​Carrying debt into your golden years is a lot like playing football with a moving goal post. You never know when, or where, the game will stop because the goal post is constantly moving. If you want to be able to enjoy your retirement, then you need to put down a solid financial goal post. The following three tips will allow you to get a handle on your finances and stop the moving goal post once and for all.

Visiting your doctor should not cause you to feel stressed or anxious, especially when you have a doctor that genuinely cares about your health and wellbeing. Before attending your next doctor's appointment, there are a few things to remember to make the most out of your visit.

Always Use the Same Doctor
Use the same general practitioner when scheduling your doctor appointments each time. Visiting a trusted doctor regularly is a way for them to learn more about you and your individual health needs. If you choose to jump from one doctor to another, you run the risk of receiving poor care or improper treatment. Once you find a doctor that you can trust, rely on, and one that you like, it is highly advisable to stick with them to minimize risks while receiving ongoing healthcare.

Explore Alternative Options
Another option to consider when visiting your doctor includes alternative medicines and treatments. Keep an open mind when discussing natural tinctures and new medication solutions such as CBD oil. If you have an interest in using an alternative medication or treatment for an ailment, disease, or disorder you have been diagnosed with, consult with your doctor about your options to determine which plan of treatment is best for you. Keeping an open mind and positive outlook about alternative medicine is highly recommended, especially as the use and distribution of alternative medicines become more prevalent in today's society.
 
While it may not be possible to completely replace your prescription medications, it may be useful to put alternative medicines to work for you if the situation and solution are appropriate for you. If you have an interest in using alternative medicines or treatment options but your doctor is not open to the idea, consider searching for another practitioner to treat you. While it is important to take any medication that is prescribed by a medical physician, it is also possible to work with medical professionals who are open about utilizing alternative medicines as well.

Hold Doctors Accountable
Holding doctors accountable is unfortunately necessary if medical negligence or malpractice occurs. If you receive bad treatment at a medical facility, remember that doctors and other medical practitioners are responsible for your care in the eyes of the law. Always save and make copies of your doctor's visits, prescription medications, as well as any treatments or procedures you have undergone in the past. Gathering and organizing your evidence with documentation is the first step to pursuing a case to hold your doctor accountable. It is also essential to seek out another practitioner if you are in the midst of a legal battle with your former doctor. This section will detail medical negligence or malpractice and give brief steps for resolving such cases and holding the doctor accountable. Seek out a different health practitioner and develop a relationship with one who you trust.

Discuss Specific Issues You Are Experiencing
Whenever you have a doctor's appointment, it is important to discuss specific issues and ailments that are bothering you with each individual visit. Before heading to your doctor's office for your next appointment, create a list of the issues that you consider to be top priorities in your everyday life. Having a list handy is extremely helpful once you are meeting with your doctor and begin to discuss your overall health. Knowing how to meet with doctors and address your health concerns can help you to gain peace of mind the next time you have a scheduled doctor's appointment to attend. The more familiar with and comfortable you become with meeting with your doctor and discussing your health objectively, the easier it is to get to the bottom of health issues and ailments that are causing you distress.

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You have worked hard your entire life so that you can make the most out of your retirement. In order to leverage this special time in life, you will need to plan for all of the expenses. Here are three common retirement expenses that every senior should plan for.


Leisure Costs
One item in your budget that is likely to increase when you hit your golden years are your leisure costs. With so much more free time on your hands, you are going to want more disposable money to enjoy your favorite activities. If your retirement plans include a lot of travel, you need to plan accordingly. You also need to budget for leisure activities that will take place close to home. Making an effort to look for free events and activities in your area can help you to mitigate these costs.


