Category: Financial Planning

Wiring money is like sending cash: Once you’ve sent it, it’s gone. It is very difficult to retrieve – in fact, more difficult than recovering physical dollar bills.

For businesses, always call the recipient to verify ACH details before sending; this is required by law in 50 states. This law does not require calling, but if the sender’s or recipient’s email is hacked, calling will help prevent the hacker from changing ACH details in a hacked email account.

If wire fraud takes place due to a security breach, such as a hacker infiltrating your account and initiating a wire transfer, you may have protection. Reputable financial institutions will generally cover your losses in the case of a cyber attack. Recoverability is dependent, however, on whether the wire was properly authorized or unauthorized and the payment type (wire vs. ACH).  However, if you fall for a scam and initiate the wire transfer yourself, you’re probably out of luck.

Another scenario is having an incorrect address or account number in your wire transfer instructions. For example, say you want to send a large sum of money to your lender to pay off your mortgage. It’s a good idea to contact the institution directly (by phone or in person) and ask them to tell you where to send your wire transfer to match it with the printed instructions you may have received. Always proofread the wire transfer instructions carefully.

Should you accidentally transpose the numbers in a wire transfer, you could lose that money. If you contact your bank immediately to report the error, they may be able to recall the funds. However, if the recipient has already accepted the transfer, particularly if they have transferred the money elsewhere, it is almost impossible to recover.

Remember, wire transfers settle quickly and are typically irreversible once accepted. That is why they are one of the prime targets for cybercriminals. If you are unfamiliar with the person or institution where you are wiring money, research them first to confirm their identity and see if there are any complaints or red flags associated with the entity. If you had no reason to initiate the wire transfer before being contacted, you should be especially suspicious.  Be extremely skeptical of unsolicited urgent requests, especially when instructions change, or you can’t verify independently

The following are some common scams perpetuated today.

Bank Fraud

Your bank or investment firm calls you directly to alert you to a possible scam; someone is attempting to hack into your account and steal your money. They may even verify your account with details they have obtained – such as your name, address, and perhaps even your Social Security and account numbers. Rather than an affirmation of their legitimacy, this should be a red flag. First of all, no legitimate financial institution or government agency would relay this information over the phone. Second, a fraudster may tell you the best way to block the potential hack is to open a new account and transfer your money there. This is a red flag. Third, the scammer may insist that time is of the essence – you must act immediately before your money is stolen.

If you get a call like this, hang up and either call (the number on your statement or debit/credit card) or visit your local bank branch to inquire about the call. Chances are good that the bank will confirm there is no breach and that your account is safe.

Dating Apps

Dating apps are the 21st-century version of blind dates. According to Statista, more than 60 million Americans used dating apps in 2024. Instead of meeting organically in a bar or at a party, users peruse dating profiles to find a prospective mate. Unfortunately, these platforms are rife with money-seeking predators – and they can be very patient.

Many online relationship predators interact for months before the scammer mentions that he or she is having money trouble. They may even wait for their paramour to offer money to help them out. Remember that the red flags apply – you didn’t initiate the need. The need for funds should never be immediate. You should research and verify the legitimacy of any person who would agree to accept money from someone they met online. Remember, once you send money, you may never hear from that person again. Or they may continue to interact, but you could get another request for funds a little further down the road.

One way to detect a dating app fraudster is by noticing clues that they are not who they claim to be. For example, many scammers live in other countries. They may not be familiar with common local interests in the town or city where they say they are from. Or, you may notice unusual grammar or phrasing in their communications, indicating English is not their native language.

The Friend or Relative Scam

One of the most heart-rending scams is when a person – often a senior citizen – is asked by a struggling friend or family member to send money. For example, a grandchild away at college who says she doesn’t want her parents to know she needs money. Pulling at the heartstrings, paired with aging cognitive decline, is a recipe for wire transfer fraud. It’s a good idea to establish a “family password” with which to verify proof of identity for suspicious scenarios. Also, call the family member or friend back at a known number for verification before sending money.

