The Law Offices of Seymour Wasserstrum
205 West Landis Ave., Vineland, NJ 08360 • 1040 Kings Highway North, Ste. 304, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 June 2020 856-696-8300 ANote From a Grocery StoreWorker Turned Lawyer Remembering My Time at the Register
My parents emigrated from Germany when I was 1 year old, and after spending three years in NewYork, my father (believe it or not, without consulting my mother) bought a chicken farm in Vineland because my aunt’s family had moved to Vineland a year earlier. My father believed that my mother greatly missed her only sister. Had he consulted with my mother, though, my life would have turned out very differently — she and I would have preferred to stay in NewYork. I believe the Bible says something like “all things work together for good to them that love God,” and I must admit that I’m certainly happy with the way my life worked out. Despite the fact that we worked very hard on the chicken farm, in 1961 a dreaded chicken disease killed almost all of our chickens. My father had no real option other than to file for bankruptcy. Filing for bankruptcy really helped our family get a fresh financial start. We received debt relief and stress relief. Now, about 55 years later, I’ve helped well over 30,000 people get their debts forgiven. My father never gave up, and eventually he purchased a small mom-and-pop grocery in South Vineland called Sam’s Market. I never liked working on the farm, but I really loved working the cash register in my parents’ store. I’ve always liked sales and math. Back in those days, there were no computers. Instead there were adding machines and cash registers. I loved using my mathematical prowess to add
up a customer’s purchases in my head. I used the adding machine to verify the total amount due, and about 99% of the time, I was right! Our customers loved it, and most of them became our friends. In fact, when my parents retired in 1983, a group of customers threw them a surprise retirement party. We had never heard of anything like that before, and it brought my parents to tears. Our store and our customers were very good to us. It was amazing how hard my parents worked, and they really did it for me, their only child. My father opened that store at 7:30 a.m. and closed it at 10:30 p.m., seven days a week. When my parents retired, the Vineland Newspaper ran a front-page article entitled“Grocers Retire From Their Labor of Love.” I still miss that store. My father made the greatest hoagies there, and I wish to God that I had asked him for his recipes. If I had, I’d have opened a hoagie shop right next to my law office! For many years, my father, my mother, and I were the only ones who worked at Sam’s, and that didn’t leave very much time for fun during my teenage years. Still, I loved every minute of it and continued to work at the store in the summers through college and beyond. In total, I’d say I worked at that register for about 20 years. I have no doubt that my work ethic came frommy parents, and it’s served me well. As a lawyer, I work just as hard to help my clients as I once did to help our customers at Sam’s. In the last fewmonths, as the pandemic has taken over the news and put essential workers front and center, I’ve foundmyself thinking back a lot on my days working at Sam’s. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to help and serve people in our current circumstances. Honestly, I’d probably be scared to death to go into work every morning and worried every second I was there.
With that experience inmind, I want to say thanks from the bottomof my heart to any essential workers reading this, particularly grocery store workers in the position I used to be in. I really appreciate everything you’re doing and the bravery, courage, and dedication it must take to wake up every day and do it all over again. Unlike police officers, firefighters, doctors, and nurses, you didn’t sign up to risk your life—but you’re in it now, and you’re doing it with heart. If I could talk your managers into paying you substantially more money, I most certainly would! I hope and pray this pandemic passes quickly and that God blesses you and keeps you safe. From one grocery store worker to another, thank you for all that you do! You are the best. Thanks to great technology, our team is working remotely and is continuing to serve our clients with convenient alternatives to in-person office visits. Clients can consult with us, drop off or review documents, and attend trustee meetings all at a safe social distance. So if you, your friends, or family need any legal advice to get you through this tough time, I’m here to help.
