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DON’T BE AN EASY TARGET Proactive Measures to Safeguard Your Property and Belongings THE LEGAL NAVIGATOR OCTOBER 2023
It’s difficult to think your house could be susceptible to burglary. You work hard to pay your mortgage, and all your prized belongings are in your home. So, stay one step ahead of criminals lurking in your area looking to make some fast cash. Whether you’re going on vacation or want to keep your estate secure year-round, here are a few ways to ensure your home stays off a burglar’s hit list. Don’t leave trash cans out while on vacation. One habit most never question is taking your garbage cans out. We all do it without a second thought! But if you’re going on vacation, leaving your garbage cans by the curb can be a major indicator you haven’t been home for days. While law-abiding citizens never consider this, it’s a significant factor robbers keep an eye out for. Be sure to roll those trash cans back in before you head to the airport! Don’t post your itinerary online. With social media, we all want to show we’re on a bucket-list trip. Except, this is just another way you’re advertising your home will be empty for robbers. Even if your account is private, a friend can tell a friend, and before you know it, your television, jewelry, computer, and other belongings will be gone. Keep your travel off social media until you’ve officially returned home. Don’t leave the packaging of expensive items outside. Even if you plan to stay home for the foreseeable future, you should still be careful about what you leave outside. For example, when you purchase a new television or appliance, the box and other packaging may be too large to throw in the recycling bin. But if you leave the box outside, a burglar might consider your home a worthy target. Instead, cut up those boxes to fit them inside the bin as best you can. Keep your home’s exterior well-lit. If it’s not Christmas time, our homes are usually not lit up at night. The problem is that most criminals feel safer in an entirely
dark area. Without any lights to spot them, robbers take the opportunity of a dark night to sneak into your home without being seen. An easy fix is to keep your home’s exterior well-lit. Purchase outdoor lighting to brighten your home and driveway to ward off any nocturnal activities. Add surveillance outside your home. Just the presence of cameras outside your home can keep criminals off your property. Surveillance can also help keep an eye on your home when you’re not there, so if a break-in does happen, you have footage to track down the perpetrator. Doorbell cameras are also effective for keeping packages safe from fast-acting thieves. When it comes to knocking at your door, these cameras can help you feel safer at night or when your kids are home alone.
Using these tips can help prevent your home from being targeted and your belongings stolen. My essential advice here is it’s always better to take preventive measures rather than deal with the aftermath. By thinking like a criminal, you can keep your home and family safe!
Estate, Medicaid and VA Benefits Planning - An Ohio Guide… download your free copy today!
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When people begin the estate planning process, they usually do so to protect their assets and set their children and grandchildren up for success. An estate plan helps you safeguard everything you worked for and distribute your assets to your loved ones. However, many people believe they only need a will, and everything else is just extra, but this is rarely the case. Wills have become synonymous with estate planning thanks to pop culture, but in reality, wills are the bare minimum for most people’s estate planning needs. A will only comes into effect after you’ve passed away. If you become incapacitated, your health care and durable powers of attorney act in your place, which can complicate things. Having a will does not guarantee you’ll avoid probate, either. If you want to safeguard your family and assets fully, consider establishing a trust instead of just having a will. With a trust, you have more freedom and control over the management of your assets. There are different types of trusts to fit everyone’s specific needs, but they all fall into two categories: revocable and irrevocable. A revocable trust can be changed anytime during the owner’s lifetime. An irrevocable trust is set in stone as soon as you sign the agreement. One of the best parts about trusts is how they help keep your money in the family for generations. Many don’t realize it until they go through probate, but extreme taxes and fees arise after you pass away. Without proper planning, the value of your estate can dwindle to nothing as your family pays these fees, leaving minimal amounts for SAFEGUARD YOUR FAMILY’S FUTURE USING TRUSTS
them. This is not what you want to happen to your loved ones. While trusts can be slightly more expensive than other estate planning options, their benefits are endless. Call us if you have any questions about trusts or want to create one to protect your family and assets.
Retirement Regrets: Big Purchases That Can Haunt Your Golden Years
There’s a reason they call the first few years of retirement the “go- go years.” The initial days of your retirement will likely be the most active and eventful. Once freed from the constraints of your career, you begin checking items and experiences off your bucket list and spending is at an all-time high. However, watch out for a few big purchases that most retirees almost always regret. Let’s take a look! A Large House Throughout your life, you likely grew accustomed to upsizing your home along the way. Now, at the peak of your net worth, you
world vacation right out of the gate, you may cripple your financial health later into your golden years. Many retirees often regret paying for expensive airfare, accommodations, meals, and other expenses. Opt for local wonders of the world to explore instead. Expensive Gifts It’s only natural to want to spoil your loved ones — especially as grandchildren come into the picture. However, many retirees often regret the extravagant gifts they generously gave early in their retirement because of the financial strain it created later.
may have your eyes and goals set on your dream home. Retirees may be attracted to spacious properties or even vacation homes, only to find the upkeep and expenses are more than they can handle down the road. When the benefits don’t outweigh the cost, a large house often becomes a regret.
