All Posts in "Personal Finance/Consumers"

If there’s a Frank Sinatra fan on your gift list this season, Eliot Weisman has a book for them.

Eliot Weisman served as a manager, confidant, and advisor to some of the biggest names in entertainment in the 20th century – Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis Jr., Don Rickles, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, Joan Rivers  – and the “Chairman of the Board,” legendary singer Frank Sinatra. 

In Weisman’s new book, “The Way it Was: My Life with Frank Sinatra” (Hachette Books, 320 pages, $27), he chronicles his years as Sinatra’s longtime manager to Sinatra through original photos and personal anecdotes and revelations. For instance:

  • Sinatra and Weisman losing their cool in negotiations with Donald Trump for the grand opening of Trump’s Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City;
  • The backstory of the infamous photograph of Sinatra with mafia leaders and Weisman’s futile attempts to keep it from the press.
  • The mystery woman who threatened to throw the entire estate into chaos when Sinatra died about 20 years ago.
  • The relationship between Sinatra and Jackie Kennedy
  • How seriously Sinatra and his team took the job of security, from carrying an Uzi on his private jet to keeping a pistol hidden in his custom boots while on stage.

Weisman also relates his own personal journey, from Wharton Business School to a prison stint that left him broke and stripped of his professional licenses, to getting a second shot at a career as a high-powered manager by working with Sinatra.

srmedia by — December 16, 2017 in Personal Finance/Consumers

They may be offering the deal of a lifetime, but you should think twice before sharing your information in scenarios like the following:

  • Scam telephone calls can range from fake car warranty companies offering a deal on an extended warranty, to someone pretending to be from the IRS and needing to collect a tax debt immediately. Anabel Marquez of the IRS confirmed that the IRS never calls taxpayers to demand immediate payment.

Recently there was a settlement against a marketing group and several popular cruise lines for making robocalls offering a free cruise to numbers they weren’t authorized to call. Another awful phone scam that pulls on heartstrings is called the “grandparent scam” and involves a caller pretending to be a grandchild in trouble. They say something like they’re worried their parents will be mad and they’re in trouble, hurt, or had money stolen, so they need money immediately. If a senior receives this call and thinks it is actually their grandchild, their judgement may be clouded even if other facts don’t line up.

  • While there have been lots of advancements in technology, there are still old-school methods such as stealing from mailboxes and people knocking on doors and trying to charm people into providing information or giving them money. Additionally, thieves can dress like utility or company repairmen and try to lure their way into a house to steal valuables. So if you aren’t expecting someone (and even if you are), check with any company to confirm when and who will be coming—and ask for identification if someone arrives at your door.
  • There are “phishing” scams that target everyone, but seniors can receive messages that try to mimic a loved one’s e-mail address and ask for money to be wired or sent via a link. That link can either lead to a site designed to steal money or may mean malware is installed on a computer. There can also be sweepstakes winnings promised via e-mail or over the phone.

Resources for seniors to stay informed and protected include the National Council on Aging (provides a top-10 list of financial scams targeting seniors), AARP Foundation (resources to recognize and report fraud, Experian IdentityWorks (identity-theft protection and specialist support to stay informed and alerted when there are changes to your credit report and if a new account is opened in your name), and Better Business Bureau              (tips, resources and a way to report scams).

Steps to take if you think you may be an attempted target of a scam include:

  • Always ask for detailed information to contact any company that is trying to get you to “act now” or take immediate action—name, company, phone number, website, address. In general, if something seems too good to be true it probably is. It’s okay to be wary of anyone offering “easy money” and allow yourself additional time to research if something is legitimate. While many companies offer promotions, they are usually over a set amount of time, not just offered for one day only.
  • Hang up the phone if you’re uncomfortable with the line of questions or information being requested of you. You may be worried about being rude, but keeping your personal information safe is way too important to risk over concern for good manners.
  • Don’t provide any account numbers or personal information to an incoming caller. Professional scammers can hack caller IDs to look like numbers similar to yours or others in your area. Collect the details and then contact any company via the number on their main website or from any confirmed statements or invoices you’ve received. If someone is pressuring you to give them money immediately to handle something, it’s a red flag.
  • Call the police or talk with someone you trust about anything you think seems suspicious. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and chances are you could help others by making them aware of a scam. A 2017 survey of state securities regulators by the North American Securities Administrators Association indicated that 97 percent of regulators feel that most cases of senior financial fraud go undetected rather than being discovered before they cause serious problems. According to the Better Business Bureau, this can be due to embarrassment or not wanting to seem like they are no longer independent.

Scams can happen to consumers of all ages, but learning potential red flags can help seniors stay on top of protecting their information and keep from falling victim to identity thieves.

 

Experian, the source of this article, is a consumer and business credit reporting and marketing firm. Its services include preventing identify fraud.

Contributing Author by — December 5, 2017 in Personal Finance/Consumers

Kaiser Permanente has opened a new clinic in Burien.

Kaiser Permanente’s newest Washington clinic replaces an old one in Burien.

The Burien Medical Center, which opened Nov. 1, features state-of-the-art technology in a 23,000 square-feet complex that Kaiser “will serve our members for decades to come with quality care,” said Susan Mullaney, president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington.

The center has a light-filled lobby, exam rooms, natural finishes, a water feature, a fireplace and a covered drop-off area. It offers retail eye care services for Kaiser Permanente members and non-members, a pharmacy with over-the-counter products, expanded physical therapy services, and short-term counseling.

The new medical center replaces the existing 53-year-old structure which is scheduled for demolition to make way for a 151-stall parking lot.

CollinsWoerman was the architect and Ryan Companies U.S. Inc. served as general contractor. CBRE led the design and construction effort.

srmedia by — November 7, 2017 in Personal Finance/Consumers

The building permits for Wesley Homes Bradley Park have been approved by the City of Puyallup, allowing the retirement community’s construction to begin.

“We’re grateful to the city for working with us to approve the permits, and we’re looking forward to providing residents in east Pierce County a new option for senior living with a full continuum of care on one campus,” said Kevin Anderson, Wesley Homes’ president.

Absher Construction started work on the site in March this year when Wesley received the civil permit for site work. Before building could begin, the site had to be cleared and graded, retention ponds had to be dug out and water, and sewer and power utilities had to be installed.

“We received the building permit for the 32-unit Brownstone in July, which allowed us to get started on that part of the campus,” said Anderson. “The construction team was ready to go when we received the permit for the lodge and were pouring concrete the same day.”

With construction underway, walls went up for the Brownstone’s underground garage.

For safety and security, no one is allowed on the site except members of the construction crew. But the public can follow the progress on Wesley’s Facebook page, a Wesley Homes spokeswoman said.

The first phase of construction includes the Brownstone and Lodge apartments, as well as catered living and assisted-living memory care. Plans for the second phase include another Brownstone and a care center with private rooms offering skilled nursing and rehabilitation.

When the Bradley Park development “is completed, we’ll have the full continuum of care for seniors that East Pierce County needs,” Anderson said. “It will also bring almost 100 full-time and part-time jobs to the Puyallup area.”

As construction continues, the first residents are selecting their new Brownstone apartments. Customizations include options in flooring, countertops, paint and more. The deadline for customizations in the Brownstone is Oct. 31, Wesley Homes officials said.

The Bradley Park site is Wesley Homes’ first retirement community in Pierce County.

Established in 1944, Wesley Homes is a not-for-profit organization. Wesley Homes operates two retirement communities — Wesley Homes Des Moines and Wesley Homes Lea Hill in Auburn. In addition, Wesley Homes Home Health provides Medicare and Medicaid-certified services, in-home care and hospice services to clients in King and Pierce counties.

A crane moves material into place for construction workers at the site of Wesley Homes’ new retirement community in Puyallup.
srmedia by — October 10, 2017 in Personal Finance/Consumers