Gift of Communication Gift of CommunicationCoaching families and their financial advisors to learn the skills necessary to live fruitful lives
34 years ago I started my career in the financial services industry. I set up my first registered investment advisory firm in 1982 (Financial Action Plans,Inc.) and began doing financial planning for my clients.
A number of books have been written by family members who observe the deterioration of a loved one or friend who has Alzheimer’s. But Still Alice by Lisa Genova is the first book I have read which describes the experience of losing one’s memory through the eyes of the individual herself. This incredible novel is…
Looking for a way to help Mom and Dad pay for home care or assisted living? Perhaps you are their caregiver. Wouldn’t it be nice to receive some extra income to help you provide their care? There is financial help available for senior veterans and their spouses. For veterans who served during a time of…
The holiday season is quickly coming upon us. If you are a caregiver for an elderly loved one, you may notice a change in your loved one’s mood as the holidays approach. Perhaps you are one of many who visits elderly parents and family during the holidays who live a distance away. When you visit,…
According to a report by the Alzheimer’s Association of Los Angeles & Riverside, California*, there are approximately 3.3 million long-distance caregivers in this country with an average distance of 480 miles from the people they care for. The report also states that 15 million days are missed from work each year because of long-distance caregiving.…
Generally, elderly parents want to remain living in their own home. However, remaining in the home becomes a concern when children see their parents slowing down, perhaps even having trouble with handling stairs and doing general daily activities. This is now the time to evaluate the home to make it safe and secure for your…
Once your parent has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, you must make certain that a plan is in place to protect her and your family. You cannot delay. In order to sign legal documents, your parent must have the mental capacity to know and understand the act which she is engaging in and have a…
Few of us know what to do or what to say to our parents and loved ones who are close to death. We often try to avoid all discussions about the topic and take the easy way out, falsely reassuring them that they are doing well and will get better. Recently I read a book…
There have been an increasing number of financial advisors who call themselves “Senior Specialists.” Often these titles don’t require any specific study or experience. Seniors are a very attractive audience for these “specialists.” They often have a large portion of their investment assets in cash and CDs. As rates have continued to come down, seniors…
We are finally seeing action taken to protect elderly investors from sharks in the financial services business who prey on them. A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority panel awarded an elderly investor, David Wolfson, $1.6 million in a case involving StockCross Financial Services Inc. of Beverly Hills, CA. Mr. Wolfson accused StockCross, along with two of…
As our parents get older, we often relate to them as if they were our children and we listen to them in that way. My mother suffered from Alzheimer’s and her conversations would revolve around a few topics: her need for a phone, an eye doctor appointment and another box of tissues. But occasionally she…