​Thinking about purchasing long-term care insurance? That could be a wise decision. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that today’s 65-year-olds have a 70 percent chance of needing long-term care at some point.1
 
Long-term care is ongoing assistance with basic, day-to-day living activities such as bathing, eating, mobility and more. It’s usually provided in an assisted living facility, but it can also be provided in the home, either by family members or by in-home health aides.
 
Regardless of where the care is provided, it’s usually a costly service. Long-term care often costs thousands of dollars per month, and care is often needed for years. It’s easy to see how it can be a long-term drain on your savings.
 
Long-term care insurance is a popular and effective funding strategy. You pay premiums to an insurer, and the policy then provides coverage for some or all of your long-term care costs. However, policies can vary widely in terms of cost and benefits. You may find the choices overwhelming.

​The year is halfway over. Have you met your savings goals so far this year? Are you behind on your savings for retirement? It’s easy to get behind on savings, especially when it comes to retirement, which may be years or decades in the future. After all, you probably have many other expenses and financial challenges that seem more urgent.
 
Fortunately, there’s still plenty of time left in the year to put away money for retirement. You may want to use qualified accounts to do so. These accounts, which include 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs), allow you to grow your funds on a tax-deferred basis. That means you don’t pay taxes on growth while the assets are inside the account.
 
Below are three commonly used qualified accounts and how they can help you save for retirement. You still have time left this year to ramp up your savings. Work with a financial professional to implement a savings strategy.