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LIFESTYLE ADVOCACY FAMILY FINANCE LAFF is a publication of DuPont Wealth Solutions and The Law Offices of DuPont and Blumenstiel, blending original and curated content, and is intended to educate the general public about investing, finance, estate planning, personal injury, and small-business issues. It is not intended to be legal or financial advice. Every situation is different. The information in this newsletter may be freely copied and distributed as long as the newsletter is copied in its entirety.
22 OCT
BE THE HERO OF YOUR OWN STORY
By Facing Your Fears
I recently went to see “Nope” in theaters, and it brought me back to my childhood. “Nope” had the same feeling as most of the scary movies I watched in my youth, such as “House of Wax,” “The Blob,” and “The Thing.” I remember covering my eyes with my hands, peeking through the cracks of my fingers, curling myself into a ball, and hoping the jump scare wouldn’t frighten me too much. As I look back at my fears watching these movies, I’ve realized this is how some react to fears in their personal lives — hoping that turning a blind eye will make them disappear. I deal with people’s fears frequently as I help them with their financial and estate planning needs. Many are concerned about what will happen to their money, assets, property,
and loved ones when they pass — it’s terrifying to think about. But sometimes, their fear of these scenarios makes them lose sight of how important these decisions are. You will face many difficult decisions in your life, such as choosing your powers of attorney, deciding what will happen if you cannot care for yourself, preparing your finances, and more. But if you decide to hide behind your hands, hope the scary movie ends soon, and let the fear of the unknown and “what ifs” consume you, you won’t control your fears — they will control you. I understand it’s stressful
“But if you decide to hide behind your hands, hope the scary movie ends soon, and let the fear of the unknown and ‘what ifs’ consume you, you won’t control your fears — they will control you.”
Usually, we yell and shake our heads at the person who wants to investigate. However, when we transition this scenario to the financial and estate planning realm, you want to be the person who goes downstairs and investigates. Be the person who faces fear and the “unknown” head-on. It’s one of the only ways to know what you’re up against and how you can begin preparing.
and frightening to think about what life would be like for your loved ones when you’re no longer here; it pulls
We are all on a journey, writing our own life stories. You could face hardships, fears, and doubts, but you’re bigger than your struggles. Instead of hiding from fear and waiting for the protagonist to rescue you, be the hero of your own story. I hope you and your loved ones have a happy and safe Halloween. If you have questions or concerns about your estate or financial plan, please don’t hesitate to contact your friends at DuPont Wealth Solutions.
on your heartstrings. But proper planning can ensure your wishes are followed and make these terrifying instances look like simple jump scares you can easily overcome. Although thinking about and planning for difficult times is challenging, you and your family will have a stressful and troubling time without essential documents in place. You don’t want to hide from these instances and hope they will work themselves out — you must be proactive. Think about the most recent scary movie you watched; they all have the same outline — someone hears a noise or footsteps in their home. One person wants to investigate and see what’s going on while others want to hide and not face the danger close to them.
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STAFF SPOTLIGHT: SARAH STAKELY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
How long have you been working at the law firm, and what do you do here? I started working at DuPont & Blumenstiel in 2018, and I actually started as the receptionist for the litigation department under Attorney Braden Blumenstiel. I handled intakes and updated clients about their cases as well as answered any questions they had. Since then, I’ve transitioned into the estate planning side of things under Attorney Greg DuPont. I answer incoming calls, schedule appointments, and handle client follow-up. What is your favorite part of your job? My favorite part about working here is my team. Everyone is extremely respectful, helpful, and will jump in at a moment’s notice when anything is needed. It’s a refreshing change in culture in a work environment. What would you say to someone hesitant about creating an estate plan? To anyone feeling hesitant about estate planning, I would recommend to just make that initial phone call and begin the process. I know it’s a scary topic to think about and not fun to think about, but it will take a great burden off your family when you pass away. My father didn’t have any documents prepared when he suddenly passed away, and it was very difficult for my mother to make those decisions for herself, my sister, and me.
