Preparing For Tomorrow podcast

This week, I'm sharing my top Christmas wish this year.  I imagine most 55 year olds would share this wish.  I'm seeking a roadmap and directions I can use to help my parents as they are aging.  My parents are very private and feel uncomfortble sharing their needs and their spouses' needs with me and my sister.  But we'll be the one's managing the next part of their lives. If we knew what they would want, and how they would want it, it would be much easier to begin to make decisions that are truly in their best interests.  If they would/could provide a road map with directions while they are still able to provide this, it will help us grant their wishes as best we can. If you own LTC insurance, tell your kids that you own insurance, and show them where your policy is, so they can implement your plan at the right time. If you don't own LTC insurance, tell your kids that you don't own insurance, and talk with them about what you want and how you plan to pay for your needs, so they can honor your wishes. At holiday gatherings this season, work to schedule a family in person or zoom meeting in January so you can share your wishes with them...so you can give them your roadmap with directions. If you are still in planning stages, contact me to help you design your map and directions.

I am playing an episode from Septembner, 2021, today because we didn't have time to record this week. My husband was in the hospital with "chest pressure".  He had been feeling "heavy", in his words for a few days and was concerned that something may be seriously wrong physically.  He came home today with a pretty clean bill of health.  He's meeting with his primary doctor tomorrow to learn what he needs to change.   SInce I knew we wouldn't be recording, I Iooked through and listened to past episodes; this one fit perfectly with what I was thinking while he was sleeping in a hospital bed. Are we prepared for this kind of event?  I think so, other than emotionally. All during the month leading up to this, a close family member is starting to have serious memory issues, which will need to be dealt with - for many years, likely. This stuff just shows up , and we are either prepared, or we are not.  If we prepare today, our families will be better prepared for tomorrow.  Life insurance and LTC insurance are not for us - they're for those we love the most.  We need to put aside our pride and admit that things may not always go how we plan.  If we are open to believe that life can instantly change, we can prepare today so that, even though people are saddened, they will not be forced to abruptly change their lives because we refused to plan for the unplanned.  We need to prepare for their tomorrows.

This week, Diane explores and brings updates on the Washington Cares Act, a long term care tax on all employees in the state of Washington.  There are 14 other states looking closely at adding a state income tax to help fund LTC needs for those or can't or won't plan for themselves.  Listen, and learn what some of these states have started considering and why.   If you have ever wanted to consider leveraging your care needs with insurance, or if you want to learn about planning strategies offered in your state, the time to act is now, before insurance company restrictions and minimum coverage requirements are implemented, and while multiple planning strategies are available. Thank you to for your diligent research and contribution to the LTC industry.

This week is a great interview with Michael Anthony at Medicaid Success Select.  Based in Ohio and working nationwide, Michael's team helps people who need long term care but never partnered with an insurance company to pay for that care.  Medicaid planning helps clients take full advantage of legal exclusions and exemptions in the Medicaid system in order to pay the least amount that the government requires to qualify for Medicaid. Michael says if we can partner with an insurance company to pay for care, we need to do it. It's more cost effective and without the need to find legal loopholes on income and asset caps.  If we didn't or can't get insurance, consider Medicaid plannng is a back up plan.  It's expensive, but better than depleting all of your assets because you don't understand the rules to qualify.   Contact Michael and his team at 800-688-8064 and

This week, our case study will hopefully have a happy ending.  The couple was referred to me in 2019, their advisor liked the plan I proposed and told them to wait three years, until they were age 60, to buy the coverage. Today, they are both 61 and still waiting for recent health concerns to be resolved so they can complete an application.  They not only had several birthdays, but the plan they liked is now no longer offered in their state, and the company released a new plan with higher rates. They were healthier three years ago and would have likely been approved. Should the financial advisor who told them to wait be held accountable for that advice?  I think so, but how? We need to consider finances, age and health when designing LTC plans to protect our families. As promised, the Genworth Cost of Care link, where you can check out both current and projected costs in your area, is below.  Be sure to use a 5% compounding COLA when planning for future costs.

This is a question so many of us ask when an extended care need invades our world.  We don't want to have to ask this when a loved one needs help living...we feel guilty even thinking about it.  We also find ourselves asking "how long" when we are planning for our own future needs as well.  There will always be some questions that aren't answered until LTC is imminent: When will we need care? Where are we going to live? How much will care cost? How long will we need care? By working with an LTC planning specialist like myself, we can work to understand what the answers to these questions could be and then work together to create predictible outcomes for unpredictable situations.

This week, I'm bringing back one of my favorite interviews from the early days of our podcasts.  Janeen Salzgeber with shares what is really involved when we need to resettle into an abbreviated space in assisted living or other care environment.  Her Tampa based company helps their clients decide what "stuff" makes their new space feel like home, and sets everything up to make resettling easier, while also helping to leave legacies for other families who are in need. Her company is part of the National Association of Senior Move Managers a great resource to help simplify home transitions

This week, Diane shares a case study of her clients, Mark and Sharon.  They started planning at ages 61 and 60.  They thought they had done all they could with LTC planning, and then the SECURE Act was enacted in 2020.  There were now serious tax concerns when their kids inherit their IRAs.  Mark wanted to know if there really is a plan that can be funded with IRA dollars to create tax free death and LTC benefits and help their kids with the new tax rules requiring inherited IRA's to be fully liquidated within 10 years.  There really are plans that help with this.  Listen and learn what Mark & Sharon decided, and ask me for help at

