You Don’t Have to Navigate Aging Alone 

Six Things You Should Know

1. Equity Markets – were mixed this week with U.S. stocks (S&P 500) gaining +0.48% while international stocks (EAFE) contracted -0.48%.
2. Fixed Income Markets – were up this week with investment grade bonds (AGG) rising +0.15% and high yield bonds (JNK) adding +0.10%.
3. GDP Growth – Real GDP growth in the second quarter were left unrevised at a 1.5% annualized rate, in-line with expectations. Corporate profits were exceptionally strong in the report and are now up 22.8% from a year ago.
4. Personal Incomes – Personal income levels rose 0.4% in July, beating expectations of 0.2%. Personal incomes are now up 3.7% year-over-year, while spending has risen 5.9% over the same time frame.
5. Cybersecurity Reminder – Scammers are increasingly using Remote Access Tools (RATs) along with phishing emails or texts to take control of devices like phones, tablets, and computers. Once installed, these tools can give cybercriminals access to sensitive information, including your Schwab accounts. These attacks can be hard to spot, so if something doesn’t feel right- like unusual account activity or suspicious messages- trust your instincts. If you sense suspicious activity, please call us immediately or report any concerns to Schwab at 800-515-2157. 
6. Key Insight – [VIDEO & ARTICLE] Providing care for aging parents isn’t just a financial or logistical challenge—it’s an emotional one, too. Families who build both a financial planning team and an emotional support network before a crisis occurs can be better equipped to reduce stress, navigate conflict, and honor their loved one’s wishes.

Insights for Investors

By Daryl Geffken

You Don’t Have to Navigate Aging Alone 

Lately, I’ve been collecting some of the most common concerns our clients have. The goal being to offer perspective and tips for each topic; or put another way, some opportunities to address “What keeps you up at night?”  

My last installment focused on the “Sandwich Generation” and the challenge of planning for aging parents. Today, we’re going to follow up by detailing the various types of services that help adult children work through the struggles of elder care.  

I’m passionate about this issue because I’ve seen firsthand the confusion, emotional and physical exhaustion, and family conflict that can arise throughout the caregiving and aging process. I believe that connecting people with the right resources—both to navigate the emotional challenges and to provide practical, organizational support—can make a meaningful difference for individuals and families when they need it most. 

Many people don’t realize there is an entire field devoted to helping family caregivers cope with the emotional, relational, and practical challenges of caring for aging parents. And unfortunately, many adult children don’t think about locating these resources until they’re already overwhelmed. 

So, here are some of the most valuable types of support I’ve found: 

1. Caregiver Counselors or Therapists 

Many therapists now specialize in caregiver stress, aging, grief, or family systems. These licensed counselors can help adult children navigate: 

• Guilt over “not doing enough”  

• Family conflict between siblings  

• Grief as a parent declines  

• Burnout and caregiver stress  

• Setting healthy boundaries  

• Anxiety and depression related to caregiving  

2. Geriatric Care Managers (Aging Life Care Professionals) 

This type of professional is part counselor, part advocate, and part care coordinator. They are especially helpful when siblings live in different cities or disagree about care – focusing on helping families in a variety of ways, including: 

• Assessing an aging parent’s needs  

• Coordinating medical appointments and home care  

• Facilitating difficult family meetings  

• Recommending housing options  

• Helping families make objective decisions during crises  

3. Family Caregiver Support Groups 

One of the most powerful realizations caregivers have is, “I’m not the only one.” Joining a support group can provide:  

• Emotional encouragement  

• Practical caregiving tips  

• Referrals to local resources  

• A safe place to discuss frustrations without guilt  

As a plus, joining a group that fits your needs is becoming easier, as many are available in person and online through national organizations.  

4. Family Mediation 

I’ve witnessed multiple times when family dynamics and values cause conflict. When siblings disagree about finances, living arrangements, driving privileges, or estate issues, a trained family mediator can help everyone focus on the parent’s best interests while reducing turmoil. 

