Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, December 4, 2021

Mountain Views-News Saturday, December 4, 2021 

SOCIAL SECURITY CALCULATORS THAT CAN HELP YOU DECIDE 
WHEN TO CLAIM 

Dear Savvy Senior:
Can you recommend some good resources that can help my wife and me determine the best claiming ages for 
maximizing our Social Security retirement benefits? Just Turned 62 

Dear 62: 
Deciding when to start collecting your Social Security 
benefits is one of the most complicated and consequential 
decisions in retirement. The difference between a 
good decision and a poor one could cost you and your 
wife tens of thousands of dollars over your retirement, s o 
doing your due diligence now is a very smart move. 
Factors to Consider 
As you may already know, you can claim Social Security any time between the ages of 62 and 70, but each 
year you wait increases your benefits between 5 and 8 percent. However, there are other factors you need to 
take into account to help you make a good decision, like your health and family longevity, whether you plan 
to work in retirement, along with spousal and survivor benefits. 

To help you weigh your claiming strategies, you need to know that Social Security Administration claims 
specialists are not trained or authorized to give you personal advice on when you should start drawing your 
benefits. They can only provide you information on how the system works under different circumstances. 
To get advice you’ll need to turn to other sources. 

Online Tools 
Your first step in getting Social Security claiming strategy advice is to go to SSA.gov/myaccount to get your 
personalized statement that estimates what your retirement benefits will be at ages 62 through 70. These 
estimates are based on your yearly earnings that are also listed on your report. 

Once you get your estimates for both you and your wife, there are a number online Social Security strategy 
calculators you can turn to that can compare your options so you can make an informed decision. 

The best one that’s completely free to use is Open Social Security (OpenSocialSecurity.com), which runs the 
math for each possible claiming age (or, if you’re married, each possible combination of claiming ages) and 
reports back, telling you which strategy is expected to provide the most total spendable dollars over your 
lifetime. 

But if you want a more thorough analysis consider fee-based calculators like Maximize My Social Security 
(MaximizeMySocialSecurity.com) or Social Security Solutions (SocialSecuritySolutions.com). Both of these 
tools, which are particularly helpful to married couples as well as divorced or widowed persons, will run 
what-if scenarios based on your circumstances and show how different filing strategies affect the total payout 
over the same time frame. 

Maximize My Social Security’s web-based service costs $40 per year for a household, while Social Security 
Solutions offers several levels of web-based and personalized phone advice ranging from $20 to $250. 

In-Person Advice 
You may also be able to get help through a financial planner. Look for someone who is a fee-only certified 
financial planner (CFP) that charges on an hourly basis and has experience in Social Security analysis. 

To find someone, use the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors online directory at NAPFA.
org, or try the Garrett Planning Network (GarrettPlanningNetwork.com), which is a network of fee-only 
advisers that charge between $150 and $300 per hour. 

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim 
Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 


FAMILY MATTERS

 By Marc Garlett 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LONG TERM 
CARE INSURANCE 

Our nation’s population 

you become disabled (eligible for benefits) and the 
is aging at a faster rate 

time your coverage kicks in. 
than ever before, and 
collectively we are liv-

Obviously, the younger and healthier you are when 
ing much longer than in the past. In fact, according 

you buy the policy, the cheaper the premiums will 
to Census Bureau projections, by 2034, seniors (age 

be, so the sooner you invest in coverage, the better. In 
65 and older) will outnumber children under age 18 

fact, most policies exclude certain pre-existing con-
for the first time in U.S. history. 

ditions, so if you wait until you become ill, it can be 

impossible to find coverage. 
With the booming aging population, more and more 
seniors will require long-term healthcare services, 

If you are looking to purchase long-term care insurwhether 
at home, in an assisted living facility, or in a 

ance, you should speak with multiple insurance pro-
nursing home. However, such long-term care can be 

viders and compare their benefits, care options, and 
extremely expensive, especially when it’s needed for 

premiums. Different companies may offer the same 
extended periods. 

coverage and benefits, but they can vary dramatically 

in price. Always ask about the insurance company’s 
Moreover, many people mistakenly believe their 

history of rate increases, including the amount of the 
health insurance or the government will pay for 

most recent increase. 
their long-term care needs. But the fact is, traditional 
health insurance doesn’t cover long-term care. And 

When meeting with an insurance provider, you must 
though Medical does pay for some long-term care, 

get answers to the following three questions about 
it’s typically limited, difficult to qualify for, and re-

your policy: 
quires you to deplete nearly all your assets before 
being eligible (unless you use proactive planning to 

1. How long is the elimination period before 
shield your assets first). 
the policy begins paying benefits?

2. What capacities, or ADLs, must you lose be-
To address this gap in healthcare coverage, long-
fore coverage kicks in? 
term care insurance was created. Long-term care is 

3. How many years of care are covered? 
a general term that describes the type of care or support 
you need when you are no longer able to handle 
These are the most important elements in a long-
activities of daily living (ADLs) on your own. ADLs 

term care policy, and as such, they will make the 
include things such as dressing, grooming, bathing, 

biggest difference in the quality of coverage and the 
eating, grocery shopping, meal prep, and laundry. 

amount of your premiums. 

