Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, a happy holiday season, and a prosperous new year.

The above article was in the Tampa Bay Times recently, but could been in any paper in this country.   An elderly person loses his assets to someone who is supposed to be helping him.  In this case a 92-year-old man was swindled out of more than $500,000 by a person who ran a company called the Florida Guardianship Services.   The man had appointed this person as his agent to manage his finances, and also to make his healthcare decisions.   It is so important that when you are in good health that you execute appropriate documents to provide for the management of your assets and healthcare in the event you are disabled.  In this case the man had done this, but he failed to name a successor agent to serve when his daughter died.  He was in a nursing home, and the home recommended a professional guardian who later stole from him.   It is important that you review your estate planning documents to be sure that they provide for contingencies such as the death of your primary agent.    Unfortunately, there many people out there who will steal your money if given the opportunity.

 It’s nice to know that we have a city manager in the City of Freeport, Illinois who has the time to look for a new job when he is failing miserably in the City of Freeport.   He better hope the folks in Salem, Virginia do not pay a visit to the City of Freeport.  Then again, good riddance!