Bogleheads On Investing Podcast · bogleheads

Episode 87, Jenny Rozelle, estate planning, elder law & more; host Jon Luskin

·41 min·2 clips

Jenny Rozelle says beneficiary designations can send assets to ex-spouses or parents instead of children.

1. Bogleheads On Investing Podcast Episode 87 focuses on elder law and estate planning with attorney Jennifer Rozelle and host Jon Luskin. 2. Jennifer Rozelle is an elder law and estate planning specialist, and Jon Luskin frames the conversation around Bogleheads questions from the forum and social media. 3. The episode asks what elder law adds beyond standard estate planning, especially for incapacity and long-term care. 4. Rozelle says estate planning usually covers wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives. 5. She says elder law adds a more intentional focus on aging issues, Medicaid planning, and guardianship. 6. Rozelle says guardianship becomes relevant when cognitive impairment appears and no estate documents exist. 7. For solo agers, Rozelle says estate roles do not have to be filled by family members. 8. She names friends, extended family, nieces, nephews, cousins, professionals, banks, and corporate fiduciaries as possible choices. 9. Rozelle says some law firms offer life care planning with staff who have nursing or social work backgrounds. 10. Jon Luskin asks about California's professional fiduciary concept, and Rozelle describes a tiered selection process for decision-makers. 11. She says family and friends come first, then professionals, then banks and financial institutions. 12. Rozelle says cost matters because professionals often bill hourly and institutions often take a percentage of assets. 13. She also says longevity matters because a named fiduciary may retire, die, or be replaced by a bank sale. 14. On investment instructions, Rozelle says people can put low-cost index fund wishes into an estate plan. 15. She warns that a named executor or trustee can decline the appointment if the instructions are too restrictive. 16. On Medicaid, Rozelle says people usually face three long-term care payment options: long-term care insurance, self-pay, or Medicaid. 17. She says Medicare is not the long-term care payer and only covers a limited rehabilitation period. 18. Rozelle says Medicaid asset protection trusts are irrevocable and generally depend on a state's look-back period, often five years. 19. The interview stays practical and question-driven, with Jon Luskin using examples like transfer-on-death designations, equity compensation, and timeshares. 20. People worried about elder law, Medicaid, and solo-aging planning would benefit most, while listeners wanting market commentary or stock picks may skip it.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Bogleheads On Investing Podcast