North Georgia Elder Law January 2019

Kevin’s Peace of Mind

www.kevintharpe.com (770) 503-1022

January 2019

How a Hot Rod Can Help You Plan for the Future Title of Assets Is the Engine Your Car Needs

Ever since I decided to switchmy pursuit from being a tax attorney to a career in elder law and estate planning, I’ve tried to encourage my clients to focus their planning on one very important question:“What is going to happen tomy assets when I die?” I recall a few years ago, whenmy wife’s uncle got a“how to build a hot rod kit.” This kit showed him how to rebuild the frame, doors, tires, and even came with a new logo. But what he didn’t have was a rebuilt engine. He knew that when it came time to drive the car out his garage, nothing was going to happen until he had an engine tomake the car run. In the same way that my uncle-in-law knows he needs to pair together the restoration kit and the engine tomake the hot rod drivable, a person’s approach to keeping their assets safe involves a solid preparation process. All of us have assets— some have different types of assets than others, and some have more assets than others—but we all have wishes about what we want to happen to those assets when we die. For this reason, it’s important to put those wishes in a legal document. In analogy to the hot rod restoration kit, basing your planning on a legal document alone (such as a will) equates to building the car. The traditional legal document people choose is a will. Unfortunately, a will by itself is akin to a restoration kit. It shows you how to rebuild the frame, doors, and tires, but a will is still just a car with no engine. In this scenario, the engine (or the legal step that will make our car run and keep our assets protected) is a title of assets. What is going to determine what happens to our assets when we die is getting a title of assets in coordination with our wishes as expressed in our legal document.

To actually put this analogy into action, I recommend a trust, which is the only estate- planning document that allows you to coordinate your wishes with your title of assets, so you know exactly what is going to happen to your estate if something happens. The best part of using a trust is that you can make plans while you are still living. In order to reap the benefits a trust can offer, you must first decide if you want a revocable or irrevocable trust, as each has unique benefits and limitations. For example a revocable living trust allows you to make changes in its provisions during your lifetime while maintaining ownership of the assets titled in the name of the revocable trust. On the other hand, irrevocable trusts can’t be changed, and any assets they contain must remain in the trust without possibility of retrieval. Because you do not have to give up ownership over the assets titled in a revocable trust, and because you have the flexibility of making changes to a revocable trust anytime

during your lifetime — the opposite of an irrevocable trust —we recommend a revocable living trust for our clients . The start of a new year is a good time to set goals. Whether these goals are small, like only eating dessert once a week, or big, like making plans to travel more often, January is the optimal time to take stock of the previous year and evaluate ways in which you want tomake the most of your time and better your life overall. Make the choice to be proactive in your estate planning instead of avoiding it; it’s absolutely vital for your future. Our teamunderstands that this type of planning can be uncomfortable, since it necessitates facing your ownmortality, but we can help you plan for the future, establish your trust, and ensure that your metaphorical hot rod works just as hard as you do to protect your family.

-J. Kevin Tharpe

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SPONTANEOUSLY EJECTING CORK CAUSES LAWSUIT Putting the ‘Pain’ in Champagne

