A South Florida man set to retire was missing just one thing: his retirement check. And when he couldn\u2019t get his employer to hand it over, he called Help Me Howard with Brandon Beyer.<\/p>\n
Spend some time with 70-year-old Lou in any yard, and you\u2019re bound to learn a thing or two.<\/p>\n
Lou: \u201cThere\u2019s weed control, fungus control, and pest control.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brandon Beyer: \u201cWhat\u2019s the first step?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lou: \u201cThe first step is fertilization.\u201d<\/p>\n
I finally found out why my bougainvillea never bloomed.<\/p>\n
Brandon Beyer: \u201cI had the only bougainvillea in Hollywood that wouldn\u2019t bloom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lou: \u201cIt had to be in the shade.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was, and I was overwatering it.<\/p>\n
Lou is also a veteran. He spent two years in the army as a cook.<\/p>\n
Lou: \u201cThey threw me in the kitchen, and the mess sergeant liked me, so I just kept on cooking.\u201d<\/p>\n
But most of his life, he worked in pest control. About eight years ago, he was hired to help start a new business.<\/p>\n
Lou: \u201cBecause I can sell. I know what I\u2019m talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lou says that with his help, the company grew quickly.<\/p>\n
Lou: \u201cWe built it up from one and a half routes to four.\u201d<\/p>\n
But by 2026, he was ready to retire.<\/p>\n
Lou: \u201cMy body started breaking down, man. I\u2019m 70 years old, so I decided to quit.\u201d<\/p>\n
His employer had helped him start a retirement account, which was up to $6,400.<\/p>\n
A year ago, Lou tried to deposit the money. But the bank told him, \u201c\u2026We are returning your check because of conflicting instructions.\u201d<\/p>\n
So Lou asked his boss to re-issue it.<\/p>\n
Lou: \u201cHe took the check and put it in his desk because I gave it back to him, and he never put it back in, and I\u2019ve asked about it and asked about it and asked about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now that he\u2019s retiring, he needs the money.<\/p>\n
Lou: \u201cIt\u2019s $6,400, and it\u2019s money that I can use to enjoy the rest of my life. You know, it\u2019s money I\u2019ve earned.\u201d<\/p>\n
Howard, he put in the work. Is his employer required to write another check?<\/p>\n
Howard Finkelstein: \u201cYes, he is. It\u2019s Lou\u2019s money, and he is entitled to it. It\u2019s written on the check that the funds are in an IRA, which the employee would have had access to. But it\u2019s more likely coming from a profit-sharing plan. Either way, the money belongs to Lou.\u201d<\/p>\n
We called his employer and left a message. Then we sent a text and got a call back. He wasn\u2019t happy to hear from us and told us he\u2019d been meaning to get Lou his money all along.<\/p>\n
A few days later, he did.<\/p>\n
Lou: \u201cI actually got the IRA check that you guys said you would get for me, and it came through today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lou nearly gave up.<\/p>\n
His shirt said, \u201ctoo tired to care\u201d when we met him again. But we weren\u2019t, and now he can retire with the money he\u2019s worked so hard for.<\/p>\n
Lou: \u201cI really appreciate it. It will help me so much. Help Me Howard came through, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Howard says when you sign up for a retirement plan, get a copy of the paperwork. Most plans will notify you periodically on how the account is doing, and many allow you to make some investment decisions.<\/p>\n
Got a problem? Need a hand? Here\u2019s how to find us below. It\u2019s Help Me Howard; I\u2019m Brandon Beyer, 7News.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/p>\n
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