Tammy D'Angelo, Senior Markets Specialist

09/02/2025

💡 Pop Quiz Time!
Most of us don’t think about long-term care until it’s right in front of us—but did you know more than half of people turning 65 today will need some form of it?

Take this fun True or False quiz and see how much you really know about long-term care. You might discover a few surprises—and it could spark an important conversation with your family. ❤️

True or False?

1. In most cases, Medicare covers the cost of long-term care.
2. More than 50% of individuals turning 65 today are expected to require long-term care.
3. Most Americans can afford to pay out of pocket for professional long-term care.
4. The median cost of a nursing home in the U.S. is almost $100,000 per year.
5. Long-term care planning is beneficial for most Americans.
6. In order to qualify for a Long-Term Care Insurance policy, you need to be relatively young and healthy.
7. If you purchase Long-Term Care Insurance and don’t end up requiring care, you’ll lose the full benefit.
8. Medicaid is the largest payer of long-term care in the U.S.
9. The main reason most people can’t qualify for Medicaid is having too many countable assets.
10. If you have too many assets to qualify for Medicaid, you must deplete them by paying the nursing home bill in order to become eligible for benefits.

Check your answers in the comments below and message me if you’d like to talk about your options.

08/29/2025

Cheers to a weekend of 🌞 sunshine, 🛌 relaxation and 💝 Gratitude!! Happy Labor Day.

IT COULDN'T BE DONE

a poem by Edgar Guest

Somebody said it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing and he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.
Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one has ever done it";
But he took off his coat and he took of his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing and he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assailyou.
But just buckle in with a bit of a girn,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.

08/28/2025

I was listening to a planning podcast this morning and then came across this quote and it hit me. I'm especially guilty of put things off until "tomorrow" for days, weeks, months at a time. At any moment, there might not be another "tomorrow". Are the things that are important to my family taken care of, or will I leave them in the lurch because of my procrastination in dealing with the things I'd rather not look too closely at... Maybe, I should take care of "tomorrow" today.

08/25/2025

🌟 Did you know? Divorce could help you boost your Social Security benefits! 🌟

If you were married for at least 10 years, you may be eligible to claim Social Security benefits based on your ex-spouse’s record—without them even knowing it! 😱 Here's how it works:

✅ You have to be unmarried
✅ Over 62 years old
✅ Your own benefits need to be lower than what you could get from your ex

Yes, it’s that simple!
If you're in that “10-year club,” there’s a chance you could receive more benefits without affecting your ex’s benefits at all. No matter where life has taken you, this is a smart financial move that could seriously improve your retirement planning. 💰

So, if you’re divorced, over 62, and want to see if you’re eligible, now is the time to check it out! Don’t leave money on the table! 💸

👉 Have any questions? Drop a comment below or message me—I’m happy to help! 💬

Send a message to learn more

08/22/2025

📆 Future Proof Friday Thought 📆

I’m 40something—not exactly retirement age—but lately I’ve been thinking more about what “retirement ready” really means. 💭

Most people assume 67 is the magic number… Medicare kicks in, you (hopefully) have enough saved, and it feels like the “right” time. But the truth? Age alone isn’t enough.

I came across five powerful questions that really made me pause and think:

1. Can you actually afford to stop working?

2. Are you emotionally ready to leave your job behind?

3. Could your savings handle a market downturn?

4. Should you wait to get more out of Social Security?

5. And maybe the most important—what are you retiring to?

This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about lifestyle, purpose, and long-term security.

Even though I’m not there yet, I want to make sure Future Me is set up for success—and options.

💬 Curious what others think: Have you thought about these questions yet? Let’s talk! I’d love to connect and share ideas.

08/22/2025

Planning for long term care isn’t fun but it IS important. Comment LTC for help discovering YOUR best options.

08/20/2025

Wisdom Wednesday 💭

Let’s talk about something few of us want to face, but most of us will—long-term care. Did you know that over 70% of Americans over 65 will need some form of care in their lifetime?

Many assume Medicare will help. It won’t. Others think their savings will cover it—but costs can hit $100K+ a year and rise fast.

Without a plan, your life savings, your home, and your family’s future could be on the line.

💡 Don’t wait until a fall or a diagnosis forces you to make decisions in crisis. Start planning now. Give me a call or send me a message, know your options, and protect what you’ve worked so hard for.

Your future self—and your loved ones—will thank you. 💙

https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/home-care/living-with-parents/

Fear of losing independence can make some older adults lash out. So, how can family caregivers who move into a parent's home maintain respect for their loved one's choices but also gain respect for the essential care they provide? Here are some ideas.

