THE GOOD LIFETHE GOOD LIFE88 
Mountain Views-News Saturday July 4, 2026 THE GOOD LIFETHE GOOD LIFE88 
Mountain Views-News Saturday July 4, 2026 
OUT TO PASTOR 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …AUGUST Birthdays*

Nancy Beckham, Karlene Englert, Juanita Fernandez, Jeanette Francis,

MAYBE I SHOULD ROB A BANK 

Joseph Kiss, Jacquie Pergola, Pat Miranda, Margaret Aroyan, Phyllis Burg, 
Throughout my life, money has asked about getting her mechanic bill paid. We 

Beverly Clifton, Rosemary Morabito, Susan Poulsen, Joy Barry, Marcia 
been quite a challenge. I was a needed to go pick it up, and when we did, we needed 

Bent, Joan Spears, Ruth Torres, Jane Zamanzadeh. Helen Stapenhorst, 

pastor for almost 50 years, and to pay for the mechanical services. 

Chandy Shair, Heidi Hartman, Erma Gutierrez, Margaret Switzer 

as a pastor I did not get much of 

* To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of 
a salary, barely enough to get by “You do have enough money to pay for that, don’t 

birth not required 

on. But I didn’t become a pastor for the money, or you?” The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage said. 
I would’ve become a televangelist. I didn’t say that,
did I? I looked at her with very sad eyes and said, “Well, 

the money for the mechanical bill is in my savings

Both The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I account. I hate to transfer it to my checking account.” 
worked to be as frugal as possible with our budget. 
We tried our best not to spend our money on things “You do have it in the savings account for 
we didn’t really need. Then when the children came emergencies, right?” 
along, that certainly changed our budget. 

I looked at her, then looked back at my account on 
As a young kid, I was frugal with my money. I didn’t the computer, sighed very deeply, and said, “I’m 
make very much money, but I made sure most going to have to move money over to my checking 
of it went into my little piggy bank. Every week I account, and you know how much I hate doing that.” 
would look at my piggy bank and count the money 
several times. I knew how much I had, but I enjoyed With a very serious look on her face The Gracious 
counting it and looking at it. Mistress of the Parsonage looked at me and said,

“Instead of taking it out of your savings account,
Now that I’m older, but not that much wiser, I check why don’t you just go and rob a bank this afternoon. 
out my savings account every week. At least once Then you might have more money to put back into 
a week, sometimes several times during the week, your savings account after you pay the mechanic 

PROTECTING SENIORS FROM

OK, every day. I enjoy looking at that money in my bill.” 
savings account. What I enjoy the most is seeing 

EMAIL AND PHONE SCAMS

the interest I’m earning in my savings account. Like I looked at her, chuckled, and said, “Did you say to 
my father used to say, “A penny earned is a penny go and rob a bank?” 
saved.” I want all my pennies in my savings account 

Technology has made it easier than ever to stay connected with family and friends—but 
to earn interest. I’m not sure what planet she was on at the time, but 

unfortunately, it has also made it easier for scammers to target older adults. Fraud by 
robbing a bank never came to mind as I was thinking 

email, text message, and telephone continues to rise, and seniors are often targeted because 

That money was for emergencies, and boy, when I of my money. Of course, it would make sense if I 

criminals believe they are more trusting or may have retirement savings.

had to take money out of my savings account, it was could rob a bank and get away with it. 
the hardest thing that I ever had to do. It was easy 

One of the most common scams begins with an unexpected phone call. A caller may pretend 

putting it in, but it was very difficult for me to pull it “What if I get caught?” I asked her very seriously. 

to be from Medicare, Social Security, your bank, or even a grandchild in trouble. They may

out. I know the savings account was for emergencies, 

create a sense of urgency by saying your account has been compromised or that a loved one

but I had a hard time defining “emergencies.” “Then,” she said with a smile on her face, “you’ll have 

needs immediate financial help. Remember, legitimate organizations will not pressure you

Sometimes The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage free room and three meals a day and you won’t have 
steps in and helps with that definition. to pay for any of that. You do like free don’t you?” 

to provide personal information or demand immediate payment over the phone. 

Every time something happened unexpectedly in the I just stared at her for a few moments and watched 

Email scams have become increasingly sophisticated. Fraudulent emails can look identical 
financial area of life, I really wrestled with drawing her smile back at me. It never occurred to me to 

to messages from well-known companies and may ask you to click on a link, verify your 

the money from the savings account. I know it had rob a bank, but as I looked at my savings account, it 

password, or make a payment. Before clicking anything, take a moment to examine the 

to be done, but I kicked it down the road as far as I didn’t seem like a bad idea at the time. 

sender’s email address carefully. If something feels unusual, it probably is. 

could. 
I finally had to move the money from my savings 

A few simple habits can provide powerful protection:

Just the other week, there was a mechanical problem account to my checking account. That is the hardest 