For many people, preparing for the New Year’s countdown is the most exhilarating part of the holiday season. You tune your TV to the Times Square ball drop, hand out party hats, confetti, and noisemakers, and meticulously line up some champagne flutes. What’s left to do? Pop open the champagne! There are many partiers who pop the cork with enthusiastic and careless abandon, while others point the bottle away from their faces and anxiously twist the cork until they hear those bubbles surge to the surface. Turns out, while the latter practice may be slightly less fun, it’s certainly the safer approach. On April 8, 1978, Charles J. Murray was injured when a natural cork stopper spontaneously ejected from a bottle of previously unopened Almaden Blanc de Blancs champagne and struck him in the left eye. He was preparing to serve the bubbly to a party of 40 people, so he placed 12 bottles on a rolling cart and removed the foil and wire retainer from three or four bottles — including the one that eventually injured him. Once he started to roll the cart toward the guests, the cork shot out of the bottle all on its own. When it comes to retirement and finances, there’s enoughmaterial about saving to fill a library. You see commercials onTV showing one tiny domino gradually becoming a massive tower, you hear advice from coworkers and family members, and you read books and articles on the topic. Much less attention, however, is paid to how to spend those savings once you’re actually retired, even though it’s a significant part of the equation. After all, it doesn’t matter howmuch you save if you blow it all in a year. Here are a few considerations to keep inmind as you begin chipping away at that nest egg. The easiest way to budget for your retirement is with a level spending plan. In this system, you simply estimate how many years your retirement will last and divide your savings by that number. It’s better to make a generous estimate rather than a conservative one. A survey of financial planners conducted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) found that outliving savings is the No. 1 concern of those approaching retirement. Underestimating your life span is an easy way for this fear to come true. Of course, a level spending plan assumes that your financial needs won’t change over the course of your retirement. If you’re the type of person who regularly meets and exceeds your budgeting goals, you can probably make it work. If not, you may want to consider a plan that allocates more money with each passing year of retirement. In the event of increased medical costs or other later-life expenses, an escalating plan provides a financial safety net. HOW MUCH TO SPEND

Due to the severity of his injury, Murray sued Almaden Vineyards, Inc., National Distillers and Chemical Corporation, and Carbo, Inc., alleging that they were responsible because they failed to include a proper warning label on the bottle. The defendants, however, argued that the cork stopper did not and could not spontaneously eject unless Murray had handled the bottle improperly. The case was argued by both sides for two years, but eventually, Murray won. Almaden Vineyards now prints the following on its bottles: “WARNING: THIS BOTTLE IS UNDER PRESSURE. THE STOPPER WILL EJECT SOON AFTER THE WIRE HOOD REMOVAL. TO PROTECT AGAINST INJURY TO FACE AND EYES, POINT AWAY FROM SELF AND OTHERS WHEN OPENING.” When it comes to bubbly-induced mayhem, the greatest potential trouble lies in the eye of the beholder — literally. With an estimated velocity of 60 miles per hour, uncontrolled corks do in fact fly faster than the blink of an eye. To avoid having to explain a not-so-fashionable eye patch at work on Monday, handle those fizzy drinks with care.

How to Spend Wisely in Retirement MAKE YOUR SAVINGS LAST

WHAT TO SPEND ON

Some of your spending choices will come down to personal preference and interests, but you might be surprised to learn that one category of spending consistently proves more fulfilling than others. Professor Michael Finke of The American College surveyed nearly 1,500 retirees and found that spending money on leisure activities and experiences caused the lowest rate of regret. Finke calls this “social spending” and surmises that it’s favored because it encourages older adults to get out into the world and enjoy their retirements. There is no perfect plan for how to spend your savings during retirement. But there is one very wrong way to go about it, and that’s mindlessly. However you choose to spend your savings, make sure you have a plan.

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TAKE A BREAK

Social Media Reminders for Parents SOCIALLY SECURE Social media has been making the world smaller than ever. The distance among cross-country relatives and friends shrinks with each post or Skype call. And instant updates from loved ones are particularly valuable during the holidays. That Christmas morning video call means Grandma and Grandpa get to see their grandkids in their new holiday outfits, but so can online predators. According to digital and safety experts, half of the photos filtered onto the darknet are stolen from parents’ social media accounts. If these predators are privy to your photos, they’re also able to snag your location and other sensitive information, putting you and your children at physical risk as well. On a less disturbing note, social media content is permanent. Even after you delete a post or a photo, it leaves a digital footprint that could follow your child throughout their education and could even affect job interviews or future relationships. It’s still possible for you to foster a sense of privacy in the digital age, but it’s important to respect what your child deems private information. After all, it’s their future. Consider these rules before you share. 1. Ask your child’s permission. If they can speak, then they can speak for themselves. Children love to see photos of themselves, but they may also be aware of what they are and aren’t comfortable with, even at a young age. 2. Limit the nudity. Everyone loves a beach day, but think twice before posting swimsuit or skinny-dipping pictures. Opt to post safer photos, like the family posing prior to fun in the sun. 3. Check your settings. Your privacy settings may be exposing your family to more people than you know, and if you feel the need to share every minute of your child’s day online, making these settings airtight will protect your children and their reputations. 1. Tinybeans.com is a secure photo-sharing website for parents of babies and young children. The digital photo album app allows you to share photos with only the people you choose. 2. Create a separate, secure group on Facebook. Family, friends, or coworkers in closed groups can still fawn over their little ones in a personal, safe setting. Despite the dangers your digital life can elicit, you don’t have to avoid the digital world completely. Social media is still a great tool for families to stay connected, as long as you take precautions. Go ahead and brag about your kids online — just be safe and considerate of your child’s wishes. Consider some of these safe alternatives to regular public posting:

