Sams/Hockaday & Associates

"As retirement planners, we get to look at the whole picture. We like to keep up on industry trends for our clients, as they navigate preparing for and receiving the best options in retirement. We recently managed a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) for a client and thought we should share what we learned.

For many retirees in Decatur and surrounding communities, Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) can feel like one more thing to keep track of in retirement. After years of saving in your IRA or 401k, the IRS eventually requires you to start taking money out—and those withdrawals are counted as taxable income.

However, there is a powerful tool that can help meet your RMD requirement and potentially lower your taxable income at the same time: the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)."

Read the full article on our website (we dropped the direct link in the comments for you ⬇️)!

"Many look forward to that magical 65th birthday—retirement, more time to spend with family, travel, hobbies, volunteering, Medicare Enrollment... Wait—Medicare Enrollment?

No one looks forward to enrolling in Medicare. They look forward to being enrolled in Medicare. Correction: They look forward to being enrolled in Medicare correctly—without penalties, gaps in coverage, or that lingering worry, “Did I mess this up?”

Take James, a Sams/Hockaday & Associates client. He and his wife, Lori, made an appointment at our office as new clients. He was retiring within a few months, after many years of service to a large Decatur company. He had been 65 since August and had not received his Medicare card, been notified of creditable coverage from his employer to remove any Part B and D penalties (don’t worry we’ll explain), and was unsure of how much he would be collecting from SSA (Social Security Administration) and/or should be drawing from his 401k, IRA’s, and other savings.

Spoiler alert: It all worked out because he met with a licensed agent ahead of his retirement date."

Read the full article here: https://www.samshockaday.com/blog/preparing-to-retire-and-why-an-agent-matters

I am very grateful for Michael and Taryn. First Michael helped me understand the world of Medicare and get better insurance for my mom. He made the process simple and easy for my mom. Taryn has gone above and beyond to answer my questions. I would highly recommend Sams/Hockaday & Associates to anyone who needs help with Medicare.

Medicare’s approach to weight-loss drugs is starting to change.

While these medications still aren’t usually covered just for weight loss, new agreements under the Trump administration are expected to expand coverage beginning in 2026.

What to Know About Medicare and Weight Loss Drugs Weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy have been gaining quite a bit of attention lately. However, they’re expensive, and Medicare doesn’t fully cover them—at least, not yet.