Investment Scam

The too-good-to-be-true investment opportunity is an old scam still used today, often to entice the purchase of cryptocurrency with cash. As with all these potential scams, do your due diligence and confirm the legitimacy of the receiver and their details.

The best way to prevent money wire fraud is to stay up to date with the latest scams and trust your gut: Do not act until you have thoroughly researched the details.

Campaign messaging would have you believe retirees just scored a major victory. The talking point is everywhere: Social Security benefits are now tax-free. But anyone who reads the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will discover something different. The legislation contains nothing that removes Social Security from federal taxation. Zero provisions. The tax structure that has applied to benefits for over four decades remains fully intact.

So, what did pass? A new deduction aimed at older Americans. And through some rhetorical gymnastics, that deduction is being sold as something it fundamentally is not.

A Deduction Is Not an Exemption

The OBBBA creates an additional deduction exclusively for seniors. Single filers get $6,000 while married couples receive $12,000. This stacks on top of what they already claim through the standard deduction, lowering their overall taxable income.

For retirees whose financial situation falls in a particular range, this extra write-off might be enough to cancel out whatever portion of their Social Security would normally face taxation. But here’s the catch: the deduction applies to all income equally. It doesn’t single out retirement benefits for protection. If your earnings came entirely from investments or a workplace pension, the math would work identically.

Decades of Unchanged Rules

Federal taxation of Social Security benefits dates back to 1983. President Reagan signed that change with support from both parties, making up to half of benefits taxable for seniors with higher earnings. Then in 1993, Congress and President Clinton pushed the ceiling higher. Under current rules, as much as 85 percent of benefits can count toward taxable income for upper-income retirees.

None of that changed with this bill.

The thresholds determining who pays what have remained frozen since the Clinton era. Single filers earning under $25,000 and couples under $32,000 owe nothing on their benefits. Those in the middle tier face taxes on up to half. And couples bringing in more than $44,000 can see 85 percent of their Social Security added to their taxable total.

Because these cutoffs have never adjusted for inflation, more retirees get pulled into taxable categories every single year. The OBBBA leaves this problem completely unaddressed.

Looking at the Administration’s Own Math

Treasury Department calculations highlighted by the White House reveal how limited the benefit truly is. Picture a single retiree receiving $40,000 annually from Social Security alongside another $40,000 from retirement accounts like an IRA or 401(k). Current law would put their 2026 tax bill at $7,190. Under the new legislation, the amount drops to $5,685, a reduction of roughly $1,500. The senior deduction accounts for approximately $900 of those savings.

Helpful? Sure. But this person still owes thousands in federal taxes. Their Social Security benefits remain part of the calculation. The deduction simply chips away at overall liability without treating retirement benefits any differently than other income sources.

Temporary Relief with Built-In Limits

Unlike corporate tax provisions and cuts benefiting wealthy taxpayers, which received permanent status in the bill, the senior deduction disappears after 2028. It was written with an expiration date from the start.

Income limits further narrow who benefits. Single filers with earnings above $75,000 and married couples exceeding $150,000 see the deduction phase-out entirely. Ironically, these higher-earning retirees facing the steepest Social Security taxation are exactly the ones shut out from this supposed fix.

Conclusion and Why This Framing Succeeds

Announcing a supplemental deduction for older taxpayers generates little excitement. Declaring that Social Security taxation has ended makes waves. Political strategists understand that most people absorb information through headlines rather than legislative analysis. Few voters examine IRS guidance or compare statutory language.

The outcome is clever stagecraft masquerading as meaningful reform. Benefits remain taxable under the same formulas established decades ago. Inflation continues to drag more retirees across taxation thresholds, and this temporary, income-restricted deduction is merely wrapped in revolutionary packaging.

