THE San Francisco Assessor-Recorder’s Office, headed Carmen Chu, will host a Digital Family Wealth Forum on Saturday, July 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Zoom to help families gather information and plan for their financial future in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was revealed during a Zoom press conference organized by the office for media.
In the Zoom call, SF Assessor-Recorder Chu revealed that the digital forum, originally scheduled for May of this year, will offer a series of panel discussions and presentations to help attendees get back on their feet during the COVID-19 crisis while continuing to build their family’s financial future.
Experts will cover topics, including immediate financial assistance for homeowners and families, estate planning basics and personal finance management (such as accessing retirement plan funds and managing mortgage forbearance).
Speakers slated at the event, as of June 26, include Francis Sameon of CALCPA, Heather Liston of the SF Financial Planner Association, executive director Shannon Way of HomeownershipSF and staff attorney Kendra Bowen of the Housing and Economic Rights Advocates.
Interested individuals are encouraged to register for the event at https://sfassessor.org/familywealthforum.
Assessor-Recorder Chu told media that the digital forum will also provide translated materials as well as multilingual translation and access to participants.
In terms of specific topics, Chu mentioned that the digital forum will touch on things like managing debt, pulling out funds from retirement accounts and the tax implications; financial assistance programs available for homeowners, home buyers and San Francisco residents; a step-by-step process for estate planning which may include putting one’s paperwork in order like wills/trusts, advanced directive and inclusion of beneficiaries in one’s policies.
According to Assessor-Recorder Chu, her office is looking at ways on how to provide one-on-one counseling sessions after the Zoom webinar, and will let participants know how to gain access to such, if and when it becomes available.
In the same call, Chu said that while their office is not yet open to the public, individuals wishing to get copies of their records can do so by calling their office (415-554-5596), sending an email to [email protected] or [email protected], or by visiting the website, sfassessor.org.
The most common scams that they have seen, so far, Chu said, is some people taking advantage of unwitting individuals by volunteering to secure records and charging fees of up to $200, or people using the personal information of others to take over properties or for other fraudulent means.
“If you need a copy of your records at our office, please do not hesitate to visit us online and do it yourself,” Assessor-Recorder Chu said, by way of advice. “If and when our office opens and you need to designate a representative to get your records, there are certain requirements that need to be met so our office can establish your identity, and that of your duly-designated representative.”
Among the most common records people seek are documents pertaining to real estate, as well as marriage licenses.
“While real estate records may include bank loans and deeds related to the property, some may need a copy of their marriage license when they need to add people to their benefits,” Chu explained.
Chu added that data at their office are stored in multiple, secure locations and that guarding the privacy of SF residents is one of their utmost priorities.
Although the SF Assessor-Recorder’s Office is organizing the digital forum, Assessor-Recorder Chu reiterated that all are welcome to attend the Zoom event and gather the necessary information they need. They will be recording the event so that people can find it in other digital platforms when they need to search for information. (Joseph Peralta/AJPress)
