New Rates Released for Veterans Pension

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a tax-free, supplemental pension to qualifying wartime veterans and their families. To be eligible, veterans must have limited income and assets, and they generally must have a period of service that includes at least one day on active duty during wartime and 90 days total active duty time. Veterans who entered active duty after September 7, 1980 generally must have served at least 24 months or the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty. Also, veterans must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.  In addition to these basic service requirements, to be eligible, a veteran must be:

·         Age 65 or older, or

·         Totally and permanently disabled, or

·         A patient in a nursing home receiving skilled nursing care, or

·         Receiving Social Security Disability Insurance, or

·         Receiving Supplemental Security Income

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1356 AD: The Hanseatic League: A community of commercial interests

In 1993, the Treaty of Maastricht came into effect, establishing in Europe a new regime of cooperation.  Although it made history, the European Union (EU) was not the first organized trade association for cooperation in Europe.  The Hanseatic League of the late Middle Ages preceded the EU by more than 600 years.

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Trends and Innovations: Old age doesn’t officially begin until 74

IIASA, an Austrian research group, said it’s generally accepted that old age is defined as having 15 or fewer years left to live.  In the 1950’s, a 65-year-old in England could expect to live 15 years.  Today those reaching 65 in that country are expected to live 24 more years, so your middle aged up to 74, according to the report.

Sweet and Sour Shrimp

We believe the key to a happy marriage is good communication.  My husband and I sit down to a cocktail each night and share the events of the day before we start cooking.  His drink of choice is a very dry martini, not stirred and me a very dry Brandy Manhattan with a very light touch of maraschino cherry juice.  It doesn’t take long before we have a jar full of cherries and no more juice.  This prompts us to turn to this wonderful Shrimp recipe to use up the left over cherries.  If you don’t have left over cherries it is still worth the effort to make this delectable and colorful offering. 

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All New! Home Mortgage Forms and Review Periods

Professional Alliance member, Conrad Wouters informs us that there will be an major paradigm shift in forms and review periods starting August 15^th.  There will be new disclosure forms and closing processes this summer: Effective for all mortgage loans closing starting August 1st  2015  new integrated mortgage disclosure forms created by the CFPB take effect. The current Good Faith Estimate and Truth in Lending statement is replaced with a newly designed Loan Estimate. 

The old HUD-1 Settlement Statement is replaced by a new Closing Disclosure form – no more line numbers on two pages: the charges are categorized into seven categories. In addition to these new forms there is a requirement of the lender to deliver the Closing Disclosure papers then allow three days for the borrower to review the forms before signing (not counting Sundays or Holidays).  For owner occupied refinances, this means a three day review period before the actual document signing, then there still is a three day right of rescission period before the loan can be funded.

Contact Conrad Wouters at Evergreen Home Loans for information on your personal mortgage needs at 206-422-9197 or cwouters@evergreenhomeloans.com

See http://www.consumerfinance.gov/knowbeforeyouowe/  for more details.

Conrad Wouters is not affiliated with Candy J. Lee Financial Planning & Money Management or fsic.

2015 Seattle Flower & Garden Show

The opening night party at the flower and garden show is an annual favorite.  We get a chance to chat with our local iconic gardening expert, Ciscoe Morris and wander the gardens before the mass of people arrive the next day.   The funds raised go to benefit our local Arboretum Foundation and we always come away with new ideas for our gardens.   

Click here to see our pictures of these amazing gardens