This week, we hear from Michelle Thomas with the Colonnade at Carrollwood, an assisted living community right in my Tamba Bay neighborhood.  For many years, a group from our church visited and sang there monthly for quite a while.  Michelle shares that this is Resort Style Living with as little or as much assistance as is needed.  Some residents move in for the food and social atmosphere, and don't need any assistance at this point - they just don't want to be alone.  Others need various amounts of help to get through their days.  Colonnade's goal is to help their residents live as independently as possible in a loving, caring environment.  Many people who live at the Colonnade still go out into the community for many activities like shopping and gardening.  Find info at

This week, Diane interviews Mary George with Best Years Senior Care.  Mary is a geriatric care manager and helps families find help, resources and care providers when a loved one can no longer provide for themselves.  Often, family members become overwhelmed when a parent is discharged from a care setting and needs to move home, where family members still have everyday obligations outside of the parent's needs.  How will you put all the pieces togethar?  Who can you trust to help make decisions when everything is confusing?  Mary works mostly in Hillsborough county, Florida, and she can refer you to others care managers in other areas. Visit or

Bonnie bought LTC insurance over 20 years ago and thought it would be enough to cover her future needs. We discussed adding an inflation rider to keep up with costs, but she didn't want to pay the higher rate.  Today, when she needs help with dementia, her plan will pay for 5 hours of home care a day.  Compare that to my husband's mom's plan that paid for 10 hours per day and still wasn't as much as she wanted either.  If you take anything from this episode, I hope it's "Don't skimp!"  Your future self and your family need you to plan wisely.  Thank you to my husband, Paul Stoddart, for recording, editing and creating the music for the podcast

This week, Diane and her guest, Dean Lambert with the Love Always Project share how talking about uncomfortable end of life topics long before a need to talk occurs, it's better for the whole family. Dean shares how the Project helps us change thoughts of death and dying into thoughts of life and living. Share your comments and experiences at

This week, our 31 year old son asked when he should be adding LTC coverage to his retirement plan.  Diane shares things to consider when planning to be sure you can both qualify and afford LTC insurance.  11 states are working on creating a mandatory LTC tax.  As of today, it looks like the only way to avoid the tax is to not be working or to own your own private LTC plan.  Washington state has already done this. The other states currently  working on a tax plan are CA MI CO MO NY VT OR HI MN IL and NC.  California is closest to a plan.  If you're aleady considering LTC and live in one of these states, you need to move quickly.  Contact me at diane@preparing4tomorrow.com

Most people state they don't want to burden their children with long term care needs like bathing, dressing and going to the bathroom, but they too often don't consider the financial burdens that go along with that.  Affluent people often believe that they don't need to discuss LTC needs because they have enough money to pay for any care they will need.  It's more important to have a plan when there are more assets as siblings tend to argue about the right way to care for mom or what to spend or not spend for care.  Not having a plan too often disrupts families forever.  A plan doesn't always have to include insurance, but it needs to be a plan and it needs to be discussed before life shows up and changes the rules in an instant.  Ask me for guidance at

Because I included a case study in last week's episode, go back and listen to Aaron's options for a plan to provide LTC and also reduce his tax obligations.  This week, listen and learn about two laws that have been enacted, LTC Partnership Act and Pension Protection Act, to help consumers preserve assets and let insurance companies create tax reducing strategies for policyholders.  Contact me for guidance and plans to meet your unique needs at diane@preparing4tomorrow.com

Last week, I attended my first ILTCI conference in Raliegh, NC.  I met a bunch of great people, and I learned so much valuable information that I will share with you here and over the next months. What are states doing to alleviate the Medicaid system?  How will state programs work alongside private LTC insurance?  What can we do to encourage solid legislation that works? How is our country going to be able to afford to care for an aging population?  How can we as consumers be prepared for tomorrow?

This week, Diane and her guest, Angelett Johnson with Small Assited Living Coalition, share how having a guide, a plan and a team to help us live safely when we can no longer care or provide for ourselves. Visit to learn more about how they can work to help families help their loved ones better.

This week, Nancy & her daughter Tammy decided to choose a hybrid, cash indemnity plan that will let Nancy use the money to pay for whoever and whatever care she needs, or it will pay a tax-free death benefit to Tammy if Nancy never needs care.  Disclosure: In this episode, I stated that the hybrid plans were not available prior to the Pension Protection Act (PPA) being implemented in 2010.  They were actually available before then, but the PPA law made the benefits completely tax-free if used for care or as a death benefit.  Before that, benefits could not be combined and tax-free.

Nancy found a cash indemnity hybrid LTC insurance plan that will pay her daughter and pay for licensed professional care if needed.  She just needs to decide if whe wants a larger and level LTC benefit or if she wants to start small and grow the benefits over time.  Listen to her options and email me at to share what you think she would choose, or what you would choose.  We'll learn next week of her final decision

Nancy is moving into an addition her daughter has added onto their home for her.  She wants a long term care plan that can pay her daughter to help her or pay for professional care at home or in a facility.  She wants to know if there are plans that do both.  The answer is yes, and Diane shares several options for cash indemnity LTC plans available for Nancy as she prepares to protect her family from having to sacrifice to provide for her if extended care is needed.