In 1960, Congress passed the Real Estate Investment Trust Act, which allows individual investors to own a portion of a diversified portfolio of large institutional-quality commercial real estate through Real Estate Investment Trusts, also known as “REITs” (pronounced “reets”). A REIT’s primary business is owning and managing real estate properties such as office buildings, apartment buildings, hotels, warehouses, health care facilities, shopping malls, timberland or golf courses and other recreation facilities. REITs may focus on one or more sectors, depending on their objectives.

 

There are two types of REITs – Traded and Non-Traded. We will concentrate on Non-Traded.

 

Non-traded REITs are considered to have a low correlation to other types of exchange-traded investments, meaning that their investment performance is independent of the stock market and not directly affected by daily stock market fluctuations. They strive to keep a consistent value. Non-traded REITs are illiquid. They...

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Because of old age, mental or physical illness, or injury, some people find themselves in need of help with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting or continence, and/or transferring (e.g. getting out of a chair or bed), or assistance due to cognitive impairment.  These six things are called Activities of Daily Living sometimes referred to as ADL’s.  In general, if you can’t do two or more of these activities, or if you have a cognitive impairment, you are said to need “long term care”.

Long-term care isn’t a very helpful name for this type of situation because it might not last for a long time.  Some people who need ADL service may only need it for a few months or less.

Many people think that long-term care is provided exclusively in a nursing home.  It can be, but it can also be provided in an adult day care, an assisted living facility, or at home.  It also can be offered at a skilled care facility.  The distinction between the skilled care facility and the others is important because Medicare and...

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Life insurance isn’t a fun topic to discuss. No one wants to think about dying prematurely or ever for that matter! Denial doesn’t make this tragedy any less likely to occur, but it does make it potentially more devastating. Proper planning can make it a little easier to get through tough times.