Let’s Talk About Getting Old

Vested Partners A Multi-Family Office Blog

Planning for the possibility of your own incapacity as you age is uncomfortable but necessary

Nobody likes to think about getting old and feeble. At least once a day I consider the likelihood that I will develop dementia given the family history of it on my mother’s side of the family. It was so prevalent in the two generations above me, it is a pretty frightening prospect.

David and I recently were guests at Brandon Oaks, speaking about making plans for your old age and getting your ducks in a row. We believe in making realistic plans for your future, involving anticipating uncomfortable possibilities such as needing to live in assisted living or nursing facility.

We welcome the opportunity to speak to community organizations about our recommendations.  Our presentation is about an hour long, and covers the following issues:

  • Planning for your own possible diminished mental capacity – cognitive impairment and/or dementia
  • How to involve family in your planning
  • The consequences of avoiding making plans for your old age
  • Establishing a set of rules that would trigger your family’s involvement in your life at signs of your diminished capacity
  • What estate planning documents to have in place to protect yourself and your family
  • Efficient ways to share important information with your family (eg. medical information, passwords, finances)
  • How to finance long-term care (self-funded, long term care insurance, and Medicaid)
  • Becoming informed about your long-term care options
  • Making advance decisions about end-of-life medical care

 

Of course, we also privately consult with our clients on these topics on almost a daily basis. Please reach out if we can help.

–Robyn

Client Success Stories

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Amy Meacham
May 5, 2026.
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Very professional and knowledgeable.
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Hunter Wimmer
March 27, 2026.
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[Financial folks have commented on how comprehensive and succinct my mom's estate package was. Her estate was settled in less than 4 months after her death] ... Robyn and her crew made this process incredibly easy. The documentation they drew up (will, trust, POA, and AMD) was very easy to understand as a layperson and very easy to execute — especially the will part (tip: have one person be the executor and trustee – and have them handle all of the personal effects/cars/jewelry. Robyn will explain). They were also available "after the sale" to help me through the process of settling the estate with very actionable and practical advice that saved me heartache and headache. They have a no-nonsense and very "real" way of constructing language that is clear and purposeful without the bloviated lawyer tone. On the flip side, my father in Florida paid half as much but I've had to pay other lawyers 20X as much to sort through the mess he left... and they can turn 12 words into 250 and charge you double for each vowel. Do it right the first time, because you don't get a do-over with this stuff. If you're looking for a comprehensive, simple, supportive estate-package, Robyn is the person to turn to. If you hate your kids and want to inflict pain after your death, prompting your kids to burn photos of you, I've got a guy in Vero Beach, FL you can call (rhymes with "dawn").
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Ann Hawley
February 19, 2026.
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Having been unaccustomed to working with attorneys, I was a little apprehensive on my first meeting with Robyn Smith Ellis and her staff. They all made me very comfortable and at ease. Robyn was quick to understand the reason for my visit, and did some research we both could see on her big screen. She would need to obtain some information from the Courts before we meet again. I also needed to set up my will, POA and other estate papers. These were ready to peruse, make any necessary updates and sign at my next visit, along with the main reason for my initial visit. I would recommend Robyn Smith Ellis and her competent team for any need you may have, Elder law, family or business.
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Jeff Martin
February 6, 2026.
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I am very thankful to Vested Partners for helping me process my will. They were very kind and easy to work with! I would recommend them to anyone.
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Cris Flippen
October 17, 2025.
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My husband and I are very pleased with the services received from Robin Ellis and Vested Partners. Everything was very clear and all of our questions were answered in a personal and professional manner. We have a peace of mind that our adult children and grandchildren will have minimal issues settling our estate after our departures.
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LISA K. Taylor
August 29, 2025.
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Robyn and her team at Vested Partners did an excellent job for us. We enjoyed working with them and would highly recommend her.
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Melissa Howell
April 17, 2025.
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Robyn has been incredibly helpful in helping me deal with my wife’s estate. She helped me figure out whether or not to sue the hospital, and provided essential information that not only eased my anxiety, but helped me financially. I am very grateful to her and her firm. M. Howell
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Terri Hancock
April 1, 2025.
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Robyn Ellis is a nice person to work with.She was very informative and she answered all of our questions and took time with us to do that. I definitely would recommend her.
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Sue Seaman
February 20, 2025.
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Vested Partners was recommended to us by our daughter, We had no idea how to begin planning for our future, Robyn provided expert advice to help us decide what was best for our family. She and her staff were professional and worked to put our plan together in a timely manner and at a reasonable cost. Thank you for your support! The Seaman's

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