5. Caregiver Coaching 

A newer specialty is caregiver coaching. Unlike therapy, coaches focus on: 

• Decision-making  

• Organizing responsibilities  

• Managing difficult conversations  

• Building care plans  

• Preventing caregiver burnout  

These coaches can be especially helpful for professionals balancing work, children, and caregiving responsibilities. 

6. Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) 

Not sure how to begin? Good news! Every U.S. community is served by an Area Agency on Aging, which can connect families with: 

• Counseling  

• Caregiver education  

• Support groups  

• Respite care  

• Adult day programs  

• Transportation  

• Home care resources  

7. Disease-Specific Organizations 

In addition to more general caregiving resources, if a parent has a specific diagnosis, these organizations often provide counseling, support groups, education, and care navigation tailored to the unique emotional and practical challenges of that condition. 

• Alzheimer’s disease  

• Parkinson’s disease  

• Stroke recovery  

• ALS  

• Cancer  

• Heart disease  

Organizations Worth Knowing 

Several national organizations provide excellent resources for family caregivers: 

• Family Caregiver Alliance — Caregiver education, CareNav, state-by-state resources, and support services.  

• Caregiver Action Network — Practical caregiving guides, peer support, and educational resources.  

• Eldercare Locator — A federal service that helps families find local Area Agencies on Aging and community resources by ZIP code.  

One of the hardest realities of caring for aging parents is that you’re often grieving before your loved one has passed away. Psychologists sometimes call this anticipatory grief—mourning the gradual loss of the parent you once knew while they’re still living. 

In the last installment, I used the analogy of switching seats with your parents in the car. That can trigger the realization of declining health and ability that can cause all sorts of emotions. Things like:  

• Feeling guilty no matter what decision you make  

• Worrying you’re taking away a parent’s independence  

• Feeling resentment and then guilt for feeling resentful  

• Wondering whether you’re honoring your parent’s wishes while also keeping them safe 

Remember: these emotions are common, and you don’t have to navigate them alone. One powerful way to get ahead of these feelings is to plan for them in advance. That looks a lot like a family meeting, where parents can prepare beforehand and share hopes for care, talk through their ideas for legacy wealth and more. The meetings I’ve participated in that work best are ones in which the parents have created topics and thought through them in advance, often with the help of an advisor. So, it takes some effort. And it takes some confidence and transparency to bring those topics up with your family. We’re working on a resource right now to help navigate the process. Many of you may know my colleague and friend, Mike Nilson. His passion for family financial wellness has driven him to write a book that provides wisdom and practical steps for families who want to have open and honest conversations.  

I want to encourage you to build not just a financial team—attorney, CPA, and advisor—but also an emotional support team that may include a counselor, caregiver support group, clergy member, or geriatric care manager. Financial planning can provide structure, and emotional support helps families sustain the caregiving journey with resilience and compassion. When coordinated together, all of these parts can combine to alleviate fear, manage conflict, and honor family legacies.  

Thank you and have a wonderful weekend, 

Daryl and the team at TEN Capital 

Data, Just the Data

• U.S. New Home Sales – single-family home sales fell 10.5% in July to a seasonally adjusted rate of 607,000 homes. This marked the sharpest decline since January with the median sale price dropping to a one year low of $393,800.
• U.S. Durable Goods Orders – rose 1.1% in July to $339.3 billion for the strongest gain since April. The improvement was largely led by strong orders for transportation equipment and defense aircraft.
• U.S. Jobless Claims – initial claims fell by 4,000 to 203,000 in the 3rd week of August and below expectations. Continuing claims also fell by 18,000 to 1,778,000, also beating expectations.
• U.S. Consumer Sentiment – The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index saw an upward revision to 51.7 in August, but down 11% year-over-year. One-year inflation expectations fell to 4% from 4.2%