For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Cathleen Bahan
Littman Krooks LLP
914-962-2789
[email protected]
National Estate Planning Awareness Week: October 18-24
Planning Is Critical in this Economy
October 8, 2010-White Plains NY- National Estate Planning
Awareness Week will be observed from October 18-24 throughout the U.S. "The uncertainty of today's economy makes it
more important than ever for Americans to take charge of their estate
planning," declares Bernard A. Krooks, Esq., president of the Estate Planning
Council of Westchester County. "Failing
to plan for illness, accidents, or untimely death results in wasted dollars and
avoidable hardship for individuals across the financial spectrum."
In September 2008, Congress
proclaimed the third full week of October to be National Estate Planning
Awareness Week. Estate planning is one of the most overlooked areas of personal
financial management, with an estimated 120,000,000 Americans not having
up-to-date estate plans to protect themselves or their families. A 2004 Roper
poll commissioned by the American Institute for Certified Public Accountants
found that two-thirds of Americans over age 65 believe they lack the knowledge
necessary to adequately plan for retirement, and nearly one half of all
Americans are unfamiliar with basic retirement tools, such as a 401(k) plan.
Many Americans are unaware that Medicare does not cover
long-term care. In New York State,
annual nursing home expenses can top $200,000, quickly depleting family
resources if not prepared for. Young
parents often do not consider the importance of naming guardians for their
children. Veterans frequently fail to apply for the government benefits that
they have earned.
The National Association of
Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC), formed in 1962 as a non-profit business
league, is the leading professional organization for estate planning. It provides nearly
1,500 accredited professionals and 220+ affiliated local estate planning
councils and their 26,000 members with ongoing education, as well as the
professional accreditations of Accredited Estate Planner� (AEP�)
and Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS).
Littman Krooks LLP offers legal services in several areas of law, including elder law, estate planning, estate administration, special
needs planning, special education advocacy,
veterans' benefits, and corporate and securities. The firm's offices are
located at 655 Third Avenue, New York, New York; 399 Knollwood Road, White
Plains, New York; and 300 Westage Business Center Drive, Suite 400, Fishkill,
New York. For more information about Littman Krooks LLP, visit www.littmankrooks.com.
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