Parking $300k for 80yo mother in assisted living

[Anonymous]

300k at age 80? She's going to spend it. How much other investments does she have in cash?

I'd put it in a high yield savings account like Marcus Goldman or Barclays. 200k in one and 50k in another. She is going to spend it in the next five years and the market is swinging back and forth like crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I saw this thread title, I thought it was about a parking space at the assisted living center costing 300k. I was thinking, wow, I know PE is heavily involved in the industry but that sounds wild.

Same!

[Anonymous]

How about the Vanguard LifeStrategy funds? Maybe Conservative or Moderate Growth? That gives you prebuilt diversification and some protection against inflation.

https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/list/mutual-funds?strategy=all_in_one&filters=open

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the various comments. Again - for now her disability check ($7500) easily covers the $4k monthly for the AL facility.

Actually now that you guys mention it, I should do some maths to figure out how long $300k can last with a $4k/month burn at different interest rates...

Why would the disability check stop. Take some of that and save it.

Is it SSDI? That should continue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I saw this thread title, I thought it was about a parking space at the assisted living center costing 300k. I was thinking, wow, I know PE is heavily involved in the industry but that sounds wild.

Me too

[Anonymous]

What was the wealth manager managing? She has money other than the $300k house proceeds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Her financial planner may not be right, be he'd be fired if he did your plan.

Seriously. Put that money in a HYSA or some short term CDs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not American Funds. Don't they charge a load? Ugh.

Their fees are so high. Honestly in this market, I would put it in a high yield savings account.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh. Hm. 6-9 years depending on returns. Hm.

This is very aggressive. If it’s all the money she has, it could easily be gone in 2 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I saw this thread title, I thought it was about a parking space at the assisted living center costing 300k. I was thinking, wow, I know PE is heavily involved in the industry but that sounds wild.

Ha! Me, too. I was so confused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all - moderately straightforward question here...?

Last year due to the onset of mild dementia, (later diagnosed as early Alzheimer's) we moved my mother out of her condo into an assisted living facility. At this time her monthly disability check covers the facility, but when her memory deteriorates to the point where she needs full-time "Memory Care" then it'll go from $4k/mo to $11k/mo... which is *ouch.*

Just sold her condo and she'll clear about $300k on that.

She's used a Wealth Manager for years to basically charge her an annual fee and mail her statements (nice guy but why pay for this?) He wants to open an American Funds account for her and park the money there.

I'm thinking we open her a Vanguard account, manage ourselves, and put ~$200k into VTSAX and the balance into something that will pay regular dividends, but I'm interested in DCUM ideas.

Thanks!

I would explain to the current wealth manager what you are planning. Give him a few minutes or a few emails to explain why his approach is better. I sincerely doubt he will be able to, but I'd still give him the chance. Then move the money if he doesn't give you a clear and convincing explanation.

[Anonymous]

Why is it a disability check and not social security? Where is the disability check coming from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the various comments. Again - for now her disability check ($7500) easily covers the $4k monthly for the AL facility.

Actually now that you guys mention it, I should do some maths to figure out how long $300k can last with a $4k/month burn at different interest rates...

How can she get $7,500 disability check per month? For 2026, the maximum of disability check is $4152 per month.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s less about investing and more about spending less on her care (when possible). Transfer the wealth and make her eligible for LTC via Medicaid or something like that. Or find a way to fit all her care needs into her disability budget. Home health aids might be a bit less expensive. Alzheimer’s at advanced stages doesn’t need highly skilled care, esp if her mobility is limited eventually. She will need eyes on her all the time but not the 11k a month eyes.

[Anonymous]

Re: transferring the wealth: I believe Medicaid has a five-year lookback period for seeing what assets an individual has/had prior to filing for assistance.