WipeOutYourBills.com | 1 -Seymour Wasserstrum
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ABOUT TO RETIRE? CONSIDER THESE LOW-RISK, HIGH-RETURN INVESTMENTS
As you age, it’s wise to make some changes in order to stay healthy, like your diet or your workout routine. Likewise, your portfolio should be adjusted to reduce risk and protect your financial health. After a bad turn in the market, it can take up to a decade to make your money back. If you want to retire in the next five years, then can you really afford that risk? Reducing your risk doesn’t necessarily mean missing out on high-return investments, though. Here are some low-risk, high-return investments to consider adding to your portfolio as you approach retirement. PEER-TO-PEER LENDING Otherwise known as P2P lending, this investment takes place online. Borrowers are matched with investors for loans that benefit both parties — lending without the bank. Your risk and potential returns depend entirely on which loans you choose to invest in. The two most popular P2P lending platforms are Lending Club and Prosper, and you can start investing in either platform with as little as $25. REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS When you invest in real estate investment trusts (REIT), you’re investing in mortgages or direct equity positions in various properties. When the stock market is in decline, REITs are a good investment because they’re not corrected with stock exchanges. Plus, their yield is usually higher than the dividends investors get from stocks.
FIXED INDEXED ANNUITIES When it comes to low-risk, high-return investments, fixed indexed annuities (FIA) are the most attractive option for retirees. In 2018, renowned economist professor Roger Ibbotson conducted research into the return history of inflation, U.S. Treasury bills, government bonds, FIAs, and stocks. Unsurprisingly, stocks offered the highest returns historically, but Ibbotson was surprised to find FIAs came in second, beating out bonds and conventional wisdom.
Historically, these investments have produced great returns for individuals who are in retirement or who are about to retire. However, remember that everyone’s circumstances are different. Before making any changes to your portfolio, talk to your financial planner about your options. TIMES THE OLYMPICSWERE CANCELED And the Postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Games
In late March, amid the global spread of COVID-19, the International Olympic Committee announced the postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games. They were slated to take place in Tokyo, Japan, this summer, but they will now happen in the summer of 2021. While this is an unprecedented decision, it’s not the first time that major global events have affected the Olympic Games or which countries participated. Since the inception of the modern Olympic Games in 1896, they have been outright canceled three times — 1916, 1940, and 1944. The first cancellation of the Olympic Games happened duringWorldWar I. The German Empire was supposed to host the games in Berlin, but by the time 1916 rolled around, Europe was deep in the trenches of WWI. Many nations had sent their athletes to fight in the war, so the games were canceled.
WorldWar II caused the next two cancellations. The 1940 Olympics were initially scheduled to be held in Tokyo. It would have been the first time the games were hosted by a non-Western country, but Japan forfeited the right to host when they invaded China in 1937. The games were then rebooked for Helsinki, Finland, but after Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939 and startedWWII, those games were scrapped as well. Since the fighting hadn’t ceased by the time the games were supposed to happen in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, in 1944, the Olympics were canceled again. Though the Olympics have happened on schedule since the end of WWII, the United States has not always participated. In 1980, when the U.S. boycotted the Olympics that were held in Moscow, Russia, in protest of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, 64 other nations followed suit. However, those games still went on as planned and 80 countries participated. The fact that major global conflicts are the only other events that have been catastrophic enough to affect the Olympics might be distressing and elevate anxiety about our current global health crisis. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the Olympics have only been postponed this time, not canceled. We’ll still get to cheer on our favorite Olympians next year.
