| Finding a new lawyer, accountant, financial adviser or another professional who is credible and trustworthy requires homework at any age, but it can be even more challenging for seniors, who face unique situations. The Society of Certified Senior Advisors was created to educate professionals from various industries on issues faced by seniors, and to offer credentials to those who complete the education requirement as well as uphold the organization’s code of ethics. The SCA designation can be used in any profession, and it is specifically geared to provide a broad look into all aspects of aging.
“It was a very good course, it helped me see my clients in their entire environment… and be more empathetic to their needs,” said Nancy Conrad, a CPA who manages the Poulsbo office of Clarke Whitney. A 20-year industry veteran, she became a Certified Senior Advisor after learning about it through her networking group, KARE (Kitsap Alliance of Resources for Elders).
Conrad said the training took a holistic approach, considering aspects ranging from the seniors’ desire to be independent, to their fears about moving into assisted living.
“They walk a little bit more tenderly in life because of their perspectives… That requires a greater tenderness and compassion for those of us who work with them,” she said.
The awareness can also help CSAs avoid potential problems. Pamela Cloer, a Port Orchard-based insurance agent who sells life and disability insurance, learned it’s important to watch for signs of dementia, hearing loss and other medical conditions that can affect a transaction. For example, if she spots signs of dementia, she involves a relative. She also follows simple techniques to improve communication, such as using a well-lit room, sitting right in front of the clients (so they can read lips if they have hearing loss), and using a low pitch (elderly people cannot hear high pitches well). And while the certification helps her professionally, the education she received will be useful in her personal life.
“There’s really a need for people that are educated on the aging process, and (knowing) how it will affect all of us at some point in our lives,” she said. “I decided it would benefit my professional goals and my own personal goals to educate myself on the process of aging, and how it affects our seniors financially, spiritually, socially, mentally, emotionally and physically — and not necessarily in that order… I think it’s good for anyone to go through CSA training just for their own development — most people have aging relatives, or are aging themselves.”
Rhonda Hauter, a CSA/financial adviser with Venture Wealth Management in Gig Harbor, agrees that the designation has personal benefits in addition to professional ones. “Our population is aging, and so am I,” she said. She compares the CSA designation to a CPA. When clients work with a CPA, they know they are dealing with a professional certified by a credible organization that has high standards. A CSA designation means a person is committed not only to the initial certification, but also to continuing education, following a rigorous ethics code, as well as contributing community service by volunteering with seniors. Hauter, for example, is helping raise $100,000 for a planned senior center in Gig Harbor.
“Our seniors are living longer, therefore it requires a very different approach in dealing with financial issues,” she said, adding she was attracted by the idea that CSAs must follow an ethics code. The professional code of ethics is reinforced by an independent board.
In addition to added credibility, a benefit for CSAs is the marketing and networking aspect. The Society of Certified Senior Advisors lists all the CSAs on its Website (www.society-csa.com), where they can be searched by location. Many CSAs network among themselves, referring customers to each other, because they know those professionals will protect the clients’ rights. |
