As Elananor Roosevelt once said; “A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think”.
In this episode, Eric Blake discusses important aspects of Social Security benefits specifically for women who are looking to financial plan and navigate their portfolios. He covers topics such as social security filing strategies, the three keys to a successful retirement for women, eligibility requirements for benefits, spousal benefits, survivor benefits, the impact of age on benefits, and challenges faced by business owners in saving for retirement.
Eric discusses:
Social security as a guaranteed retirement income source that increases annually
Eligibility requirements for Social Security retirement benefits
Spousal benefits and eligibility based on spouse’s or ex-spouse’s work history
Filing benefits off of a spouse’s work history does not reduce benefits for the higher earning spouse
Choosing benefits if married multiple times for at least ten years each
What if you could redefine your journey into retirement and end-of-life planning?
Discover the crucial yet often overlooked aspects of retirement in this insightful episode of The Simply Retirement Podcast. Host Eric Blake, joined by Jeanne Brosseau, Community Liaison from Ardent Healthcare, tackles the sensitive subject of end-of-life care. This episode is specially crafted to guide you through the complexities of retirement planning, with a focus on hospice and palliative care.
Key Highlights:
Enhancing Quality of Life with Hospice Care: Understand how early hospice adoption can significantly improve life quality
Initiating End-of-Life Conversations: Gain valuable strategies for approaching sensitive talks about end-of-life care
Integrating Medical and Financial Planning: Eric Blake seamlessly connects hospice care with estate planning, emphasizing the need for a holistic estate plan that smartly incorporates medical directives alongside traditional wills and trusts
Understanding Care Services: Unravel the differences between home health and hospice care, learning about their subtle nuances and the financial implications, including insurance details
Proactive End-of-Life Planning: Discover the essential steps to seek information and arrange care for end-of-life planning
When you ask Jeanne Brosseau where she is from, she will answer, “which year?” Jeanne was born in Colorado Springs but had moved 19 times by the time she was 10 due to her father’s career in the construction industry.
Jeanne married when she was 20 and soon after started a family. Her husband’s career had her packing again to move every year, sometimes twice a year, across the continental US, and out of it, until she settled in CT in 2000.
She started a career as a Student Counselor with The Writers Institute, helping adult correspondence students learn how to write and publish their work. She also recruited published authors to teach the courses. She fell in love with education.
In 2008, Jeanne moved her 2 teenagers to Houston, TX so that she could better provide for her children’s college education. She accepted a position as a Unit Secretary at a small Catholic hospital and shortly thereafter was a student in their first Patient Care Technician training program. Right after her 40th birthday, she was recruited by a hospice company to be a liaison assistant and promoted 2 months later to a full marketing position.
Although Jeanne didn’t know anything about hospice, she researched, asked lots of questions and started to become educated on all areas of healthcare. She wanted to know the differences between the levels of care, when each was appropriate, and why. She loved the “educational” piece of it. Now, Jeanne brings that education to as many people as possible.
“End of life discussions should be as important as beginning of life discussions. Preparing for that journey takes much of the fear out of it.”
In this episode, Eric Blake is joined by Mary Greer from First Class Caregivers.
First Class Caregivers is a Dallas senior care company that provides premium non-clinical, in-home caregiving services on a private-pay basis. Founded in 2007, they are a veteran-owned business with a customer-first focus. Mary’s personal connection to caregiving is deeply rooted, having been a caregiver for her grandmother, mother, father, and great aunt. Her passion for working with seniors, disabled veterans, and others who may be overlooked or forgotten is truly inspiring. Mary’s mission is to give back dignity to individuals who may have lost it due to illness, accidents, or old age.
Mary discusses the importance of home care for seniors and the benefits of staying at home for as long as possible. She shares her personal experience as a caregiver and her mission to restore dignity to seniors and disabled veterans. She also talks about the services offered by First Class Caregivers and how they tailor their services to meet the specific needs of each client.
