Check out our May newsletter!
Newsletter Title
t
Holding the Line Why Michelle Has Spent Decades at Sheppard Law
Hi, everyone! My name is Michelle Goble, and I’m the bookkeeper and office manager at Sheppard Law. I started working here almost 35 years ago, and by now, I’m a fixture around the office. I’m also one of only a handful of bookkeepers the firm has ever had since starting in 1924! I’ve always loved math and numbers, and I went to school for accounting. While studying, I started working in a law firm, and my passion for this job quickly overtook my dedication to school. Aside from a short stint in Texas, I’ve worked as a bookkeeper in law offices for my entire career. Mr. Sheppard hired me, and I still remember our interview together. I like to say it was love at first sight! He was a wonderful man, and despite all of the staff changes over the years, his legacy lives on in our kind and friendly work environment. Of course, our work is sometimes stressful, but we manage to have a lot of fun, too, and I think the people are what have kept me here for so many years. My passion for work has also certainly helped! While math is some people’s worst nightmare, it gives me a lot of joy, and I enjoy playing all kinds of number and math puzzles in my spare time. I enjoy that the work is so analytical and precise. I’m a black-and-white kind of person, and I don’t work well in gray areas. There’s a right answer and a wrong answer in my work, and I like that it’s my job to find the correct one. At the same time, my work is different every day. The numbers change, and so do the questions and the problems. In addition to the office’s accounting, I also do accounting for guardianships and estates. Then there’s the payroll, human resources, billing, data entry, and communication with our vendors; the varied work allows me to interact with everyone in the office, which I always enjoy. I also have interests outside of dollars and cents. I’ve been married to my husband, Butch, for 34 years, and we have three daughters and two grandchildren. We also have a dog named Ozzy, who
acts as my secondary shadow and
won’t stray more than a few inches from my feet when I’m home. I particularly like painting and attend a lot of painting parties. I’m not especially good, but I like creating bright and colorful things, and I find the process relaxing. But my main hobby has to be attending the Florida Everblades games. We’ve had season tickets for 24 years now — or, as Butch likes to say, since before they built the arena! We first got into hockey by watching the Florida Panthers out of Fort Lauderdale many years ago. We got hooked, and when we found out we were getting our own team, we wanted to see them play. We’ve crisscrossed North America to watch the Blades — from Miami to Anchorage and San Diego to Newfoundland. We’ve been to 53 different hockey arenas in our travels. Considering there are only 27 teams in the ECHL, it’s an impressive feat. You could call me a puckhead, and many people do — I’m known for wearing a giant foam puck hat during games. Everyone in the arena knows me. Well, maybe they don’t know I’m Michelle, but they sure do know “puckhead.” (Just be careful how you pronounce it!) I’m grateful for all of the blessings in my life, and the fantastic team at Sheppard Law is one of them. I know I’m lucky to have such a wonderful group of colleagues around me as I crunch the numbers and solve real-life puzzles. It’s true that 35 years is a long time, but it’s been worth every moment.
–Michelle Goble
1 (239) 265-9779
MAY 2022
The Art of Quieting YourMind Before Bed All day long, thoughts run through your mind, and by
WRITE IT DOWN. Instead of letting thoughts fill your mind right before bed (such as the next day’s tasks or any worries you have), set aside time before bed to write it out. Whether you are a fan of journaling, writing letters, or simply just listing out your problems, goals, and thoughts, grab a pen and paper and make it a nightly routine. This way, your thoughts will be freed before your head hits the pillow. TRY A LIGHT SNACK. When you can’t sleep, the last thing that you want to do is eat something heavy. In fact, when you eat a large meal right before bed, your digestive system can become overwhelmed. But, studies have shown that eating a light carbohydrate snack such as crackers or popcorn when you can’t sleep may be helpful. TURN YOUR ROOM INTO A SLEEP HAVEN. Keeping your bedroom neat, relaxing, and calm can help improve your sleep! Keep all televisions, computers, and screens out of the bedroom and furnish it with soft colors and textures that are tranquil and soothing to you. Pumping the brakes on worrisome thoughts racing through your mind can be tough, but trying these tips and tricks may earn you some relief and much needed sleep.
