Check out our July newsletter!
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 JULY
I LOST ONE OF MY ROLE MODELS
My Father Was My Inspiration
Over Memorial weekend, I received heartbreaking news — my father passed away.
allowed him to pursue the profession of pharmacy, where he wrestled with 8 oz jars.
his children would come together and spend quality time with one another. Despite the tragic circumstances, I knew it made him happy to see all of us come together.
My family and I were driving from Ohio to Charleston, South Carolina, to visit my father and sister for the holiday. I texted my sister to inform her we were heading her way, and would be there soon. She had to share with me that he was on the floor and she couldn’t find any vital signs. The paramedics arrived while I was on the phone with her. According to them, it looks like he fell out of his bed and passed away. In the back of my mind, I always felt as though my father would pass away soon after my mother. He lasted four months and two days, but now he is reunited with
I watched him as an entrepreneur, as he owned a couple of drug stores in town. He was agile, intelligent, and looked for ways to constantly improve his businesses to make them successful. My father did all of this while the United States was in stagflation during the 1970s. I’ve never heard my father complain about how difficult times were or how tired he would be after getting off work — he was more than happy to do it! This left a positive mark on me and showed me how to become a dedicated and driven hard worker. Have you ever heard the saying, “Monkey see, monkey do”? Well, I am the monkey in this scenario. Watching my father close his shop at 8
One of the ways I’ve found that helps me get some peace when someone close to me passes away is my belief that although I can’t visibly see my father or mother anymore, they are always with us. Their journey on Earth may have ended, but their journey up above begins. Legend says that a red cardinal will be present and represent your loved one’s spirit when someone passes away. I was sitting outside with my sister; brother-in- law; Sophie, and Julia, in the backyard when I saw it — the red cardinal. It watched over us, and I knew it was my father — it gave me reassurance and peace. It may be many years until I join my parents and loved ones above. But for now, I will keep their memories alive in my heart. I know they are always with me — no matter what.
his wife of 67 years. It was heartbreaking to receive the news. It never gets easier to lose a loved one — especially one you looked up to and who inspired you.
“One of the ways I’ve found that helps me get some peace when someone
p.m., and then read his trade journals until he fell asleep, in his chair,
close to me passes away is that although I can’t visibly see my father or mother anymore, they are always with us. Their journey on Earth may have ended, but their journey up above begins.”
impacted me. My father had a hunger and a passion for constantly learning and giving back to his profession. This trait was then passed down to me. I am always looking for new things to
Like my mother, my father was a role model
to me. He was such a hardworking man and did everything he could to provide for his home, wife, and seven children. My father always
learn and find avenues to give back to my profession. He always led by example and gave me a great model to follow. I wouldn’t be the man I am today if it wasn’t for my father and his work ethic. I was reminiscing about these ideas during my time with my siblings and family when I visited them. Of course, it’s heartbreaking that I could not see my father. But the one thing that brought him the most joy, and made him smile from ear to ear, was when
said that if we were to have a family crest, it would have a Belgian workhorse on it. I remember him telling me stories of how his family came from Belgium to the Pittsburgh area as glass cutters. This was the first family trade. He, like many of his generation did his time in the armed forces and took advantage of the GI Bill. It gave him the opportunity to leave behind a trade that required him to manhandle 8 foot sheets of glass and
I love you, Dad. Tell Mom hello and give her a kiss for me. I miss you both dearly.
Wealth Solutions www.DuPontWealth.com | Law Office www.DandBLaw.com | 1
Published by Newsletter Pro . www.NewsletterPro.com
STAFF SPOTLIGHT: SHELBY ROUTT, RECEPTIONIST AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
What is something most people don’t know about you? One thing most people don’t know about me is that I am in the process of creating a small hobby farm/homestead for my family. My boyfriend and I closed on a 5-acre property recently, and we’re very excited to get started! My goal is to create products I can share with the community using the resources
I have at home. I currently have horses and goats and will be adding chickens, cows, and pigs by this fall. We are also creating a large garden and hope to eventually have an active beehive to support it. What would you say to someone thinking about creating an estate plan? I would say just do it! Before working here, I never put much thought into estate planning, but after seeing the sense of peace families feel after signing their documents, I realized I need to take care of my estate as well. I don’t want my two sons to have to worry about what Mom or Dad would want down the road.
What do you do here at DuPont and Blumenstiel?
I started working here in February of 2022 as a receptionist, and since then, my responsibilities have grown. My typical workday includes answering incoming phone calls and helping that caller in whatever way I can. This could be scheduling their first estate planning appointment or simply transferring the call to another member of the team who can best help them. When I’m not managing the phones, I am printing, preparing, and mailing any documents that need to be sent out, assembling estate plan folders, and helping to prepare estate plan documents before signing.
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
left us a review or have referred someone to our care. Thank you!
EPISODE 27: Bitcoin and the Blockchain
Kishore Billakanti Danielle Hall Charles Chapman Vicki Beetham
EPISODE 28: An Unpredictable Future With Biotech Advancements
Subscribe to our show on your favorite podcast platform:
2 | Wealth Solutions 614-408-0004 | Law Office 614-408-0529
Yes! But They Have Their Own Drawbacks Are There Alternatives to Bonds?
