Planning for old age
PROBUS CLUB OF TEDDINGTON AND HAMPTON
The highlight of the luncheon meeting, apart from a magnificent sartorial display by chairman Gentleman Jim Woodford, was the presence of Jennifer Brewer, a partner in the well-known local firm of solicitors Stone Rowe Brewer.
As guest speaker in July at the Fulwell Golf Club, Jennifer had been invited to speak on matters relevant to those “in the autumn of their lives” and all in half an hour!
She must have approached the task with some trepidation.
In the event, her talk was a fascinating mixture of legal expertise and commonsense delivered with humour in plain English.
By covering such complicated areas as inheritance tax, discretionary trusts, probate and care fees with aplomb and a real awareness of her audience’s needs, she was able to make difficult areas comprehensible and nobody fell asleep.
She emphasised the value of forward planning and the need for guidance in a world of constant legislative change and political initiative.
She graphically described the often unintended consequences of too little being often too late for those left behind.
Her call to take charge of one’s affairs without delay was well received and she rightly reminded members that “Noah did not wait for the rain before he built the Ark”.
He did, of course, have prior warning as did Probus members that day. Jennifer answered questions with assurance, tact and diplomacy. Chris Oprey moved the vote of thanks.
From the Richmond and Twickenham Times 18th July 2008