the end of the day, your head is probably ready to explode. After all, it’s estimated that in 24 hours
you can have between 60,000– 80,000 thoughts. At some point, your brain needs a break, and that’s especially true before you try to go to bed. Here are some ways to quiet your mind, so you can get a full night’s sleep! KEEP YOUR BED FOR SLEEPING. If you aren’t sleeping, get out of bed! Getting in the habit of scrolling through your phone, watching TV, reading, working, or even eating in bed teaches your brain that your bed is for things other than sleeping! If you find yourself tossing and turning, get out of bed and try a relaxing activity such as reading, journaling, listening to music, or meditating. When you get tired, try getting back in bed. BREATHE DEEPLY. Breathing exercises can not only help calm your mind and spirit, but they can lower your heart rate, which is especially beneficial in relieving stress or anxiety when things are upsetting you.
l y T o o C l o s e t o
With no fountain of youth yet discovered, we all have to live with the foolish decisions made in our younger years. As we develop wrinkles and lose skin elasticity, we might wish we could go back in time and religiously apply sunscreen. Unfortunately, we can’t — but there’s still plenty you can do to protect your skin, no matter your age. As nice as a tan might look, it damages our bodies in ways we pay for later. Skin regularly exposed to sunlight tends to become less flexible and develops age spots. But the problems are not only cosmetic. As with many conditions, our risk of skin cancer increases as we get older. The average age of diagnosis is 65, and by the time they turn 70, 1 in 5 Americans will have developed skin cancer. But when caught early, the condition has a 99% five-year survival rate. That should motivate us to know the warning signs and schedule regular checkups. Experts recommend checking your skin once a month, remembering your ABCDEs : asymmetry , irregular borders , color changes or inconsistency, diameter wider than a pencil eraser, and evolving growths that change size or shape. If you notice any of these signs, visit your doctor as soon as possible. You can’t change the past, but you can review it to determine your current risk. If you’ve spent a lot of time outdoors without sunscreen How to Best Protect Your Skin
over the years, you should be especially vigilant. Meanwhile, those who have experienced five or more sunburns have a doubled risk for melanoma, the
deadliest form of skin cancer. Though much of the damage is already done, now is not the time to give up on healthy sun habits. No matter
what you’ve done up until this point, reducing your sun exposure will still offer protection, while bad habits can increase skin spots and blotches on thin and dry skin. Follow best practices by avoiding direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., wearing long sleeves and pants when possible, and always using sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. If you treat your skin right, it’s more likely to be kind to you in return. Proper skin protection will leave you looking better, and regular skin checks will have you feeling more secure about your health. There’s no reason to avoid the great outdoors, but there are many to enjoy them as safely as possible.
2
floridaestateplanning.com
Are Special Needs TrustsAlwaysAppropriate?
Attorney Craig Hersch Reviews the Considerations
We all want to care for the ones we love after we pass away, and this desire takes on additional importance when you have a family member with a disability. In this piece originally published in the Sanibel Island Sun, attorney Craig Hersch reviews how a trust may or may not help those in this situation. You can read the full version of “Are Special Needs Trusts Always Appropriate?” at FloridaEstatePlanning.com . Carl is a nephew of my clients. He’s 23 years old and has learning and physical disabilities. To protect Carl, several professionals told his parents to see me about building a special needs trust into their estate. A special needs trust in Florida describes any trust designed to protect a physically or mentally disabled beneficiary’s eligibility for need-based government benefits, such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). They include restrictions on how funds may be used, ensuring that distributions do not disqualify the recipient from government assistance programs. Medicaid has a low ceiling on a recipient’s countable assets — approximately $2,500 this year. Further, the individual cannot have a gross monthly income exceeding $2,532. However, assets held by a Florida special needs trust are not counted for purposes of Medicaid eligibility, so long as the distribution does not duplicate Medicaid’s assistance.
needs provisions by providing additional benefits such as personal grooming, clothing and dry cleaning,
computers, televisions, musical instruments, companionship, housekeeping and cooking, medical insurance, and medical therapies and equipment.
