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December 2024
REFLECT, REFRESH, REVIEW Is Your Estate Plan Ready for 2025? PLANNING AHEAD Estate Planning | Probate | Guardianships for Your Life Chapters
The end of the year is a good time to reflect. As you look back on the last year and plan ahead for the upcoming one, you may want to review your estate plan to ensure it still properly reflects your desires and wishes. It is a good idea to run through an estate planning checklist before the new year arrives, and we’ve gathered a few things to keep in mind. Did your assets change at all? Take stock of your assets, including real estate, investments, retirement accounts, and insurance policies. Did you sell or buy any new property? If any asset classes increased or decreased in value, now is the time to rebalance your portfolio to ensure it still aligns with your goals. If you received a windfall and your profit margin increased substantially during the last year, you may need to take action to offset increased taxes like increased gift-giving or new investment options. Are there new beneficiaries to consider? Many people establish an estate plan for the sole reason of gaining peace of mind that their families will be fully taken care of after they pass or become incapacitated. You can’t plan for those important family members if they’re not in your estate plan. Did you have any new grandbabies? Did you get remarried and now have a blended family to consider? If you have a new family member you want to include in your estate plan, your will and any trusts need to reflect that. Do you have the right people in important roles? Our relationships change over time, and we might not trust some people as much as we used to. Now is a great time to review your trustees, chosen guardian for your children, designated power of attorney, and advanced health care directive. These essential roles
require a great deal of trust and understanding. Ensure you have the right people in place for these positions and check with them to confirm they’re still willing to do what’s asked of them.
If you want to cover all the bases, the best course of action is to come in for a professional review. We’ll help you update your estate plan so it properly reflects your desires. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
- Kim Boyer
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CAT-APULTING INTO HISTORY The Feline-Flying Military Tactic That Never Took Off
Throughout military history, you’ll find strategic experiments ranging from the genius to the downright bizarre. But few can top the zany brainchild of Franz Helm, a 16th-century German artillery aficionado whose bright idea left historians — and cat lovers — utterly bewildered. Let’s set the scene with Helm’s magnum opus, the “Feuer Buech,” published in 1584, a treasure trove of (literally) explosive innovations in warfare. Imagine this: a battlefield in the Renaissance, not just filled with the clang of swords and the thunder of cannons, but also — wait for it — flying, flaming cats. Yes, you read that right. Franz Helm’s groundbreaking military tactic involved jetpacks for cats. Picture a kitty, strapped with a
sack of gunpowder, zipping through the air like a furry missile aimed at enemy strongholds. The hope? These feline projectiles would scamper back to their homes — presumably in enemy territory — and start a blazing inferno. One can only wonder about how they would train cats to become arsonists. The method was straightforward: kidnap an enemy cat, strap it into a gunpowder-laden backpack, light the fuse, and hope Mr. Whiskers doesn’t get cold paws about blowing up its evil overlords. Preserved for posterity at the University of Pennsylvania, the “Feuer Buech” reminds us of the lengths human creativity can go — especially when combined with a profound with special needs are involved. Thankfully, a unique estate planning element called a special needs trust can help disabled individuals. Since the International Day of Persons with Disabilities occurs at the beginning of December, there’s no better time to talk about special needs trusts. Trusts are legal documents that provide rules and directions for assets held on behalf of a beneficiary. A properly drafted and funded special needs trust means that the assets contained in it do not adversely affect public benefits eligibility. There are a few different types of special needs trusts, but the one most commonly utilized by parents planning ahead is the third-party
misunderstanding of cat behavior. As any cat owner will tell you, cats have their own agendas.
