Trustworthy's Q&A Experts
Our Q&A series offers expert perspectives and practical advice on topics that matter most to families, from document organization to estate planning and beyond.
Gyan Chawdhary
Gyan Chawdhary is a vice president at Security Compass, a Toronto cybersecurity solutions provider that uses AI-based tools and development products to support a range of financial companies, tech businesses, and government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Defense. Gyan founded Kontra, an app security training platform that Security Compass acquired in 2024.
Our chats with Gyan:
“AI doesn’t have to be intimidating. Starting small with easy-to-use tools can open up a world of possibilities, helping older adults stay connected, independent, and organized while making life a little easier.”
“AI helps scammers craft highly targeted social engineering attacks. By analyzing your social media and online behavior, they can create scenarios that seem incredibly plausible, exploiting your trust or fears.”
Travis Christiansen
Travis Christiansen is an author, an attorney, and the owner of the law firm Boyack Christiansen Legal Solutions. He has practiced for over two decades, helping clients with estate planning, divorce and custody, and criminal matters in St. George and Hurricane, Utah.
Our chat with Travis:
“It is a good idea to talk to an estate planning attorney who can help you set out a plan of care for your dependents if you pass away. Especially if you have children with special needs, you will need to set out a lifetime of care plans for anyone who takes on their guardianship.”
Niloufar Esmaeilpour
Niloufar is a registered clinical counselor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and the founder of Lotus Therapy & Counselling Centre in the Vancouver area. Specializing in trauma treatment, Niloufar combines extensive experience with a steadfast dedication to supporting individuals on their journey to healing and well-being.
Our chat with Niloufar:
“Mood swings in bipolar disorder significantly impact motivation. During depressive phases, individuals often experience overwhelming fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, and a lack of interest in activities, making it difficult to initiate or sustain effort toward goals.”
Tanner Gish
Tanner, director of operations at Loving Homecare Inc. in Southern California, is a certified dementia practitioner accredited by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. He is dedicated to delivering high-quality, personalized care for seniors, with a particular focus on those living with dementia. Tanner’s commitment to compassionate caregiving drives his efforts to ensure comfort, dignity, and well-being for clients while fostering a supportive environment for the Loving Homecare team.
Our chat with Tanner:
“The first step to take after receiving a diagnosis should be to educate yourself. Learn about the type and progression of dementia. Then, build a care team. Include health care professionals, family members, and care agencies. Discuss wishes early. Openly communicate preferences for care, finances, and living arrangements.”
Kalim Khan
Kalim Khan is a senior partner and founder of the Toronto-based firm Affinity Law. With over two decades of experience in estate planning, Kalim's law firm helps guide families through complex legal decisions and supports them in organizing and securing their legal documents.
Our chat with Khan:
“The most common mistakes people make when organizing legal documents are failing to update documents, not informing family members of their location, and neglecting to address minor details. This can lead to complications.”
Christopher Migliaccio
Christopher Migliaccio is a partner at Warren and Migliaccio, based in Texas. He has helped clients navigate family law, estate planning, bankruptcy, and ID requirements for almost two decades.
Our chat with Christopher:
“Beyond airport security, a REAL ID is required for entry into certain federal facilities, such as military bases, nuclear power plants, and some government buildings where ID verification is necessary. However, you do not need a REAL ID to vote, apply for federal benefits, or drive.”
Alfred Polizzotto
Alfred has 33 years of experience in elder law. He addresses various issues related to aging, including nursing home negligence, guardianship, and conservatorship.
Our chats with Alfred:
“If you see unopened bills piling up or hear about calls from creditors, it's usually a sign for intervention. Cognitive decline can sneak up on seniors, and you don’t want to wait until something serious happens.”
“If there’s any kind of medical emergency, you don’t want family members scrambling to find important papers while trying to make quick decisions about care. It just makes more sense to have a trusted few people who know where everything is stored.”
Brian Quigley
Brian Quigley is a financial expert based in Denver. He has more than 20 years of experience guiding clients through a range of documentation requirements and tax hurdles to achieve their financial goals. In 2020, he founded Beacon Lending, which specializes in mortgage lending and refinancing.
Our chat with Brian:
“Setting up calendar alerts for key tax deadlines helps prevent last-minute panic. Automated reminders for estimated payments, document collection, and filing dates ensure you stay ahead of schedule.”
Sam Riley
Sam Riley is a principal at Allixo, a SaaS and cybersecurity firm in Mount Vernon, Washington, that helps businesses protect their digital assets and strengthen their online defenses. Sam has been with Allixo for more than 15 years and holds several advanced security certifications, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Cisco Certified Network Associate Security (CCNA Security).
Our chat with Sam:
“Attackers are still often successful in tricking or bribing telecom employees or using social engineering (not as difficult as it should be) to convince the carrier to transfer a victim’s phone number to a new SIM card under their control.”
Dr. Sham Singh
Sham, a psychiatrist trained at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, approaches mental health holistically. His approach emphasizes medication management and lifestyle modifications to achieve peak performance of the brain. He is experienced in treating a variety of conditions, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and OCD.
Our chat with Sham:
“For OCD clients, I recommend simplifying or using very structured systems to minimize the potential for overthinking. Limiting the choices, for instance, using few and well-defined categories in organizing, helps make the task more manageable.”
Jonathan D. Steele
Jonathan is a distinguished family law attorney specializing in complex divorce, custody, and privacy issues. Partnered with Beermann LLP, his practice combines legal acumen with cybersecurity expertise and is recognized by Illinois Super Lawyers and Leading Lawyers. Jonathan also holds a CompTIA Security+ certification, underscoring his commitment to client protection.
Our chat with Jonathan:
“It is prudent to seek professional financial and legal assistance when elderly parents demonstrate difficulties in managing basic financial responsibilities, such as timely bill payments or understanding their financial obligations.”
James Taska
James, founder of Alpha Wealth Advisor, is a dedicated financial advisor committed to transparent fiduciary services. He crafts tailored investment strategies, often utilizing non-correlated assets, with a focus on risk management. He works closely with retirees to preserve wealth across generations, prioritizing trust and long-term client relationships.
Our chat with James:
“A trusted financial advisor will encourage the adult children to attend meetings with their elderly parents if desired by the client. Having an open line of communication is an excellent line of defense against scams targeting senior citizens.”