Enterprise Leadership Conference Aimed at High School Juniors

Providing professional fiduciary services in California’s Silicon Valley and the Santa Cruz area since 2006, Dave Katra works as a fiduciary at Trusted Solutions Los Gatos in Los Gatos, California. Active within his community, Dave Katra assists with numerous community-based Rotary Club events, including the Enterprise Leadership Conference.

Sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Los Gatos and San Jose, the Enterprise Leadership Conference is a three-day experience for 48 girls and 48 boys who are local high school juniors. These students represent more than 30 high schools in the area. Held annually in March at the Asilomar Conference Grounds for more than 25 years, the purpose of the Enterprise Leadership Conference is to enhance leadership skills, work on team-building exercises, and teach the students the benefits and challenges of establishing a business.

The 2015 event, which occurred on March 4 through 6, included a keynote address from an established local business leader, hands-on team activities, and team presentations covering competitive business plans. Those chosen for the Enterprise Leadership Conference submitted an application and answered three questions about why they wanted to attend. The Rotary Clubs do not take into account grade point averages for acceptance.

Strategies for Avoiding Conservatorship

Licensed in California as a fiduciary, Dave Katra guides Trusted Solutions and Senior Life Solutions SV, in Las Gatos. Dave Katra is conversant in diverse areas of medical management and elderly support services, and he counsels clients on how to avoid conservatorship, which typically occurs when individuals become mentally incapacitated and involves the placement of assets within a court-supervised program.

The most basic way of avoiding court-supervised conservatorship is through joint ownership of property. In case of incapacitation, the other person has the authority to access the investment or bank account and handle bills and investment matters. There are risks to this approach. In cases of joint ownership of real estate, the other owner is not allowed to mortgage or sell the property without consent. In addition, if the joint owner faces a lawsuit, assets may be liable for seizure.

Alternatives that cover these contingencies involve signing a power of attorney with a financial institution or a health care power of attorney with the primary care physician. For many people, the most practical approach involves the creation of a revocable living trust, which can be accessed by the individual named as disability trustee.

The Benefits of Sailboat Awnings

A world traveler, Dave Katra, a Trusted Solutions Los Gatos fiduciary, has visited destinations as far as Australia. Throughout his expeditions, Dave Katra has enjoyed dining on local fare and cruising aboard sailboats.

Depending on the location and time of year, sailboat cruising can become uncomfortably warm from the sun. A sailor can remedy the problem by rigging a large deck awning that has 12-volt fans blowing air through its hatches. A full deck awning that stretches from the mast to the spray dodger or bimini top drops temperatures by 10 degrees. The fans create air circulation and cool surrounding areas even more.

Awning designs vary by vessel, so consulting with a canvas shop is necessary for purchasing the right equipment. A person can work with a professional to select an awning that is entirely sewn with UV-resistant thread and contains grommets, fittings, and fabric that withstand gale-force winds. For added functionality, a sailor can also request an awning to be fabricated in a way that diverts rainwater into water tanks.

Elder Financial Exploitation – Prevalence and Impact

Dave Katra leverages expertise in trust management and patient advocacy to lead Trusted Solutions Los Gatos in California with his wife, Sue. A California Licensed Professional Fiduciary, Dave Katra helps elderly people “age in place” while protecting their assets and preventing elder financial exploitation.

The National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) states that elder financial exploitation is a widespread issue and notes that 20 percent of adults who are 65 or older have reported experiencing financial exploitation. According to NAPSA, elder financial exploitation is also largely under-reported, with just one in 44 cases reported to authorities.

NAPSA explains that elder financial exploitation is when a person takes or misuses the assets of a vulnerable senior for their own gain, thereby depriving the elderly person of crucial financial resources. Performed through various methods, from fraud to real estate misuse, elder financial abuse often involves coercion, deception, harassment, and the use of false pretenses. NAPSA emphasizes that elder financial exploitation can force seniors to live in poor health, poverty, and fear, while also costing families and taxpayers billions of dollars every year.