In 2024, the median household income in the United States was $83,730. However, the national average annual cost of 24-hour paid long-term care (LTC) for a retiree age 65 and older was more than $125,000, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Moreover, one in five seniors will require care for more than five years.

Obviously, the math varies by household, but the reality is that the majority of older Americans who rely on paid caregiving will use much of their retirement savings and investments to pay for it. When considering insurance, there are presently two options: Long Term Care Insurance (LTCi) and Hybrid Life Insurance with an LTC component. Be aware that each policy offers a throng of variations and exclusions, so it is important to dig into the details of individual policies before making a decision.

Long Term Care Insurance

Purchasing a long-term care insurance policy can help offset the cost of caregiving for either in-home care (in some cases, even payouts for family caregivers) or care outside the home (e.g., adult daycare services, assisted living, memory care, nursing home). However, it’s important to understand the following about LTCi.

It can be quite expensive.

Premiums can range from $2,000 a year for a man in his 50s to more than $12,000 a year for a woman in her 70s. Furthermore, premiums increase annually until benefits begin (premiums cease while benefits are paid).

It may not cover the full cost of care.

Unless care is needed for only a few hours a day, long-term care policies generally do not cover the full cost of paid caregiving. For example, let’s say a policy pays $150 a day, but the owner needs care for eight hours a day. His in-home caregiver charges $30 an hour. That means his cost is $240 a day, so he’ll have to pay the additional $90 a day out of his own pocket. That’s

up to $2,790 a month or $32,850 a year. So, while LTCi can help defray the cost, someone who needs extensive care must have other assets to cover the rest of the cost. For an elderly person who needs 24-hour home care, the cost can be exponential.

Many new policies cover only a handful of years.

When you purchase an LTCi policy, you choose from various options that increase or decrease your premium. For example, coverage periods may range from two years to five years to life. You may also select a waiting period before coverage begins after purchase, which could range from 30 days to 365 days. The longer the wait period, the lower the premium. If you have an immediate need for coverage, you might be denied coverage altogether. That is why it’s best to purchase coverage when you are younger (50s) and presumably healthy.

You don’t get to choose when to start benefits.

LTCi coverage doesn’t kick in until you qualify, which generally means you are no longer able to independently conduct some or all of the prescribed daily living activities. The five primary qualifiers are bathing, going to the toilet, dressing yourself, feeding yourself, and the ability to move from bed to chair/wheelchair. Qualification to begin taking LTCi benefits usually requires physician verification.

The downside of a standalone LTCi policy is that it is a “use-it-or-lose-it” type of contract, much like auto or homeowner’s insurance. In other words, you may pay for it for decades but never actually use it, so all the premiums paid are lost.

Hybrid Life/Long Term Care Insurance

On the other hand, a hybrid insurance policy will pay out some portion of unused proceeds to beneficiaries upon the death of the policyowner. A hybrid policy is basically a life insurance policy with an LTCi rider or an accelerated benefit clause, which, either way, means it will cost more.

First and foremost, it works just like life insurance – once the owner passes away, the beneficiary receives a payout. However, if the owner needs money to pay for long-term care while he is still alive, he can tap the rider or life insurance payout to pay for the care. Then, when he passes away, his heirs receive any amount of the unused proceeds. With this type of policy, the owner doesn’t pay for LTCi coverage he does not need, but it’s available if he does need it.

Premiums for a hybrid policy, like any life insurance, depend on the age, gender, health, and amount of insurance proceeds desired, as well as any additional charge for the LTCi rider. Some policies include LTC benefits as a standard feature.

Employer-Sponsored Benefit

If your employer offers long-term care insurance as a voluntary benefit, it’s worth considering because group rates are generally cheaper than on the individual market. However, while employer-sponsored LTCi policies are usually portable – meaning you can keep paying for it after you leave your employer – your premiums may increase when no longer part of the group policy.

As always, reach out to a professional when it comes to planning for you and your family’s future care.