Archive for March 2026
Conservatorships Don’t Have to Disrupt Your Client Relationships
When the word conservatorship comes up, it often brings a sense of urgency, uncertainty, and sometimes even fear—both for families and the professionals who support them. For financial advisors, CPAs, and other trusted professionals, one of the biggest concerns is this: “What happens to my relationship with the client?” The good news is this:A conservatorship…
Read More5 Signs Your Client’s Family May Need a Conservatorship
As a trusted advisor, you are often one of the first people to notice when something “just isn’t right” with a client or their loved one. Whether you are a financial advisor, care manager, or another professional supporting families, there may come a point when concerns go beyond simple oversight and require legal intervention. One…
Read MoreConservatorship Isn’t as Scary as It Sounds
When families hear the word conservatorship, it often brings up feelings of fear, confusion, or even resistance. It can sound extreme.It can feel overwhelming.And for many, it carries a stigma that something has gone terribly wrong. But in reality, conservatorship is not about taking control away from someone. It is about stepping in with care,…
Read MoreDoes a Loved One Need a Conservatorship? 5 Signs It May Be Time to Step In
Most families don’t begin by asking about conservatorship. They begin with a feeling. Something seems off. A bill gets missed. A conversation doesn’t quite make sense. A decision feels out of character. At first, it’s easy to explain it away. But over time, those small moments can turn into patterns—and those patterns can signal something…
Read MoreThe Courage to Be Cared For
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how deeply wired we are to care for one another. It’s not something most of us have to learn — it just lives in us. You see it in parents who instinctively put their children first, in friends who show up without being asked, in the quiet ways…
Read MoreBehind the Scenes of Elder Law Litigation: What These Cases Often Have in Common
When most people think about elder law litigation, they picture conflict—family members in disagreement, courtrooms, and high-stakes decisions. And while those elements can certainly be present, what’s often less visible are the patterns that emerge behind the scenes. After working with families through these situations, one thing becomes clear: these cases are rarely about a…
Read MoreHow Did We Get Here? The Slippery Slope from “Helping Out” to Elder Financial Abuse
It rarely starts with bad intentions. In fact, most cases of elder financial abuse don’t begin with a dramatic act of theft or manipulation. They begin quietly, often wrapped in trust, convenience, and a genuine desire to help. A son starts paying bills for his mother because she’s overwhelmed.A niece is added to a bank…
Read MoreWhat To Do About Elder Law Financial Abuse
As our population ages, a quiet but deeply concerning issue continues to rise beneath the surface: financial abuse of older adults. It is not always obvious.It does not always involve strangers.And often, it happens to those who are the most trusting. For families, caregivers, and professionals, understanding how this happens—and what to do about it—is…
Read MoreFrom Dreaming Big to Owning It
Last week, while I was away at a professional development conference, one theme kept coming up again and again in different sessions and conversations: the idea of being ragingly ambitious. Not just ambitious in the way we casually talk about goals or growth, but truly allowing yourself to want something deeply and unapologetically. It felt…
Read MoreSudden Money, Sudden Risk
Why 18-Year-Olds with NIL Deals Need Guidance The landscape for young adults has changed dramatically in the last few years. Through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, many 18-year-olds are suddenly receiving significant sums of money for endorsements, social media partnerships, appearances, and brand collaborations. For some, the money arrives quickly—sometimes in the form of…
Read MoreHelping Clients Protect Their Young Adult’s NIL Income and Contracts
Over the last several years, the concept of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has become a major topic of conversation. While it initially gained widespread attention through college athletics, NIL opportunities now reach far beyond the playing field. Many young adults today are building personal brands through social media, creative work, entertainment, and online platforms,…
Read MoreNIL: What Every Parent Needs to Know Before Their Teen Becomes a Brand
Over the past few years, the landscape of youth athletics has changed dramatically. Thanks to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, student-athletes can now earn money through endorsements, sponsorships, social media partnerships, appearances, and more. For many families, this shift has created exciting possibilities. A talented high school athlete with a strong social media following…
Read MoreWhy Saying “I’ll Handle It” for Your Teen Could Lead to Big Problems
Parents spend years protecting their children. It’s natural. When something goes wrong, the instinct to step in and fix it is almost automatic. When your child is young, that instinct serves an important purpose. But when your child becomes a teenager and eventually a young adult, continuing to “handle everything” for them can lead to…
Read MoreThe Key to Having Better Birthdays
The key ingredient to a full life and having better and more enjoyable birthdays is simply love, actually. Love of self and love of and by others. I am admittedly “shy” about my birthday. In general, I don’t like being the center of attention unless it helps someone else or provides value to the general…
Read MorePockets of Joy
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about a beautiful phrase one of my team members coined: pockets of joy. It’s one of those simple, yet profound terms that immediately shifts your perspective on life. In the whirlwind of our daily lives—filled with work, family obligations, errands, and endless to-do lists—it’s so easy to overlook the…
Read MoreWhy Advisors Should Have ‘Legal Checklist’ Conversations with Parents of Teens
As parents navigate the teenage years, their concerns evolve from managing schoolwork and extracurricular activities to preparing their children for adulthood. For financial advisors working with families, this is an ideal time to bring up the importance of ensuring that their clients’ legal planning is as comprehensive as their financial planning. While many advisors focus…
Read MoreHelping Clients Prepare Their Kids for the Legal Transition to Adulthood
As children approach adulthood, parents often begin to realize that the legal protections they’ve had in place for their kids throughout their youth may no longer apply. Once a child turns 18, they are legally considered an adult in the eyes of the law, and this transition can bring about significant changes for both the…
Read MoreThe Untold Risks of Not Having a Power of Attorney for Your College Student
As a parent, sending your child off to college can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. You’ve spent years preparing them for the independence and freedom that comes with higher education. However, one crucial detail that often gets overlooked during this transition is ensuring that your college student has the proper legal tools in…
Read MoreWhat Happens to Your Kid’s Health Records the Moment They Turn 18?
As a parent, you’ve been the guardian of your child’s health and well-being for many years. But what happens when they turn 18 and become legal adults? One of the key areas of change is how their health records are handled. At 18, your child is no longer a minor, and the laws governing access…
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