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I Care A Lot (A Movie Review)
I watched a horror movie this weekend written by J. Blakeson. The scene near the end is the biggest horror, but not the ultimate ending. The movie dramatizes a Guardian who builds up her personal wealth in unscrupulous, unethical, illegal ways under the cover of court authority. It is loosely based upon cases uncovered in…
Read MoreWhen The Castle Is The Only Treasure Chest
Article co-authored by Loren Emmanuel and Julie Chroust Most people, when asked, state that they would want to live at home if they had a significant health event. When we are working, we can sometimes take advantage of Disability Insurance. But when we are retired, our options to pay for in-home care are limited to our…
Read MoreIt Takes a Stage Crew for Our Final Scene (A Collaboration with Advisory Circle)
The saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.” I think we may find it takes a stage crew for our final scene.
Read MoreAn Orderly Transition
When a new President steps into office, we depend upon an orderly transition of power. We all pay a price if that does not happen. When an untrustworthy Trustee steps in, the estate litigation and stress exacts a price on the elder and families because of power struggles. A Trustee named by a Trust Settlor…
Read MoreAmuse Bouche: Fairy Princess to Wise One
Updated and Republished from The Fifth Chapter Blog, original date 8/4/2011 My group of friends and I find ourselves discussing our fear of entering the 5th Chapter more often than I would like to admit. We have talked about the various stages while we watch our children grow and our parents age. 1st Chapter: Fairy…
Read MoreHomeless on Halloween – A Cold Night, Scariest Place On Earth
Republished and revised since first posted on 11/1/14 from The Fifth Chapter Blog This was written six years ago during a house remodel. Much has changed, but unfortunately since then, California is facing an even larger homeless crisis. Let’s start with empathy, add some facts, and take action where we can. Be warm tonight! Last…
Read MoreSix Months And ……… Counting
September 2020 Between March and September, while the world struggled to deal with a pandemic, an economic shut down, protests, hurricanes, and now unprecedented fires throughout California, my client had his own personal struggle, not with any of these, but with aging. He does not have any family. He had named me as his agent…
Read MoreJoy Invites Practice: Practice Makes Perfect
(Revised and Republished from The Fifth Chapter Blog, original date 8/8/12) Since this blog was first written in 2012, I have experienced how sorrow digs a deep chasm in our hearts. But with a miracle of gratitude, may eventually be filled with joy. I have seen clients with chronic pain, doing the equivalent of daily…
Read MoreWhat Is Your Legacy?
(Republished from The Fifth Chapter Blog, original date 10/29/11) I have finished my Saturday chores. A practice that still evokes my mother busily catching up on cleaning after a week of full time work, and prodding me to do the same. She always told me her mother said, “Do your duties before you play†so…
Read MoreBrain Teasers or The Smell Test?
(Republished from The Fifth Chapter Blog, original date 10/28/11) There is a lot of research about brain function these days. No cure looming on the horizon, but some interesting possibilities that can either help stave off or detect early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. With our bounding border collies in tow we recently attended the Walk…
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