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TAKE A BREAK
TURN YOUR VACATION INTO A STAYCATION
3 Ways to Replace a Canceled Vacation
Vacations provide opportunities for families to spend time together in a relaxed environment, get away from the routines of everyday life, and create meaningful memories. If you’ve recently had to cancel a trip but still want to create the experience of a vacation for your family, then a staycation is just what you need. TRANSFORM YOUR BACKYARD When you’re trying to recreate a vacation, the outdoor areas of your home present a variety of possibilities. You can turn a sandbox into a relaxing beach, complete with a kiddie pool “ocean.” If you have trees, then set up a zip line or obstacle course. You can even stimulate summer brains with a scavenger hunt around the backyard with hidden clues in the dirt or bushes. The ultimate prize can be something you would have purchased on your original vacation, like a souvenir you can find online. CREATE A ‘FAMILY MUSEUM’ Many vacations include an educational aspect in order to enrich our understanding of the place we’re visiting, and museums are a great way to accomplish that. If you’re confined to the house, then teach your kids about your own knowledge and interests and encourage them to get creative and make their own contributions, too. Have everyone create art, take photos, or write about their prized possessions. Display these masterpieces around your home and let their creators take you on a tour. Learning more about one another builds meaningful bonds. BRING YOUR TRIP HOME You probably chose your original vacation destination in order to experience new and different cultures and activities. But just because you’re no longer traveling to that location doesn’t mean you can’t experience some of what it has to offer! Research popular local cuisine, activities, and history of the area, then create ways to experience them with your family. Cook a traditional meal, recreate a scenic location through photographs, or share a story about local lore and history. Your changed plans will no longer feel like a missed opportunity. Staying at home doesn’t mean your family can’t have the fun of a vacation. All it takes is a little creativity and innovation to build an experience that will bring your family closer together.
GRILLED BASIL CHICKEN AND TOMATOES
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
You can’t go wrong with grilled chicken and tomatoes on a warm summer’s evening. It’s a simple recipe that packs a flavor punch.
Ingredients
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2 tbsp olive oil
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1/4 cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves
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1 clove garlic
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8 Roma tomatoes
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1/2 tsp salt
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4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 oz each)
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3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
Directions
1. For marinade: In blender, combine olive oil, garlic, salt, vinegar, and basil. Cut 2 tomatoes into quarters and add to mixture. Cover and process until blended. Halve remaining tomatoes for grilling.
2. In bowl, combine chicken and 2/3 cup marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Reserve remaining marinade.
3. Heat grill to about 350–400 F. Lightly oil grates. Grill chicken until internal temperature reads 165 F, about 4–6 minutes per side. Grill tomatoes until lightly browned, about 2–4 minutes per side. Discard remaining marinade.
4. Serve chicken and tomatoes with reserved marinade.
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The Law Offices of Seymour Wasserstrum
856-696-8300 WipeOutYourBills.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
205 West Landis Avenue Vineland, NJ 08360
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
A Note From a Grocery Store Worker Turned Lawyer
1
Best Investments for Retirees Have the Olympics Ever Been Postponed Before?
2
Grilled Basil Chicken and Tomatoes 3 Enriching Staycation Ideas
3
4
Help Local Nonprofits in Challenging Times
THE BEST WAYS TO HELP LOCAL NONPROFITS IN CHALLENGING TIMES
VOLUNTEER
Over the past several months, families, businesses, and nonprofits have had to navigate life in this challenging “new normal,” and it can be hard to support your favorite nonprofits when times are tough. Here are a few ways you can help these important entities, even when you don’t have resources to spare right now.
In a time of social distancing, volunteering may be discouraged, but nonprofits still need volunteers to operate. The good news is that many nonprofits need volunteers for positions that maintain social distance, such as driving. Food banks and kitchens need drivers to pick up donations or ingredients from donors and to deliver food to people in need, such as the elderly or those with disabilities.
DONATE
While many people donate generously during the holiday season, remember that nonprofits need donations throughout the year, and different nonprofits need different things. A monetary donation can often go a long way, but never feel obligated to give money, especially when your budget may be tight. Instead, consider cleaning out your closet. What clothes, shoes, or other accessories can you part with? What about dishware or small appliances? When you clean out your home and donate unused items, you benefit those in the community who need them most.
ADVOCATE
Even if you don’t have time or resources to give, you can become an advocate for important causes around your community. While it might not seem like much, sharing information about local nonprofits on social media can make a genuine difference. Nonprofits need exposure, which is greatly boosted through community support. Sharing useful information about nonprofits — or sharing their posts — increases their visibility so more people will take action.
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