Estate Planning Workshop

Location:
Trilogy Financial Services, Inc
1000 Lakes Drive, Suite 325
West Covina, CA 91790

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

7:00p.m. - 8:30p.m.

Learn how to protect your family with a living trust and answer questions you may already have....

What is a living trust and who should have one?

Is a living will the same as a living trust?

How does a living trust save on estate taxes?

How can I avoid probate?

Does a living trust maintain privacy?

How can I reduce or eliminate estate taxes?

How can I protect dependents with special needs?

What can I do to protect my minor children from court imposed guardianships?

Will a living trust prevent a conservator ship or guardianship at physical or mental incapacity?

How to spare loved ones from having to make critical decisions at a very emotional time.

What are the 29 things that need to be addressed for final arrangements?

How to avoid unnecessary expenses by planning early.

Contact your Trilogy represetative George Zoumberakis or Joe Sirgy
to reserve a seat for this informative workshop.
Space is limited!!!

Trilogy Financial Services, Inc.
Phone: (626) 918-5670 * Fax: (626) 918-0990
www.trilogyfs.com

Huntington Beach * Irvine * West Covina * Torrance * San Diego * Corona * Calabasas

We all know the baby boomers are coming and local resources established are preparing to welcome this new generation. The quesiton is what will they need? The reported needs assessment places health, housing, and transportation as going to be the most important.

The survey goes on to share the following results:

• 61 percent of seniors interviewed said they had inadequate dental insurance.
  
• 54 percent were interested in physical exercise.
  
• 13 percent reported wanting a job.
  
• 24 percent reported interest in volunteering and community involvement.
  
• 29 percent reported social isolation and desire for interaction.
  
•  18 percent had concerns about Social Security benefits.
  
• 19 percent lacked transportation for medical appointments.

Although health needs top the list of concern, the verbal response to Senior's greatest concern is "social isolation". Community Centers provide a social hotspot for people to connect and interact. Meet new people and also have fun. Community Centers offer a number of free health clinics and social events that allows our local seniors the opportunity to stay connected and involved.

The third concern of housing is an admirable one. Most seniors I've come across want to stay in the family home they are familar with. However, another legitimate concern that the survey represents is the strain of the up-keep and maintenance of these homes.

When does this strain negatively affect the individuals quality life-style? There is no one answer for this, and for some it may be never. These kinds of transitional questions can be difficult to address; especially if the individual has hedged themselves into the decision, and are reluctant to revisit their options.

If they chose relocating out of the family home there is a wide variety of options that can be quite lifestyle specific. From the obvious choices of assisted or non-assisted communities- to the types of events and activities the community organizes and hosts, to even time-share or cruise ship retirement plans. The options are almost endless and in this time of too many choices sometimes it takes a professional to help guide you through the some potential stressful waters.

Bridges Alliance is a full-scale advisory board that helps provide mature adults set, reach ,and implement their goals through our worry free transitions program. Contact a Bridges representative today to set-up your in home consultation  evaluation. We're here to help.

What if someone you love (maybe a parent) could no longer live at home because they became too old to take care of themselves, or get around safely? What if a family member experienced a severe incident – a heart attack or a stroke – which resulted in their having to move to an assisted living facility? What if you were responsible for the well-being of this person? Where do you go? Who do you turn to for help?

As the people we care about are living longer, many of us are finding ourselves faced with these questions. It is an important area in which most of us have no experience, and, with our family lives being so full, have little time to address.

Now there’s an organization called Bridges.

It was specifically designed to help family members deal with this complex and stressful process. Bridges consists of professionals in various areas of expertise working together to tackle all the facets of helping a loved one move into the facility most appropriate for them. From identifying the right facility (and there is a myriad of them, providing multiple levels of care, as well as a wide range of lifestyles), to selling the family home at a good price in today’s challenging market. From understanding the costs of the new living arrangements, to properly investing assets so that there is enough to meet their future needs. From having good tax guidance so they can minimize spending on taxes, and keep more of their money, to proper estate planning so that their wishes during their lifetimes and afterwards are documented and adhered to…and everything in between. The professionals at Bridges work closely together to provide the services needed, all under one roof.

So, if you find yourself in this kind of situation, before you pull out the yellow pages and start making all sorts of calls to all sorts of people, call Bridges first. You’ll be glad you did. They can be reached at:
626-918-2026 or www.bridgesalliance.com

Over the last few months, the market has been extremely choppy, especially in the recent days. Today the market is again on the upside due to some positive reviews of the "bailout" plan. This may be a great time to discuss the strategy of market timing.

Last year in July, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above a record 14,000, but would not stay there for long. By mid-August, the Dow hit a four-month low of 12,846 and lingered in the low 13,000s through mid-September. Between August and September, many investors may have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions as the market first soared and then sank.

The temptation for many investors is to buy when the market is high, betting that it will only continue to climb, and to sell when the market tanks, hoping to limit their losses. This results in investors buying high and selling low. Not the right strategy for investors looking for growth in their investments.

The maxim "buy low, sell high" is great advice, but there is no way to accurately forecast the performance of the market. One of the best strategies may not be market timing, but rather simply time. A buy-and-hold strategy can help investors ride out the rough patches and possibly realize a greater return than if they had attempted to time the market, inadvertently missing out on the best days.

A report by Thomson Financial in 2007 revealed some eye opening trends of people who tried to time the market and were not successful. Over a 30 year period, an investor's return was 8.1% if the would have invested in the S&P 500 and were out of the market for 12 of the best months within those years. The return jumped to 12.5% if they were fully invested at all times and did not try to time the market.

The return and principal value of stocks fluctuate with changes in market conditions. Shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. With a long-term outlook on investing, perhaps time will help you achieve the goal of buying low and selling high.

Article by George Zoumberakis, Trilogy Financial Services (626) 918-5670 ext 4104

Securities and advisory services offered through National Planning Corporation (NPC), member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Trilogy and NPC are separate and unrelated companies.

The IRS has yet to hear from an estimated 4.2 million people who receive certain Social Security benefits and 178,000 who receive certain Veterans Affairs benefits. The agency twice has sent to this group letters that enclosed a Form 1040A, a sample tax form and instructions for sending the tax return to the IRS.

“We recognize that there may be older Americans and disabled veterans who still have not filed for their stimulus payment. If you know of a friend, neighbor or family members who may be in that situation, please give them a hand if they need it” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.

For people who have no tax liability and who have no requirement to file a tax return because their income is too low or nontaxable there is a stimulus payment of up to $300 ($600 for married couples). However, people in this situation must have at least $3,000 in qualifying income from earned income, nontaxable combat pay as well as certain benefits from Social Security, Veterans Affairs and Railroad Retirement.

Qualifying income from Social Security includes retirement, disability and survivor benefits. Supplemental Security Income is not a qualifying income. Qualifying income from Veterans Affairs includes disability compensation, disability pension and survivor benefits. Qualifying Railroad Retirement Board benefits include the social security equivalent portion of Tier I benefits. People must have a valid Social Security Number unless their spouse is a member of the military.

By law, the IRS cannot disperse any economic stimulus payments after Dec. 31. However, people who may be eligible for an economic stimulus payment can claim a credit in 2009 by filing a 2008 income tax return.

If you need help filing this return we can help you in person or over the phone from anywhere in the US. Just call McCartan Accounting at 626-549-1381 or 909-348-7150 and answer a few questions and we will e-file your Stimulus Rebate form for you for only $25.

Written by Bridges member Valerie McCarten, CPA.