text: Two free webinars are slated for the elderly and their representatives/advocates by the NCLC – National Consumer Law Center – Consumer Alert for Elder Advocates
  Their website is www.nclc.org
  You can subscribe to the NCLC Elder Advocates E-Newsletter for free.
  The first webinar is titled: Bankruptcy Protections for Older Consumers - August 8, 2017. According to the NCLC:
  "An increasing number of older consumers are struggling with unmanageable debt. Debt collectors are using aggressive tactics to pursue older adults with limited resources..."
  The free webinar on August 8, will outline the issues facing older consumers and offer strategies to address the challenges. The webinar "will highlight the various protections available and alternatives to filing for bankruptcy."
  You can register for free webinars on the NCLC website.
  The second webinar titled: Nursing Home Debt Collection is currently scheduled on September 12. Details will be on the NCLC website.
  About the webinar: "Nursing home residents and their families struggle to deal with debt arising from nursing home stays. This webinar will focus on efforts to collect this debt, review potential basis for liability, strategies to avoid the creation of unnecessary debt, and tactics to defend lawsuits. "
  Flying In To Washington
  I post often about small businesses and the importance of estate planning for the small business entrepreneur.
  Our friends at the NFIB (National Federation of Independent Businesses) are holding their annual "Fly In" event.
  NFIB Participants fly to Washington to attend meetings and to make their voice heard through the organization.
  The dates are July 26 – July 27. For more information about the FlyIn, go to www.nfib.com/flyin
  If you cannot attend the event there will be ways to participate online. View the website.
  If you own a small business, this NFIB event will be worth tracking.
  Millionaire Retirees
  In case you missed it, Investopedia had a recent article titled:
  "This Is How Retirees Live on $1 Million" By Greg DePersio (Investopedia, May 30, 2017).
  You may be able to still access the article quickly via this link:
  http://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/102715/how-retirees-live-1-million-dollars.asp#ixzz4j9ZOSSlO
  If not, go to Investopedia.com and search for the article.
  At first, when I read the title, I anticipated more of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" – but the reality is far different for 'millionaires" today.
  The article points out for those retirees fortunate enough to have saved wisely, that million in assets SHOULD last for as long as needed – providing it is invested wisely and managed carefully.
  Clearly, having a million "ain't" what it used to be!
  What Your Attorney May Not Tell You...
  The Durable Power of Attorney is an important and powerful tool in your Estate Planning arsenal. When properly constructed, the document can offer peace of mind for you; for your beneficiaries and for loved ones who may become responsible for your future care.
  However, a word of caution. Your Power of Attorney document may not be determined as adequate for your financial institution to release funds when required. The financial institution may require their own form be filed. This would be particularly true of any foreign financial institutions.
  An excellent article with some 'real life' examples is: New York Times on line: Finding Out Your Power of Attorney Is Powerless by Paula Span THE NEW OLD AGE ( MAY 6, 2016)
  The article offers advice and examples of what families have had to do to access funds.
  It is important to have an attorney draft your critical Estate Planning documents and to have those documents faithfully reviewed annually.
  Contacting each financial institution about their required form may appear to be a laborious task, however, it can save your loved ones from unwanted legal issues.
  I have been planning for some time to share this site with my readers.
  From the site, the article that caught my attention is titled "Compare Your Wealth to the Average American Net Worth" on the website www.thebalance.com.
  Yes, you may be surprised when you do the comparison!
  First, let me say that the editor of the site is Jean Chatsky and her credentials are impressive. Her bio includes: "financial editor for NBC's Today show; an award-winning personal finance journalist; AARP's personal finance ambassador and a best-selling author."
  Ms. Chatsky is definitely someone to heed.
  Visit the website for more feature articles. One of the articles of particular interest in these days of escalating medical bills is "Tactics to Deal With Medical Debt" posted on www.thebalance.com
  Something Special for Military Retirees
  Having a portion of my practice on Colorado Springs, Colorado means that I meet some wonderful military families.
  Many people in the military are able to retire based on the length of years served, which means that they are younger when they take retirement. This 'early' retirement means that funds they have accumulated during their service years must last that much longer.
  For a veteran who receives a military pension there is the possibility of some extra help. Some veterans may be eligible for Aid and Attendance, an allowance that could increase their pension.
  The circumstances are very specific for claiming the additional monetary payment. According to the VA website: " Veterans and survivors who are eligible for a VA pension and require the aid and attendance of another person, or are housebound, may be eligible for additional monetary payment. These benefits are paid in addition to monthly pension, and they are not paid without eligibility to Pension."
  For more information about the Aid and Attendance and the Housebound payments, military retirees should contact the office of Veterans Affairs in their state and submit a claim form.
  You might also use the following link to find out more about eligibility: http://www.benefits.va.gov/pension/aid_attendance_housebound.asp