Collier Edition

Danielle Gates, CFP®, Financial Advisor You know how important it is to plan for your retirement, but where do you begin? One of your first steps should be to estimate how much income you’ll need to fund your retirement. That’s not as easy as it sounds, because retirement planning is not an exact science. Your specific needs depend on your …

Find out how HECM has Helped Many In Similar Situations By Mark E. Ary, MBA – Senior Licensed Loan Originator A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Loan is a reverse mortgage program that enables you to withdraw a percentage of your home’s equity.  If you’re a senior and you have either paid off or paid down a significant portion of …

By Greg Pascucci A study by Drexel University School of Public Health examined the connections between health, behavior and “social capital” (defined as the ties that build trust, connection, and participation) and found that older adults who reported greater social capital tended to maintain their independence and were healthier than their peers who experienced lower social capital. Marge Kelly, a …

Michael J. Petrocelli, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S., C.W.S.P. Board Certified Ankle and Foot Surgeon and Board Certified Wound Care Specialist One of the most common ankle pains that podiatrists treat is ankle sprains.  The sprain happens when ligaments are stressed, stretched and damaged, causing tiny tears in the fibers that are painful upon movement.  If you’ve had a history of ankle sprains …

The muscles of our bodies support our entire frame, from our head and neck to our lower back and legs.  Our large muscle groups are heavily relied upon to carry our weight and fluctuate with our daily movement and activities.  If muscles are weakened or injured by exercise, or trauma, pain can adversely affect our day-to-day actions. For active individuals …

With staggering numbers, diabetes affects over 30 million Americans and within that vast figure, rests the overwhelming amount of children affected by diabetes—nearly 200,000. Diabetes is an exorbitant disease, costing approximately 245 billion dollars per year.  In addition, it is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. In 2010, Tami Balavage’s  teenage son was diagnosed with Type I …

By Toni Eatros, MS, Dipl Ac, AP Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a spiral-shaped bacterium that is found mostly in the mucous membrane layer of the stomach. More than 90% of duodenal ulcers and up to 80% of stomach (gastric) ulcers are caused by H. pylori.  Infected people have a 2-6 fold increased risk of developing stomach cancer and mucosal-associated-lymphoid-type …

By Hoglund Family Hearing and Audiology Services Hearing loss can have much larger consequences than just the frustration of misunderstanding friends and loved one. A number of studies have come to light over the last few years showing a link between untreated hearing loss and dementia. Specifically, a pair of studies out of Johns Hopkins found that hearing loss is …

By Ulla-Undine Merritt (Dee) National Producer Number (NPN) 8853366 Medicare Beneficiaries who currently have Medicare Advantage Plan and Part D (Prescription Drug Plans) will be receiving their “Notice of Change” documents in September.   These notices compare any plan changes from your current 2016 to your new 2017 plan.  You will be automatically re-enrolled in your current plan if you do …

there has been recent debate on how to approach screening and treatment for prostate cancer. Organizations not affiliated with the American Urologic Association have made claims that limit Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening, a common screening procedure for prostate cancer that measures the level of PSA in the blood. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a volunteer panel of 16 …