February 2010 Navy by LCDR Marc J. Soss, SC, USN Commencing on 5 April 2010, with a sunset date of 31 December 2012, a new government program n...

[Read the rest of this article...]

As children, we are taught to make a list of the gifts we would like to receive for the holidays and our birthday. One of the nicest things a parent can do for his or her family is to create a list (aka “paper trail”) of the location of his/her estate planning documents (Last Will & Testament, Revocable Trust, Irre-vocable Trust, etc.) financial assets (bank and brokerage accounts, life insurance policy(s) etc.), tax information (tax and gift tax returns) and professional advisors (attorney, accountant, financial advisor, etc.).

[Read the rest of this article...]

June 2010 Navy by LCDR Marc J. Soss, SC, USN An estimated ten million Americans (expected to increase to fifteen million in 2020) are currently in n...

[Read the rest of this article...]

May 2010 Navy by LCDR Marc J. Soss, SC, USN Military service in a combat zone can be dangerous and place a lot of stress on both the service member ...

[Read the rest of this article...]

On 11 November 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the “Military Spouses Residency Relief Act” (MSRRA).

[Read the rest of this article...]

December 2009 Navy by LCDR Marc J. Soss, SC, USN This year has been filled with new legislation aimed at enhancing educational benefits for service ...

[Read the rest of this article...]

The “Credit Card Act of 2009” (the “Act” and H.R. 627) was signed into law on 22 May 2009. The Act amends provisions of the “Truth in Lending Act” and “Electronic Fund Transfer Act” and changes the way credit card companies treat their customers.

[Read the rest of this article...]

September 2009 Navy  by Marc J. Soss, SC, USN Disabled veterans are keenly aware of the patient care and health benefits they may receive from ...

[Read the rest of this article...]

On 17 February 2009, President Obama signed into law The American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 (the “Act”). Among its many provisions, Section 1221 of the Act amends and supplements Section 51 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to create additional incentives to hire an unemployed veteran in 2009 and 2010. The Act is designed to combat the growing unemployment rate for veterans who have served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan (11.2% for veterans age 18 and older compared to 8.8% rate for nonveterans in the same age group).

[Read the rest of this article...]

The “Aid and Attendance Pension” (a/k/a “Veterans Disability Pension” or the “Veterans Pension for Veterans 65 or older”) is a little known and utilized federal assistance program which was established in 1952. The program provides a monthly VA pension to assist with the cost of caring for qualifying veterans (disabled or frail and have trouble living on their own). The VA pension may be utilized for assisted living expenses or home health care.

[Read the rest of this article...]