kroot. mr. rossman, these remind me of life settlements or payday loans in a sense who allow a consumer who is desperate and feels pressure and needs cash in exchange for promises of something that would happen in the future. these industries are regulated in some capacity, although there's a certain, certainly a concern with both products. but there's a market out there for people who need a large sum of money. do you think pension advances should be regulated like those products for people who really need the money? some sort of interest rate cap? i mean, are we making a mistake by outlawing these as opposed to just making them behave like moral human beings? >> that would be a good start. i think that the, first of all, you have to distinguish between the payday lenders and the other products, prid tory products out there. what is unique about these pension advance companies, and it was a great surprise to us was that they are much smaller in size. many of the other predatory lenders are now,

and mrs. kroot. >> chairman collins, ranking member mccaskill, distinguished senators on the committee. thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today and testify about our family's experience with pension advances. we are here today as husband and wife, because in our 34 years of marriage, we've always operated as a team, and ours is a shared, cautionary tale. for 22 years, i served our country in the navy as a physician. when i retired as commander, i continued to work as a doctor and i did see as an e.r. attending physician in several hospitals. today i continue to work as an e.r. attending at a hospital in lexington, kentucky. my wife kathie has been at my side throughout most of my career, has done incredible work as an advocate for organ donation, and as a dedicated volunteer at our synagogue. when i left the military, we planned to continue to provide for our family through work and through my military pension. but due to a perfect storm of unfortunate events, we were left with debt

and mrs. kroot. >> chairman collins, ranking member mccaskill, distinguished senators on the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today and to testify about our family's experience with pension advances. we are here today as husband and wife because in our 34 years of marriage, we have always operated as a team, and ours is a shared cautionary tale. for 32 year -- 22 years i served our country in the navy as a physician. when i retired as commander, i intended to work as a doctor, and i did so as an er attending physician in several hospitals. today i continue to work as an er attending at eva hospital in lexington, kentucky. my wife kathie has done incredible work as an advocate for organ donation and as a dedicated volunteer at our synagogue. when i left the military, i planned to continue to provide for our family through work and through my military pension. but due to a perfect storm of unfortunate events, we were left with debts spiraling out of control. first, we rece

kroot. mr. rossman, these remind me of life settlements or payday loans in a sense who allow a consumer who is desperate and feels pressure and needs cash in exchange for promises of something that would happen in the future. these industries are regulated in some capacity, although there's a certain, certainly a concern with both products. but there's a market out there

and mrs. kroot. >> chairman collins, ranking minimum mccaskill, distinguished senators on the committee. thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today and testify about our family's experience with pension advances. we are here today as husband and wife, because in our 34 years of marriage, we've always operated as a team, and ours is a shared, cautionary tale. for 22 years, i served our country in the navy as a physician. when i retired as commander, i intended to work as a doctor, and i did so as an e.r. attending physician in several hospitals. today i continue to work as an e.r. attending at a hospital in lexington, kentucky. my wife kathy has been at my side throughout most of my career, has done incredible work as an advocate for organ donation and as a dedicated volunteer at our sin gogs. when i left the military, planned to continue to provide for our family through work and my military pension, but due do a perfect storm of unfortunate events, we were left with debt spiraling out

and mrs. kroot for coming forward. b. >> very excited to be on stage with general bleedlove. i need to do a blanket apology. . i just got out of den tangherlini surgery this morning sorks if you see me drooling on this side of the face, that's why. we were talking you'd like to begin. i'd like for you to do that with a broad brush through of the coming nato summit that's next summer. the last one was last year and i remember covering that, covering president obama and then secretary of defense chuck hagel. the big news was all about the coalition against isis. that's not going to be the case, i imagine, next year. why don't you start off with your thoughts about what the key outcomes of next year's summit should be and i'd love to hear me tell you what you think they will be. >> thank you, first of all, and thank you for having me. it's good to speak to this crowd. as i looked at the diversity of those in attendance, i expect a lively question and answer period. that's all very good. i think that in talking about warsaw, you start at wales. i was privileged to be at wales. i