Latest news with #ChoiceMutual
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
7 Tips to Support Aging Family Members When You Live Far Away — Without Going Broke
According to a recent survey by Choice Mutual, one in three Americans lives more than 100 miles away from their parents. When it comes to caregiving duties for elderly parents, 70% noted that the biggest concern was the emotional toll and burnout. Discover More: Find Out: It's also worth noting that for 67.59% of Americans, the next most significant concern is financial strain, as the idea of financially supporting parents can be stressful. How can you help your parents financially as they age without putting too much strain on your own bank account? Here are seven tips from the experts to ensure that you don't go broke and burn out in the process of caring for your elderly parents who live far away. 'The first step is to have a conversation on the topic with your parents,' said Chad Gammon, a CFP and the owner of Custom Fit Financial. 'That way, you're on the same page with your parents on any expectations or responsibilities.' You want to have crucial discussions with your parents early on in the process so that you're not on different pages when it comes to expectations. The Choice Mutual piece also mentioned that even though discussing finances can be challenging, it's encouraged that you do so before your parents have their ability to make decisions hindered by cognitive or physical factors. Stoy Hall, a CFP and founder of Black Mammoth, recommends starting with transparency instead of making assumptions. He stressed that you don't want to wait until a health crisis forces you to have this discussion. Here are some of the subjects you'll want to discuss with your parents: How much savings do they have? If they have any debt. Policies and pensions that you should know about. Their bills and how they're being managed. Hopefully, your parents are willing to share financial information so that you can stay informed. If you're overwhelmed, you can also work with a financial professional who will help you make sense of everything. Gammon advises setting boundaries and ensuring that you don't entangle your finances. You want to set clear boundaries early on so that your parents don't try to ask you to co-sign a loan or to open up a joint bank account. Hall added, 'You've got your own bills, your own kids maybe, and your own retirement goals. So set the boundaries now.' Agreeing to help financially with everything can be overwhelming and may lead to future resentment. If you live far away, you may also want to set boundaries on visitations and how often you can make it down. The Choice Mutual report found that approximately half of Americans are concerned about how providing elderly care duties could affect their careers and work-life balance. Kelsey Simasko, an attorney at Simasko Law, urges that you become as tech-savvy as possible if you're caring for parents who live far away. If you're managing someone's finances from miles away, you'll want to be comfortable emailing, scanning documents and using online banking tools. Here are a few key ways you can use technology to help with the care: Set up auto-pay for recurring bills if they're forgetful. Use refill services for prescriptions. Explore remote monitoring tools for health or home safety. While technology won't replace the human touch, it will buy you some time and sanity if you live far away. You don't want to be stuck driving back and forth every single weekend to pay bills and manage accounts. You also don't want to have your parents fall behind on bills because they forgot to pay, which could add to the financial strain. You want to remember that you're not alone when it comes to caring for elderly parents. Hall recommends checking out options such as local senior aid programs, Medicaid eligibility, low-income utility assistance or Meals on Wheels. These services can help you save some money and provide assistance when you're not able to make it. You'll want to try to get your other siblings and relatives involved to divide the load when caring for parents who live far away. You can decide who will manage appointments, who is responsible for check-ins, and who will help cover the bills. The worst-case scenario is when one person carries the entire load because this can be financially and emotionally draining. Simasko shared that you want to enlist some assistants who live close by. Asking for help is hard, but if a trusted neighbor can send you pictures of bills to be paid or investments about to come due, it will make life a lot easier in the long run. If you don't have any siblings, you can build a community through trusted neighbors, church groups and other associations. According to an annual report from the FBI, older Americans lost almost $4.9 billion to fraud in 2024, with an average loss of $83,000. You want to ensure that your parents have the right financial tools and resources on their side, so they don't fall victim to scams and their bills are covered. Hall suggested that if your parents have equity in a home, a HELOC or downsizing could be the logical next step. If they have retirement assets, consider consulting a professional to analyze their withdrawal strategy. You want to ensure that all financial tools are utilized so that you don't spend your savings on trying to help your parents because you have to start thinking about your own retirement. More From GOBankingRates Warren Buffett: 10 Things Poor People Waste Money On 4 Affordable Car Brands You Won't Regret Buying in 2025 This article originally appeared on 7 Tips to Support Aging Family Members When You Live Far Away — Without Going Broke
