The author of many books about helping elders, including "The Family Guide to Aging Parents" and "Guide to Working With Aging Clients," both to be published this spring, she suggested that advisors ask every client at a certain age (say, 65) these five questions:
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If you became impaired for any reason and could no longer make financial decisions for yourself, whom would you want to take over for you?
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Would you sign a durable power of attorney appointing that person to specifically act on your behalf with us if you became incapacitated?
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Would you be willing to sign a waiver of your privacy rights that allowed us to contact someone you've appointed if we became concerned about your mental capacity to make safe financial decisions?
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(If appropriate) Have you had any conversations to help your heirs prepare for handling the inheritance you plan to leave them?
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In the event of an emergency, may we have your permission to contact someone who is authorized to act on your behalf during your emergency? Can you provide contact information for that person or persons? Have you given that person authority to act on your behalf?
After asking these questions, Rosenblatt said, you can prepare appropriate documents for the willing client to sign.
