“He was flea-ridden, his fur matted, but more than anything else, the dog, who was later named Clarence, was sad…he was extremely lonely from neglect, which was evident to all who witnessed the poor abandoned pet..”1
Whether his owners abandoned Clarence, or life first abandoned his owners leaving Clarence to suffer the fallout, we’ll never know.
Either way, Clarence didn’t see it coming. Are people more savvy than this dog?
That elder abuse strikes well over 11% of the elderly population should challenge any such assumption. It can happen anywhere–home, hospitals, and living facilities. Women and those over age 80 are most susceptible.2 Even people of means are vulnerable, as in the cases of Stan Lee, Nichelle Nichols, and Barbara Walters.
But right now, your lifestyle is not at the mercy of others. You have power. Exercising your power includes planning now to transfer your powers to those you trust, and with proper boundaries and accountability. That’s estate planning. While you live, Powers of Attorney enable a controlled transfer of power to those you trust. After you’re gone, your Will overrides statutory defaults for transferring your assets.
Trusts and special letters that your attorney prepares transfer ownership and other powers, all to match your unique desires.
Yet, your power is fleeting. Whether from an accident, a stroke, or gradual fragility, someday you won’t wield it to the degree you do now. “Wait and see” is disempowering at best.
Estate planning empowers you, while properly and conditionally empowering your Loved Ones.
“[Clarence] just wants to be next to you and part of your life and to be loved.”
As much as your life is more complicated than the life of Clarence, is the essence of what you want so different?
Such is the essence of a good estate plan.
Written by: Garth Hassel
Garth Hassel
Retirement Income Strategist
Author of the best-selling book in 5 Personal Finance categories
Certified in Long-Term Care® and a Retirement Income Certified Professional® and International Best-Selling Author in 5 Personal Finances categories also earned endorsements from nationally renowned experts in Retirement Planning.
Husband, dad, and engineer turned adviser, Garth discovered that the length at which he goes to bring experts together to solve a person’s problems is proportional to the depth of his relationship with that person.
Garth believes that the wisdom of teams that achieved remarkable results during his twenty-year engineering career applies equally to planning to maintain control through your most vulnerable seasons of life.
For a contact link to Garth Hassel, CLICK HERE.
Additional Resources:
- https://www.theepochtimes.com/heartbroken-dog-abandoned-in-walmart-parking-lot-cant-stop-hugging-the-humans-who-rescued-him_4294089.html
- https://www.in-case.org/elder-abuse-statistics