Eric and Mary discuss:
Importance of staying at home for longer life expectancy and sense of familiarity
First Class Caregivers’ approach to educating individuals and families about options
Range of non-medical services offered by First Class Caregivers
Assistance with funding long-term care and resources for senior living
I wanted to do something meaningful, and I love working with Seniors. I was the caregiver for my Mama, Daddy, Grandma and Great Aunt Rose-so I know the challenges of caregiving and how much care the caregiver needs. I do not come out of clinical or Senior work, I come from Automotive and Construction, but I wanted to finish out my career with a job I loved and a company with values and integrity. I was able to find First Class Caregivers, a company serving seniors for over 16 years. In addition to giving care, I can also educate women on what care is available for them and what is coming in the future. At some point, everyone will be a caregiver or need a caregiver and if I may assist them in being prepared-that is a bonus to my day.
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
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.
As retirement inches closer, it is important to consider your living situation and what your most desired outcome will look like once you are in your golden years.
In this episode, Eric Blake is joined by Jules Hicks, co-founder of Aunt Ida’s House. They discuss how Aunt Ida’s House helps seniors sell their homes quickly when transitioning into assisted living or nursing communities.
Jules explains their process of buying houses for cash, conducting thorough inspections, and working with contractors to prepare the homes for the market. She also shares a heartwarming story of a family they were able to help and how it inspired her passion in this field.
Eric and Jules discuss:
How Aunt Ida’s House helps seniors sell their homes quickly
The origin story of Aunt Ida’s House
The sped up closing process in times of need
How Aunt Ida’s House ensures the cleanliness and functionality of every house they offer their clients
Calling all women looking to up their financial literacy!
In this episode, Eric Blake is joined by Jeannie Dougherty, a money and mental fitness guide, who shares her insights on the impact of money-related problems on mental health. Jeannie emphasizes the need for emotional and behavioral coaching in addition to traditional financial planning. The episode also highlights the challenges financial advisors face in addressing the emotional needs of clients and the importance of effective communication. Jeannie introduces her 90-day bootcamp concept and a virtual caregiver conference that focuses on the interconnected aspects of caregiving.
Eric and Jeannie discuss:
The impact of money-related problems on one’s life and mental health
Importance of addressing the emotional and psychological aspects of financial planning, especially for women in unequal financial relationships
Challenges financial advisors face in addressing the emotional aspects of retirement planning
Importance of women taking an active role in their financial decisions and “winning money power”
Role of financial advisors as the “quarterback” in helping clients make important financial decisions
As a determined woman ready to positively impact the world, Jeannie Dougherty continues to help people from all walks of life. She is a coveted counselor, certified money coach, mental fitness coach, speaker, and the founder of a virtual Caregiver Conference that addresses both sides of the equation the caregiver and their families.
She graduated with a master’s degree in counseling from Ottawa University. She graduated from the prestigious Money Coaching Institute as a Certified Money Coach for Individuals, Couples, and Businesses. She’s passionate about her area of expertise, and Jeannie set forth on her quest to do great things.
Moreover, she works with businesses, individuals, and couples to help them find better ways to reach their goals. Over the years, her efforts have earned her a reputation among clients who are ever eager to vouch for her holistic services.
She graduated with a master’s degree in counseling from Ottawa University. She graduated from the prestigious Money Coaching Institute as a Certified Money Coach for Individuals, Couples, and Businesses. She is also a former Federal Retirement Readiness professional. She’s passionate about her area of specialty, and Jeannie set forth on her quest to do great things. Evidently, her perspective on life is simple, and she’s wholly gentle in her approach to the clients. That’s precisely why her customer base continues to grow today.
You see, both of her parents passed away from Alzheimer’s. She spent 11 years of her adult life being a caregiver, dealing with financial and healthcare decisions with her family and their providers.
Her parents’ financial journeys were different, as well as how their diseases manifested. Jeannie understands why lots of folks who become caregivers overnight have their money-handling skills and financial psychology shifts.
The subconscious mind doesn’t see you as a balanced caregiver with a plan or as a balanced individual with multiple plates: family, work, health, and self. The subconscious sees you as someone in the middle of a crisis and not as a balanced person managing your life and the unexpected events that come and go. That’s why your identity shifts into a place of the uncomfortable unknown. This is why the money trauma can manifest what may feel like overnight and is tough to shake off later.
Jeannie is here to help you do more than just get back on track. She will show you how to navigate the road to your dream life.
