Page 18 - The Jewish Voice - September '24

Page 18, The Jewish Voice

LiFestyLes

Medicare Corner with Kathy O a mix of stocks from different industries and even different When you invest, risk can’t be eliminated but it can
countries. be managed. Keeping this in mind, consider a long-term
It’s That Time of Year Again: Medicare • Bonds: When market interest rates rise, the value of investment strategy that allows for risk but also offers the
Annual Enrollment your bonds can decline because investors won’t pay full possibility of reward.
price for them when they can get the newer ones that offer This article was written by Edward Jones for use by
Every year between Oct. higher rates. Another type of risk associated with bonds your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Edward Jones,
15 and Dec. 7, Medicare is credit risk, which essentially describes the risk that the Member SIPC.
allows beneficiaries to make bond issuer may default, potentially disrupting your flow Edward Jones is a licensed insurance producer in all states
changes to their plans. It of interest payments. However, you can help mitigate this and Washington, D.C., through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P.,
is crucial that your 2025 risk by purchasing investment-grade bonds that receive the and in California, New Mexico, and Massachusetts through
plan changes be reviewed, highest credit ratings from independent rating agencies. Edward Jones Insurance Agency of California, L.L.C.;
since Medicare is making • Certificates of deposit (CDs): Although CDs are Edward Jones Insurance Agency of New Mexico, L.L.C.; and
significant changes for Jan. generally considered safe because their principal is Edward Jones Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, L.L.C.
1, 2025, that will affect all guaranteed, they do carry reinvestment risk — the risk that Edward Jones, its employees, and financial advisors
Prescription Drug Plans and you won’t be able to reinvest the proceeds of a maturing CD cannot provide tax advice. You should consult your qualified
Advantage plans. at the same interest rate. To help protect against this risk, tax advisor regarding your situation.
The biggest changes to you could own CDs of varying maturities. When market Contact us at (561) 748-7600, Sally Sima Stahl, CFP ,
®
Medicare rules include a $2,000 cap on annual member rates are low, you’ll still have your longer-term CDs paying AAMS™, 1851 W. Indiantown Road, Ste. 106, Jupiter, FL 33458.
medication costs (previously no limit), a new maximum drug higher interest, and when market rates rise you can reinvest
deductible of $590, elimination of the Coverage gap phase the money from your maturing shorter-term CDs into the TGH Urology Group of Florida
(donut hole), and will offer the option to pay the maximum new, higher-paying ones.
drug costs as a fixed monthly amount throughout the whole Now, let’s turn to a completely different type of risk — Offers Multiple Innovative
year, rather than as they are incurred. the risk of not investing. And this risk is easy to understand:
What do I do now? In late September, you will receive the If you don’t invest, or if you consistently invest only in Treatment Options
Annual Notice of Change. It is imperative that you review this the most conservative vehicles, your money may not grow
document – this year more than ever. This notice will tell you enough to allow you to reach your important long-term September is Urology Awareness Month, bringing to
the new costs and any changes to your plan. You may incur goals, such as a comfortable retirement. light urological diseases and conditions that affect the
higher premiums, higher medical maximum out-of-pocket Of course, this doesn’t mean you should never own bladder, kidney, prostate, and male reproductive organs.
limits, deductibles, and copays in 2025. This letter presents a conservative investments, including CDs and some types It also aims to highlight the symptoms and impacts these
side-by-side explanation of 2024 benefits and 2025 benefits. of bonds. When you’re saving for a short-term goal, such diseases can have on a person’s life.
Advantage plans may also have changes to the added benefits as a down payment on a house, a wedding, or a long Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Urology Group of
Medicare does not cover such as vision, dental, hearing, and vacation, you want the money to be there when you need Florida offers several innovative, breakthrough treatment
over-the-counter products. it, so an investment that offers protection of principal may options to help patients struggling with urological issues.
What about your supplement plan? There are no changes be appropriate even if it doesn’t provide much in the way
to the supplement benefits, but with increasing drug costs of growth. Treating Bladder Cancer and Incontinence
some people may want to take advantage of the free trial of For those long-term goals, though, you may need to build • Blue light cystoscopy is used to identify and diagnose
the Advantage plan. This allows you to try an Advantage plan an investment portfolio that contains growth potential and bladder cancer. Enhanced imaging allows physicians to
for up to 12 months and still be guaranteed that you can go that reflects your personal risk tolerance and time horizon. find tumors that might otherwise go undetected.
back to your same Supplement plan. Over time, your risk tolerance may change. As you get • Botox is not just for wrinkles. Its muscle-relaxing
There are many other changes for the coming year. The good closer to retirement, you may want to take a somewhat properties make it an effective treatment for urge
news is you can think about it early and prepare. I am a licensed more conservative approach — but you’ll always need some
insurance agent who specializes in Medicare plans and believe elements of growth. Lifestyles on page 19
an educated and informed consumer is the best client. If you are
concerned or have questions about changes to your plan or want
Dentistry
Experience
to know if there is something different that may better meet your
needs, you can get a professional plan review. Experience Dentistry
For a no-cost or -obligation plan review, please call me,
Kathy Olejniczak, 561-212-7640. I conduct reviews in person
and on the phone. I speak Medicare.
with a
Financial Focus ® with a

Know the Risks of Investing — and Not
Investing

Woman’s Touch
By Sally Sima Stahl
Investing involves risk Woman’s Touch
— and so does not investing.
You should know how both
these types of risk can affect
your ability to reach your
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financial goals. Cosmetic & Comprehensive Restorative Dentistry
Let’s start with the risks
associated with investing.
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There’s not a single State of the Art & Same Day Restorations
investment risk because
different types of investments
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carry different types of risk. Here’s a look at three investment Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Sedation A vailable
categories and some of the risks connected with them:
• Stocks: When you invest in stocks or stock-based
Joanne Green, D.D.S.
mutual funds, you will incur the risk that the value of your
investments may decline. Stock prices can fall for any number Joanne Gr een, D.D.S.
of reasons — lower-than-expected earnings, a change in
management, change in consumer tastes, and so on. Although
the historical trend for stocks has been positive, there will 10887 N. Military T rail, Suite 6
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