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JUNE 2020
E AGLE A ND F EIN . COM
317-726-1714
Dancing to My Own Beat
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with songs and artists and the power music has to change our moods. When I was studying sociology at the University of Evansville, I got my start in the industry when I volunteered at the student radio station. Eventually, I started working as a DJ spinning tunes on Sunday mornings. I absolutely loved the work, even though it is possible no one was listening but my grandma. She told me she was proud of me and said she could understand every word I said on the radio. That made me feel so good that I would occasionally give her a shoutout on the air. If I knew she was in her garden picking strawberries, I might say, “It’s great weather for strawberry picking!” between songs, like a little thank-you wink. Even then, I thought that being good to grandmas was important — and funnily enough, that thought ended up pointing my life in a brand-new direction. After I graduated from college, I went on to earn my master’s in higher education, then started working for the Vincennes University Foundation. Right away, I was intrigued by the idea that folks could make charitable gifts to the university in a tax-advantageous way, producing strings of income for themselves and their heirs. I wanted to learn more about charitable giving, so I decided to go to law school. At the time, I never intended to take the bar exam or become a practicing attorney: I wanted to go right back into the nonprofit sector. However, a little old lady — reminiscent of my grandma — changed my mind. During law school, I did a lot of pro bono work for a group called the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic. One of my first clients was an elderly lady who needed help with her will, and I ended up sitting down with her to talk through advance-care planning, durable financial power of attorney, a living will, and more. By the end of our conversation, she was a whole new lady: empowered to shape her future with a peace of mind she did not have before.
That was the moment I really fell in love with serving clients. I realized there is no better feeling than helping someone else and getting them from a tricky or disheartening point A to a much more advantageous point B. After that, I was certain that I wanted to take the bar exam. A few years later, I dove into elder law, Medicaid, and VA benefit planning with a couple institutions. Then, years later, I fully submersed into estate planning, administration, and elder law in the private sector with Eagle & Fein. Today, I have a real soft spot for our elderly clients and do everything I can to help out the grandmothers and grandfathers who walk through our doors. Even though I’m a professional lawyer now and not a college DJ, I’m still a music junkie. I constantly seek out music in my free time, even reading music blogs and streaming radio stations from overseas, like the BBC. I mostly listen to alternative, but you can catch me tapping my foot to jazz, blues, and country, too. These days, my all-time favorite musician is my 16-year-old daughter, Elliott. I hung up my sax years ago, but her skill on the violin proves a musical gene runs in the family! I’m happy to let her take the reins while I help people plan their golden years.
Here’s to dancing to your own beat, wherever life takes you.
– Scott Linneweber, Associate Attorney
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GAME ON! 3 Platforms for Competing Online and Crushing Your Fitness Goals
Through smartphone apps like Words With Friends and 8 Ball Pool, you can compete against your loved ones from virtually anywhere, and creators in the fitness world have taken notice. Now, a number of virtual fitness programs offer the same level of friendly competition along with the satisfaction of completing your fitness goals. Below are three platforms to get you started!
various wellness goals. You can also challenge your friends and family to place bets and stay motivated together. All the money is placed into a pot, and when you complete your goal, you get your money back. Some users say they’ve even made a profit! Search for DietBet, StepBet, and RunBet in your app store and get started.
VIRTUAL RUN EVENTS
FITOCRACY
With all the excitement of a footrace and no crowd to deal with, Virtual Run Events brings 1-mile, 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and full marathon races to you. Racers choose a distance to run around their neighborhood, on the treadmill, or at the park, and their friends and family compete in the very same races wherever they happen to be. As a bonus, proceeds from a number of these events also support nonprofit organizations. Visit VirtualRunEvents.com to sign up for a race and lace up your shoes wherever you are.
Calling all gamers! This is the fitness platform just for you. Invented by gamers, Fitocracy tracks fitness achievements and rewards users as if they were playing a video game. With quests, badges, and multiplayer gaming options, you’ll be motivated to work hard for your goals. Connect with new online friends or invite your loved ones to join you on Fitocracy. It doesn’t get much better than dueling friends or family in a classic one-on-one wellness competition! Learn more at Fitocracy.com.
DIETBET, STEPBET, AND RUNBET
Looking for a little extra motivation to meet your health and fitness goals? Try involving money and a little friendly competition. DietBet, StepBet, and RunBet ask each user to place monetary bets on their ability to achieve
3 Things to Remember About Medicaid Planning
You’re likely familiar with the ins and outs of estate planning and learning more about it every day. However, in our years of working with people plotting out their retirement strategies and end-of-life scenarios, we’ve found one particular facet of the process is often overlooked, even by professionals: Medicaid planning. WHAT IS MEDICAID PLANNING? To put it succinctly, Medicaid planning is the structuring of an individual’s income and assets to assure their eligibility for Medicaid benefits. If a person’s assets exceed the limits of Medicaid, for example they will need to deplete those assets in a way that will not violate the Medicaid eligibility rules. Eligibility requirements vary from state to state, and the federal government also sets its own limits on enrollee assets and income, so it can be a tricky process. WHO QUALIFIES FOR MEDICAID? As we mentioned above, a person must meet strict financial guidelines to qualify for Medicaid. On top of that, they have to fit within one of the plan’s coverage categories.
In general terms, Medicaid coverage is available to older adults, the disabled, low-income children, pregnant women, and adults in families with dependent children. HOW DOES MEDICAID IMPACT MY CLIENTS? Medicaid planning can be a useful tool for people who’ve been recently injured or for those who have lost their homes or jobs and are in precarious financial positions with children to support. During this pandemic, many more Americans fit into these categories than before. Also, Medicaid and Medicare can be good compliments to a retirement plan, because Medicare, for example, will cover the cost of a nursing home, but only for a limited time and under very specific circumstances. If you have a client interested in diving deeper into estate and Medicaid planning, it’s vital they enlist an experienced attorney to guide them through the process. Here at Eagle & Fein, we have a team of top- notch Medicaid planners ready to do just that.
