The question has come up in discussions with and presentations by financial planning colleagues about what to do if a client should happen to show behavioral changes or other tendencies that appear out of keeping with previous patterns. The matter would have particular significance if it appeared that the perceived tendencies seemed to include a disregard for or recklessness towards maintaining financial integrity, but might also include more subtle changes such as not adequately caring for oneself, etc.

Such a situation would be extraordinarily difficult for us as your trusted financial advisor, since (a) there is little in the way of objective criteria for assessing the difference between rational decisions that may be out of the ordinary and those that indicate some deeper difficulties and, (b) it is not our field nor the nature of our training to make such assessments. Yet, because of the typically long-term associations we have with our clients, we may be uniquely qualified, in a non-technical sense, to raise such questions.

Therefore, we have devised this form to prepare for an eventuality that, hopefully, will never occur. If you would like to provide us with your preferences in the unlikely (but possible) event that such a situation should arise, please indicate below what sort of response you would prefer.

(Please choose as many items as seem appropriate.)

____ I would like to have the subject raised with me first.

____ If, after such a discussion, the concerns are not resolved, I give permission to you to contact one or more of the people listed below and discuss the issue with him/her/them.

____ If, after such a discussion, the concerns are not resolved, and if I have not given permission to you to contact one or more of the people listed below, I recognize that you may find it necessary to unilaterally terminate our contractual financial planning/investment management relationship.

____ I give permission to you to contact one or more of the people listed below and discuss the issue with him/her/them, without necessarily raising the subject with me first, if you deem it appropriate.

____ I would want you or one of the people listed below to arrange for an evaluation by an appropriate specialist (eldercare professional, etc.) at my expense. (Indicate whom you would be willing to have make such arrangements)___________________________________________

____ I have listed below those people I would want you to contact under the circumstances referred to above:

(Please list the name and contact # of the following:)

• Family Member
• Family Member
• Religious Advisor
• Physician
• Attorney
• Accountant
• Friend

Note: Your providing us with this document and our accepting it is in no way to be construed as a commitment on our part to act as your agent outside the normal financial planning/investment management role we have undertaken and agreed to prior to your completing and presenting us with this form. This is not to be considered a part of the services you have contracted with us to perform and you agree, by signing it, that you and your heirs or assigns will hold us harmless if we either act or fail to act on these stated preferences based on our own best judgment.

I have indicated my preferences above and agree to hold LJ Brey, Inc. and its employees harmless as stated in the previous paragraph.

Signature: _______________________________ Date: __________________

Thanks to Nancy C. Nelson, CFP, NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor