Hello my Diva Darlings,
Yes, I have been away, but I've been busy. It seems that I have been hired as a sort of consultant to the elderly clients on what to do with their finanaces.
Now I am not licenced that I admit, but of late from time to time my husbands old firm gets a client who wants to make drastic changes which could hurt them, in some cases with my help, I've discovered that undue influence has been put on these clients.
Of course when that happens the trustees are called as well as the police and things are straightened out very quickly.
My position is to determine if such influence is being exerted upon them, since many of the clients know me, they are more willing to confide in me than in the younger staff, so when the staffer feel there is something wrong and the clients refuse to listen, they turn it over to me, and what I do is have coffee or tea for them as well as water, some little bisquets which I say always helps to keep the blood sugar up and I simply chat with them.
I take my time, my little office that I was previously renting for my own use, has at my late husband's firm cost, been made into a sort of living room, with a view, but no drapes, but comfortable chairs, criss-cross pricilla curtains, watercolors of landscapes, soft classical music, even an electric fireplace with an old fashion mantel clock. The client forgets they're in an office but have the illusion of being in one's home.
I act as hostess, and we'll chat about family and things and then it comes out. And almost always someone is influencing them, or in some cases showing signs of a small stroke which impieds clear decision making, now I let the client know that in order to take notes and be clear about their intensions I need to record the conversation and they always agree. The entire conversation is transribed and the trustees are notified before anything is signed, I make delays to allow action to happen, and the trustees take steps to secure the clients finances.
So far its been 3 cases of fraud, and several cases of illness, I do follow ups on the clients to see that they are well and they have been greatful that I have been able to help them, the ones who were ill were not aware they had strokes or low blood pressure that affected their thinking.
So I have been busy and I feel so useful, even my Diva Darling has helped, sometimes I bring her with me espeically if I know the client loves pets, Princess seems to have a soothing effect on them.
I only receive an honoraium, and the cost of the food, and I still can use the office for my personal investing, the computer is hidden in an Armouir, I even have a book shelf that looks Victorian with old books of familar authors, Dickens, Christie, Mark Twain, nothing that is distressing.
This is where having a living revokeable trust comes in handy my Darlings, espeically if you are up there in age. Any changes you want to make will cost money, but because of that it forces you to think and slow down. There have been too many cases where the elderly have been bilked out of their savings by either hired caregivers or alleged friends who are not, or unscrupulous relatives. If need be create it as a trust, with trustees to help prevent you from being left penniless.
And now Darlings, Juanita and I are going shopping, the pantry is bare, her son-in-law Manuel is working on the garden and her daughter is cleaning the house, while the baby is playing, but I think we'll take Princess with us to prevent any accidents. And we'll have a nice sit-down dinner and chat, so much to catch up on and it is a sort of day and evening to just relax.
Until Annon Kisses Darlings
