I own my house, or do I?
If the notion of knowing who owns your home sounds crazy, then consider this scenario: Tom and Mary bought their home in 1964, two years after they were married. Fifty years later, Tom has passed away and Mary wants to sell…
Social Security Benefits: When Should You Start?
The age-old question, “When should I start taking my Social Security Benefits?” is one that has plagued individuals in their late 50s and early 60s for decades. It is a great question that has a frustrating answer – it depends…
How to avoid penalties due to IRA Early Withdrawals?
Sometimes, you just need access to your IRA account to make ends meet but you have heard about an IRS penalty for early withdrawal. Are there any exceptions? A person can make early withdrawals from their IRA without paying a…
“Family Comes First”: A Sixth Season at Telecare!
Vincent J. Russo and Victoria Roberts Drogin are proud to announce the premiere of the Sixth Season of their Telly Award winning show, Family Comes First. Family Comes First is dedicated to highlighting the challenges that families face in their daily lives and…
Are Social Security Benefits available to same-sex married couples?
The Social Security Administration must recognize same-sex marriages when determining marital status for Title II and Medicare benefits, thanks to the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, United States v. Windsor. This means that spouses of same-sex marriages are entitled to…
Valuable Lessons We Can Learn From Joan Rivers
It is no secret from reading Joan River's 2012 book, "I Hate Everyone…Starting With Me", Joan Rivers was a realist about death. In the book, she included a section on how she envisioned her own funeral: “When I die (and yes, Melissa,…
Drafting a Will: The Pitfalls of DIY Legal Information
Why hire an attorney to draft and supervise the execution of your Last Will and Testament? While there is no question that the internet and bookstores are littered with do-it-yourself legal information, and many people may feel confident they can…
Taking Care of Special Needs Children: A Parent’s Guide
For parents of special needs children (either mentally or physically), passing control of their children to a stranger or outside health professional can be difficult. Many parents however, do not establish plans for their children should they become too sick to…
The Importance of Estate Planning for College Students
If you are about to send a child off to college, you're probably extremely busy with shopping, buying textbooks, and dealing with other stressful tasks. But there is one more thing you should do to prepare your child; ask your son/daughter…
Why Should I Hire a Professional?
There are reasons to hire a professional to help with your long term care insurance claims. One important reason is the possibility of backfiling, which is confusing to most policyholders and their families. What exactly is backfiling? Backfiling is when…