Check out our January newsletter!
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The Calm After the Storm Lessons to Take Into 2023
Happy New Year! The last few months of 2022 had many obstacles in store for us when Hurricane Ian made landfall. People lost a lot; tragically, a few even lost their lives. The cleanup and rebuilding process will continue well into 2023. Still, those reading this made it through with the help of family, friends, and neighbors. I’m writing this newsletter from a rental house in early December. Our home got severely damaged, but fortunately, the hurricane didn’t wholly destroy it. Like many others, we’re dealing with contractors and making countless decisions. I hope we’ll be back home by the time you receive this newsletter, but setbacks could always delay our plans. Helping people prepare for the future is my job, but this experience taught me a new lesson about planning for the unexpected. Everyone hates paying for insurance. It always feels like you’re paying for nothing — until you need it. I imagine I’m not the only one who will be carefully reviewing my policies for gaps going forward. Not worrying about finances is invaluable with all the other crises we face. In that same spirit of preparation, we’ve recently mailed our Client Care Program members their annual client care packet. Some of you may have received it already; those who haven’t should see it in your mailboxes very soon. Our Client Care Program is a form of insurance protecting you if there are changes in the law or your family’s circumstances.
Members can expect to find a great deal of
helpful information inside the client care packet. Central to the packet is a white paper
Craig authored about a new planning opportunity. It’s too technical to outline here, but we believe it will substantially benefit many of our clients. Check out the full white paper to learn how to take advantage of it. We’ve also included important reminders regarding your annual estate planning maintenance. A review will provide you with a summary of beneficiaries and power of attorneys so you can make necessary updates. The beginning of the year is also an excellent time to assess your current plan and inform us of changes. New accounts, additions to the family, and changed beneficiaries should all be accounted for now. Members will find other goodies in their packet, so we hope you’ll take the time to sit down with it as a family and review it in detail. While many people learn different lessons from our experience with Hurricane Ian, I hope two will be universal. Firstly, our loved ones are crucial in times of crisis; secondly, everyone needs to have a plan ready to execute at a moment’s notice. I will continue to pray for everyone affected by the hurricane and hope all of us come out stronger on the other side together.
Don’t want to wait for your client care packet? Read Craig Hersch’s white paper now by scanning the QR code below!
–Mike Hill
1 (239) 265-9779
JANUARY 2023
Want to Try Something New This Winter? Check Out These 3 Unique Activities Throughout winter, we have the opportunity to participate in many activities that are only possible during this season. We can ski, snowboard, snowshoe, sled, and more. While some people fly south for winter vacations to escape the cold weather, others travel to extraordinary winter destinations within our country. Plenty of options are available if you’re looking for a truly unique experience this winter. Here are three winter activities that will leave you with long-lasting memories. Snowmobile Tours in Alaska weather activities to showcase. A truly exceptional experience
is skating on Mirror Lake. They have a 2-mile-long ice track where you can test your speed and areas for people to skate openly or play a game of ice hockey. You can even participate in dog sledding there. It’s a beautiful area filled with various winter activities. Ice Fishing Excursions in Brainerd, Minnesota
Alaska is one of America’s hidden gems, even though it’s the biggest U.S. state. If you’re looking for unique winter experiences, you’ll want to visit Alaska. One of the coolest adventures you can experience is a snowmobile tour. You can hop aboard a snowmobile and ride the same path as the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race or visit some beautiful mountains and glaciers. Many of these tours will lead you right past moose, bears, and caribou as you take
While fishing might be more commonly known as a spring or summer activity, you can get plenty of fishing done in the winter if you know where to go. Brainerd is considered one of the best places to visit for ice fishing enthusiasts. There are over 300 fishing lakes near the city, and you can expect to catch bluegill, walleye, largemouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike, and many others. If you like to fish throughout the year, check out Brainerd.
in the beauty of Alaska’s environment. Skating on Mirror Lake at Lake Placid
Lake Placid, New York, had the privilege of hosting the Winter Olympics twice, so it’s no surprise they have some amazing cold
o u S p o t a
3 Tips to Improve Online Safety
With every aspect of our lives going digital, we spend more time on the internet than ever. Getting online is a great way to connect with distant friends, share updates about your life, learn new things, and unwind. But the internet can also be dangerous, and there is no shortage of scam artists waiting for you to let your guard down. In honor of Safer Internet Day on Feb. 7, we want to pass along some timeless tips to keep your information secure. While there are dozens of scams floating around online at any given time, the rules below will help you avoid almost all of them. Don’t reuse passwords. There seems to be a login for everything these days. Since we can only remember so much, it often seems easiest to use the same password on every site. But this thinking has a fatal flaw: Once hackers steal one password, they’ve obtained them all. As frustrating as it may be, using a different secure password for each site will protect you best from scammers and security breaches. You don’t even have to remember them all. Use a password manager like LastPass or 1Password that stores your passwords under one highly secure master account.
Suspect unexpected emails. Sometimes, our banks email us out of the blue. But it always pays to be wary when they do. Most scams rely
on impersonating a trustworthy source like your credit card company or favorite online retailer. Confirm the email’s legitimacy before taking action — especially if it contains alarming information or asks you to provide information. You can protect yourself by checking the sending email address, looking for typos throughout the email, and watching for generic greetings like “Dear Customer.” Slow down and think. Scams also succeed by frightening us into acting impulsively. We receive confirmation of a large unauthorized purchase, notification that our account was hacked, or word that a loved one is in trouble. But other than a medical emergency, there’s nothing that can’t wait five minutes. Resist the urge to act immediately, ask whether the scenario makes sense, and research it directly via the company’s website or customer service phone number. Importantly, always look up the contact information independently — never click the links or call the number listed in a suspicious email.