We talked about how bonds are a lot riskier than you might think in the last edition. But have no fear; you can use various alternatives. Let’s look at some other options for bonds you may find helpful. PRECIOUS METALS AND CRYPTOCURRENCY Investors are attracted to this alternative because precious metals and cryptocurrency are not managed or controlled by the government. They are even advertised as a way to “hedge against inflation.” But this form of investment is also volatile. The value of your share can increase or decrease within a short period of time. They also don’t pay out interests and dividends, and they are not very liquid. This means you are at the mercy of the market, and it’s challenging to sell your stocks when you need or want to. EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS (ETFS) The alternative above has many risks, but is there a way to avoid risky investments while getting a high return? Yes — with ETFs! They are a collection of stocks, bonds, and other investments that can be either bought or sold like single security.
of investing in one singular company, you can get a small share of every company within 500 large companies. FLOATING RATE FUNDS These are mutual funds that invest in bonds with
variable interest rates. Unlike regular bonds, these will go up in value as interest rates increase. They even offer protection against rising interest rates that typically lower your bond’s value. This is because the bonds you invest in are often larger, more stable companies that don’t have as much of a risk of decreasing in value.
However, they usually offer a lower rate of return and tend to have higher fees than other types of mutual funds.
Because there are many alternatives to bonds with many benefits and some drawbacks, it’s best to consult with a financial expert. Allow DuPont Wealth Solutions to assist you when determining which option is right for you based on your needs, risk tolerance, and goals. If none of these alternatives catch your attention, we can discuss plenty more with you. So, give us a call today and see what we can do for you!
They have no administrative costs and generally perform better. They are also considered one of the safest forms of investment. Instead
SUDOKU
RED, WHITE, AND BLUE TIRAMISU
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Your friends will see fireworks when they taste this all-American dessert at the Fourth of July barbecue.
INGREDIENTS
3 cups raspberries 3 cups blackberries 2 cups blueberries
1 cup orange juice
• • • • • •
• • • • •
1 cup heavy whipping cream 2 8-oz cartons mascarpone cheese
2 cups strawberries, sliced 1 1/3 cups sugar, divided
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 7-oz packages crisp ladyfinger cookies
4 tsp orange zest
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, gently mix all berries with 1/3 cup sugar, orange zest, and orange juice. Cover and refrigerate for 45 minutes. 2. In a medium bowl, beat the cream until soft peaks form. 3. In another medium bowl, mix mascarpone cheese, vanilla, and 1 cup sugar. Gradually fold in whipped cream. 4. Over a shallow bowl, drain the berries. Dip the ladyfingers in the leftover juice and allow the excess to drip off. 5. In a 13x9-inch dish, place half the ladyfingers in a single layer. Add a layer with half of the berries and then half the mascarpone mixture. Repeat layers, starting with ladyfingers. 6. Cover and refrigerate overnight before serving.
Wealth Solutions www.DuPontWealth.com | Law Office www.DandBLaw.com | 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
614-408-0004 www.DuPontWealth.com
DuPont Wealth Solutions, LLC 655 Metro Place South, Ste. 440 Dublin, OH 43017
INSIDE
Seeing the Red Cardinal Gave Me Peace PAGE 1 Staff Spotlight: Shelby Routt, Receptionist and Administrative Assistant Our Podcast Episodes Client Appreciation PAGE 2 3 Alternatives to Bonds Red, White, and Blue Tiramisu PAGE 3 3 Summer Food Festivals Worth the Trip PAGE 4
Traveling for the Food?
DON’T MISS THESE 3 FESTIVALS
According to AAA, millions of Americans take “culinary-focused vacations” every year. We’ll travel to Philadelphia for cheesesteaks, Texas for barbecue, Louisiana for gumbo … you get the idea. Our culture loves to eat! If you’re a traveling foodie, you are in luck: Add these three summer festivals to your must-visit list for this summer or future food-finding trips.
organizers put it, “Beer and pierogies go together as well as peanut butter and jelly.”
hollowed-out pineapples. Six celebrity chefs will make appearances this year to compete in food contests and show off their Jamaican roots and/or dishes. When attendees aren’t eating, they can relax at a musical or cultural performance.
GRACE JAMAICAN JERK FESTIVAL (NEW YORK) July 31; JerkFestivalNY.com
KEY WEST LOBSTERFEST (FLORIDA) Aug. 11–14, KeyWestLobsterfest.com
Yes, New York City is home to fantastic pizza and bagels, but it’s also a Caribbean food hub! At this festival, visitors can stuff themselves with jerk chicken, enjoy whole fish, and drink icies straight from
PIEROGI FEST (INDIANA) July 29–31; PierogiFest.net
This year is the 25th annual Key West Lobsterfest! Seafood lovers come from all corners to enjoy the crustacean-crazed festival, which includes a cinematic lobster boil at sunset, a lobsterfest pool party, a pub crawl, and an all-you-can-eat-and- drink lobster brunch. Head to the website to learn more and score delicious lobster recipes — even if you can’t attend! Want more food festival intel? We’ve got you. Visit Insider.com and search “food and drink festivals” for a list of 28 top food attractions, ranked by Yelp reviews.
The Polish pierogi is a humble food: mashed potatoes and cheese wrapped in soft dough and either fried, baked, or grilled to perfection. But simplicity should be celebrated! In Whiting, Indiana, Pierogi Fest is a three-day affair that brings in more than 300,000 people for events like a Polka Parade, a pierogi toss, and, of course, pierogies stuffed with everything from cheese to alligator meat. Of course, there’s also a beer garden, because as the
4 | Wealth Solutions 614-408-0004 | Law Office 614-408-0529
Published by Newsletter Pro . www.NewsletterPro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator