The Red Wagon Estate Planning & Elder Law Show Jeffrey Bellomo

Carolyn (Carrie) Pugh brings a breadth of knowledge and a team-oriented attitude to Bellomo & Associates. In addition to her work in elder law and estate planning, she has extensive experience in family law, youth advocacy, and Social Security disability, among other disciplines. She loves people and helping others, but animals figure prominently in her life as well. Carrie studied animal science at Penn State before receiving her degree from Dickinson Law. She is active in her local community and, as you will hear, greatly values the community she has found at Bellomo & Associates.  
 
What You Need to Know 
(00:00) Episode introduction.
(04:15) Carrie’s first job as an attorney was a clerkship with the Honorable Joseph C. Adams, who encouraged her to take up family law after clerking. Eventually she began representing foster children and youth and served as a mediator and conciliator in custody cases. 
(06:33) When Carrie connected with Bellomo & Associates, she realized that elder law and estate planning and her work with children and youth offered similar rewards—helping and educating others. 
(08:19) Carrie loves participating in Bellomo’s workshops because afterward the attendees are much more knowledgeable and understand the process. 
(09:37) Carrie is a long-time horse lover who competed when she was younger, but now is content trail riding with her dog by her side.  
(14:54) Carrie’s family has a place at Moosehead Lake in Maine. It's near the end of the Appalachian Trail and has been the family’s vacation home since 1965. 
(19:20) Carrie loves Bellomo & Associate’s atmosphere of caring, teamwork, and supportiveness—everyone is always looking out for each other as well as the clients. 
(24:53) Jeff has received tremendous feedback about Carrie from clients. In addition to the workshops, informal events like the annual picnic offer team members and clients key opportunities to strengthen their relationships.  
(27:38) Whether it’s adding new team members or new clients, the best outcomes happen when everyone feels comfortable and is free to be themselves.
 
About Bellomo & Associates
Jeffrey R. Bellomo, the founder of Bellomo & Associates, is a licensed and certified elder law attorney with a master’s degree in taxation and a certificate in estate planning. He explains complex legal and financial topics in easy-to-understand language.
Bellomo & Associates is committed to providing education so that what happened to the Bellomo family doesn’t happen to your family. We conduct free workshops on estate planning, crisis planning, Medicaid planning, special needs planning, probate administration, and trust administration. Visit our website (https://bellomoassociates.com/) to learn more.
 
LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED Bellomo & Associates workshops:https://bellomoassociates.com/workshops/
Life Care Planning The Three Secrets of Estate Planning Nuts & Bolts of Medicaid For more information, call us at (717) 845-5390.
Connect with Bellomo & Associates on Social Media
Tune in Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. Eastern to WSBA radio: https://www.newstalkwsba.com/
X (formerlyTwitter):https://twitter.com/bellomoassoc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BellomoAssociates
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/bellomoassociates
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/bellomoassociates/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bellomoandassociates
WAYS TO WORK WITH JEFFREY BELLOMO
Contact Us:https://bellomoassociates.com/contact/
Practice areas:https://bellomoassociates.com/practice-areas/
 
 
 

Jeff welcomes retired attorney and businessperson Susan Hunter. Before developing a state-of-the-art indoor dog park and boarding-grooming-training facility in Nevada, Susan ran a successful elder law firm in Indiana. Back then, Susan and Jeff took time from their practices to co-teach a systematized approach of practice to elder law, estate planning, and asset protection attorneys. Through their work as Lawyers with Purpose® members, Susan and Jeff significantly contributed to what is now a nationwide network of highly skilled and effective estate and elder law attorneys.
BARK! Canine Club & Resort:  Call (702) 306-6146 or visit https://barkcanineclub.com/
Indiana Estate & Elder Law:  https://www.indianaestateelderlaw.com/

Lawyers with Purpose®:  https://www.lawyerswithpurpose.com/ 
 
What You Need to Know 
(00:00) Episode introduction.
(03:05) Susan’s former partners and successors, Justin Schuhmacher and Jenny Rozelle, have renamed the firm to Indiana Estate and Elder Law.  
(04:14) Susan and her husband started BARK! Canine Club & Resort. The 14-acre-complex includes a state-of-the-art facility for boarding, grooming, and training and a 5,000-square-foot indoor dog park designed for comfort and safety out of the desert heat.
(09:26) The Mesquite BARK Foundation is a 501C3 that benefits dogs all over Southern Nevada and Southern Utah.  
(11:07) Susan developed an interest in elder law when she saw that her grandmother needed assistance with elder law issues but didn't trust attorneys.  
(12:26) Susan’s professional turning point came when she connected with Lawyers with Purpose (LWP).  
(18:07) The best way to learn something is to teach it. 
(19:47) Susan helped Jeff see how a maintenance program would benefit his clients. This led to The Red Wagon Club.
(23:56) As co-trainers for LWP, Jeff and Susan helped grow a network of lawyers who can say, “yes, I will find you someone who does it the way we do it.” 
(27:16) The business practices taught by LWP are transferable, universal practices.
 
About Bellomo & Associates
Jeffrey R. Bellomo, the founder of Bellomo & Associates, is a licensed and certified elder law attorney with a master’s degree in taxation and a certificate in estate planning. He explains complex legal and financial topics in easy-to-understand language.
Bellomo & Associates is committed to providing education so that what happened to the Bellomo family doesn’t happen to your family. We conduct free workshops on estate planning, crisis planning, Medicaid planning, special needs planning, probate administration, and trust administration. Visit our website (https://bellomoassociates.com/) to learn more.
 
LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED Bellomo & Associates workshops:https://bellomoassociates.com/workshops/
Life Care Planning The Three Secrets of Estate Planning Nuts & Bolts of Medicaid For more information, call us at (717) 845-5390.
Connect with Bellomo & Associates on Social Media
Tune in Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. Eastern to WSBA radio: https://www.newstalkwsba.com/
X (formerlyTwitter):https://twitter.com/bellomoassoc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BellomoAssociates
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/bellomoassociates
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/bellomoassociates/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bellomoandassociates
WAYS TO WORK WITH JEFFREY BELLOMO
Contact Us:https://bellomoassociates.com/contact/
Practice areas:https://bellomoassociates.com/practice-areas/
 
 
 

Jeff’s guest is Julie Cassaday, a certified life coach and Level II Reiki Healer, whose unique approach to personal development and empowerment has transformed lives. Julie helps individuals reveal the best of themselves by untangling the obstacles to their goals. In addition to private coaching and Reiki, her work extends to communication and organizational training in workshops, webinars, and retreats. Her dynamic presence makes her a favorite keynote speaker with groups of all kinds and sizes. With a distinctive set of skills and a gift for connecting with others, Julie also is a passionate advocate for caregivers, an underserved group that both provides and deserves special care.
Connect with Julie Cassaday of Tanglewood Life Coaching on Facebook and LinkedIn. Or, reach out by phone, email, or her website.
Call: (443) 250-6360
E-mail: julie@tanglewoodlifecoaching.com
Website: https://www.tanglewoodlifecoaching.com/
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 
(00:00) Episode introduction.
(02:44) Julie gives the background on Tanglewood and how it got its name. She believes her work is to help people clear away the brush to reveal the best version of themselves.
(04:54) She studied mass communications and organizational and broadcast communications in college. Here studies revealed a love of connecting with people.
(06:01) Julie jumped at the chance to give up a 30-year career in sales so that she could pursue work as a life coach.
(07:11) Having two parents with dementia led Julie to the Alzheimer’s Association and, eventually, a Reiki certification.
(10:34) As a communications trainer, Julie speaks at employee development classes, conferences, etc. She offers a selection of popular sessions or custom-designed programs.
(13:03) Life coaching is meeting someone where they are today, assessing their goals, and reminding them of who they are at their core. 
(16:07) Having served as a caregiver for her parents while parenting her own children, Julie understands the demands. This drives her to advocate for caregivers of all types.
(22:28) Julie is seeing an increase in dementia in people under 65, which is especially devastating emotionally and financially.

 
ABOUT BELLOMO & ASSOCIATES
Jeffrey R. Bellomo, the founder of Bellomo & Associates, is a licensed and certified elder law attorney with a master’s degree in taxation and a certificate in estate planning. He explains complex legal and financial topics in easy-to-understand language.
Bellomo & Associates is committed to providing education so that what happened to the Bellomo family doesn’t happen to your family. We conduct free workshops on estate planning, crisis planning, Medicaid planning, special needs planning, probate administration, and trust administration. Visit our website (https://bellomoassociates.com/) to learn more.
 
LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED Bellomo & Associates workshops:https://bellomoassociates.com/workshops/
Life Care Planning The Three Secrets of Estate Planning Nuts & Bolts of Medicaid For more information, call us at (717) 845-5390.
Connect with Bellomo & Associates on Social Media
Tune in Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. Eastern to WSBA radio: https://www.newstalkwsba.com/
X (formerlyTwitter):https://twitter.com/bellomoassoc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BellomoAssociates
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/bellomoassociates
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/bellomoassociates/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bellomoandassociates
WAYS TO WORK WITH JEFFREY BELLOMO
Contact Us:https://bellomoassociates.com/contact/
Practice areas:https://bellomoassociates.com/practice-areas/
 
 

Finding the right senior living community for yourself or a family member can be overwhelming, emotional, and time-consuming. Assisted Living Locators is a nationwide network that helps seniors find the community that best meets their needs. Rick Campomizzi, owner of the local Harrisburg-based office, provides free, personalized service and expert guidance through what can be a maze of confusing options.  
To learn more, call Rick at (717) 802-1074, email rickc@assistedlivinglocators.com, or visit https://assistedlivinglocators.com/harrisburg.  
 
What You Need to Know  
(00:00) Episode introduction. 
(03:52) Rick is familiar with a range of care communities, including independent living, personal care, memory care, assisted living, and skilled nursing communities.  
(05:26) Rick’s service is free. His PA coverage spans five counties and 155-160 senior living communities. 
(06:23) Rick starts with an assessment of the senior’s needs and desired geographic area. He provides an overview and pricing for a few select communities and then sets up tours as desired. He goes along on the tours and advocates for the family.  
(09:42) Rick serves multiple counties in south central PA and any county that is not handled by another franchise. When another area is covered, Rick will work with his counterpart to help the senior find the right fit.
(12:24) Some seniors don’t have family or don’t have family in the area. Those who help seniors navigate the complexities of elder care resources provide an invaluable service.  
(14:06) Rick keeps current on the different communities, the staff, and the leadership. He watches for changes that could affect performance and is careful about the recommendations he makes.  
(18:50) Different communities offer different service levels. Understanding these details is key to good decision-making. 
(20:05) Don't underestimate the power of socialization and activities. Today’s senior living communities are not what they used to be.  
 
About Bellomo & Associates
Jeffrey R. Bellomo, the founder of Bellomo & Associates, is a licensed and certified elder law attorney with a master’s degree in taxation and a certificate in estate planning. He explains complex legal and financial topics in easy-to-understand language.
Bellomo & Associates is committed to providing education so that what happened to the Bellomo family doesn’t happen to your family. We conduct free workshops on estate planning, crisis planning, Medicaid planning, special needs planning, probate administration, and trust administration. Visit our website (https://bellomoassociates.com/) to learn more.
 
LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED Bellomo & Associates workshops:https://bellomoassociates.com/workshops/
Life Care Planning The Three Secrets of Estate Planning Nuts & Bolts of Medicaid For more information, call us at (717) 845-5390.
Connect with Bellomo & Associates on Social Media
Tune in Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. Eastern to WSBA radio: https://www.newstalkwsba.com/
X (formerlyTwitter):https://twitter.com/bellomoassoc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BellomoAssociates
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/bellomoassociates
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/bellomoassociates/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bellomoandassociates
WAYS TO WORK WITH JEFFREY BELLOMO
Contact Us:https://bellomoassociates.com/contact/
Practice areas:https://bellomoassociates.com/practice-areas/
 

It’s that time of year when Jeff provides the newest and most applicable IRS and Medicaid numbers for tax and estate planning purposes. Many of these numbers are discussed in our free, educational workshops. Jeff also likes to review them here along with related questions we get from our clients.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
 
(00:00) Episode introduction.
(05:50) The federal estate tax limit is now $13.61 million per person or $27.22 MM for a married couple. 
(09:14) The annual exclusion gift is set at $18,000 per person per recipient per year. Ask your tax preparer if you should file a gift tax return. 
(10:40) For Medicaid purposes in Pennsylvania in 2024, the income limit is $2,829 per month. If your income is greater than the limit, you're allowed $2,400 in resources. If less than the limit, you can have $8,000 in resources.  
(11:20) To be eligible for waiver services in the home, your income must be less than $2,829 + $500 per month. Talk to your financial professional.  
(12:17) For a community spouse’s protected share amounts, the maximum is 50% of the assets, but no more than $154,140 and no less than $30,828. 
(12:59) To calculate penalty for gifting during look back period and days until Medicaid eligibility for nursing home or waiver, use the amount gifted divided by $379.65 per day or $11,547 per month. 
(14:04) The Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) refers to income limits for the community spouse. The maximum is $3,853.50 and the minimum is $2,465.  
(14:20) The excess home minimum is $713,000 and the maximum is $1,071,000. The home maintenance deduction is $965.10 per month. The heating standard is $750 per month and the non-heating standard is $401. The personal needs allowance is $45 per month. 
(15:30) A new IRS ruling headline suggests that children are losing step up in basis with irrevocable trusts. This does not apply to the type of trusts used at Bellomo.
(19:13) The grantor trust rules in Pennsylvania now mimic the federal grantor trust rules. Nothing will change for most Bellomo clients.
(21:30) The IRS announced a potential gift tax for trust beneficiaries. This should not affect you if Bellomo created your trust.
 
