Long-Term Care Costs in 2026: How to Protect Your Assets Before Medicaid Rules Change
By John F. Davenport, Esq. | Davenport & Associates, Norwalk, CT | April 7, 2026 Nobody plans for a nursing home. And then one day, it becomes the only conversation that matters. The average semi-private nursing home room in the United States now costs $114,975 per year. In Connecticut, that number is significantly higher. And… View Article
READ MORE
Inherited IRA 10-Year Rule in 2026: What Every Beneficiary Must Do to Avoid the 25% Penalty
If you inherited an IRA from a parent, spouse, or loved one after January 1, 2020, the rules changed significantly, and many beneficiaries have no idea. The IRS finalized regulations in 2024 that clarified a critical point: if the original IRA owner had already begun taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) before they died, you as… View Article
READ MORE
Will vs. Revocable Living Trust in 2026: The Difference and Which One Your Family Actually Needs
One of the most common questions I hear from families at their first estate planning meeting is a simple one: Do I need a will or a trust? What is actually the difference? It is a reasonable question. And the honest answer for most families is: you need both. But they do completely different jobs,… View Article
READ MORE
Medicare Costs Just Jumped 10% in 2026: What Every Retiree Needs to Know Before March 31
If you are on Medicare, or approaching eligibility, 2026 brought a cost increase you cannot afford to ignore. The standard Medicare Part B premium jumped from $185 to $202.90 per month in 2026. That is a nearly 10% increase in a single year, and the first time the Part B premium has ever exceeded $200…. View Article
READ MORE
The Estate Tax Exemption Is Now $15 Million in 2026: Does Your Estate Plan Still Make Sense?
On January 1, 2026, the federal estate tax exemption increased to $15 million per person — $30 million for married couples. It is now permanent, with no scheduled expiration. If you read that and thought, ‘that doesn’t affect me — my estate isn’t anywhere near $15 million,’ I want to stop you right there. Because… View Article
READ MORE
Social Security Full Retirement Age Just Changed in 2026: What It Means for You
In 2026, Social Security’s full retirement age officially reached 67 — completing a 42-year transition that began with a congressional reform in 1983. If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is now 67. That is the final number. It will not go up again under current law. This change affects… View Article
READ MORE