Check out the first edition of our newsletter!
OCTOBER 2024
SiegelLawGroup.com
561-955-8515
How did you first become interested in your career? This is a question almost every professional has been asked at least once in their lives, and most of us have a reason behind our career choices. For some, it’s as simple as earning a decent wage so we can properly support our families. Others feel a calling to help individuals with a specific problem or issue. Personally, I experienced a situation earlier in my life that propelled me toward a career in the estate planning and elder law industry. During the early ‘90s, my grandmother, Betty, lived in a nursing home. She was in her mid-70s, widowed, and starting to have a lot of health issues that impacted her overall well-being. She wasn’t a wealthy woman by any means. She saved a few dollars, but not enough to comfortably afford $7,000–$8,000 a month to live in a nursing home. This was before I attended law school, and my family didn’t have any experience in the medical, legal, or nursing home industries, leaving us at a loss over what we could do to help. We had no idea what our options were, and my grandma did not have long-term care insurance, which made finding a solution that worked for all involved even more difficult. The nursing home gave us advice that seemed like the best path forward at the time. They informed my family that my grandma could spend down her money until she was essentially broke, leaving no more than $2,000 in her savings account. Then, the nursing home would help get her qualified for Medicaid. Not knowing any better, my family decided to take the nursing home’s advice. Had I known then what I know now, I never would have let my family proceed in this direction. Not only was my grandmother living in a nursing home and dealing with a slew of health problems, but she now didn’t have any money. She felt financially insecure and grew more worried about becoming a burden on From Personal Struggle to Professional Passion How My Grandmother’s Experience Shaped My Career
the family. She had nothing left to leave her kids, not even a small amount to secure her legacy.
When I became an attorney, I learned about elder law and how I could help people facing the same situation as my grandma. I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on my grandma’s circumstances and what could have been done differently to put her and her loved ones in a better position. Instead of letting her run out of money, she should have had an opportunity to meet with an attorney who could help her protect her assets and qualify for Medicaid without spending everything. That way, she wouldn’t have had to worry about being financially insecure or being a burden to her loved ones. She could have found more enjoyment in her final years. Unfortunately, the advice the nursing home gave to my family is quite common, and they offer it because it works for their benefit. Would they rather get paid the private pay rate of $7,000–$8,000 or half that amount? They suggested what was in their best interest instead of my grandmother’s. After going through this situation and learning how things could have been different, I decided I wanted to help seniors and their loved ones avoid experiencing anything similar. There are solutions for every scenario, and my team is committed to finding the best solution for anyone who walks through our doors.
-Barry Siegel
1 561-955-8515
Plan for Tomorrow, Today
Discover the Benefits of a Comprehensive Estate Plan
Creating and maintaining an estate plan is one of the best ways to protect your and your loved ones’ futures. While you might think estate planning is simply a way to designate assets to your heirs in a will, there’s much more to a comprehensive estate plan. When you meet with an estate planning attorney, discuss your needs and wants, and create a plan, you’ll quickly gain peace of mind about the future. And that’s only one of the benefits you’ll gain from creating your estate plan.
Build Character
With Manners 3 Behaviors to Teach Your Kids
Since National Estate Planning Awareness Week is in October, now is a great time to explore the benefits of creating an estate plan.
ESTATE PLANNING HELPS YOU AVOID PROBATE. After an individual passes away, their loved ones should get ample time to grieve and process their emotions. However, without an estate plan, that grieving is put on pause until after probate. Family conflicts are common during probate. Creating an estate plan can help your loved ones avoid the time-consuming and expensive probate process. IT ALLOWS YOU TO DESIGNATE IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES. If you and your spouse were to pass away tomorrow, who would become the guardian of your minor children? Who do you want to make critical financial and medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated? Creating an estate plan lets you decide who takes on these essential responsibilities. Without an estate plan, it could be someone you don’t trust. AN ESTATE PLAN ENSURES YOUR LEGACY. How do you want your family to remember you after you’re gone? Your estate plan is your opportunity to enshrine your legacy. Through an estate plan, you can decide who gets specific assets, establish trusts, leave charitable gifts, and more. Your heirs will be incredibly grateful you planned ahead and kept them in your thoughts, and you’ll rest easy knowing you did everything you could to protect your legacy and loved ones.
