The following is a list of the presentations we offer. In addition to our longer and more comprehensive public presentations, we offer shorter ones geared toward meeting speaker time limitations for groups like civic, fraternal, service-based and religious-based clubs and organizations, groups of investors, and groups focused on dealing with particular health concerns.
The time shown for each presentation is approximate, and many of our presentations are offered in longer and shorter versions. If you find a topic of interest, but you need the presentation to be shorter (or longer) to meet your available time, let us know. We can usually adjust and personalize our presentations to best meet your needs and requirements.
All of our presentations are interactive, speaker-narrated slideshows – never “just someone lecturing.” We bring along all of our electronic equipment and do our own set-up. There’s nothing you need to do other than arrange the date, time and place, then sit back and enjoy!
In light of COVID-19 regulations, we are now also proud to offer each of these presentations by Zoom. We can still present them as slideshows because Zoom allows and enables us to share materials on screen with the other participants. We can even take care of sending out the email invitations. Anyone with a “screen” can attend – so a PC, laptop, table, or even a cell phone can attend, as long as the device has internet access and does emails.
To book a presentation, call us at 618-632-7000.
The Elder Care Journey: How to Protect Yourself, Your Family and Your Finances (75 or 45 min.):
This is our “flagship presentation” – the one we offer most frequently at our public workshops. We discuss the greatest threat to the financial security of older Americans – the risk of losing your life savings to long-term care costs. You’ll learn the legal and financial steps you can take to address that threat and assure that you won’t end up broke in a nursing home. We teach you how to guarantee that you will be able to leave a financial legacy for your loved ones. Note: We also offer a version of this workshop that is specifically geared toward social workers, professional caregivers and care facility personnel, and other health and elder care professionals.
Preserve, Provide, Protect: Planning for the 21st Century (60 min.):
This is our most recent workshop presentation. We talk about how changes in the tax laws, the uncertain state of the economy and retirement benefit programs, dramatic increases in long-term care costs, increased life expectancies, and stricter eligibility requirements for government benefits can impact you. We’ll explain why those considerations call for some basic changes in the way you plan for your and your family’s financial future. This may be the most important presentation you’ll ever attend!
Addressing the Challenge of Paying for Long-Term Care (25 min.):
This is the shortened “guest speaker” version of our Elder Care Journey presentation – full of information to help you get a handle on one of the most important concerns facing every older American.
Better Estate Planning (Or “How to Avoid Those Bad Heir Days”) (45 or 25 min.):
This is our lively and informative presentation on why estate planning, done right, can be a joyous reaffirmation of life and a golden opportunity to help assure that you will provide for your loved ones in the best possible way. You’ll learn why “cookie cutter” forms are a sad mistake, and how you can do so much better. This presentation has made our founding attorney, Wes Coulson, a popular cruise ship guest enrichment lecturer.
Asset Preservation Planning: How to Survive Old Age With Your Life Savings Intact (45 or 25 min.):
This presentation is for those who may already have an estate plan based on a living trust or will. It explains why those planning measures, while important and helpful, cannot assure your ability to leave an inheritance for your loved ones. We reveal the secret to getting the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you will be able to accomplish that. Long-term care costs are far and away the single biggest threat to the ability of the average American to leave an inheritance for his or her loved ones. You can, if you choose, protect your life savings from that threat.
This is a great presentation for financial services professionals to build and enhance their relationship with their investors.
The ABCs of IRAs: How to Avoid the Most Common Mistakes (25 min.):
IRAs (and things like 401(k), 403(b) and Keogh plans) are the foundation of most people’s retirement plans. But most people don’t know much about them, which can lead to costly mistakes and missed opportunities. This informative workshop will help you avoid those mistakes, and let you in on some planning secrets that can save your family tens of thousands of dollars in taxes on IRAs they inherit from you. This is another great presentation for financial services professionals.
VA Benefits for Long-Term Care: What’s Available and How to Qualify (45 or 25 min.):
This presentation is of special interest to the men and women who have served our country in times of war, as well as the widowed spouses of those brave soldiers. You’ll learn about the benefits that are available to help you pay for health and long-term care costs, and what it takes to qualify. This is vital information that every VFW post, American Legion post and other veterans’ organization should be sure to share with its members. As the son of an Army medic and being named after two uncles who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War II, Wes Coulson takes special pride and joy in giving this presentation.
What You Need to Know about Medicaid and Long-Term Care (25 min.):
If you make it to age 65, there is a 43% chance that you will eventually receive nursing home care – but only 13% of older Americans think it will happen to them. The most likely financial outcome when one enters a nursing home is that he or she will end up broke and on Medicaid. With the Medicaid eligibility rules making it more difficult to qualify, older adults need to “get wise” on a subject where what you don’t know can cost you your life savings. Find out how to keep that from happening to you! Note: We also offer a version of this workshop that is specifically geared toward social workers, professional caregivers, care facility personnel and other health and elder care professionals.
Exploding the Medicaid Look-Back Myth (75 or 25 min.)
Perhaps you believe, or have even been told by a healthcare or legal professional, that anyone who has made gifts or transferred ownership of assets within five years cannot qualify for Medicaid long-term benefits. In this provocative workshop, we’ll prove why that’s seldom the case, and show you how, with the right legal planning, you can always protect a substantial portion of your life savings.
Planning for a Loved One with Special Needs (60, 45 or 30 min.):
The way parents (and grandparents) plan and provide for their special needs children, both minor and adult, can make a tremendous difference in their lives. Done right, planning can help assure that a special needs family member will have every chance to lead the best possible life. But if mistakes are made, the unfortunate result can be the loss of eligibility for vital government assistance. This “nuts and bolts” workshop will teach you how to plan the right and best way, and open your eyes to new ideas. It’s a must for special needs families. We are pleased to cater this presentation to your special needs support group.
Taking Control of Your Future: Alzheimer’s and You (45 minutes or 25 min.):
One of the difficult emotional challenges presented by a progressive disease like Alzheimer’s is the feeling of loss of control over what will happen to you, your family and your life savings. Legal planning can help you take back some control. Your documents, and the choices they reflect, can be your voice in some of the most critical moments in your life. They can provide direction and peace of mind to the family members responsible for making and carrying out decisions on your behalf. This is the presentation Wes Coulson developed as an Alzheimer’s Association volunteer, and it’s our privilege to present it to support groups. Note: If you are a member of a Parkinson’s, stroke victim, brain injury or other support group, we also offer presentations geared to your special needs and concerns.