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Survey: Fort Logan among nation's top Memorial Day burial sites
DENVER (KDVR) — It's Memorial Day Weekend, and all across the United States, citizens will travel to National Cemeteries to pay tribute to the lives of friends, family, community members or even complete strangers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the U.S. military. Crowds of people will gather in the burial grounds, but not a peep will be heard as a moment of silence is held for the fallen. Ahead of Memorial Day, Choice Mutual, an insurance company, surveyed over 3,000 U.S. citizens on which cemetery they would most like to visit. Fort Logan in Denver was one of the most mentioned in the survey, and landed in the No. 20 spot. Things to do around Denver during Memorial Day Weekend The top 10 most popular mentions included: Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia Gettysburg National Cemetery, Pennsylvania Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Illinois National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Hawaii Yellowstone National Cemetery, Montana Long Island National Cemetery, New York Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, New York San Francisco National Cemetery, California Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas Massachusetts National Cemetery, Massachusetts Although it did not crack the top 10, Choice Mutual said participants like Fort Logan because it is a place of deep stillness. Rows of crisp white headstones stretch out beneath Colorado's famously blue skies. It's a place where silence speaks volumes. 'Military cemeteries are more than memorials – they're reminders,' said Anthony Martin, founder of Choice Mutual. 'They remind us that every generation has had people willing to serve and sacrifice. Visiting these places on Memorial Day helps ensure we don't take that for granted.' The survey findings and an infographic of a map of the cemeteries can be found on the Choice Mutual website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Memorial Day: 2 Utah veterans' cemeteries ranked among the nation's ‘most revered'
Arlington National Cemetery. Gettysburg National Cemetery. Hawaii's National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, aka 'The Punchbowl.' For Americans across generations, each of those military burial grounds are regarded as sacred — the final resting places for legions of veterans who fought the nation's wars. But many other military cemeteries in the country are equally revered — including two in Utah: Fort Douglas Post Cemetery in Salt Lake City and the Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park in Bluffdale. Choice Mutual, an insurance agency specializing in funeral insurance, recently surveyed 3,000 Americans and asked which military cemeteries they would most like to visit. They compiled and ranked 97 'Most Revered Veterans' Cemeteries to Visit on Memorial Day'. Several military memorial locales included in the survey findings — including Arlington and Gettysburg — are famous. Others, less so. But each cemetery, according to respondents, 'carries its own kind of meaning.' Fort Douglas Post Cemetery is ranked No. 39 in the Choice Mutual survey. Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park is No. 85. Besides enjoying traditional holiday barbecues or maybe a round of golf and other 'kick-off-summer' fun, many Utahns on Monday will visit a military cemetery or participate in Memorial Day ceremonies. Expect both Fort Douglas and Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park to be filled with American flags and grateful visitors throughout the Memorial Day weekend. For active-duty soldiers such as Lt. Col. Chris Kroeber, Memorial Day remains a day to remember the men and women who invested their lives so generations of Americans can work, play, worship and live freely. 'Every time I think of my friends who paid that ultimate price, I ask myself if their investment was worth it,' he told the Deseret News. 'Every time I see kids playing safely at the park, or I hike in the mountains, or fish on public land and enjoy the freedom around me daily, the answer to that question comes clearly to me — it is definitely worth it.' Kroeber hopes all Utahns observe Monday's holiday by remembering that some have given all to ensure liberty for others. 'Think about them and why they were willing to give everything so you could have the freedom to choose how to live your life,' he said. 'Please continue to be a people and live an idea worth fighting for.' It's likely that many lifelong Salt Lake City residents have never visited the 3.25-acre Fort Douglas Post Cemetery located near the University of Utah. It was transferred from the U.S. Army to the National Cemetery Administration in 2019, according to the NCA's website. But there are myriad reasons to spend an hour or two on the memorial grounds, said Fort Douglas Military Museum spokesperson Fiona Robinson. 'It's a historic cemetery for one, with burials going back to 1863,' she said. 