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SUDOKU
Are You Ready to Level Up Your Estate Planning Expertise?
Join The Eagle Institute!
You already know that our team here at Eagle & Fein is your go-to resource for all things estate planning. But now, if you’d like to learn more about the process and level up your own expertise for your clients, we can help with that, too! Throughout the year, the Eagle Wealth Planning Institute hosts a series of educational workshops focused on estate planning fundamentals. This educational series will provide you with the tools you need to assist your clients in creating and maintaining estate plans that accomplish their long- term goals. After completing all four 8:30 a.m. workshops, you will be inducted into the institute and invited to attend exclusive events. Here’s a rundown of the topics that will be covered: ‘LINKING YOUR CLIENT’S ESTATE PLAN WITH THEIR BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS’ — TUESDAY, AUG. 4, 2020 In this workshop, you’ll learn why an advisor is irreplaceable when it comes to helping a client establish a comprehensive estate plan and fulfilling their desire to leave a legacy. You’ll also find out how to offer connections between legal documents and the distribution pattern of assets under management. ‘HOW & WHY TO ENGAGE YOUR CLIENTS IN THE ESTATE PLANNING PROCESS’ — TUESDAY, SEPT. 15, 2020 In this workshop, you’ll learn why proper planning is essential to give clients and their survivors the security and financial benefits they need. You’ll also see how a trust-based plan and an awareness of the different types of estate planning tools can help you customize your clients’ plans while also providing privacy from the probate courts. ‘HELPING YOUR CLIENTS PLAN FOR THEIR DISABILITY’ — TUESDAY, FEB. 2, 2021 Inevitably, over time, your clients will transition from healthy to unhealthy, and how organized this process is depends on them. Once they realize how important it is to plan for their end-of-life care, you can work together to implement a strategy. The sooner that happens, the sooner they’ll qualify for government benefits. ‘USES OF LIFE INSURANCE IN ESTATE PLANNING’ — TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2021 In this workshop, you’ll find out how Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) can give your clients the option to plan gifts without unnecessary tax consequences. These perks include accumulating assets outside of a taxable estate, avoiding income tax on the accumulated funds, creating a source of liquidity, and protecting them from the claims of creditors.
Paleo Sausage Frittata
Bacon may be a paleo favorite for breakfast, but this hearty sausage meal can be enjoyed any time of day and is the perfect way to mix things up! INGREDIENTS
• • •
3 tbsp coconut oil
• • •
4 green onions, diced
1 lb mild Italian sausage 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and grated
10 eggs, whisked
Black pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large ovenproof skillet, heat coconut oil over medium heat.
2. Crumble sausage into the skillet and cook until browned.
3. Add sweet potato and cook until tender.
4. Add green onion and sauté for 2–3 minutes.
5. Spread this mixture evenly throughout the skillet. Pour eggs over mixture and sprinkle black pepper over top.
6. Cook without stirring for 3 minutes or until bubbly.
7. Transfer skillet to oven and cook under broiler on low until frittata is cooked through.
To learn more about any of these workshops or register for the series, contact Melissa Claycomb at 317-726-1714 or MClaycomb@eagleandfein.com.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 Scott’s Evolution from College DJ to Music-Loving Attorney 2 Battle Your Friends and Get Healthier With These 3 Platforms 3 Things to Remember About Medicaid Planning 3 Are You Ready to Level Up Your Estate Planning Expertise? Paleo Sausage Frittata 4 Your Guide to the Perfect Virtual Happy Hour
If you can’t see your friends in person to clink wine glasses or whiskey tumblers, never fear: A virtual happy hour can bring all of your closest pals right into your living room. The concept is simple. Using online meetup programs like Google Hangouts, Zoom, or FaceTime, you can drink with friends across the country without leaving home. If you don’t want to get out of your sweatpants but want to sip a classy cocktail, this is a win-win. But, you can also ditch the sweats and go all-out for the full virtual happy hour (VHH) experience. Here are five short steps to VHH success. 1. Pick your platform. In the days leading up to your VHH, your friends need to agree on a single platform. Once you choose, make sure everyone has downloaded it and encourage your buddies to do a test run to ensure they can be seen and heard. 2. Theme it up. Every party is better with a theme, and VHH is no exception! Considering the decade, Roaring ‘20s is a popular choice, but you can go with whatever floats your friend group’s boat,
whether that’s Kentucky Derby or “Harry Potter” (alcoholic butterbeer, anyone?).
3. Write your menu. While you could just drink whatever beer or half-open bottle of wine is sitting in your respective refrigerators, where’s the fun in that? To really class up your VHH, chat with your friends about the ingredients you all have on hand and come up with a themed cocktail menu to “order” from on the big night. 4. Dress to the nines. Since you’re in the privacy of your own home, you can try out your wackiest, fanciest outfits without public judgment. If you’ve always wanted to try on a Roaring ‘20s flapper dress or a Roman toga, now is the time! Remember, if you go with the “Harry Potter” theme, your bathrobe could easily pass as a wizard’s robe in a pinch. 5. Drink! You’ve planned perfectly, so now it’s time to enjoy each other’s company. Plus, there’s one final perk: Since you’re drinking and giggling on your own couch, you don’t need to worry about a designated driver or an Uber to get you the handful of steps to your bedroom. You’ve got this!
YOUR GUIDE TO THE PERFECT VIRTUAL HAPPY HOUR
IT’S TIME TO RAISE A GLASS!
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