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513-721-1513 | ZimmerLawFirm.com October 2025
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LET US SURPRISE YOU “Laws shift, families grow, and goals evolve, and we’ll be there to help you adjust along the way.” –Barry Zimmer More Than Just Documents Estate planning is about more than drafting
Trust Reviews are so important: They help prevent costly mistakes and ensure your plan works when it’s needed most. Education That Empowers We host live and recorded client education events, including Trustee and Power of Attorney School, which is invaluable for your future fiduciaries and family, and 8 Mistakes That Can Affect Your Estate Plan, sharing practical insights to avoid common pitfalls Support for Your Family When It Matters Most In the event of a death or incapacitating event, we offer a free consultation to guide your family through the next steps. You’re not alone, and neither are they. Services You Might Not Know About Little-known services we offer include Medicaid preplanning to protect a lifetime of savings, nursing care crisis planning, legal plans for young adults just starting out, and second opinions for prospective clients on plans from other firms. Whether you need a simple will or a comprehensive trust-based plan, we help you choose what fits best. We Stay Involved — Because Life Changes Relocation, divorce, or a death in the family? We’ll walk you through what needs to be done in a no-cost meeting. If you need legal services, we’re ready to help. In medical emergencies, we can ensure your medical- legal documents are instantly accessible through tools like DocuBank, saving your family time, stress, and money. Clear Answers, Real People We explain things in plain language and back it up with handouts and resources
a will or trust. Some clients come to us expecting just that. But there’s so much more to planning well and staying prepared. At Zimmer Law Firm, we believe your relationship with your attorney should go far beyond paperwork. Since our founding in 1993, we’ve built lifelong relationships with our clients, helping them navigate life’s changes with clarity, compassion, and confidence. What Happens After You Sign Your plan may be complete on paper, but that’s just the beginning. We offer trust funding checkups for all new clients and free Trust Reviews to ensure your plan stays aligned with your life. These reviews often uncover missing pieces or outdated provisions that could cause problems later. We also answer questions by phone or email at no cost because we know nothing is constant except change. Case Study: Why Trust Reviews Matter A recent occurrence demonstrates why we offer free trust reviews. We recently called an unmarried 91-year-old client for a routine Trust Review. She reluctantly consented, saying nothing had changed and that she didn’t think she needed to meet. She was surprised when we discovered several investment accounts were not titled to her trust, meaning they would have ended up in probate. She was relieved and grateful that we caught the issue. This is exactly why
you can actually use. Our clients know they can call or email and get real answers from someone who cares. It’s Time to Revisit Your Plan If it’s been a few years since your last review, now is a great time to reconnect. We’ll review what you have, fill in any gaps, and help you decide if it’s time for any changes. Planning Is Personal In today’s world of AI and DIY options, it’s easy to forget that estate planning involves human emotions, family goals, and relationships. Technology can’t replace the personal care and insight that define our work. We’re here to protect your family, your assets, and your peace of mind. Visit ZimmerLawFirm.com, call our office, or email Info@zimmerlawfirm.com to set up a free trust review or personal estate planning consultation. Discover how much more there is to Zimmer Law Firm!
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The Child-Free Retirement Playbook
SECURE, SMART, AND SATISFYING
When you look into why people decide to create an estate plan, you’ll find a common thread connecting the top reasons. Many people want to leave money or assets to their heirs, ensure their kids have a prosperous future, and provide a plan regarding guardianship for any minor children. Many common reasons for estate planning involve children, but what if you never had any? Is it still necessary to create an estate plan? Do you need to take other actions to plan for your senior years properly? For starters, everyone should establish an estate plan, regardless of age, family situation, finances, or health. Creating an estate plan allows you to lay out your wishes for various aspects of your life. You can determine what will happen to your money and personal possessions, who can make health care and financial decisions
on your behalf, and more. Establishing an estate plan lets you gain peace of mind about the future while ensuring your loved ones follow your wishes. When looking toward your senior years, estate planning will only get you so far. You should take other actions to ensure you can enjoy retirement comfortably. Consider looking into long-term care insurance to help offset assisted living costs and other facilities. Get out of your comfort zone to meet new people and find a network that provides assistance, encouragement, and support. You can do this by getting more involved with your community, church, or other local organizations. Another thing you should do is list out all your important information. Keep records of your bank accounts, insurance policies, important contact information, monthly
bills, and upcoming medical appointments. Having this information on hand will make everything easier if someone else has to step in to help out. Your senior years do not have to be confusing, challenging, or lonely if you have never had children. By taking action and making plans, you can make the most of your retirement and enjoy it to the fullest!
CREATIVE TRICKS TO BEAT DOGGY BOREDOM KEEP THOSE PAWS BUSY
Teach a new trick. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Training sessions teach obedience and provide mental exercise! Whether it’s “shake,” “spin,” or even “put your toys away,” learning something new gives your dog a sense of purpose and boosts your bond. Schedule short, interactive play breaks. Even five minutes of fetch or tug-of-war can break up the day and add excitement. Short bursts of play are especially great for working pet parents or anyone with a packed schedule. Enrichment on a budget. You don’t need to spend a lot to keep your pup engaged. With a bit of creativity, cardboard boxes, old towels, and even ice cubes with treats frozen inside can become boredom busters. Think of it as DIY enrichment!