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floridaestateplanning.com
When Everyone Is Thinking the Same Thing
Why Your Estate Planner Needs the Full Picture
Every estate plan has unique considerations, but many don’t realize it until it’s too late. Attorney Craig Hersch wrote a recent blog post about the perils of a paint-by-numbers estate plan. Read his full thoughts at FloridaEstatePlanning.com/when-everyone-is-thinking- the-same-thing-2. General Patton once famously said, “When everyone is thinking the same thing, then somebody’s not thinking!” How often have you been in a meeting where everyone is afraid to say what they think? The action plans of those sessions are usually less than satisfactory. When I sit down with a couple to discuss their estate plan, I like to ask them questions about themselves and their family. How many children do you have? Tell me about them, and so on. To do otherwise — to simply ask how to divide their possessions — invites problems. “Just split everything equally amongst our children after both of us are gone” is a common direction that could lead to major issues. Let me give you an example. Suppose Chadwick has built up a family business over many years, and the equity and value make up a large chunk of Chadwick’s net worth. Chadwick has three children, only one of whom works in the family business, and there is some animosity between the son who works in the family business and another son who does not.
If Chadwick’s will divides up his net worth amongst his three children, what problems might occur? For one thing, the son who inherits his third share of Chadwick’s business (but is the one responsible for running it) might resent that his work benefits his two siblings who do nothing but sit back and wait for dividend checks. Adversely, the other two siblings might complain that the son working the business isn’t running it correctly.
Eventually, hard feelings will fester and may even fracture family relationships. There are alternatives for the client with wealth tied up in an illiquid asset. But when working on an estate plan, you would only arrive at these solutions if you can get everyone thinking outside the box.
Planning this way might lead to difficult conversations and disagreements. But as General Patton figured
out, it’s okay to have a conflict during the planning stage. No family wants to have those disputes when it’s too late.
Slow Cooker Chicken and White Bean Stew
INGREDIENTS
TAKE A BREAK!
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4 15-oz cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• • • • • • •
4 cups chopped kale 1 tbsp lemon juice 1/2 tsp kosher salt 1/2 tsp ground pepper 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• • • • • •
6 cups chicken broth
1 cup chopped yellow onion
1 cup sliced carrots
1 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary 1 4-oz Parmesan cheese rind 2 1-lb bone-in chicken breasts
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup parsley leaves
DIRECTIONS 1. In a 6-quart slow cooker, combine beans, broth, onion, carrots, rosemary, and Parmesan rind. Top with chicken. Cover and cook on low until the beans and vegetables are tender, about 7–8 hours. 2. Remove chicken from slow cooker. On a clean cutting board, let the chicken rest until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Shred the chicken and discard bones. 3. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in kale. Cover and cook on high until kale is tender, 20–30 minutes. 4. Stir in lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Discard the Parmesan rind. Serve the stew drizzled with oil and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and parsley. (239) 265-9779
ANSWER ON TOP OF PAGE 4...
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INSIDE this issue
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Hurricane Ian’s Lessons for the Future PAGE 1 3 Unique Winter Activities to Experience PAGE 2 Protect Yourself on Safer Internet Day PAGE 2 Thinking Outside of the Box PAGE 3 Take a Break! PAGE 3 Slow Cooker Chicken and White Bean Stew PAGE 3 How to Stay Hydrated Without Drinking Water 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.
Ha te
Stay Hydrated With These Alternatives
4 floridaestateplanning.com Most of us already know how beneficial eating fruits and vegetables can be, but If you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy the taste of water, there’s good news. There are other ways to stay hydrated. Here are a few of them. Fruits and Vegetables Did you know that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated? It’s a hidden epidemic that many Americans fail to realize is happening. Most people need to drink at least 4–6 cups of water daily, but Americans only average 2.5 cups each day. This leaves them seriously dehydrated, and they get used to the feeling, so they don’t even notice it. For many people, the challenge comes from finding time in the day to drink enough water, while others simply don’t like the taste.
they also help us stay hydrated. Many fruits and vegetables are comprised mostly of water. Lettuce and cucumbers have 96% water content, celery and radishes have 95%, and cauliflower, strawberries, spinach, watermelon, and bell peppers are 92% water. Eating enough fruits and vegetables in your daily diet can increase your water intake by 2–3 cups without drinking anything. Iced Coffee How often have you heard that coffee is bad for you and will dehydrate you? Coffee is one of the few caffeinated drinks that does not cause fluid loss. It’s also 98% water, so it’s actually helping to rehydrate you. Decaffeinated coffee is the best way to go, but you can get the same benefits by drinking regular coffee. Just don’t overdo it since too
much caffeine can cause adverse effects. Limit yourself to one or two cups a day. Coconut Water and Drink Mixes Many people consume sports drinks to counter dehydration, but many of those are loaded with sugar and sodium, which both dehydrate you. Instead, try drinking coconut water. It has more potassium and fewer carbs and sodium than sports drinks, so it’s a great alternative to maintain your hydration levels. You can also try drink mixes that flavor your water and make it taste better. Be cautious of what you use, as many drink mixes contain sugar and caffeine, which can counteract your efforts.
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