Law Protects Some Who Report Suspected Elder Abuse

Dodd-Frank Act made it difficult to report abuse and protect clients.

Financial services providers have been given some protection and encouragement to protect their clients by reporting suspected financial abuse, according to WealthManagement.com in “The New Senior Safe Act Encourages Reporting Financial Abuse.”

Within the new law is the Senior Safe Act (S$A) which began as a bill from Maine Senator Susan Collins. She created the S$A based on Maine’s elder abuse protections. The concept is surprisingly simple: banks and financial advisors are often the first ones to spot elderly clients making uncharacteristic transactions such as large account withdrawals or wiring funds to people who are not family members in distant parts of the globe.

The legislation removes several provisions that were in the Dodd-Frank Act, based on the thinking that certain measures in the act made it harder for financial service providers to act on behalf of their clients.

During the last decade, consumer advocates, state legislators, senior advocates (including AARP) and numerous financial professionals have attempted to make reporting of financial elder abuse an accepted best practice. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in 2016 identified more than 25 states and the District of Columbia that mandated reporting of suspected financial exploitation of the elderly.

A core component of the law links training employees to immunity for both the person reporting the suspected abuse and their institution, including credit unions, investment advisories, broker/dealers, insurance companies and agencies and transfer agents. These are all clearly defined in the S$A.

The institutions need to train their employees while keeping in mind the privacy issues that arise, recognizing the need that the privacy and integrity of their customer’s needs to be respected.

There is one wrinkle that should be noted by financial professionals and institutions. The language is clear that not just any employee who reports possible abuse gains immunity. Rather, the immunity is granted for those who serve as a supervisor or in a compliance or legal function, who act “in good faith” and with “reasonable care.” The law also requires the institutions to keep records on the training its employees undergo and the identity of any permitted abuse reporters. The burden remains on the institution to be sure the correct person reports the suspected abuse.

Reference: WealthManagement.com (May 29, 2018) “The New Senior Safe Act Encourages Reporting Financial Abuse”