• Never give out your Social Security number, banking information, or passwords
with the Sissy Van. It was a problem that needed to thing I ever did in life. I sighed very deeply and 

over the phone.

be fixed, and it was around $1000. I never kept that closed the computer, then I picked up my checkbook 
much in my checking account because I preferred and said to The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, 

• Don’t click links or open attachments from unknown emails or text messages. 
most of my money to be in my savings account. “Let’s go and get your Sissy Van.” 
• Hang up and call the company directly using a trusted phone number if you’re 
unsure. 
When I got the bill, I was very sad. I looked at my Later that day I read Ecclesiastes 5:10, "He that loveth 

• Discuss suspicious calls or emails with a trusted family member or friend. 
savings account and then looked at the bill for the silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that 

• Trust your instincts—if someone pressures you to act immediately, slow down and
Sissy Van, and I was not too happy about it. It was loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity." 

ask questions. 

almost as much as my Social Security checks each 
month. As much money as I have in my savings account, 

Scammers succeed when they create fear and urgency. Your best defense is taking your

there will always be some emergency that needs me 

time. It’s perfectly acceptable to hang up the phone or delete an email without responding.

As I was looking at my savings account online, The to withdraw it. 

Staying informed isn’t about being suspicious of everyone—it’s about protecting yourself

Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage came in and 

and preserving your peace of mind. When it comes to fraud, a healthy dose of caution cango a long way. 

HOW FAMILIES 
CAN FIND LOST 
MONEY AFTER 
A LOVED ONE 
DIES 

Billions of dollars in unclaimed assets are waiting to be claimed. Learn where 
to look for forgotten accounts, insurance policies and other lost money after a 
loved one dies. 

Dear Savvy Senior,
After my mom passed away, we discovered a few small accounts and an old insurance policy we 
didn’t know she still had. It made me wonder how often families uncover forgotten or unclaimed 
money like this after a parent dies. Is it common, and where should I start looking?
–Searching Sarah 

Dear Sarah,
It’s actually quite common. After a parent or spouse dies, families often come across small,
forgotten accounts, uncashed checks, or old insurance policies that slipped through the cracks 
over the years. In many cases, paperwork was misplaced, accounts were opened decades ago, 
or loved ones simply weren’t aware the assets existed. 

According to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, billions 
of dollars in unclaimed assets are currently being held by state governments and federal 
agencies, waiting to be claimed by rightful owners or heirs. 

Unclaimed property usually comes from financial accounts or benefits that became inactive 
because the owner moved, changed names or died. In many cases, heirs were never aware the 
money existed or did not know where to look. These assets can include savings or checking 
accounts, uncashed dividend checks, utility security deposits, life insurance proceeds, pension 
benefits, tax refunds, matured savings bonds and unpaid wages. 

By law, banks, employers, insurance companies and other institutions must turn these assets 
over to the state if they cannot locate the owner or next of kin after a set period, usually two to 
five years. Once turned over, the money is held indefinitely, so there is no deadline for families 
to file a claim. 

Where to start 
A good place to begin is MissingMoney.com, a free site endorsed by the National Association 
of Unclaimed Property Administrators and the National Association of State Treasurers. 
It allows users to search for unclaimed property in 49 states, the District of Columbia and 
Puerto Rico at once. Hawaii is not included but can be searched through a link on the site. 

When searching, check every state where your mother lived, worked or did business. Be sure 
to search under maiden names, married names and common misspellings. Using just a first 
initial and last name can also uncover accounts that do not appear under a full name search. 
Each state’s site will indicate whether property is listed and explain how to file a claim. 

Other places to checkState treasuries are only part of the picture. Families should also check several other common 
sources of forgotten money. 

Pensions and 401(k)s: To search for lost or forgotten retirement benefits your mom may have 
left behind with an old employer, use the U.S. Department of Labor’s Retirement Savings Lost 
& Found Database and the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits. Or to search 
for unclaimed retirement benefits from private-sector plans that have closed down, use the 
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation search tool. 

Savings bonds: It’s very common for people to lose track of U.S. Saving Bonds because they 
are often given to children as gifts, then forgotten before the bonds reach maturity. To find 
out if your mom had a Savings Bond or other Treasury security visit your state’s unclaimed 
property office using unclaimed.org. Search the state of residence at the time of the securities 
purchase or last known address. 

Lost life insurance: To track down a lost or forgotten life insurance policy, the National 
Association of Insurance Commissioners, an insurance regulatory support organization, 
offers a free policy locator service at eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator. 

Other refunds: To search for money left at an FDIC insured bank or credit union that has 
gone out of business, visit closedbanks.fdic.gov/funds. Federal tax refunds can be checked at 
irs.gov/refunds or by calling 800-829-1954. FHA mortgage refunds can be checked at entp.
hud.gov/dsrs/refunds. And unpaid wages are listed at dol.gov/agencies/whd/wow. 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com