Kids these days! They don’t know how to curtsy before their lords, stay stoic and straight-faced when photographed, or duel to the death when someone besmirches their honor. In all seriousness, while some courtesies have gone out of fashion, there are still manners your kids should know. Manners are essential for people of all ages and can significantly improve your kids’ social standing, success, and behavior in the years to come. Here are three need-to-know manners to teach your kids. WHAT’S THE MAGIC WORD? It may sound simple, but no common courtesy is more important than knowing when to say “Please” and “Thank you.” It also helps establish a model of good behavior and parental respect that is important to reinforce in children. When your children ask for something, remind them to say, “Please.” When someone has done something for them, remind them to say, “Thank you.” You also need to model the practice and return the same courtesy! It shows how important it is for everyone to have good manners. MAKE AN INTRODUCTION. Greetings and introductions may seem trivial; however, they are anything but . Properly introducing yourself, especially on the phone, is pivotal to starting a relationship or phone call on the right foot. It also gives you more authority and respect for the remainder of the conversation and beyond. LEARN TO BE HELPFUL. No act is more endearing to others than offering a helping hand. Whether mowing your neighbor’s lawn, staying after class to help your teacher clean up, or lending a hand in dinner prep with a parent, acts of kindness can help build character. They are also a great way to forge new friendships and cement current relationships, as you never know what others are going through, and a bit of help may be just what they need.
These are just a few of the many benefits of estate planning. If you want to learn more or create an estate plan, call our office today!
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Every situation is unique, and “Caught In The Middle” aims to provide sound advice to help you proceed through any difficult situation with peace of mind. Caught in the Middle Essential Strategies for Managing Aging Parents and Growing Children
Some of the topics you can expect to learn more about from “Caught In The Middle” include:
Nobody really talks about how difficult your 40s, 50s, and 60s can be. This is the time when you’re helping your children develop into adults and figure out what they want their future to look like. They may still be in high school, just starting college, or preparing to start a family of their own. At the same time, you’re likely trying to manage your parents’ needs as they grow older and start to depend on you more. Maintaining everything, keeping your composure, and taking care of your own needs can be challenging. This is a big reason Barry decided to write his book, “Caught In The Middle: Juggling Your Elderly Parents’ Affairs While Raising Your Own Family.”
• The actions you need to take right now to put yourself, your family, and your parents in the best situation • The immediate actions to take when a parent has an issue • How to deal with long-term care problems • The necessary medical, financial, and estate planning documents • How to balance your own needs while caring for a loved one That last bullet point is crucial, as we often ignore our own needs for the needs of others. However, this can make things much more difficult in the long run. Simply put, you can’t take care of the person you love if you’re not taking care of yourself first. It’s a similar idea to the airplane safety speech given before takeoff. The flight attendants will tell you to secure your oxygen mask before helping your child. You need to take care of your needs before tackling those of your aging parents.
When it comes to raising a family while also caring for aging parents, no road map or guide works for every person.
Barry wrote this book based on situations he’s experienced with his own eyes and ears or heard from other trusted professionals in the industry. Pick up your copy on Amazon today!
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Inside This Issue
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Discover Barry’s Professional Origin Story
Essential Manners Kids Should Learn
Fulfill Your Wishes Through Estate Planning
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Why ‘Caught In The Middle’ Is a Must-Read for the Sandwich Generation
Check Out Our Seminars!
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Wide Receivers Ready to Make History
Meet the Game-Changers Top Wide Receivers to Watch This NFL Season
Quarterbacks are often the most popular and well-known players on their respective football teams, but they couldn’t do what they do without the help of their teammates. Wide receivers are valuable assets to any team, as they run routes, shake their defenders, and give the quarterback a target to throw to. While no wide receiver has ever won the Most Valuable Player award, receivers like Jerry Rice, Cooper Kupp, and Randy Moss have been invaluable to their team’s success. Since the NFL season is underway, now is the best time to familiarize yourself with a few wide receivers poised for breakout performances. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys: Lamb led the league in receptions last year and was in the top three for receiving yards and touchdowns. This is a make-or-break year for the Cowboys, so expect another all-star showing from Lamb. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams: Not many people had heard of Nacua before the 2023 season, but he proved he belonged in the spotlight. Last season, Nacua set the rookie record for receptions
and receiving yards as a fifth-round selection, and he could repeat those numbers this year.
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins: Hill has been impressing football fans since he first took the field for Kansas City in 2016 and remains one of the fastest players in the league. He led the league in receiving yards last year, and he could do the same this year if he stays healthy. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions: Did anyone expect the Lions to make the NFC championship last season? St. Brown was a big reason for their success, and he’s entering the 2024 season with a new contract, more confidence, and better chemistry with quarterback Jared Goff. Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals: Harrison Jr. was a standout player at Ohio State University last year and will surely come into his rookie season strong after the Cardinals drafted him fourth overall. He’ll have his work cut out for him with the lackluster Cardinals’ offense, but he’s still worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses.
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