Higher Utility Costs
While there are some costs that decrease when you retire, there are also costs that remain the same regardless of if you are employed. Utility costs are a static element that does not change if you are working or not. As the world's consumption of energy continues to increase at breakneck speed, utility costs also continue to rise. When figuring your overall costs in retirement, be sure to figure that your current utility expenses will likely greatly increase over the years. These costs can be hard to predict, since there are many things that can impact the price. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help offset the costs. Solar panels can help reduce your electricity bill by a significant amount. Using energy efficient appliances and light bulbs, adjusting your thermostat, and making sure your home is properly insulated can all help reduce the amount you spend on utilities as well.
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Increasing Healthcare Costs
While you will be eligible for federal health programs such as Medicare when you are older, this coverage will not likely cover all of your expenses. You will possibly need to add supplemental insurance in order to bridge the gap. Standard Medicare does not cover vision, dental or hearing aids. Prescription medicine costs can also add up during the retirement years, especially if you have a chronic condition. Poor conditions in nursing homes is sadly all too common in the United States. Because of this, it is important to set aside money to pay for additional care costs as you age. Be sure to shop around to compare plans so that you do not pay for coverage that you do not need.

Make the most out of your golden years by making sure that you have the funds that you need to fully enjoy it. With a little planning and the right execution, you can have the peace of mind that you need to treasure this time.


Most people feel a little lost while planning their retirement. Allow us to help point you in the right direction!

One of the first major milestones in a person's life is learning to drive. Getting behind the wheel gave you a sense of freedom. With a quarter's worth of gas, you could drive for miles. However, there are some signs that you might need to stop driving.


The Risks
When you think back over the miles you’ve driven in your lifetime, you can hardly believe it. Whether you learned to drive on a dirt road or in a crowded city, you might not have considered the risks involved when you took the wheel. If someone else was driving, your parents would certainly want to make sure they were responsible. Who could have seen down the road that eyes could fail, that reflexes would dull over the years? Based on miles driven, older drivers have higher rates of fatal crashes than any other group.


Signs
One of the earliest signs that it's time for you to stop driving is failing eyesight. If you are diagnosed with glaucoma or other debilitating eye problems, it is probably a sign that it's time to put your car keys away for good. Forgetfulness is one of the main reasons some elderly people cause car accidents. They forget which pedal is the gas and which is the brake. If you suffer from frequent tremors or seizures as with advanced Parkinson's disease or epilepsy, you probably should not be driving. Your doctor will look at your individual disease and situation and let you know for sure.


Coming to Terms With the Truth
One of the most heartbreaking parts of watching a loved one getting older is having to tell them it's time to stop driving. If you are that loved one and you are still sharp mentally, it can be especially difficult to hear. Regardless of how gently and lovingly it's done, it's a milestone you don't want to reach.​

Accepting the fact that it’s time for you to stop driving might be a difficult transition for you. For your whole adult life, you’ve been able to take yourself wherever you wanted without relying on other people. You might feel a loss of independence and frustration that you have to be driven around by other people. Unfortunately, things have changed, and you have had to make concessions that you don't like. Even though it might be something that you don’t want to do, it’s important to come to terms with the fact that it’s time for you to stop driving in order to preserve the safety of yourself and others. 

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What to Look Out for While Planning Your Retirement

Anyone who casually watches television or listens to the radio likely hears about someone selling a strategy to pay off debt. After all, debt causes many problems in people's lives. For many, they choose to avoid amassing any deficit in the first place. Debt, however, can serve a valuable purpose. You can't pay cash for everything all the time, so borrowing becomes a viable option. You can't go overboard, though. Borrow strategically. Doing so could help you amass wealth.

Good Debt vs Bad Debt
Maxing out your credit card with unnecessary vacations and eating out twice a day adds up to bad debt. You throw money away when borrowing nonessentials to live beyond your means. Borrowing money to purchase a reliable computer to help your business, however, makes sense. The new computer could help the business generate income in many different ways. Yes, there is both good debt and bad debt. Good debt works to your advantage and helps you further yourself in life. Bad debt serves no purpose and harm's your life. Bad debt drags down credit scores and takes away funds better served in an investment vehicle. Before you borrow, think about the pros and cons of the resulting debt.

