The founder and president of a Carlsbad, California, financial services firm, Galen Maddy formerly held executive affiliation with Veteran’s Friend. The company offers San Diego and Orange County veterans dedicated assistance in obtaining U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, such as the Veterans Aid & Attendance pension benefit.

Relatively little known, the Veterans Aid & Attendance pension benefit enables qualifying veterans and their single surviving spouses to receive disability income in cases where they are housebound or require regular caregiver assistance. Eligibility for the pension benefit is limited to veterans or their spouses above the age of 65, who have an (unreimbursed medical expenses-adjusted) income falling under the Maximum Allowable Pension Rate (MAPR). The exact amount of pension available reflects the difference between adjusted household income and the MAPR. In ensuring that the highest dollar amount of benefit possible is received, applicants must show evidence of their need in the form of a “rating.” To learn more about Veterans Aid & Attendance benefits, visit www.veteransfriend.com.

A finance and investment specialist based in Carlsbad, California, Galen Maddy has owned and operated his own private securities company since 1968. In addition to his responsibilities as the head of the Galen Maddy Group, Mr. Maddy also serves as Board Chairman and President of the Santa Fe Land Corporation.

From its headquarters in Reno, Nevada, the Santa Fe Land Corporation provides expert consultation, exploratory research, and fiscal direction for real estate stakeholders throughout Nevada, Arizona, and Southern California. The organization’s business model provides effective management for commercial properties that have already been developed by other parties. Over the years, the firm’s targeted approach has achieved consistently successful results. 

A registered agent of Laughlin Associates, Inc., Santa Fe Land has served as a domestic finance, investment, and advisement firm since July of 1985. Galen Maddy’s personal and professional affiliations with the Santa Fe Land Corporation also span three decades.

Galen Maddy and other advocates for veterans have long realized that returning soldiers need help navigating the adjustment to civilian life and the benefits provided by Veterans Affairs (VA). Galen Maddy founded Veteran’s Friend in order to give veterans access to legal and financial counselors as they apply for the Aid & Attendance benefit, one specific benefit available to those who have put their lives on the line for their nation. As veterans return from Iraq and Afghanistan, the VA has rolled out other programs aimed at helping them succeed outside the armed forces.

One recent program, developed by President Obama, aims to eliminate homelessness for veterans by 2015. The program gives grants to community groups who help homeless vets find permanent housing. In February 2012, there were 62,619 veterans who were homeless in the United States. The VA has helped 14,000 veterans find homes this year and helped another 8,000 veterans stay in their homes despite economic instability. However, one group has been hit especially hard by the difficult economy. While homelessness is decreasing for all veterans, it is increasing for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Social workers think this is because younger vets are less willing to ask for help, but are returning home to a difficult economy with few available jobs. They expect the problem to grow over the next four years, as 300,000 men and women leave the armed forces each year as part of a permanent reduction in troop strength. During this process, the VA and associated charities will play an essential role in helping veterans find a place in civilian life.

Galen Maddy, president and chairman of the board of the Santa Fe Land Corporation, has done a great deal of volunteer work for veterans. Among his efforts in this regard, Galen Maddy has been involved with Veteran's Friend, an organization that provides information regarding a certain little-known Department of Veteran's Affairs pension benefit.

The Veterans Aid & Attendance pension benefit can be worth $23,396 a year under ideal circumstances; it can pay $12,660 to a veteran's surviving spouse. Many eligible veterans have never heard of this benefit because it is mentioned only briefly in the Veterans Affairs benefits handbook, and many who have heard of the benefit avoid applying because they believe their income level disqualifies them.

The Aid & Attendance benefit is worth looking into for many veterans. Although veteran service organizations for the most part are well-meaning and helpful, they are ill-prepared to assist veterans in anything more than the completion of forms. Therefore, professional aid is often required to apply for and receive the Veterans Aid & Attendance benefit.

For over 40 years, California financial advisor Galen Maddy has helped his clients preserve wealth through financial downturns. Maddy also takes a special interest in America’s veterans. He founded Veteran’s Friend to help veterans navigate complex bureaucratic processes to receive the benefits that the government owes them. While people like Galen Maddy work to help returning veterans build their lives, many veterans still struggle, especially in today’s stagnant economy.

One problem facing veterans is that of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to a recent study from Veterans Affairs, about 30% of returning veterans suffer from PTSD. Another 23% have other mental illnesses, such as depression or mental illness. Such conditions are often made worse by the failure to find a job. When so many employers are not hiring, many returning veterans cannot find a place in the workforce. Of those people who have served in the military since September 11, 10% are currently unemployed.

Some programs have made it easier for veterans to find jobs when they return from Iraq. Recently, Forbes Magazine highlighted Kelly Direct, an online program run by the Kelly School of Business of Indiana University. The program works with soldiers who want to complete their degrees while serving in combat zones. Online classes may be viewed at any time, and professors are available for e-mail and phone consultations. Returning veterans find that the connections made and certifications earned can help them find a job when they return to civilian life.

Bounded to the east by the Peninsular mountain ranges, and to the west by the brilliant blue of the Pacific Ocean, the city of Carlsbad developed this gem of a municipal golf course surrounded by more than 1,000 acres of natural habitat and coastal splendor.

The course takes its name from five bridges integrated into its design to preserve natural topographic features, wetlands, sagebrush, and native bird and animal species. Renowned golf architect Greg Nash designed the 18-hole championship course with five tees per hole to let golfers choose their preferred level of challenge.

Known for its dramatic natural views, The Crossings at Carlsbad offers not only a challenging golf experience, but also the added amenity of The Crossings’ Trail, a 3-mile walking circuit that connects to the city’s larger Trail System.

The Crossings at Carlsbad features a striking 28,000-square-foot clubhouse replete with banquet facilities, fireplace-lit dining room, and a deck presenting ocean views. More information about The Crossings at Carlsbad is available by visiting www.thecrossingsatcarlsbad.com.

About the Author:

An avid golfer, Galen Maddy enjoys various golf destinations throughout coastal Southern California and elsewhere.