The chances of a cat completing its fiery mission are about as high as it bringing you the morning newspaper. Thankfully, we have no evidence that this pyrotechnic plan ever came to pass. Considering cats’ notorious independence, we can rest assured that no self-respecting felines took part in these explosive escapades. So, next time you’re cuddling with your cat, be thankful its biggest inclination is to knock pens off your table rather than infiltrate enemy castles with fire. special needs trust, sometimes called a supplemental needs trust. After a parent, grandparent, or other loved one establishes and funds the trust, it can help supplement government benefits and cover costs associated with non-covered medical expenses, therapies, entertainment, and other ways to enhance the children’s lives. You’ll need to name a trustworthy trustee because they’ll be responsible for paying for items and services for the beneficiary since the beneficiary cannot pay directly to a vendor or provider of services without risking specific government benefits. If you have any questions about special needs trusts or need to make any other updates to your estate plan, please call us today!
Empowerment Through Planning UNDERSTANDING SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS
One of the primary goals of many parents’ estate planning efforts is to ensure their children are taken care of and supported after they pass away or become incapacitated. This becomes even more critical when minor children or children
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If the top of your desk looks like a photo op for an “I Spy” book, chances are you could benefit from tidying up. It isn’t easy saying goodbye to your familiar clutter, but it’s for the better. A messy environment can be stressful and frustrating, as it makes finding anything more difficult and worsens the overall attractiveness of your home. While change can be challenging, it is worth the effort for your home and health. First Thing’s First Growing up, your mom probably reminded you to make your bed. There is a good reason to prioritize that first thing in the morning, as it helps set an intention to accomplish the little things and get your day off to a more productive start. It also contributes to better sleep hygiene; a cluttered bedroom and undone bed could be hindering your sleep. So, eliminating potential distractions, including an unmade bed, could enhance your sleep. Clean Slate Keeping a clean home can help you be more physically fit. According to a study by Indiana University, a tidier living space contributes to higher levels of physical activity. Keeping things clean means keeping active, and even if you don’t exercise for 30 minutes daily, 30 minutes of vacuuming or any kind of scrubbing is still a great way to keep yourself moving. Daily Declutter While tidying up the home may seem daunting at first, it can be much easier if you break it down into smaller tasks. Doing a bit of laundry every other day helps prevent you from having to do a massive load later. Picking up around the kitchen when you get a snack or cook a meal can prevent that space from looking like a scene out of “Kitchen Nightmares.” Wherever you go in your home, if you pick up a thing or two cluttering the area and put it away, you are well on your way to becoming a neater person. DECLUTTER YOUR LIFE How to Become a Tidier Person
Take a Break
Exquisite Lemon Bars
• 2 cups all-purpose flour • 1/2 cup powdered sugar • 1 cup butter, softened • 4 large eggs • 2 cups granulated sugar Ingredients Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a 9x13-inch baking pan. 2. In a medium bowl, combine flour and powdered sugar. 3. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. 4. Press mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. 5. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, baking powder, and salt. Pour over crust. 6. Bake for 25 minutes or until set. Allow to cool before cutting into bars. • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice • 2 tbsp grated lemon zest • 1/4 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp salt
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10785 W. Twain Ave., Las Vegas, NV, 89135 | 702-255-2000 | BoyerLawGroup.com BOYER LAW GROUP
Inside 1 Is Your Estate Plan Ready for 2025? 2 The Feline-Flying Military Tactic That Never Took Off Understanding Special Needs Trusts 3 How to Become a Tidier Person Exquisite Lemon Bars 4 Seize the Day!
CODY’S CORNER SEIZE THE DAY!
I’d love to spend every day surrounded by my favorite people, enjoying a few treats, and running around the backyard. Sometimes, my loved ones are busy at work and school and can’t play with me. Then, I try to find something inside that entertains me until the kids get home from school. I like to play with their toys and sometimes eat any homework left behind. One of my favorite things to do is ride in the car to pick up the kids from school. It is so exciting! Over the last month, I saw some trees turn beautiful shades of orange.
Then I saw their leaves drop. Ella says she loves to jump into big piles of leaves. That sounds like fun! Mom says if you want every day to count, you need to be intentional with your actions. Having a goal to work toward is great, but it shouldn’t dominate your every action and thought. You must still find time for yourself, your passions, and your loved ones. And me? I am going to romp through a big pile of leaves!
Coco
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