October 2017

Stop Living in the Cone of Uncertainty: Plan Ahead My heart goes out to those who have been affected by hurricanes and other disasters recently. We have heard from many clients and colleagues whose family members were in the path of either Harvey, Irma, or Maria last month, and thankfully, everyone we’ve spoken to is doing okay, though not all were completely unscathed.

There was an interesting phenomenon that kept coming up as I monitored the forecasts last month, and it got me thinking. You may remember, as Irma swept in, the Na-tional Hurricane Center put out reports several times a day about where the eye of the storm was headed. The pictures looked vaguely like a bent ice cream cone. The pointy part was where the eye was currently, and the cone extended all the way to a “scoop” at the end—a large cir-cle that represented where the eye might be a few days from now. They kept calling this projected path “the Cone of Uncertainty” because they couldn’t predict exactly where in that region the eye of the hurricane would hit.

That got me thinking: during a disaster, the Cone of Un-certainty is the last place you want to be. Taking the term literally, you ultimately don’t want to be where the hurri-cane is likely to go. But to use a little literary license, also consider this: in the midst of turmoil, the people who fare the best are the people who have planned ahead.

Of course there is an Estate Planning tie-in. We talk about this all the time. If you don’t establish certainty about

what you want to happen with your health and finances, the alternative is pretty lousy. For anyone in the Cone of Uncertainty about their Estate Plan, Estate Planning Awareness week is October 15th-21st. We have a semi-nar on the 19th. You should come!

Estate Planning aside, last month was a powerful reminder about Emergency Preparedness. While we weren’t sure where Hurricane Irma was going to land, Jackie and I took some time before the storm to review our own plan. It was too late to get milk, bread, and eggs. But we did take the time to fill up jugs of emergency water and stock emer-gency kits around the house with flashlights, batteries, and other supplies. We also went over our family emergency plan: a written document to remind us whom to call and what to do in the case of fire, flood, or other disaster.

You can and should have your own Emergency Prepared-ness plan for your family. This is doubly true if you have family members who need extra help. I recommend the following resources from FEMA to get started:

Prepare for Emergencies Brochure: vip.carolinafep.com/prepare

Additional Materials: vip.carolinafep.com/fema-materials

May this material give you and your family certainty, comfort, and hope if you find yourself in need. —Dan Bedard Executive Director

Get Your Ducks In a Row! Estate & Long-Term Care Planning News

from Carolina Family Estate Planning

Carolina Family Estate Planning

51 Kilmayne Dr., Suite 203, Cary, NC 27511

919-694-4437 | CarolinaFEP.com

Email: newsletter@CarolinaFEP.com

Facebook.com/CarolinaFEP

Practice Areas:

Wills • Living Trusts • Asset Protection Trusts Powers of Attorney • Health Care Directives • Living Wills

Long-Term Care Planning • Medicaid Planning Veteran’s Aid & Attendance Benefits

Special Needs Planning • Children’s Safeguard Planning Probate & Estate Administration • Trust Administration

This publication is for general education purposes. It is not intend-

ed to be legal advice. This newsletter may be freely copied and

distributed so long as it is copied in its entirety.

The National Hurricane Center’s “Cone of Uncertainty”

Heads up! Medicare Open Enrollment begins on

October 15th and runs through December 7th for changes

that will be effective on January 1, 2018.

The Medicare open enrollment period is the time during

which people with Medicare can make new choices and

pick plans that work best for them. Each year, Medicare

plans typically change what they cost and cover. In

addition, your health-care needs may have changed over

the past year. The open enrollment period is your

opportunity to switch Medicare health and prescription

drug plans to better suit your needs.

During the open enrollment period, you can:

• Join a Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) Plan

• Switch from one Part D plan to another Part D plan

• Drop your Part D coverage altogether

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare

Advantage Plan

• Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original

Medicare

• Change from one Medicare Advantage Plan to a

different Medicare Advantage Plan

• Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers

Medicare Open Enrollment Begins October 15th! Jackie Bedard

prescription drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage

Plan that doesn’t offer prescription drug coverage

• Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t

offer prescription drug coverage to a Medicare

Advantage Plan that does offer prescription drug

coverage.

Now is a good time to review your current Medicare plan.

As part of the evaluation, you may want to consider

several factors. For instance, are you satisfied with the

coverage and level of care you’re receiving with your

current plan? Are your premium costs or out-of-pocket

expenses too high? Has your health changed, or do you

anticipate needing medical care or treatment?

Open enrollment period is the time to determine whether

your current plan will cover your treatment and what your

potential out-of-pocket costs may be. If your current plan

doesn’t meet your health-care needs or fit within your

budget, you can switch to a plan that may work better for

you.

Determining what coverage you have now and comparing

it to other Medicare plans can be confusing and

complicated. Pay attention to notices you receive from

Medicare and from your plan, and take advantage of help

available by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or by visiting the

Medicare website, www.medicare.gov.

It is an honor when clients, partners, and friends refer clients to us. When you tell someone about your

experience with Carolina Family Estate Planning, you are helping them Get Their Ducks in a Row!

We would like to thank the following people and organizations:

Thank You For Introducing Your Friends & Family to Our Office!

Anne White

Ashley Crane, First Command Financial Services

Bob Villareal, Charles Schwab

Charlie & Nicole Feehely

Dan Stancil, Brookdale Cary

Daneene Barton

David & Sandra Buchin

Don & Liz Ramey

Doug & Carol Mistler

Edenton Street United Methodist Church

James and Susan Oates

Juliet Mallory

Keely Stone

Maura Silverman, Triangle Aphasia Project

Munir & Saeeda Ladhabhoy

NC State Employees Credit Union

Pastor Johnny Holloway, Cup of Salvation Church

Phil Sielatycki, Ameriprise

Steve & Elaine Wiercioch

Ted & Kris Kiegiel

Tom Gervase, Coastal Federal Credit Union

Tyler Dean, Edward Jones

Want to help your parents’ group, church group, or community organization “get their ducks in a row”?

Contact us at newsletter@CarolinaFEP.com to start planning a special CFEP presentation.

Free Seminars: RSVP required

October 19th: 6:30pm • October 26th: 6:30pm

November 9th: 6:30pm • November 21st: 10:00am

Register by phone: 919-694-4437 or online: seminars.carolinafep.com

Planning for the 2nd Half of Life in these Political and Economic Times…

11 Threats to You, Your Family, and Your Assets

Can’t attend? Call us & we’ll update you about future presentations or other resources.

Upcoming Seminars

Nala’s Nook

If you’re not in to zucchini noodles, you can use rice noodles —or even just plain pasta.

Nalsworth Dogglethorp, III, Esq. here (a.k.a, Nala). My job

is to bring you something fun or interesting each issue:

Thai Peanut Zoodles (or Noodles)

Directions

1. In a wok or large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until the oil sizzles.

2. While the wok is heating: in a medium bowl, combine sauce ingredients and mix well.

3. Place chicken pieces in the wok and cook all the way through.

4. Add zoodles to the wok and cook for 1-2 minutes to warm them up.

5. Add sauce and toss to coat the zoodles.

6. Remove from heat. Plate and serve.

Ingredients

2 medium zucchini, spiralized into zoodles 1/2 pound chicken breasts, cut into bite-

sized pieces 3 Tbsp olive oil Sauce 1/4 cup peanut butter 1/4 cup soy sauce 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 Tbsp honey 1 Tbsp ginger, grated 1 Tbsp rice vinegar 1 Tbsp sesame oil 1 tsp Sriracha

Join Us November 1st at Carolina Family Estate Planning for

How to Have “The Conversation” with Your Aging Parents A collaboration with LifeLinks: Aging and Geriatric Care Management for Families

Care Manager and Advocate, Erin Nortonen • Author and Elder Law Attorney, Jackie Bedard

Wednesday, November 1st, 6:30pm - 8:00pm

RSVP at VIP.carolinafep.com/Conversation The CFEP Learning Center 51 Kilmayne Dr., Ste. 203 Cary, NC 27511

CAROLINA FAMILY ESTATE PLANNING

51 Kilmayne Dr., Suite 203

Cary, NC 27511

Phone: 919-694-4437

www.CarolinaFEP.com

inside this issue

For up-to-date information and

recent announcements

Page 1

Stop Living in the Cone of Uncertainty

Page 2

Medicare Open Enrollment: Oct. 15

Thank You!

Page 3

Nala’s Nook: Thai Peanut Zoodles

Special Presentation and

Upcoming Seminars

Page 4

What’s New at CFEP

Special Presentations In and Around Town

We’ve been busy! In September, Jackie was fortunate to be invited to

several local speaking engagements, including “Exploring Long Term

Cary Planning Options” at Brookdale Cary and “Living into the Third

Third of Life” at Edenton St. United Methodist Church.

On October 12th, Jackie is presenting on long-term care considerations

for seniors for the Financial Planning Association of the Triangle. AND...

We have a special presentation on November 1st at the Carolina Family Estate Planning Learning Center:

“How to Have “the Conversation” with your Aging Parents.” This is a joint presentation with Erin Nortonen, care

manager and advocate at LifeLinks. More details on Page 3 and at vip.carolinafep.com/conversation

And if you haven’t been to our regular seminar, “The 11 Threats to You, Your Family, and Your Assets,” we

have a presentation coming up for you! See Page 3 for details.

What’s New at Carolina Family Estate Planning

Just a reminder! October 15th-21st is Estate Planning Awareness Week. Do you have your Ducks in a Row?

Jackie talking about powerful POAs at Edenton St. United Methodist Church