'There's been some real passion put behind the establishment and care of the cemetery here at Fort Douglas.' Camp Douglas was established in 1862 by Colonel Patrick E. Connor of the California Militia. A cemetery site was selected within the camp — with the first committal happening that same year. The original 1862 plot contained 22 headstones and one large grave marker associated with the 1863 Bear River Massacre, the first military interments here, according to the National Cemetery Administration. A 20-foot tall monument carved of red butte sandstone located in the center of the cemetery honors the 21 soldiers killed in the Bear River action. Most of these markers — carved using sandstone from Red Butte Canyon — reportedly deteriorated to the point that they were replaced with government headstones in the early 2000s. The grave of Utah Territory Gov. James D. Doty features a marker made of the same material. A 15-foot-tall granite monument in the cemetery's southeast corner was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1933 honoring World War I German prisoners of war who died while interned at Camp Douglas. Robinson hopes more people include Fort Douglas Post Cemetery in their Memorial Day activities. It's a placid place that's rarely crowded; tucked away from the city and traffic. 'It's not just a cemetery, it's a shrine,' she said. 'It's a monument to veterans and people who were associated with the military — whether it was a wife who lived here at Fort Douglas, or a civilian worker up here at Fort Douglas.' Meanwhile, the survey's 85th-ranked Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park is marking its 35th anniversary. Dedicated on Memorial Day in 1990, the cemetery is state-operated and located immediately north of Camp Williams in Bluffdale. The Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park offers a panoramic view of the Wasatch Mountain from a peaceful corner of southwest Salt Lake County. It is the final resting place for many local veterans and their families. 'Every aspect of the cemetery,' according to the cemetery's website, 'is a reflection of our respect and appreciation for the sacrifices of those who have served.' A chapel functions as the centerpiece of the cemetery and is available for memorial services. Meanwhile, the cemetery's administration office houses a collection of military artifacts and American history documents.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Memorial Day: 2 Utah veterans' cemeteries ranked among the nation's ‘most revered'
Arlington National Cemetery. Gettysburg National Cemetery. Hawaii's National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, aka 'The Punchbowl.' For Americans across generations, each of those military burial grounds are regarded as sacred — the final resting places for legions of veterans who fought the nation's wars. But many other military cemeteries in the country are equally revered — including two in Utah: Fort Douglas Post Cemetery in Salt Lake City and the Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park in Bluffdale. Choice Mutual, an insurance agency specializing in funeral insurance, recently surveyed 3,000 Americans and asked which military cemeteries they would most like to visit. They compiled and ranked 97 'Most Revered Veterans' Cemeteries to Visit on Memorial Day'. Several military memorial locales included in the survey findings — including Arlington and Gettysburg — are famous. Others, less so. But each cemetery, according to respondents, 'carries its own kind of meaning.' Fort Douglas Post Cemetery is ranked No. 39 in the Choice Mutual survey. Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park is No. 85. Besides enjoying traditional holiday barbecues or maybe a round of golf and other 'kick-off-summer' fun, many Utahns on Monday will visit a military cemetery or participate in Memorial Day ceremonies. Expect both Fort Douglas and Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park to be filled with American flags and grateful visitors throughout the Memorial Day weekend. For active-duty soldiers such as Lt. Col. Chris Kroeber, Memorial Day remains a day to remember the men and women who invested their lives so generations of Americans can work, play, worship and live freely. 'Every time I think of my friends who paid that ultimate price, I ask myself if their investment was worth it,' he told the Deseret News. 'Every time I see kids playing safely at the park, or I hike in the mountains, or fish on public land and enjoy the freedom around me daily, the answer to that question comes clearly to me — it is definitely worth it.' Kroeber hopes all Utahns observe Monday's holiday by remembering that some have given all to ensure liberty for others. 'Think about them and why they were willing to give everything so you could have the freedom to choose how to live your life,' he said. 'Please continue to be a people and live an idea worth fighting for.' It's likely that many lifelong Salt Lake City residents have never visited the 3.25-acre Fort Douglas Post Cemetery located near the University of Utah. It was transferred from the U.S. Army to the National Cemetery Administration in 2019, according to the NCA's website. But there are myriad reasons to spend an hour or two on the memorial grounds, said Fort Douglas Military Museum spokesperson Fiona Robinson. 'It's a historic cemetery for one, with burials going back to 1863,' she said. 