Long-term care services typically fall into two cat-

Once you are in your 50s, your long-term care policy 
egories: personal care and skilled care. Personal care, 

should be reviewed annually to evaluate new insuralso 
known as custodial care, is for people who re


ance products on the market and update your policy 
quire assistance with non-medical activities, includ


based on your changing needs. Whatever you do, 
ing ADLs. Skilled care, or skilled nursing care, is for 

once you have a policy in place, make sure you don’t 
people who require skilled medical care or rehabilita


miss a premium payment. If you fail to pay, even for 
tion services. 

a short period of time, you’ll lose all the money you 

invested and will have no access to the benefits when 
First introduced as “nursing home insurance” in the 

you need them. 
1980s, long-term care insurance is designed to cover 
the expenses related to your care in the event you are 

In addition to life insurance, a long-term care insurno 
longer able to handle your own ADLs. These poli


ance policy can be a key component in your overcies 
cover the cost of both personal care and skilled 

all estate plan. When combined with the right legal 
care services whenever and wherever you plan to re-

strategies, you can rest assured that you and your 
ceive care, whether in your own home, an assisted 

loved ones will be protected and provided for no 
living facility, a nursing home, or a community care 

matter what happens. 
facility. 

Dedicated to empowering your family, building your wealth 
and defining your legacy, A local attorney and father, Marc 

Before your coverage kicks in, most policies require 

Garlett is on a mission to help parents protect what they love 

that you demonstrate you have lost the ability to en-

most. Schedule an appointment to sit down and talk about 

gage in at least two or three ADLs. Most policies also 

ensuring a legacy of love and financial security for your 

have a deductible, or “elimination period,” which is a 

family by calling 626.355.4000 or visit www.CaliLaw.com 

set number of days that must elapse between the time 

for more information. 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …December Birthdays* 

Maria Decker, Nancy Dorn, Prudence Levine Pat Karamitros, Joan 
Hufnagel, Mary Alice Cervera, Carol Horejsi, Shirley Anhalt, Helen Reese, 
Levon Yapoujian, Toni Buckner, Lottie Bugl, Sheila Wohler, Nan Murphy, 
Eleanor Hensel, Sylvia Curl, Elizabeth Levie, Gayle Licher, Cindy Barran, 
and Melissa Stute, Prudence Levin, Sheila Woehler. * To add your name 
to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not 
required 

SENIOR ACTIVITIES IN SIERRA MADRE 
HOLIDAY LUNCHEON 

Please join the Sierra Madre Senior Community Commission in the Hart Park 
House Senior Center for the much anticipated Annual Holiday Luncheon. Meet our 
Senior Commissioners as they assist with serving lunch and provide some holiday 
cheer. Bring your festive spirit for a fun and lively game of bingo, your appetite for 
a boxed lunch (by Nano Cafe) and door prizes. Staff will begin taking reservations 
over the phone on December 2, 2021. Space is limited to 40 people so reserve your 
spot! Please call 626-355-5278 with your reservation and sandwich choice. Turkey, 
beef or tuna. 

THE HART PARK HOUSE SENIOR CENTER IS OPEN!!!!

 In house lunch dining service will not resume at this time. Access to the computer/
classroom is temporarily unavailable. All Classes and programs will maintain a distance 
of 6 ft between participants. All equipment used will be sanitized after each 
use before it is stored. Each participant is responsible for providing their own water, 
masks and additionally needed supplies for each class. Please call the Community 
Services Department at 355-7394 with any questions or concerns. 

DOMINOES TRAIN GAME 
Wednesday, 12/1, & 12/15 11:00 am— 12:30 pm Hart Park House The object of the 
game is for a player to play all the tiles from their hand onto one or more trains, 
emanating from a central hub or “station”. Call Lawren with questions that you may 
have. Led by volunteer Loni. 

PAINT PALS 
Tuesday, 12/7, and 12/21, 10:00 am—Hart Park House If you enjoy painting, sketching, 
water color, or making some other form of artistic creation please join our new 
program, PAINT PALS!!! Bring a project that you are working on to the HPH and 
enjoy some quality art time with other artists looking to paint with a new pal. 

TEA AND TALK SENIOR BOOK CLUB 
Wednesday, 12/7 & 12/21— 9:00 am Staff has launched a new book club series, Tea 
and Talk, which meets twice a month to discuss the fun, suspense, intrigue, love and 
so much more that each selection will have in store! 

FIBER FRIENDS 
Tuesday, 12/14 & Monday, 12/20 —10:00 am If you enjoy knitting, crocheting, embroidery, 
needlepoint, bunka, huck, tatting or cross stitch then we have a group for 
you! Bring your current project, a nonalcoholic beverage, then sit and chat with 
likeminded fiber friends. We meet in the Hart Park House 

CHAIR YOGA 
Every Monday and Wednesday, 10-10:45 am Please join us for some gentle stretching, 
yoga, balance exercise and overall relaxation with Paul. Classes are ongoing and 
held in the Memorial Park Covered Pavilion. 

HULA AND POLYNESIAN DANCE 
Every Friday, 10-10:45 am Bring a lei, your flower skirt or just your desire to dance! 
Hula in the Park is back and waiting for you to join in on all the fun! Memorial Park 
Pavilion. 

CITY HALL AND THE HART PARK HOUSE WILL BE CLOSED THURSDAY, 
DECEMBER 23, 2021 - MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2022 


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

HEY, THIS IS MY STORY 

Of course, that is my narcissism coming to the 

I am just now concluding 

surface. I want everything to be about me and 

that narcissism is a virus 

center on my life. I'm not sure what to do or how 

that has infected everybody 

to deal with this narcissistic virus that seems to 

in the world that is breath-

be penetrating my life. 
great deal of regret. 

ing air. I even apply this to my own life with a 

I don't think I will bring this up with my doc-
Nobody wants to admit they have narcissistic 

tor the next time I visit him. I suspect he would 
leanings in their life. And yet, if you listen to 

send me to his psychology friend, and I certain-
them, and even listen to yourself, you will see it. 

ly don't want that kind of examination. I don't 
I did not know how aggravating it was, but I was 

think I could pass. 
to learn pretty soon. 

The one thing I have learned about this narcis-
Recently I had a heart attack and had a stent put 

sistic virus is that there comes a point where it 
in one of my arteries, the widow make her. It was 

explodes. I didn't know that before, but I found 
this experience that showed me the level of nar


out just recently. 
cissism in my own life. 

Another friend called and asked about me, and 
When anybody would call me and ask how I 

I said I just had a heart attack and had a stent 
was, I would mention that I recently had a heart 

implanted in my artery. Again, before I could get 
attack and had a stent inserted in one of my ar


to the end of that sentence, they began explainteries. 
Before I can even get to the end of that 

ing how they also had a heart attack several years 
sentence, the person on the other end of the line 

ago, and they had four stents put in. Then they 
will say, "Oh, a couple of years ago, I had a heart 

went on and on about their heart attack and how 
attack and had two stents put in." And then they 

it changed their life, and what they did to keep 
would go on and on and on about their condi


from having another one. 
tion and experience. 

I don't know what triggered my explosion, but 
When I thought we had come to the end of that 

all of a sudden, I heard myself saying, "Hey, stop 
conversation, they then mentioned, "And I have 

right there. This is my heart attack, not yours. 
a cousin who had a heart attack and had several 

This is my story, not yours." 
stents put in him I can't remember how many." 

Then without hesitating, I went into my story in 
Then, we're all down another rabbit trail. I sure 

every detail I could think of at the time. I only 
would like to catch that rabbit. 

wished I had recorded it so I could know what 
Coming to the end of this conversation, I said, 

I actually said. 
"Well, I hope you're doing well." To which I got 

Just before I hung up, the person on the other 
the reply, "Thank You, I appreciate that." 

end said, "Well, I'll be praying for you, and I 
Hanging up the phone, I thought a bit that the 

hope you get better." Then there was that infaperson 
on the other end of the phone did not 

mous "click." And the conversation was over. 
allow me to tell my story. 

I hung up the phone and turned around only to 
For me, this heart attack was quite an experience 

see the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage star-
that I never expected to experience. I know my 

ing at me with one of her "stares," and I heard 
father had several heart attacks, but I never as


her say, "What in the world did you just say?" 
sumed he had willed it two me. It's during these 

At that moment, I knew I was in for some troutimes 
that you think seriously about dying. 

ble, so I said, "I'm not sure; what did I say?" 
I have been tempted to spread the rumor that 

I knew she would tell me what I said, so I didn't 
I won the million-dollar lottery for the week. 

need a recording of it. But I kind of lost control 
Once that got out, I would get all kinds of calls 

because of that narcissistic virus that has infect-
to hear my million dollars' story. But, of course, 

ed me. 
I know that they would want to be put on my 

A verse of Scripture came to my mind at this 
Christmas list. 

time. “And he said to them all, If any man will 
The discouraging point is nobody wanted to 

come after me, let him deny himself, and take up 
know the story of my heart attack. My heart at-

his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). 
tack was an opportunity for them to brag, or so it 

Probably the hardest thing in this verse is when 
seemed, about their heart attack or their uncle's 

Jesus says “Let him deny himself.” My narcissisheart 
attack or somebody else’s. 

tic virus fights against that all the time. 
After going through a heart attack why do I want 
to hear about someone else's heart attack and 

Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God 

Fellowship, Ocala, FL 34483, how they got through it. 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 
Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com 
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 
Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com