WE APPRECIATE YOU
WHAT HAVE WE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN THE PODCAST?
We want to use this space to express our gratitude to the following members of the community who have recently
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left us a review or have referred someone to our care. Thank you!
EPISODE 33: “Understanding the Historical Trends of the Markets” EPISODE 34: “Preparing Yourself to be Financially Ready for Elderly Care”
Dylan Bramer Doug Spalding Michelle Spalding
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What to Do After the Loss of a Loved One
• Spend time with family and friends. Grieving is often easier with others who are also grieving. Talking about your loved one and sharing memories can be very healing. • Honor your loved one. This could be something as simple as planting a tree or flowers in their honor or donating to a charity they cared about. • Do something for yourself. Grief can be exhausting, both mentally and physically. Make sure to get plenty of rest and eat healthy food. Avoid alcohol and drugs, as they can make grief harder to deal with. • Let yourself feel the pain. Acknowledge your feelings, even the ones you don’t like. Don’t tell yourself how to feel or let others tell you how you should feel. WHAT IS PROBATE? You’ll likely need to go through probate in some capacity when a loved one dies. Probate is the legal process of settling a person’s estate upon death. This includes identifying the deceased person’s assets, paying outstanding debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining assets to heirs. In Ohio, probate is required if the deceased person owned assets in their own name, such as a house, car, or bank account. Probate is not required for jointly owned assets or those with a named beneficiary, such as a life insurance policy or retirement account. HOW DOES PROBATE WORK? The probate process begins with an executor of the estate or the administrator of the estate
The death of a loved one is always a difficult time. Not only do you need to cope with the emotional loss, but many practical matters also need to be taken care of. You may be tasked with planning your loved one’s funeral and handling their estate. This can be a stressful, complex, and confusing process, especially if you’re in the dark about what steps to take. Before we get into what you need to do legally, we want to offer some strategies to help you cope with your grief. The loss of a loved one affects each person differently. These steps may help ease the pain of loss.
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filing a petition with a court. The executor takes care of the estate if the decedent had a will. The administrator takes care of the estate
if the decedent did not have a will. The estate administration process for
executors and administrators is similar. First, they must investigate the assets the decedent had and report them back to the probate court. Second, they must pay remaining bills owed out of the estate. Third, they must distribute what’s left in the estate according to the terms of a will, or if there is no will, according to state law. After the administration is done, the administrator will return to the court to prove they have done their duties and to pay whatever taxes and filing fees are due. The entire process can take several months or more to complete. CHOOSE THE RIGHT PROBATE ATTORNEY. In theory, settling an estate should be an easy process. But it’s easy to get lost in documents and make a mistake. The rules of the court are very particular and sometimes difficult to understand. Having an experienced probate attorney on your side is important when going through the probate process. They can help guide you through this confusing and stressful time. Here are some benefits of working with a probate attorney:
• You will better understand your rights and responsibilities. • You will save time and money by avoiding costly mistakes. • They will help you protect your assets. • They will help you work with the probate court. • They can help resolve disputes that arise during the probate process. We understand probate can be frustrating, especially when the decedent’s wishes were left unclear. We are here to guide family members, executors, trustees, administrators, heirs, and beneficiaries through the probate process when a loved one dies. If you’re struggling with managing and distributing your deceased loved one’s estate, we can help. Call us at 614-408-0529 .
3 Items That Are Often Overlooked It’s Estate Planning Awareness Week!
3. ATTORNEY’S INFORMATION
In 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives designated the third week of October as National Estate Planning Awareness Week. It’s imperative to keep your estate plan updated because the National Association of Estate Planning Councils estimated that over half of Americans don’t update their plans. Therefore, Estate Plan Awareness Week (Oct. 17–23) is the perfect time to promote the importance of estate planning and why you must review it often.
passwords, and information about these accounts in your estate plan. If these memberships have monthly, quarterly, or annual fees, outline that in your documents. You want your executor to know this information so they can cancel your subscriptions once you pass away.