CITRUS AND AVOCADO SALAD

Winter is the height of citrus season, so it’s a perfect time to experiment with oranges and lemons. Roasting the fruits concentrates their flavor and makes the skins edible, creating a blast of flavor for this winter salad.

Ingredients

• 1 blood, cara cara, or navel orange, sliced 1/8-inch thick and deseeded • 1 Meyer or regular lemon, sliced 1/8-inch thick and deseeded • 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided • 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice • 1 bunch arugula • 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves • 1 avocado, cut into wedges • Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. In a rimmed baking sheet, toss citrus slices with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast citrus until lightly charred and caramelized, about 10–15 minutes. Let cool. 3. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine onion and lemon juice. Season with salt and let sit for 5 minutes. 4. Add citrus, arugula, and mint to onion mixture. Drizzle with remaining oil,

season with salt and pepper to taste, and toss thoroughly. 5. Add avocado, combing very gently to not crush avocado.

Inspired by Bon Appétit

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(770) 503-1022 www.KevinTharpe.com 405 Broad St Gainesville, GA 30501 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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How a Hot Rod Can Help You Plan for the Future

Watch Out for Rogue Champagne Corks This Year Spending Tips for Older Adults Citrus and Avocado Salad Staying Safe on Social Media

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Put MLK Jr.’s Message of Love Into Practice

A Message of Universal Love Commemorating MLK Jr.

In many of his speeches and sermons, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about

historic events occurred. Our nation is full of opportunities to become better acquainted with the birth of the civil rights movement, from the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia, to Selma, Alabama, where protest marches were held in 1965. After all, if we don’t know our past, we are doomed to repeat it.

the Caged Bird Sings,” or Rebecca Skloot’s “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.”

3. SHARE THE MESSAGE OF NONVIOLENCE AND GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY.

love. He wasn’t talking about the romantic kind, though. King often used the term“agape,” an Ancient Greek word used to refer to the unconditional love of God for man, to talk about universal love for all people, regardless of race, religion, or circumstance. We commemorate King on Jan. 21. It’s a celebration and a National Day of Service, so take the opportunity to honor King’s message of universal love. Here are three ways to put agape into practice.

At the center of King’s message was the principle of nonviolence. Consider how you can advocate for nonviolence in your community. You could donate your time or money to a local shelter for victims of abuse, or volunteer your home to foster abandoned pets. If you’re part of a PTA or another school organization, encourage students to put an end to bullying. The Mix It Up program has anti-bullying lessons and activities that support King’s message. Take some time to reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision this month and take part in the universal message of love. Don’t we all want more of that?

2. EDUCATE YOURSELF AND OTHERS ABOUT THE STRUGGLES PEOPLE HAVE FACED.

Learning about the experiences of others cultivates empathy. When you interact with someone across cultural or subcultural boundaries, it helps to reduce prejudice. Promote positive interactions in your community by hosting a film night or book club focused on the civil rights movement. You can feature a movie like “Selma” or “13th.” For a book club, select an autobiography or biography that puts yourself in someone else’s shoes, like Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why

1. PAY A VISIT TO A HISTORICAL SITE.

Immerse yourself in King’s message this month by visiting the places where these

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