Seminar highlights the importance of chronic health issues

Nov 7 2009

With 125 million Americans challenged by at least one chronic illness and 22% of that number facing life with two or more chronic illnesses, early, smart estate and financial planning can make the difference between maximizing control over your life or falling victim to its exigencies.

WHAT: Practical Seminar that will cover the following areas of importance for people living with chronic illness and their advisers:

• Cognitive issues: What, if any impact, does your chronic illness have on your health and cognitive functioning? How might this change over time? How do you protect yourself from its effects?
• Different Chronic illnesses: Each chronic illness, whether Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, ALS, etc. has its own unique implications for planning. Generic assumptions can be detrimental to you and your loved ones.
• Powers of attorney: How should they be tailored to address your concerns?
• Living wills and health proxies: How should they be tailored to reflect the nuances of your illness, your experience of that disability, and your religious concerns?
• Revocable living trusts: Trusts can be helpful to a person living with health issues. How should your loving trust be modified to address chronic illness? Should you serve as sole trustee, co trustee or not at all?
• Financial Planning: How can your attorney draft legal documents to protect you in light of your chronic illness? Standard forms lawyers commonly use need to be modified to address the anticipated disease course of your illness. How should your investment and insurance plans change to reflect chronic illness? What steps can consumers with chronic health issues take to modify their financial planning?

WHEN:

Thursday, November 19, 2009, 9:00 to 10:45 AM Eastern Time

WHERE:

Westin New York at Times Square, NYC, NY.

To attend Call 800-582-2452 for more information

WHO:

Martin M. Shenkman, CPA, MBA, PFS, JD, Paramus, NJ. (201) 845-8400. [email protected]. Author of: Estate Planning for People with a Chronic Condition or Disability and Funding the Cure Helping a Loved One with MS through Charitable Giving to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, both published by Demos Medical. All proceeds donated to charity.

Nicholas G. LaRocca, Ph.D. a clinical psychologist with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Vice President, Health Care Delivery and Policy Research, New York City, NY. (212) 476-0414. [email protected].

PODCAST of seminar available free after November 25, 2009 on www.laweasy.com.

To obtain the Seminar proceedings after the program: Go to the "Chronic Illness" section of www.laweasy.com for an audio recording of the entire seminar and selected handout materials on planning for chronic illness.

SOURCE Martin M. Shenkman, CPA, MBA, PFS, JD