Your golden years should be a time of fulfillment and happiness, unburdened by financial stress and regrettable
decisions. So, before you make any large purchases, whether it’s a luxury car, home, or vacation, be prudent with your spending and remember that your nest egg must last you for decades. Before you swipe the card or hand over the cash, make sure you have a long- term view in mind: no regrets.
Lavish Travel Retirement should be all about travel and bucket list items, right? Right! But, if you spend a large chunk of your savings on an amazing around-the-
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CRAZY SOCCER RULES OF THE PAST: How the Sport Has Evolved Over Time
Many consider soccer, or football for non-Americans, the most popular sport in the world. According to WorldAtlas, there are more than 3.5 billion soccer fans worldwide. It’s not surprising soccer is so popular if you know the sport’s history. While the game we know today originated in the 19th century, historical accounts show people played versions of soccer in ancient China, Greece, Rome, and South America.
but substitution wasn’t officially added to the Laws of the Game (the codified rules of association football) until 1958. Substitutes weren’t allowed in World Cup Finals matches for another 12 years. Golden Goal In most professional soccer leagues, when regular time ends in a draw, the two teams play for a set amount
of time. If they’re still tied after that time is up, the game ends in a draw or goes to a penalty shootout. Before 2004, most professional leagues decided their games with a golden goal. Whoever scored first in extra time won then and there. Fair Catch Everyone knows you should never use your hands while playing soccer unless you’re the goalie. In the early rules of soccer, outfielders could also catch balls out of the air. While they couldn’t throw the ball to a teammate, they could place it on the ground and kick it. This rule didn’t make
Because of soccer’s rich history, we’ve seen many rule changes since England founded the modern version of the sport. Here are some of the craziest soccer rules that would completely change the game if still in effect today. No Substitutions In today’s game, when a player gets tired, injured, or just isn’t playing well, the manager can replace the player with a substitute from the
bench. This wasn’t always possible, however. Originally, substitutes were only acceptable when players didn’t show up for a game. Substitution rules differed depending on the league,
it out of the 19th century.
TAKE A BREAK
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com
• 2 shots espresso (or 1/2 cup freshly brewed coffee)
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice • 1 tsp vanilla extract • Whipped cream for topping (optional)
• 1 cup milk of choice • 3 tbsp pumpkin purée • 1–2 tbsp maple syrup
Directions
1. In a small pot on medium heat, heat milk until simmering but not boiling. 2. Make your espresso (or coffee) and pour into a large mug or Mason jar. Add pumpkin purée, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla and stir until well combined. 3. With a milk frother, froth the heated milk until foamy. Then, pour into your pumpkin espresso mixture and top with whipped cream. For decoration, you can sprinkle more cinnamon or pumpkin spice on top!
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Expert Advice on Preventing Break-Ins and Burglaries
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Soccer’s Wild Past: Rules That Shocked the World Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte Future-Proofing Your Assets With Trusts Golden Years Gone Wrong: Retirees’ Biggest Regrets
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Lucca, the Explosive-Sniffing Dog
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The Incredible Story of Lucca, the Explosive-Detecting Dog Who Saved Lives
Sometimes, dogs are more than just a man’s best friend — they are heroes. When the Israel Defense Forces brought Chris Willingham, a Marine specializing in training military dogs, a small German shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix puppy in 2006, he knew she was special. Willingham named her Lucca, and in 2008, the pair deployed for their first tour in Iraq, where they spent countless hours together searching for improvised explosive devices or IEDs. When Lucca smelled a bomb, she’d lie down and wait for Willingham, an action they repeated so many times that the pair seemed to read each other’s minds. In fact, the duo became so successful that when platoons suspected they were heading into especially dangerous territory, they requested the team by name. After returning from their second tour in Iraq, Willingham received orders that the
Marines were restationing him at the Marine Security Guard School. But before he had to leave, he was allowed to choose a new
a medevac, never leaving her side. She had suffered burns to her neck and torso, and doctors had to amputate her front left leg.
handler for Lucca. Willingham chose Corporal Juan Rodriguez, whom he sensed was the perfect match for Lucca. And he was right. Lucca and Rodriguez picked up where she and Willingham left off until one day in 2012. The pair were four hours into their patrol in southern Afghanistan when Lucca located her second IED of the day. However, when she moved closer to the device to lie down — it exploded. Rodriguez quickly ran to Lucca, where he discovered she had lost one of her front paws in the explosion. He applied first aid, a tourniquet, and called for
However, in less than a month, Lucca was back to running around with the same spirit as before her injury but was now retired from her day job. She was reunited with Willingham and lived the rest of her days with him and his family peacefully until her passing in 2018. Lucca led more than 400 patrols during three combat tours in her career. She found 40 confirmed insurgents and countless explosives, and she never had a single human casualty during her six years of service.
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