Gilbert Wealth Articles

How to Protect Your Home Title

For most families, a home is their most valuable asset. Yet, many homeowners don’t realize that their property title can also be a target for fraud. Title theft occurs when someone forges your identity, transfers ownership of your home on paper, and even attempts to borrow against it. While relatively rare, the title fraud occurence is increasing and the consequences can be devastating and costly to unwind. Here’s what you need to know about protecting your home title — and whether services like “home title lock” are worth the hype. Understanding Home Title Fraud In today's painfully tedious process to buy…
Read More

Conversation Guide: Discussing Aging with Parents

Talking to your parents about aging and end-of-life wishes can feel uncomfortable, but it is one of the most important ways to love and honor your parents. These conversations reduce uncertainty, prevent conflict, and ensure their values and wishes are respected.This guide will help you navigate the conversation  The Setting Because the subject is sensitive, choose a relaxed, non-stressful time. Consider the time of day as well. If they are a morning person or afternoon person, choose the best time when they are most comfortable and mentally engaged. Expect that it may take more than one conversation.  The Conversation Ask Permission…
Read More

What Is a Medicaid Trust?

A Medicaid trust—more formally called a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT)—is a specialized irrevocable trust designed to help individuals qualify for Medicaid while preserving certain assets for their heirs. The primary goal is to shelter assets from being counted in Medicaid’s financial eligibility test, so they are not depleted by long-term care costs.While Medicaid is a joint federal–state program, each state has its own rules about how these trusts are structured and implemented. However, the core principle is the same: you transfer ownership of certain assets to the trust so that, after a waiting period, they are no longer considered…
Read More

Estimating Costs in Retirement

Planning for retirement requires one fundamental question: How much will it cost to live the life you want when the paychecks stop? The challenge lies in balancing precision with practicality. Retirement can last decades, and costs evolve with lifestyle, health, and inflation. While no method is perfect, understanding the tools available—and their limitations—can help retirees and pre-retirees set realistic expectations. Common Methods of Estimating Retirement Costs 1) Rules of Thumb Replacement Rates Perhaps the most common starting point is the “replacement rate” approach—estimating retirement needs as a percentage of pre-retirement income. Traditional guidelines suggest 70%–80% of working income, based on…
Read More

A Guide to Starting a Roth IRA for a Child

A Roth IRA can be one of the most powerful tools to set a child or teenager on the path to lifelong financial success. By contributing earned income into a tax-free retirement account early, parents can not only help their children build wealth that compounds for decades, it can also create conversations around saving for the future that gives a child the gift of perspective. However, funding a Roth IRA for a child does add some complexity. The rules around who qualifies, what counts as income, and when taxes apply can be confusing—especially when minors earn money from babysitting, lawn care,…
Read More

Understanding Medicare Advantage: What It Is, What It Covers, and Whether It’s Right for You

Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C, is a popular alternative to Original Medicare (Parts A and B). Instead of being run directly by the federal government, these plans are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. They’re designed to provide all the same benefits as Original Medicare, but often with additional perks.However, as with any healthcare decision, it’s important to understand both the benefits and the potential drawbacks.See Understanding Your Medicare Options in Retirement: Original Medicare, Advantage, and Medigap Explained – Gilbert Wealth for an overview of Medicare options. What Is Medicare Advantage? Medicare Advantage is an…
Read More

What You Should Know Before Attending a Real Estate Investment Webinar

Real estate investment webinars are increasingly popular, promising attendees insider knowledge, financial freedom, and “secrets the wealthy don’t want you to know.” While these sessions can provide interesting teasers, they are often structured as much to generate sales leads as to educate.Having attended several real estate webinars, here is a guide on knowing how to identify hype, omissions, and unrealistic promises can protect you from costly missteps. What to Expect: Part Education, Mostly Sales Funnel Most real estate webinars are designed with a dual purpose:Education – Presenting concepts, strategies, and case studies that build interest and credibility.Sales Funnel – Guiding…
Read More

The Floor-and-Ceiling Retirement Income Strategy

One of the hardest parts of retirement isn’t just leaving work — it’s replacing a steady paycheck with income that’s anything but steady. Markets fluctuate. Expenses come in waves. And the future is always uncertain. Retirees often find themselves stuck between two fears: spending too much and running out of money… or spending too little and missing out on the life they saved for.The floor-and-ceiling retirement income strategy is a flexible retirement income system that sets a safety net to protect your essentials (the floor) and a cap to prevent overspending (the ceiling). Within those limits, your income can adjust…
Read More

How to Maximize Your Social Security Benefits

Social Security plays a central role in retirement income for many Americans, but the amount you receive is not fixed. The system is designed to reward certain behaviors and work patterns, meaning your decisions today can significantly impact your lifetime benefits. Below are key strategies to help you maximize your Social Security. 1. Eliminate Years with Zero Earnings Social Security calculates your benefit based on your highest 35 years of earnings (adjusted for inflation). If you worked fewer than 35 years, the missing years are filled in with zeros—dragging down your average.Even a few additional years of part-time work in…
Read More

Things Most People Don’t Know About Social Security

For most Americans, Social Security is the foundation of retirement income. Yet despite how common it is, many people don’t fully understand how it works. The system has layers of rules, exceptions, and hidden opportunities that can make a big difference in retirement planning. Here are some of the things most people don’t know about Social Security: Social Security Isn't Just a Retirement Program Most people think of Social Security only as a retirement benefit, but it also provides disability benefits, spousal benefits, survivor benefits, and even benefits for children in some cases. In fact, nearly one-third of beneficiaries are…
Read More