Front row, from left, Kim Fish, Fiske and Harvey, PLLC; Sally Hurne, AARP, and John Porter, executive director, ACT for Alexandria. In second row: Mary Lee Anderson, executive director, Senior Services of Alexandria; Laurie Blackburn, Speck Caudron/Well Fargo, and Tristan Caudron, Speck Caudron/Wells Fargo. Photo Contributed
Plan, plan, plan — it’s never too early. This was the mantra at last week’s Senior Speaker Series event: Planning for your Family’s Future, sponsored by Senior Services of Alexandria and ACT for Alexandria. Temple Beth El Hebrew Congregation hosted a crowd or more than 100 for a panel discussion about the steps we all need to take to protect our assets and put our legal affairs in order. Planning will help loved ones have a clear picture of how we’d like them to manage our personal and financial affairs when we are unable to do so.
The panel of experts, moderated by Tristan Caudron, senior partner and managing director of Speck Caudron Investment Group, Wells Fargo Advisors, included Sally Hurne, Esq. from AARP; Kim Fiske, Esq., partner from Fiske and Harvey, PLLC; and Laurie Blackburn, certified financial planner, vice-president of investments with Speck Caudron Investment Group, Wells Fargo Advisors. The speakers covered a variety of steps that everyone should take now.
One of the handouts from the session covered the five most important estate planning documents — a Will; Durable Power of Attorney; Health Care Power of Attorney; Living Will and Revocable Living Trust. There was a lively discussion around documents that you draft yourself and the legal implications of their validity. It was advised that in the majority of cases, it is less costly to have sound documents drafted and updated by a professional rather than trying to create and change these important tools without trained legal advice.
Attendees of the session received the document, “Planning your Legacy —I mportant Information for Your Loved Ones” which included an estate planning review checklist and charitable giving techniques. These documents are available online on Senior Services’ website at www.seniorservicesalex.org and ACT for Alexandria at www.actforalexandria.org. If you have any questions, you can call Senior Services of Alexandria at 703-836-4414 or ACT for Alexandria at 703-739-7778 for more information. This is an important topic and we owe it to ourselves and loved ones to make wise decisions early.
The next Senior Speaker Series event will focus on Senior Housing: New and Innovative Solutions, and will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 12 form 9:30 a..m-noon at Charles Beatley Central Library.