Recently, while watching a television show in which people have their possessions appraised, Roberta Macko, director of volunteer services at Eastern Agency on Aging, began glancing around her own home.

“I have some things that I have had for decades,” Macko said. “And then there are the things I inherited from my parents.”

Although fairly certain she was not sitting on a gold mine, her thoughts wandered to the homes of some of the seniors with whom she had worked in the past. Quite often these people are unaware of their true worth, she said.

“People usually think of a house, car or land as defining the word ‘assets,'” Macko added. “But there may be items of value that are unaccounted for, such as Aunt Millie’s pearls, Grandma’s antique teapot or first edition books. It is important to take stock every now and then – but it can be a daunting job, especially for seniors.”

While Macko was mulling over the possible ways to help seniors with this task, as if by divine intervention Dick Hewitt contacted EAA and inquired about volunteering.

“I want to use my knowledge and skills to help people,” said Hewitt, 69, retired financial consultant. “I really enjoyed what I did for a living, and there are people out there who need to know what I know. I want to reach them.”

And so he shall. EAA has implemented a service that will utilize Hewitt’s talents. Seniors can call Eastern Agency and make an appointment with Hewitt, and he will assist them with either pulling together their financial affairs or planning for the future.

“When people come and see me they don’t need to bring a thing, just themselves. I can guide them through the process,” he said.

“I will talk to them first and ask general questions about what they have and don’t have. The first question I’ll ask is ‘Do you have a will?’ It is the most important thing to have,” he pointed out. “Then we can talk about insurance and assets. Sometimes just the questions can spark a person’s memory. They often have more than they think they do.”

Hewitt is quick to clarify that he will not be dispensing specific financial advice – nor appraising items. His goal is to explain the options available and discuss the pros and cons of each, which will enable people to make informed decisions.

The seniors can fill out a “Net Worth Statement” and a “Cash Flow Statement” which will show them where they really stand financially.

“It’s important to know what your worth is, and to have a monthly budget,” said Hewitt. “If there is money left over at the end of the month that they want to save or invest, I can help. If they are not making ends meet, I can help them figure out where to trim.”

He also will explain the differences between stocks, government bonds and certificates of deposits.

“It depends on age, assets and income when you think about where to put your money,” Hewitt said. Whether the person is thinking about retirement and the future, or just trying to make ends meet now, determines the best course of action – if indeed action is warranted, he added.

“Women frequently become widows without knowing anything about the family finances, and end up confused and don’t know how to handle it all,” said Hewitt. “This is something we can help them figure out.”

Apparently, spending 20 years in the financial business wasn’t enough for Hewitt.

“My wife was after me for years to retire but I kept saying ‘What for?'” he said. “No one should retire without a plan.”

Seems now he has one.

For information on this free service, call Eastern Agency on Aging. All matters are held in the strictest confidence.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA services and programs, call the resource and referral department at 941-2865 or log on www.eaaa.org.