District 196 Community Education

Take part in a relaxed and friendly open-forum seminar for participants with a seasoned Will & Trust attorney. Should I avoid probate? Is a will good enough? Do I need a trust? How does my plan deal with the nursing home? How do we gift the assets of husband and wife? What about separate assets not of the marriage? If I am alone, what tools protect me best? How do I decide who should serve in my estate plan? What is the death tax? How do I avoid leaving a mess for my children? Which trust is best for my needs? Can I use a Transfer-On-Death Deed? How do my retirement assets operate in my will or trust? All questions will be answered!

In light of new IRS regulations, planning for your legacy is more important than ever. Join us for an informative workshop to discuss: How to protect your family and loved ones when you're no longer here Strategies to pass on more than just your assets and leave a lasting legacy Powerful tools like Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) and Roth conversions How early retirement or job changes impact your financial "blueprint" Receive a workbook to guide you in building a secure, tax-efficient estate plan. Designed for those in and approaching retirement, discover the tools you need to protect your wealth and secure your legacy.

Have you been thinking that now might be the time to downsize, but aren't sure where to start, how to do it or what your options are? Access to preferred service providers and discount coupons are provided, as well as a no cost home evaluation for those who want to know the value of their home and recommended suggestions to make it more salable. Receive the Downsizing Made Easy Guide.

Early retirement can be an exciting time, but it can also bring a lot of questions like, "What do I do about health insurance before I am eligible for Medicare?" Learn what to consider before leaving your employer group coverage, discover different options available to fill the gap before you become eligible for Medicare and study the in's and out's of how to navigate MNSure, the Minnesota health insurance marketplace.

Does your family have a cabin, homestead, hunting land, farm or second home? How do you protect this family legacy and move its use and enjoyment into the future? Various sources and forces may threaten its very existence like the nursing home and Medicaid (MA), estate taxes, family divorces, creditor and bankruptcy issues, taxes and operating expenses, unequal resources of owners, the in-laws, and use and enjoyment equality. Gain real-life solutions and explore four paths to resolution that will solve problems without driving the family apart or sacrificing the family legacy asset.

Are you ready to take the first step toward homeownership, but unsure of where to begin? Get equipped with the knowledge and tools you need to navigate the home-buying process confidently. Learn about various mortgage options and the financing process, discover essential budgeting strategies and explore down payment assistance programs. Leave with practical knowledge and a clear understanding of the steps needed to successfully achieve your homeownership goals.

Have you ever considered becoming a landlord or investing in real estate, but needed more information? Learn about opportunities in today's Twin Cities marketplace, how to analyze a property, tax considerations and things to put in a lease. Review all aspects of becoming a landlord, from buying, selling, to renting.

Aging often involves transitioning to different housing. The process involves coordinating financial and physical health considerations and frequently downsizing a home. Explore alternatives to single-family living from buying and renting - subsidized and elderly waivers, market-rate apartments, 55+, CCRC, independent/assisted living age in place, memory care, cooperatives and condo/townhouses. Come with your questions to decide what will work best for you and what your next steps are.

Learn about land transfers and figure out if keeping the cabin in the family is workable. Explore how taxes will affect the land, ideas of who to contact during this process and ways to distribute the family cabin/land fairly with the family.

Did you know that women face unique challenges when it comes to maximizing their Social Security benefits? Understand key Social Security provisions like: How to qualify for spousal and survivor benefits off your husband's record Increasing your payments by delaying claims as long as possible Managing the earned income limits if you continue working Collecting on your ex-spouse's record after divorce Minimizing taxes on your Social Security income in retirement

Walk-thru an actual Minnesota Probate Estate from the filing of the Application for Probate to the final accounts ... and all the steps in between. Learn the entire process with current forms, court and filing requirements, accounting and procedural steps, as well as the procedures for the sale and distribution of estate assets. Discuss the roles, responsibilities and liabilities of a person who is appointed as the executor/personal representative. Explore real-life examples and solutions to the multitude of issues involving a typical (or not typical) Minnesota Probate Estate. Learn the answers to: is there a “reading of the will”? What about personal items? Does the executor get paid? What about estate bills and creditors?

Review the process of buying a home from A-Z and discuss unique funding that is only available to you - a first-time buyer. With one program, it is possible to buy a home for as little as $1,000 of your own funds. A first-time buyer has not owned a home in the past three years.

