain your independence for as long as possible without compromising the emotional and physical well being of those you love.
3) Preserve your investment/retirement portfolio so it can be used for income.

You depend on income to provide financial stability and support your lifestyle. When you need care and your portfolio is reallocated to pay for it, it impacts your financial commitments, the financial viability of your spouse, and that of your children who depend on your legacy. If you ever do need care, your family’s life is dramatically changed without a plan.

Key components of a plan:

1) Legal Review -- Work with your attorney to review and update wills, living wills, trusts, durable power of attorney, health care power of attorney and other legal documents. Even if you already have these documents, it is important to review them on a regular basis.

2) Prepare Your Home -- Make sure your home is handicap friendly/accessible. This includes bright lighting, a shower chair, 36 inch doorways, bars in tubs and showers, first floor laundry and bath, a security system and other accommodations to help you stay in your home safely.

3) Communicate Your Plan -- Write down your plan and communicate with loved ones about the location of important documents and accounts, any health concerns you have and what your plan is for care. Have extra keys made and give them to someone you trust.

4) Document Financial Information -- Organize financial information by making a list of accounts and important advisers. Share this information with a spouse and other family members.

5) Review Insurance and Investments -- Make appointments with your trusted advisers to review all of your insurance and investments. Identify the person who will monitor them if you can't.

6) Protect Your Income -- Protect your income from being reallocated to pay for care by determining if disability and/or long term care coverage works for you. People purchase both types of income protection, not because they expect to need care, but to mitigate the consequences if they do.



Protecting you and your family is a necessity, not a choice. For help with your plan, contact us at 614-889-0934 or lucy@altavistaben.com.




Did You Know?
Wellness Benefits


There are now Wellness Benefits available to you as an individual, so you no longer have to depend on an employer to access this type of benefit. Alta Vista Benefits is certified in Wellness and can get you connected to the wellness resources you need.

There are also new tax incentives for small businesses who start a Wellness program, beginning in 2011. If you work for an employer who does not have a plan and are interested in starting one, just let us know.


For more information about how you can get healthier through a wellness program, please contact us.