08/15/2025

🌟 Future Proof Friday 🌟

Is your retirement plan really ready for the future?

Let’s be honest — most people are not as prepared as they think. Just look at the numbers:

💸 40–45% of retirees will run out of money in retirement
👩‍🦳 55% of women outlive their retirement savings
🧓 Only 4% choose the optimal Social Security strategy
🏥 Long-term care in NJ costs about $65,000 a year
🔒 And just 12% of retirees own an annuity to guarantee income for life

If that makes you nervous—you’re not alone.

But here’s the good news: it’s never too late to build a smarter, stronger plan.

I Can Help You:

✅ Protect your retirement from unexpected health events
✅ Learn how to avoid outliving your savings
✅ Make the most of your Social Security benefits
✅ Explore guaranteed income options like annuities
✅ Educate your workplace with a retirement wellness seminar

📅 Ready to talk about your plan?
👉 Schedule a personal consultation
🏢 Or bring me in for a seminar at your workplace

Let’s make sure your retirement works as hard as you have.

🔗 tdangelo@synthesiswealth.com
📩 Send a message to get started

Send a message to learn more

08/13/2025

🧓💰 Social Security isn’t a “one size fits all” decision. There’s a lot more to it than just picking an age!

When should YOU file? That depends on things like:
👉 Your life expectancy (yes, I use a quiz—no one really knows!)
👉 Whether you're single or married
👉 How long you plan to keep working
👉 Your other income and assets (and if you don’t have any... let’s talk ASAP!)

I recently ran real-life case studies showing just how different the outcomes can be for each person. For example:
👤 Single Client A – What would YOU do based on their monthly vs lifetime income?
👫 Married Client B – Even trickier! Did you know the surviving spouse gets the higher benefit for life?

💭 Curious how this applies to your own situation? I’d love to walk you through your options.

📅 Message me if you want to set up a quick Social Security strategy session or attend one of my upcoming seminars!

08/11/2025

💬 Real talk about Social Security… and why it could cost you six figures if you get it wrong.

Most people think of Social Security as a “when I turn 62” kind of decision. But it’s so much more than picking a date and filing some paperwork.

It’s a financial strategy — and one that can either add security to your retirement or cost you $100,000+ over your lifetime.

I’ve seen couples unknowingly lock in permanent benefit reductions, lose out on survivor income, and get hit with surprise tax bills — all because no one helped them understand how Social Security really works.

This is why I’m such a big believer in having a Social Security Analyst partner with both individuals AND HR teams. People deserve more than a retirement packet — they deserve real, personalized guidance on one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.

➡️ If you or someone you care about is approaching retirement and feeling unsure about when or how to claim Social Security — don’t guess. Get help.
The right strategy can make a life-changing difference.

📩 Feel free to reach out — I’m happy to schedule a 1:1 consultation, connect you with resources, or help you think it through.
tdangelo@synthesiswealth.com

Claiming Social Security is about more than filing paperwork and expecting a check. When you do it and how you do it have huge financial implications that last the rest of your life.

08/07/2025

🧠💬 Think-Ahead Thursday 💬🧠

It’s not always easy to talk about the future — but making a few thoughtful decisions now can make life a lot easier later.

Have you thought about:

💵 When to take Social Security for the biggest benefit?
🏠 How to pay for long-term or in-home care if you ever need it?
🔒 Creating a guaranteed income with annuities?
💙 Making sure your family isn’t left with bills through life or final expense insurance?

Planning ahead means less stress for your loved ones and more peace of mind for you. Even small steps can make a big difference.

Message me if you want help getting started — no pressure, just information. 😊
tdangelo@synthesiswealth.com

08/05/2025

🌟 Tip-Off Tuesday 🌟

Hey friends! 🧐 Big change coming for Original Medicare starting in 2026. If you're on Medicare or planning ahead, you might want to take note. The government is rolling out prior authorization requirements for some services that used to be pretty straightforward.

Starting in January 2026, six states (including New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Washington) will test a new system to help reduce waste and fraud. This means certain treatments like nerve stimulators, spinal procedures, and pain management might need approval before you can proceed. 🩺💡

While tech like AI will help, licensed clinicians will make the final call. So it’s not all about robots deciding on your care! 😅 But it does mean there might be some additional wait times or paperwork. Stay informed, and don’t let the red tape catch you off guard. 📑

What do you think about this change? Will it help or just add more steps to the process? Let’s chat below! 👇

For the full Kiplinger article, click here:

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will implement prior authorization requirements for certain traditional fee-for-service Medicare services in six states starting next year.