Are special needs trusts always appropriate? That depends on whether the recipient’s inheritance is sufficient to provide for them for their lifetime. Since Medicaid’s aid is not terribly generous, a wealthy client may wish to forgo the eligibility concerns and not constrain the trustee from making a distribution. For example, if a beneficiary will receive several million dollars, it might be wise to create a general needs trust that can later be converted into a special needs trust. There are many other factors to consider when determining whether a special needs trust is appropriate for a disabled beneficiary. Rather than directing your attorney to draft one into your plan, ask if qualifying for government aid is worth the restrictions.
If it does, the trust distribution may disqualify the beneficiary. A special needs trust can supplement the government’s basic
INGREDIENTS
•
1 lb spring potatoes, halved
•
2 handfuls cherry tomatoes 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
•
2 tbsp olive oil (divided)
•
•
8 asparagus spears, trimmed and halved
• •
2 5-oz salmon fillets 1 handful fresh basil
Referrals are the lifeblood of our office. If you had a tremendous experience, please do share it as a five-star Google Review, adding a few words as a description. It takes less than a couple of minutes. We appreciate our clients so much and hope our new clients are just like the ones we commonly attract. You can also leave us a review at FloridaEstatePlanning.com/review.
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 400 F. 2. In an oven-proof dish, combine the potatoes and 1 tbsp olive oil. Roast for 20 minutes. 3. Remove the dish from the oven and add the asparagus. Toss, and bake for 15 more minutes. 4. Remove the dish from the oven and add the cherry tomatoes. Toss. Drizzle with balsamic, then nestle the salmon fillets into the vegetables. Drizzle with the remaining oil, and bake for 10–15 minutes. 5. Remove the dish from the oven, garnish with basil leaves, and serve!
3
(239) 265-9779
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
9100 College Pointe Court Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 265-9779
INSIDE this issue
Meet Our Bookkeeper Michelle! PAGE 1
5 Solutions for Quality Sleep PAGE 2
No Matter Your Age, Skin Needs Protecting PAGE 2
When to Consider a Special Needs Trust PAGE 3
One-Pan Baked Salmon and Veggies PAGE 3
Strengthen Your Entire Body! PAGE 4
The best compliments we receive are your referrals. When you refer us to your loved ones, we do all we can to exceed expectations.
o
t t e r
a
B
The weather is getting warmer, which
•
While trying to stay centered and balanced on the water, you will develop more core strength. Paddling helps work your lower back, abs, and oblique muscles. It’s a form of cardiac exercise that will help your heart circulate more blood throughout your body. It will also improve your endurance , enabling you to go longer distances faster. While canoeing or kayaking, your body releases serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins from neurotransmitters. This will help boost your mood and self- confidence and improve your focus. These activities can enhance your memory and learning ability. This is
because it exercises your hippocampus, one of the largest portions of your brain that is responsible for verbal memory and learning. If you have trouble sleeping, this activity can improve your sleep. Exercising during the day can make you naturally tired, which helps you fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. Since you’ll be in the sun, your body can produce more vitamin D. This vitamin is essential for strong bones and an effective immune system.
means you can do more activities in the water. Canoeing or kayaking is an excellent way to get outdoors and be active. Besides looking at the beautiful scenery around you, taking to the water confers several physical and mental health benefits. PHYSICAL BENEFITS • Paddling can help improve your upper- body strength and muscle tone — because you’re using your arms to guide yourself through the water with the paddle. Paddling helps strengthen your arms, shoulders, chest, and back. • You use your legs to balance, maneuver, and change directions in the vessel. In turn, this movement helps strengthen your lower-body muscles.
•
•
•
MENTAL BENEFITS •
Canoeing and kayaking are great outdoor activities to help you get your daily dose of physical activity and a mental health boost. So, enjoy the warm weather and be one with nature — this may be your new favorite summer hobby this year!
•
4 floridaestateplanning.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator