Client Stories
Below are some typical client situations that we regularly encounter. The names are changed and some of the circumstances altered to protect confidentiality. The stories are real; the feelings are real; and the solutions we are providing are very real. Life stories evolve slowly, and, in some cases, they change direction in a moment. Our practice is all about helping people in their uniqueness.
Robert:
“As a baby boomer, I am caught in the middle. I have parents that need my help. My daughter has moved back into the nest. I am worried about my later years and my health isn’t the best”
The march of over 76 million boomers through their 60’s has already begun. Plans and expectations in many cases have had to be reexamined as events altered their situation. The generation of “me” has met the cold reality of 2010. A declining housing market, crushed retirement savings and unexpected family situations have redefined the possibilities and timing of his life story. Robert was time challenged, consumed with worry and felt as if he was floundering. Introduced to us by his CPA, we are working to get his and his family’s life story back on track.
Emily:
“Mom is struggling. I find myself needing to spend more time looking after her. I don’t know what to do or how to do it”
Emily’s plight is not uncommon. As a professional woman, her career responsibilities and those closer to home, have Emily with a to do list pages long and little time to get it all accomplished. She needed help with her planning and professional help in managing mom’s care. Our Family First Care Management provided the necessary clinical help in mom’s home so that Emily was able to oversee that care and yet be not so personally hands on. Our care giving support system helped her smooth out the wrinkles in dealing with her own feelings of guilt and frustration. Meanwhile, her life story was more on track with both her family and lifestyle. When we are so close to a situation, sometimes that objective pair of eyes will help to clarify what looks like a very murky picture.
Diane:
"The accident put me in the hospital for months on end. The rehab was long and painful. Thank goodness for my legal team who was able to get me a fair settlement. I’m only in my 30’s and my health issues will be with me for a lifetime. I am concerned about my future both in terms of my health and my money lasting.”
Life sometimes changes in an instant. For Diane, her accident almost ended her life, and now she faces many challenges. Diane is also concerned about her teen age daughter and seeing that she has both her educational and life needs met. Diane still has some bad days and can’t push herself beyond her capacity. Not coming from a background of wealth, she knew she needed a good plan and someone to keep her on track. She now owns her own home, has college expenses paid for and is working on a home based business. Diane works from a budget and we help her carefully watch the spending so not to jeopardize her future. All of her legal documents are in place so that she and her loved ones are protected. Today, life is a little brighter.
Roger*:
“I am on the back nine of life. I have worked hard my whole life. I provided for my wife and kids and now am helping the grandkids with their educational costs. I have done well financially and would like to see that money continue to do good things when I am gone. The whole estate tax issue is up in the air and the planning that I did years ago may or may not be appropriate. There are also some charities I care about, including my Law School. There are other things I would like to see my money provide. I used to feel like I had it all taken care of…..today, I’m not so sure."
Roger is, of course, not alone in the way he feels. So much has changed in the last 10 years that makes long term estate planning so daunting. Congress is going to make changes but when and what is still an unknown. Roger wanted to create some incentives into his trust documents that will reward future generations for things like advanced degrees’, purchase of a first home, and helping yet unborn great, great, grandchildren with the cost of their education. He also is weary of the problems of troubled youth with issues of addictions and other negative influences. He wants to address both as he reviews the planning that was done years ago. We have helped Roger as he works with his legal team in crafting the changes he wants and yet maintaining the flexibility to address upcoming tax changes. Roger knows that planning is ongoing and never static. We are helping Roger and his family sees that their life story turns out to have a happy ending.
*Provided by an independent third party provider and not part of Capital Guardian LLC.
Dan:
“My life is about to change. I am senior management in a multinational firm that has suffered in the downturn. I feel it is time to move on and I am exploring other opportunities. My marriage isn’t working out and I have been putting off getting a divorce because of a lot of related family issues. 80 hours a week is typical and life hasn’t been much fun of late. I have to get my life moving forward and I know it isn’t going to be easy.”
Change is never easy, and truly is the only constant. Dan struggles with multiple complex decisions all converging on him at once. He wants to change jobs while he still controls the options and to do so in an orderly way; not out of short time necessity. Life at home is difficult; but deciding to end his marriage is a decision he takes very seriously. He worries about the emotional and financial consequences of that process. Meanwhile, the stress of everything is starting to take its toll. Our planning for Dan occurs on many levels. Our team of professionals is giving him the tools to make those decisions in an orderly fashion where he is comfortable and feels in control. While much of his struggle still remains, he feels peace of mind in the people and tools at his disposal. He is well on his way to realizing his new life story.