Made a bad, bad decision': I learned the hard way how to manage my aging father's money

A reader writing to “The Moneyist” says managing an aging parent’s finances became difficult after his father died and left a trust—calling it the “Bible” that set the course for the family. He recounts that he and his brother became co-trustees with equal and independent authority, a decision he now describes as a “bad, bad” mistake. As he navigates his 70s with two children, the writer says he would first educate seniors and families about risks using sources such as AARP. He also stresses putting legal processes in place, including contingencies like incapacity, and using local or online senior groups to learn about scams and protecting digital assets.