Gearing Up
Borrowing excessively to launch a business can create troubles. Using your own capital, however, may deplete all your savings and liquidity. If the business' cash flow doesn't generate enough funds, you won't get your losses back. If the business folds, you may end up in dire financial trouble. Also, you may not have enough money to run the business properly. Undercapitalization can drag a company down. Saving money makes sense but cutting out necessary items due to a starvation budget isn't beneficial. Borrowing money incrementally at strategic points could lead a business to a stable footing. Be wise with any financing plans and business investments might benefit.

Things to Watch Out For
The lending and borrowing landscape could change in the coming year. The Small Business Administration may come up with an interesting new loan program. Private lending sources might free up additional funds at lower rates. And then there is CECL: current expected credit loss, a new type of accounting standard. CECL will be implemented in 2020, and while it will affect lenders, you don't have to worry about it affecting your investing strategy too much. Educate yourself about CECL to become aware of how it works.

Debt isn't always a bad thing. Learn how debt works for and against you. Then, leverage it properly to achieve your goal of building wealth.

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Whether someone you love has been diagnosed with a terminal illness or is simply getting older — or even if you are the one facing these decisions — end of life plans are an uncomfortable but necessary conversation. After all, people who take the time to plan their end-of-life care have a higher quality of life in their last days and tend to stay less time in the hospital. Discussing plans at this point is the best way to ensure your loved one passes away with dignity and peace of mind.
 
Bringing It Up
 
Many people prefer to take control of their own end-of-life arrangements and will feel confident enough to bring up the matter themselves. However, most people are not comfortable contemplating their death. A survey found that 60 percent of people feel it is important to spare their family from making tough choices, yet 56 percent had not yet broached the subject. If they are not forthcoming, it may be up to you to start the conversation. However, do not sideline them. Delicately say you think the subject needs to be discussed and ask whether they would rather do so now or at another time. If they say another time, schedule the conversation for a specific date and time.
 
What You Need to Talk About
 
Everyone will have different things they need to consider, but here are a few subjects most people will need to discuss.

• Money: How are you paying for end-of-life care and for funeral arrangements? You may want to discuss selling a life insurance policy to free up some cash for this. Just remember that in order for your policy to have a cash value, it needs to be a permanent life insurance policy (but it is possible to convert a term policy into a permanent policy). Also, if your loved one owns a house, you may need to sell the property to afford the cost of long-term care.
• Location: Where do they want to spend their last days? The vast majority would prefer to die at home, which has been shown to lead to more peace and less grief, but this involves more complex care and considerations.
• Care: What kind of care do they want to receive? Talk them through the multiple options (chest compressions, breathing and feeding tubes, etc) so they can get a clear idea of what they want.
• Funeral Arrangements: Do they wish to be buried, cremated, or another option entirely? Who would they like to be invited? What would they want to wear?
• Documentation: Have they made the necessary legal arrangements? According to the AARP, a living will and power of attorney are the minimum that they should have in place. If they don’t, what can you do to help them get this in order?

 
Making the Conversation Productive
 
There is no doubt that this is an incredibly difficult conversation to have. It is almost inevitable that you will feel overwhelmed at some point, but you will need to strike a balance in terms of how emotional you get. It is okay — and even healthy — to cry or express sadness. However, remember that the conversation should be about the person whose plans you are discussing, and their emotions should take precedence. Do not make it about you and your feelings.
 
You will also need to stick to the point. It is useful to enter the conversation with a list of points you need to hit. The Conversation Project, which works to facilitate end-of-life planning within families, has an excellent starter kit that can help with this. This document allows you to put your thoughts in order before approaching your loved one and gives you a frame of reference for the conversation.
 
Remember that if you do not get the answers you need now, it will only get harder. Making the conversation productive and keeping it on-topic means you don’t have to have it again and allows everyone to make the most of the remaining time.
 
Making end-of-life plans can be one of the hardest conversations you have, but that is no reason to avoid it. The bottom line is that these decisions must be made at some point. Talking about it now means your loved one gets to be included in the decisions surrounding their own death and you won’t have to worry about wondering whether you’re getting it right in a time of crisis.