Have you ever come home to find chewed shoes, shredded pillows, or your trash mysteriously scattered across the floor? If your dog has become a one-pup demolition crew, boredom might be the culprit. Like us, dogs need mental stimulation and activities to keep their minds sharp and their behavior in check. The good news is that you don’t need fancy gadgets or
endless free time to keep your dog happy. A few simple tricks can go a long way in keeping their tails wagging and your belongings intact. Make mealtime a game. Ditch the food bowl and turn mealtime into a brain workout. Try using treat-dispensing toys or puzzle feeders that make your dog work for its food. You can also scatter kibble around the house or yard and let them “hunt” it down. It taps into their instincts and keeps them busy in a fun and rewarding way. Rotate toys to keep things fresh. If your dog has a pile of toys but only plays with one or two, it might be time to mix things up. Keep half of the toys hidden and rotate them out every few days. This keeps things new and exciting, even if your pup has seen the toy before.
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The phrase “history is written by the victors” has been around since the French Revolution, and it can make you wonder how truthful far-fetched historical stories actually are. For example, consider the famous WWII story about the USS O’Bannon. This ship notoriously sank a Japanese submarine using potatoes, but let’s take a closer look to separate fact from fiction. In early April 1943, the crew of the USS O’Bannon was returning to the island of Tulagi when they were asked to check out a submarine that had made contact with the surface not far from their location. It was a dark night, but the waters were calm, so it didn’t take long for the crew to spot a Japanese submarine 2,000 yards away. The sub headed right for their ship, and once it was less than 1,000 yards away, the O’Bannon crew knew they were face-to-face with the enemy. What Really Happened Aboard the O’Bannon? THE TATER TALE THAT TORPEDOES THE TRUTH
TAKE A BREAK
CANDY GOURD HAUNTING LEAVES LIBRA MARIGOLD MOON OPAL PUMPKIN SOUP TEACHERS TOUCHDOWN
The O’Bannon unloaded their artillery at the Japanese sub, causing significant damage. They turned around for a second attack, and then a third attack until the sub sank below the surface. They were victorious, but when did potatoes come into play? It depends on the source you check. Commander MacDonald of the USS O’Bannon never mentions potatoes in the official report of the incident. He’s even gone as far as stating it never happened. However, a book called “Action Tonight” by James David Horan
Extra-Crispy Ranch Chicken Cutlets Inspired by TheCookieRookie.com
Ingredients
• Olive oil • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste • 3/4 cup flour • 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese • 1 oz ranch seasoning, store-bought (1 packet) or homemade • Cooking spray
goes into meticulous detail about the events of that fateful night. Horan states that the crew threw everything they could at the Japanese submarine, including bolts, pieces of artillery, and potatoes. Other publications have repeated this story, noting that potatoes knocked Japanese sailors into the water, leading to the sinking of the submarine. Crew members have also stated that they saw people throwing potatoes. Now, 80 years removed from the event, many O’Bannon crew members have passed away. We’ll never know whether this story is true, but one detail may illuminate the truth. The USS O’Bannon was never closer than 90 yards to the submarine. Unless they had someone with the arm of an NFL- caliber quarterback on board, it’s unlikely that anyone hit the Japanese sub with a potato.
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with olive oil and set aside. 2. Season both sides of chicken breasts with salt and pepper. 3. Set out three shallow bowls. In the first, combine flour and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the eggs to the second bowl. Mix panko, Parmesan, and ranch seasoning mix in the third bowl. 4. For coating, dip seasoned chicken breasts in flour, coating both sides. Then, dip the chicken in the beaten eggs and, finally, the panko mixture. 5. Place each coated chicken breast in the prepared baking dish. 6. Spray the tops of the chicken with cooking spray. 7. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 165 F and is golden brown.
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513-721-1513 ZimmerLawFirm.com 9825 Kenwood Road, STE 201 Cincinnati, OH 45242
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Think You Know Zimmer Law Firm?
Planning a Meaningful Future Without Dependents
Tail-Wagging Tips to Keep Your Dog Mentally Stimulated
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Extra-Crispy Ranch Chicken Cutlets
The USS O’Bannon Potato Incident
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Boost Your Emotional Intelligence With These 3 Empathy Skills
Unlock Stronger Bonds With These 3 Tools THE EMPATHY EFFECT
Emotional Empathy: Feeling With Others This kind of empathy tugs at your heartstrings when someone you love is hurting. Emotional empathy lets you actually feel what another person feels. It’s powerful, but it can also be overwhelming. To strengthen emotional empathy, put distractions away during conversations, make eye contact, and be present. When we give people our full attention, our emotional receptors are activated. If you feel emotionally overloaded, though, it’s okay to take a breather. Boundaries are a healthy part of empathy, too. Compassionate Empathy: Acting on Understanding Compassionate empathy goes beyond understanding and feeling; it’s about doing something helpful. For example, if your
Empathy quite literally holds our relationships together. It helps us connect, understand, and support one another. But did you know empathy isn’t just one thing? It comes in three distinct forms, each playing a unique role in how we relate to others. Cognitive Empathy: Understanding the Mind Cognitive empathy involves mentally stepping into someone else’s shoes to understand their thoughts. For example, if your friend is ranting about a frustrating day at work, cognitive empathy helps you understand and relate. If you want to build this skill, practice active listening. Instead of planning your response while someone’s talking, focus entirely on their words. Then, reflect on what you’ve heard. Phrases like “It sounds like you’re feeling ...” can go a long way.
partner is anxious about an upcoming presentation, you can show compassionate empathy by noticing and offering to run through their slides with them. To show compassionate empathy, ask yourself, “How can I lighten their load right now?” Even small gestures like texting to offer help can build trust and deepen connections. When all three types of empathy are present, relationships thrive. You understand, feel, and act, and while not every situation calls for all three, being aware of each type can make you a better friend, partner, parent, or teammate.
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