ABOUT BELLOMO & ASSOCIATES
Jeffrey R. Bellomo, the founder of Bellomo & Associates, is a licensed and certified elder law attorney with a master’s degree in taxation and a certificate in estate planning. He explains complex legal and financial topics in easy-to-understand language.
Bellomo & Associates is committed to providing education so that what happened to the Bellomo family doesn’t happen to your family. We conduct free workshops on estate planning, crisis planning, Medicaid planning, special needs planning, probate administration, and trust administration. Visit our website (https://bellomoassociates.com/) to learn more.
 
LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED Bellomo & Associates workshops:https://bellomoassociates.com/workshops/
Life Care Planning The Three Secrets of Estate Planning Nuts & Bolts of Medicaid For more information, call us at (717) 845-5390.
Connect with Bellomo & Associates on Social Media
Tune in Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. Eastern to WSBA radio: https://www.newstalkwsba.com/
X (formerlyTwitter):https://twitter.com/bellomoassoc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BellomoAssociates
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/bellomoassociates
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/bellomoassociates/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bellomoandassociates
 
WAYS TO WORK WITH JEFFREY BELLOMO
Contact Us:https://bellomoassociates.com/contact/
Practice areas:https://bellomoassociates.com/practice-areas/
 
 
 

This is the 2nd part of our examination of celebrity estate plans. Using the real-life stories of some of entertainment’s most famous figures, Jeff teaches us valuable lessons that can be applied to our own situations. 
 
What You Need to Know 
(00:00) Episode introduction.
(02:56) Singer Whitney Houston created a will in 1993. She died 19 years later with the same will in place. The lesson: Keep your will up to date. Be careful about passing large sums of unprotected money to young people.
(07:39) Attorney Robert Kardashian—part of OJ Simpson’s defense team and the father of Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, and Rob—had a handwritten will. Upon his death, the language in the will was unclear and subsequently disputed. The lesson: Detailed language matters.  
(11:44) Actor Heath Ledger died in 2008 with an outdated will that left everything to his parents and sister. So, at the time of his death, Ledger’s young daughter was not provided for. His family gifted the inheritance to his daughter. The lesson: Don’t rely on others to do the right thing.  
(16:20) Musician Prince died in 2016 with $200 million in assets—and no will or trust. Forty-five people claimed to be heirs. By 2018, $6 million had been spent on unnecessary legal fees. The lesson: Formalize your plan. Be detailed and intentional.
(19:20) Actress Brittany Murphy named her mother as heir in a handwritten will. When Ms. Murphy got married, she updated her estate plan and used very specific language, again leaving her entire estate to her mother. The lesson: Keep your plan updated and use detailed language.
(22:51) Singer Aretha Franklin died without a will or trust. Two contradictory handwritten wills were found in her house. The lesson: Use a professional to create an estate plan. Have only one document stored in a safe, known place.  
(26:23) DJ Casey Kasem suffered from dementia in his later years. In 2007 and 2011, he created conflicting documents that put his daughter and his wife at odds over his fortune. The courts were forced to intervene. The lesson: Make your intentions clear.
 
About Bellomo & Associates
Jeffrey R. Bellomo, the founder of Bellomo & Associates, is a licensed and certified elder law attorney with a master’s degree in taxation and a certificate in estate planning. He explains complex legal and financial topics in easy-to-understand language.
Bellomo & Associates is committed to providing education so that what happened to the Bellomo family doesn’t happen to your family. We conduct free workshops on estate planning, crisis planning, Medicaid planning, special needs planning, probate administration, and trust administration. Visit our website (https://bellomoassociates.com/) to learn more.
 
LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED Bellomo & Associates workshops:https://bellomoassociates.com/workshops/
Life Care Planning The Three Secrets of Estate Planning Nuts & Bolts of Medicaid For more information, call us at (717) 845-5390.
Connect with Bellomo & Associates on Social Media
Tune in Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. Eastern to WSBA radio: https://www.newstalkwsba.com/
X (formerlyTwitter):https://twitter.com/bellomoassoc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BellomoAssociates
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/bellomoassociates
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/bellomoassociates/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bellomoandassociates
WAYS TO WORK WITH JEFFREY BELLOMO
Contact Us:https://bellomoassociates.com/contact/
Practice areas:https://bellomoassociates.com/practice-areas/