'There's been some real passion put behind the establishment and care of the cemetery here at Fort Douglas.' Camp Douglas was established in 1862 by Colonel Patrick E. Connor of the California Militia. A cemetery site was selected within the camp — with the first committal happening that same year. The original 1862 plot contained 22 headstones and one large grave marker associated with the 1863 Bear River Massacre, the first military interments here, according to the National Cemetery Administration. A 20-foot tall monument carved of red butte sandstone located in the center of the cemetery honors the 21 soldiers killed in the Bear River action. Most of these markers — carved using sandstone from Red Butte Canyon — reportedly deteriorated to the point that they were replaced with government headstones in the early 2000s. The grave of Utah Territory Gov. James D. Doty features a marker made of the same material. A 15-foot-tall granite monument in the cemetery's southeast corner was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1933 honoring World War I German prisoners of war who died while interned at Camp Douglas. Robinson hopes more people include Fort Douglas Post Cemetery in their Memorial Day activities. It's a placid place that's rarely crowded; tucked away from the city and traffic. 'It's not just a cemetery, it's a shrine,' she said. 'It's a monument to veterans and people who were associated with the military — whether it was a wife who lived here at Fort Douglas, or a civilian worker up here at Fort Douglas.' Meanwhile, the survey's 85th-ranked Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park is marking its 35th anniversary. Dedicated on Memorial Day in 1990, the cemetery is state-operated and located immediately north of Camp Williams in Bluffdale. The Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park offers a panoramic view of the Wasatch Mountain from a peaceful corner of southwest Salt Lake County. It is the final resting place for many local veterans and their families. 'Every aspect of the cemetery,' according to the cemetery's website, 'is a reflection of our respect and appreciation for the sacrifices of those who have served.' A chapel functions as the centerpiece of the cemetery and is available for memorial services. Meanwhile, the cemetery's administration office houses a collection of military artifacts and American history documents.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
This is where most Arizonans want to be buried, new study shows. Here's why it's so unique
A Wild West graveyard was named Arizona's favorite burial spot in a recent survey. Boothill Graveyard, Tombstone's original cemetery and the final resting place of some notorious characters, was among three cemeteries Choice Mutual said Arizonans cherished most. Choice Mutual, an insurance agency specializing in funeral insurance, surveyed more than 3,000 Americans to find out the most cherished resting spaces in the United States. The survey showed that cemeteries near small towns, historical sites and natural beauty were favored. Here are the uniquely Arizona cemeteries and graveyards people still wish to be buried in and what makes them so special. In typical Arizona fashion, the most cherished final resting place was Boothill Graveyard in Tombstone. The Wild West town turned tourist attraction highlights the Wild West era of gunfights, outlaws and hardworking settlers, and its cemetery follows the trend. Boothill Graveyard was the first burial spot in Tombstone and was used until the 1880s when it became the town's "old cemetery." It eventually fell into disrepair. However, nearby residents in the 1920s took on the task of identifying who was buried there and properly marking gravesites. BootHill Graveyard is home to graves of Arizonans who lived hard, fast lives. Many died while mining or were killed in tragic accidents. A significant number were murdered. The cemetery's pamphlet on who is buried there notes some were "stabbed by Gold Dollar," "hanged by mistake," or "killed while playing cards." Choice Mutual's study highlighted Boot Hill's "raw, timeless appeal, promising an everlasting tie to Tombstone's storied past for those captivated by its gritty romance and untamed legacy." How to visit: The cemetery and gift shop, which are located at 408 State Route 80 in Tombstone, are open to visitors daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is a $6 admission fee. More details are available at This small South Rim cemetery is nestled near the edge of the Grand Canyon. And among the pine trees rest the people who helped make the Grand Canyon what it is — pioneers, tribal members and U,S. Forest Service and National Park Service workers. "For nature lovers, an eternity here — if it were possible — offers unparalleled peace amid one of the world's most awe-inspiring landscapes," the survey notes. With nearly 400 gravesites, the cemetery was closed to new burials in 2017 because of a lack of space. Prior to the closure, you must have lived at the canyon for at least three years or made a "significant and substantial contribution" to the Grand Canyon National Park. How to visit: Grand Canyon tourists can visit the cemetery at 24 S. Entrance Road. It is next to the Shrine of the Ages and Parking Lot A. The Sedona Community Cemetery is situated at the base of the city's iconic red rocks, just off State Route 179 among the juniper trees. About 1,450 people are buried at the cemetery, including Arizona's first Latino governor Raul Castro. The earliest burial dates back to 1900. "This tranquil sanctuary appeals to those seeking an eternal bond with Sedona's iconic landscape, where the vivid red rocks and peaceful solitude create a sacred, unforgettable haven," the survey notes. How to visit: The cemetery is at 199 Pine Drive in Sedona. More: This Arizona city is a bucket list travel destination next to towns in Fiji and Egypt This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Boothill Graveyard named favorite Arizona burial spot, study says
