The money saved for retirement should be earmarked only for retirement. A 401(k) is not an
emergency savings account; it is a retirement account, and withdrawals before the age of 59 1/2 are subject to penalties and income tax. To avoid the temptation to take early withdrawals, one may wish to keep emergency savings in a money market account.

Avoidable financial fees can have a substantial impact on a person’s retirement planning efforts. According to FeeX.com, the average American spends about $155,000 in unnecessary fees over the course of a lifetime. Fees that are easily avoidable include ATM fees, credit card fees, overdraft fees, late payment charges and termination fees.

Finally, missing out on a healthy lifestyle can lead to a less robust retirement. Being in good physical shape allows one to enjoy those golden years to which all that retirement planning has been leading. In addition, the financial cost of health care for preventable diseases can be substantial. Eating a diet rich in unprocessed foods, exercising several times a week, and visiting the doctor for routine check-ups can all help secure a happy, healthy retirement.

The elder law attorneys at Hook Law Center assist Virginia families with will preparation, trust & estate administration, guardianships and conservatorships, long-term care planning, special needs planning, veterans benefits, and more. To learn more, visit http://www.hooklawcenter.com/ or call 757-399-7506.

A man in Jacksonville, Florida was accused of grand theft and organized fraud after touch DNA linked him to several crimes in 2013. Allegedly, the 71-year-old man scammed a woman who was taking cash out of an ATM. He showed the woman a folder that allegedly had cash in it and asked if she knew the location of the address on the front so he could return it. Just as she was about to speak, another man came along and indicated that he was familiar with the address. But he needed a ride to get there.

At this point, the second man was apparently able to convince the woman to take $6,000 out of her account, supposedly to show the man’s boss and earn a reward for returning the found money. The reward was to be $15,000. The three individuals climbed into the car and arrived at the address on the folder. The woman went into the store to speak to the employer about the found folder and her reward in returning it, only to discover that the two men were not employed there. No one knew anything about them. When she went back to her car, the two men and her money were gone.

The initial investigation uncovered very little evidence, but the Flagler County police had been taught to collect and store touch DNA. Use of the new forensic technique resulted in an arrest.
Touch DNA involves extracting skin cells from fingerprints. Proper collection requires a steady hand and careful preparation due to the size of the available sample.

The Flagler deputies were able to extract an identifiable sample of cells and determined the existence of a major contributor. The material was sent for analysis and entered into CODIS (Combined DNA Index System). It was matched to the 71-year-old man, whose DNA was on file as part of an extensive criminal record, including grand theft, robbery, money laundering and drug trafficking.

Use of the technology is still in preliminary stages, but it appears to have a high accuracy rate and a solid legal basis. Criminal defense lawyers are unlikely to object to it: touch DNA extraction does not involve taking samples directly from the alleged perpetrator, and a warrant is not needed to collect samples, which are taken from surfaces the person has already touched.
It remains to be seen how touch DNA technology will evolve over time. Each case will be different, and no one knows for sure how this new development will impact legal defense. No matter what changes come, everyone accused of a crime will still be entitled to a capable legal defense.

Thomas C .Grajek is a criminal defense lawyer in Tampa, Lakeland, and Polk County Florida. To contact a Polk County DUI lawyer or to learn more, visit http://www.flcrimedefense.com/ or call 863-688-4606.

It is estimated that five million seniors fall victim to financial abuse each year.

Getting a more precise picture of the extent of the problem is difficult because many seniors are unaware that the financial abuse is taking place, while others are unwilling to report it out of embarrassment or fear for their safety. What is financial abuse (also known as material exploitation)? It is defined as the illegal or improper use of an elderly person’s funds, property, or assets. Examples of this type of abuse include, but are not limited to:

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• Cashing an elderly person’s checks without authorization or permission

• Forging an older person’s signature

• Misuse or theft of an older person’s money or possessions

• Deceiving or coercing an older person into signing any document (such as a contract, will, title, etc.)

• The improper use of conservatorship or power of attorney

Maybe you suspect that an elderly family member or loved one is being subjected to some form of financial abuse but are not sure. Here are a few signs to look for:

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• Sudden changes in bank account or banking practice, particularly unexplained withdrawal of large sums of money when the older person is accompanied by another individual

• Additional names being included on an elder’s bank signature card

• Unauthorized withdrawal of the elder’s funds using the elder’s ATM card

• Sudden changes to a will, trust, power of attorney, or other financial document

• Disappearance of funds or valuable possessions that the elder person can’t, or won’t, explain

• The elder person is receiving substandard care or accumulating unpaid bills even though adequate financial resources are available

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• Discovery of a forged signature for financial transactions or the titles of the elder person’s possessions

• Sudden appearance of previously uninvolved relatives who claim to have rights to the elder person’s affairs and possessions

• Sudden transfer of assets to a family member or someone outside the family that the elder person can’t explain

• Provision of services to an elder person that do not seem to be necessary

If you suspect a loved one or someone you know is a victim to Financial Elder Abuse, contact us immediately to help evaluate the facts and ensure their safety and well being.