Things can be difficult and stressful for the person you assign as your executor if they’re unsure how to contact your attorney about your will and estate. So, communicate with your executor on how to contact your attorney if they have questions or concerns. Within your estate plan, you can leave your attorney’s address, email, and phone numbers so your family can easily contact them. At DuPont Wealth Solutions, we ensure you won’t forget anything within your estate plan — we cross all of our t’s and dot our i’s each time. But sometimes, your plan needs to be updated when life events occur. So, don’t hesitate to call us so you keep more of your wealth with an updated and complete estate plan.
2. DIGITAL ACCOUNTS
Facebook has millions of profiles of individuals who’ve passed away, and it’s increasing. In addition, about 90% of people surveyed have no plan for what happens to their digital accounts once they die. Therefore, you should outline all of your social media accounts so your family can deactivate them. If you have several bank or credit card accounts, leave your login information in your estate plan as well.
Although everyone’s estate plan is different, several things are often
overlooked when planning. So, the next time you update your plan, here are three items to consider.
1. MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
Do you have accounts for retailers, clubs, streaming sites, and other online services? Keep your username,
SUDOKU
PUMPKIN PIE PARFAITS
Inspired by Kenarry.com
These parfaits are an easy fall dessert everyone can make!
INGREDIENTS
3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding mix
1/4 tsp nutmeg
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2 cups cold milk
1/8 tsp ground cloves
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15-oz can pumpkin purée
1 cup vanilla sandwich cookies
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1/2 tsp cinnamon
8 oz whipped topping
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DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, whisk together pudding mix and milk. Let sit for 5 minutes, then stir in pumpkin purée, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves.
2. In a blender or food processor, crush vanilla sandwich cookies into crumbs.
3. In small jars or glasses, place cookie crumbs on bottom, then pumpkin mixture, then whipped topping. Repeat these layers twice and end with cookie crumbs.
4. Chill until ready to serve!
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DuPont Wealth Solutions, LLC 655 Metro Place South, Ste. 440 Dublin, OH 43017
INSIDE
Don’t Let Jump Scares Get the Best of You PAGE 1 Meet Sarah Stakely
Our Podcast Episodes
Client Appreciation PAGE 2 Facebook Has a Digital Graveyard Pumpkin Pie Parfaits PAGE 3 3 Picture-Perfect Destinations PAGE 4
Fall in Love With the Scenery!
3 PLACES TO TRAVEL THIS SEASON
2. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING The wildlife in Yellowstone is active in the fall, so you’ll get a chance to see bison, elk, and eagles during your stay. You may even observe bears preparing for hibernation. If you love to be outdoors during the cooler months, then you will love biking, fishing, and hiking here during the fall. However, be aware that some roads will close for the winter in mid-October, so review park information ahead of time for accessibility. 3. SEDONA, ARIZONA It may be too hot to visit Arizona during the summer, but the fall months are perfect because the temperatures drop somewhat. If you love to see trees bursting with colorful leaves, hike the Baldwin Trail and Cookstove Trail. Sycamore, oak, and maple trees will shade you with their colorful canopies. Also, each year, the city holds a Day of the Dead celebration you can attend at the Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village in late October. These are only three of the many breathtaking destinations you can visit this season. For more locations, go to TravelAndLeisure. com/trip-ideas/fall-vacations/best-fall-vacations. So, what are you waiting for? Book your trip now, and don’t forget to pack a camera to capture the picture-perfect views!
Fall is the perfect time to plan a scenic vacation. You can find lower prices and fewer crowds at many popular destinations right now. Best of all, the views
are incredible. From the changing colors of leaves to sunsets and mountains — a picture-perfect getaway awaits you! Here are three popular destinations to fall in love with this season. 1. ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA Everyone can find something to enjoy in the mountains of the Carolinas. You can drive the Blue Ridge Parkway or hike the Appalachian Trail for breathtaking views of mountains and sunsets. For history fans, get lost at the Biltmore Estate and learn more about the Vanderbilts. If you’re a fan of the nightlife, Asheville is known as Beer City USA, with more than 30 breweries and over 100 local brews.
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