Tag: Long-Term Care

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Planning Beyond Documents: Building Support as a Solo Senior with Kathy McNair (Ep. 70)

Planning Beyond Documents: Building Support as a Solo Senior with Kathy McNair (Ep. 70)

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Too often, retirement planning focuses only on documents, but what happens when you don’t have the right people to rely on?

In this episode, I sit down with elder law attorney and founder of Solo Allies, Kathy McNair, to talk about the unique needs of solo seniors and why legal paperwork alone isn’t enough. We explore how to choose the right people for critical roles, when to consider professional support, and how to build a community for peace of mind in retirement.

Kathy discusses:

  • The difference between an estate planning attorney and an elder law attorney
  • What it really means to be a solo senior and why planning matters
  • Why “Planning + People = Peace of Mind” is a critical formula for aging well
  • How to choose and prepare a power of attorney, and what happens when you don’t
  • Resources, tools, and community programs like Solo Allies and the Aging Allies Club
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake: 

Connect with Kathy McNair: 

About our Guest: 

Kathy McNair is an elder law attorney with over 25 years of experience serving seniors. She is the founder of Senior Solutions LLC in Boston and the national resource platform Solo Allies, dedicated to helping solo agers—those without reliable family support—plan for their legal, financial, and personal well-being.

Kathy is also the creator of the Aging Allies Club, a small-group planning program designed to provide both legal tools and meaningful connections. She frequently speaks to community groups and has written The Solo Senior’s Guide to Thrive, a practical guide to aging with independence and security.

Appointed by Governor Deval Patrick in 2008, she served 15 years as a Public Administrator of Suffolk County, managing estates with no known heirs. She also serves on the Board of Directors at McNamara House, an affordable senior housing community in Boston.

Kathy earned her J.D. from Boston College Law School and her bachelor’s in psychology from St. Lawrence University.

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Downsize or Rent in Retirement? 5 Key Decisions You Should Consider (Ep. 60)

Downsize or Rent in Retirement? 5 Key Decisions You Should Consider (Ep. 60)

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What’s the right housing move in retirement?

 Sell and rent, or stay put and downsize?

In this episode, I unpack five key decisions that go far beyond dollars and cents, inspired by a real conversation with a client. Whether you’re widowed, single, or simply evaluating your next step, this breakdown helps you consider every angle, both financial and emotional.

Key points:

  • How renting can offer convenience, but comes with rising costs and less control over long-term financial outcomes
  • The critical role of home equity and the potential strategies to access it, including reverse mortgages
  • Tax implications for widows and single retirees when selling a home, including the impact on capital gains
  • The importance of lifestyle considerations, like proximity to social hubs or family, when making housing choices
  • How emotional attachment to a home can often outweigh financial logic, and how to strike a balance between the two
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake: 

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Unlocking the Secrets of Long-Term Care with Dina Mabry (Ep. 11)

Unlocking the Secrets of Long-Term Care with Dina Mabry (Ep. 11)

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Ever wondered if it’s too late to dive into long-term care insurance? 

Slide your headphones on and plunge into an enlightening chat as Eric Blake and Dina Mabry peel back the layers of this dilemma, placing a special spotlight on challenges specific to women. Drawing from their combined experience, they provide an in-depth look at the journey to financial security, even if you’re late to the game.

Tune in and discover:

  • Why the saying, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now,” could reshape your financial thinking
  • Reimagine long-term care: Beyond just nursing homes
  • The evolution in modern insurance policies: What unexpected benefits might your beneficiaries reap
  • The showdown: Traditional long-term care insurance vs. asset-based policies. Which side will you pick
  • Age concerns? From 40s to 80s, there’s a strategy tailored just for you
  • A sneak peek into Dina’s offerings: Why one size doesn’t fit all in insurance
  • Hear firsthand accounts of how Dina’s knowledge has made a real difference
  • And much more!

 

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake: 

Connect with Guest: 

About our Guest: 

Dina is a trusted resource for life, long-term care, and disability insurance. Being in the industry for over 15 years, Dina has become a respected consultant to financial advisors and individuals by creatively finding solutions for estate planning, income replacement and long term care protection solutions.

Working with over 30+ carriers, Dina taps into her knowledge from her long career in the pharmaceutical industry to properly underwrite clients to find the best match for most medical impairments.

Dina strives to be a reliable professional in her field so clients can make informed decisions and feel more confident that they and their families are protected.

Dina has deep roots in the Conejo Valley and is active in W Source, The Exchange, Women 2 Women, and spends her time on the Executive Committee for Go Red for Women, The American Heart Association and The Alzheimer’s Association Central Coast.

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