Dear Moneyist,

My brother has a mild form of autism, which means I am his financial manager. He trusts me implicitly and relies on me to manage his expenses and savings. As a matter of principle, I do not hold his passwords and anytime we transact from his accounts I go over to his house and walk him through exactly what we are doing.

My brother is well-loved and provided for by our family, but we’re concerned that he is a lamb among wolves and susceptible to scams and financial predators. For example, a total stranger once convinced him to pay her $200 water bill. His assets are not substantial, but he’s a saver and has few expenses.

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We’ve considered getting guardianship but we’re afraid that if he’s ever subject to a lawsuit we could be on the hook. His autism makes him uncoordinated and unaware. It’s not that we would want him to take the fall — just that we would want to limit the damage to our family. What is your advice for protecting him?

In addition, how do I create oversight for managing his money? The reality is that it would easy for me or any family member to convince him to give them money or steal it. I don’t foresee that happening, but my dad always says that bad systems make good people go bad. We have a third sibling who we both trust.

Brother in Kentucky

Dear Brother,

The Moneyist is always heartened to hear from someone who is trying to make someone’s life better. Your brother is fortunate to have you looking out for him. First, the good news. Becoming his legal guardian doesn’t mean that you would be on the hook if anyone decided to sue your brother and it’s highly unlikely that you would be cited in a lawsuit because you were his guardian. Alternatively, you could become a durable power of attorney for your brother.

“To protect him and the family, I suggest you consider guardianship or conservatorship to assist in managing his finances and for health care, so if he was injured you can make health care decisions for him, too,” says Beth Salazar, the planned giving manager at the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center in Phoenix, Ariz. “You or whomever is managing his finances would then need to post a “bond” and that insures them if there are problems.”

If you are managing his finances, you would likely need to post a bond and that would insure you if there were any problems. This would protect your brother. You could also appoint a professional licensed fiduciary to help manage his finances, Salazar says, although it seems like you are primed to take care of that yourself. Under conservatorship or guardianship, the court would oversee your management of your brother’s finances, she says, with an annual review of his finances.

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The Moneyist Facebook Group weighed in on your question. Some members suggested organizations like Autism Speaks to help you navigate your brother’s financial life, while ensuring he has as much independence as possible. Another member suggested: “Talk to your brother about how sometimes people don’t tell the truth, and try to take advantage of others.” Of course, only you will know how to navigate the important issue of strangers and trust.

Other members suggest a joint bank account where he can only withdraw a certain amount of money every month — say, $200 for certain utilities — while another recommends a special needs trust. The latter can help you plan for your brother’s future in the event that you predecease him, and outline your wishes for medical care, financial support and government benefits. You can set this up during your lifetime or make provisions in your will.

I applaud you for taking care of your brother and for doing so with such sensitivity to his needs. Making financial decisions together where possible is both wise and respectful. I understand your concerns about him paying a stranger’s water bill. They clearly took advantage of your brother’s vulnerabilities and he is lucky to have a brother who both loves him, and has the time and willingness to look out for his needs. Bravo! The Moneyist salutes you.

Do you have questions about inheritance, tipping, weddings, family feuds, friends or any tricky issues relating to manners and money? Send them to MarketWatch’s Moneyist and please include the state where you live (no full names will be used).

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