Gain an in-depth overview of retirement planning including financial education to help you build wealth, align your assets with your values and achieve your retirement lifestyle goals. Learn how to manage investment risks, use new tax laws to your advantage, make informed decisions about your company retirement plan and adjust your estate plan to function properly under the new laws. A 225-page illustrated book is included in fee. Spouse/partner may attend at no additional charge (and share the materials). Please include spouse/partner name when registering.

If you are a baby boomer, retirement is likely on your mind in some way, shape or form. Identify areas of focus for those retired, about to retire or who still have a little to go before you cross that retirement finish line. All 3 scenarios are critical times in life to be making good decisions for your financial future. Pensions, Social Security, 401ks, IRAs, Roth IRAs, annuities, life insurance and long-term care … how does it all work together for the betterment of your retirement? Come to learn, ask questions and walk away with a better understanding of what your next financial steps could be. Securities and Advisory Services offered through Harbour Investments, Inc Member FINRA & SIPC

Are you and your spouse nearing retirement age? Learn how to get the most out of your Social Security benefits as a couple. Topics include: How marriage impacts Social Security Deciding when to claim Coordinating with other income sources Taxes and Social Security Working while receiving benefits Techniques higher-earning couples can utilize This class is essential for married couples wanting to ensure they receive their full share of the Social Security benefits they have earned.

In retirement, your tax rate may vary widely over the years based on the timing and order. Learn about the following: The critical tax question you must answer BEFORE retirement What the Social Security “tax trap” is and how you can avoid it Why tapping assets in the wrong order can trigger higher Medicare premiums The four stages of retirement and important tax actions in each stage Mistakes to avoid when it comes to your investment portfolio, health care and estate

In each Minnesotan’s life, there are ten people we should be prepared to count on as we age and move into the last stages of our lives. These jobs include: Attorney-In-Fact, Health Care Agent, Estate Executor, Trustee, Guardian and more. All are vastly different jobs that benefit you and they deserve careful thought. Learn the answers to: What are the roles and responsibilities of these people? How long do they serve and how much of a time commitment are we asking? How much guidance can we give them? Who makes an ideal selection for each of these vastly different roles? Who makes a bad selection for these roles? What pitfalls and problems should we be aware of? Questions encouraged ... get the answers.

Are you turning sixty-five and wondering about Medicare? Would you like to understand Medicare Part A & B as well as the difference between Medicare supplements and Advantage plans? What are your choices if you are working and have a group plan? Learn when you can enroll and where you can make some comparisons so you can select the right option for you. Presented via PowerPoint with take away handouts and reference guide. Class is generic and educational.

Compare trusts and wills and learn which is best for you. Learn what estate planning entails including property and how to avoid probate in case of disability or death. Understand the probate process and when it is and isn't necessary and why. Make informative estate planning decisions.

The trust is a very popular component and tool to be used in our estate planning. However, there is a variety of vastly different trust options to be used and the question arises: Am I using the right trust for my needs and goals? Often used trusts include: Living Trusts, Testamentary Trusts and Irrevocable Trusts, each serves a different purpose, each has a different result. Learn about the strengths and weaknesses of these different types of trusts and when to use them. Explore your goals and wishes to see where they fall in the realm of trusts.

Discuss how taxes affect distribution strategies in retirement. Receive knowledge of planning strategies for preretirement, how social security is taxed, and engage in discussion on how to be taxed efficient now and into the future with investments and utilizing tax brackets.

Everyone should have a health care directive and a power of attorney whether you are 18 or 80. Without these important documents, it can be difficult for your loved ones to get health care information, make health care decisions on your behalf or handle your financial affairs if you should become incapacitated. Gain valuable information and tools to organize your affairs. Receive instructions and professionally prepared forms, and have access to witnesses and a notary public. Must bring your driver’s license for identification. This class is a great supplement to the Writing your Own Will class. Sorry, no discounts apply.

Having a will is important for married couples, singles and divorced people. If you are without a will, the laws of Minnesota and a judge will make all the decisions regarding your estate. Don't let this happen. Learn about estates and wills, and prepare a legal will in class. Receive instructions and a professionally prepared form, have access to witnesses and a notary public. Prior to class, review the information forwarded to you. The will form is designed for individual use; couples cannot share this form (each person must register individually). Appropriate for people who have an estate of less than $2,000,000, including life insurance, and do not own a business. Sorry, no discounts apply.