What is an CLTC?

 

CLTC stands for Certified Long Term Care Specialist.

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Why did I seek the CLTC designation? Hint: It wasn't to impress my family, I think it's too late....

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I will put this as simply and plainly as possible. You can NOT create and enjoy a peace of mind retirement without eliminating long-term health care risk from your financial equation to some degree. You won't have SECURIMENT, either. No way. there's not a chance of peace-of-mind because the specter of experiencing a long-term care event will haunt you right up to the exact moment you experience a long-term care event.

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Look I'm sorry I have to be the bearer of unhealthy news, but many people DO NOT believe care will ever be needed, let alone care in a nursing home.  Reality doesn't support that belief and without boring you with a ton of facts that you can easily find on your own, I would like too bore you with one revolutionary fact.

 

For a couple that has hit their 60's, there is approximately a 90% chance one of them will need some long term care help either in a facility or at home.  

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So, I'm failing you big time if I don't help you understand that...

 

• You could live a long life, and if you do, you may need extended care.​

• There will be emotional, physical, and financial consequences to those you love, should you need care.

• There MUST be a battle plan in place to handle this risk.

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I hear this all the time, "my children will take care of me!" That's humorous but I have to ask: What if they have jobs? Or children? Or live in another city? Watch this video.

 

A CLTC understands these risks and devises a plan (as part of an overall strategy) which will allow children to maintain their relationship as children supervising care, not children providing care. 

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So "who provides the care" is one element. The other is how the heck it's going to be paid for. 

 

You may think your assets are sufficient to cover long-term care, but you need to understand the real nature of “assets” and how they function. Assets in a portfolio are really “capital” in nature; that is, their purpose is not to be used to pay for care—or any other expense in life—but to generate predictable streams of income that will keep up with a rising cost of living and that you cannot outlive.

 

Using capital to pay for care creates unintended issues with:

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• Unnecessary taxes

• Market timing 

• Liquidity issues  

• Leaving a legacy

 

And perhaps most importantly, every dollar used to pay for care is one dollar less available to generate income to keep future commitments. And that leads to a financial death-spiral.

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Many people sit on their hands and ignore the probability of this possibility pulverizing their lives. Don't be that person. You must know that there is absolutely NO chance of SECURIMENT (something you desperately want) without addressing this risk head on.

 

If you don't have a CLTC helping you, find one - or contact me to review of your situation.