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B & A BULLETIN Q1 2025
NEW SPACE, NEW SUCCESS Big Changes at Our Firm Change is the only constant in life — and sometimes, it happens for the better.
In addition to enjoying the new space, we were
from Mexico, she has a background in immigration law and has already become an indispensable part of our daily work. A devoted wife and mother, she cherishes every moment she shares with her little baby girl, Ariella. Naturally, these recent changes to our firm strengthen us as we move into 2025. We’re committed to helping families protect their loved ones’ legacies, and we also welcome an opportunity to assist our clients with Medicaid planning — which I encourage you to read about elsewhere in this newsletter — and other elder-related legal needs. No matter what challenges you or your family face, we are always just a phone call away. On a personal note, it is incredibly rewarding to move through the first quarter of the year with such fantastic colleagues and work from a new place of comfort for the people who depend on us. We invite you to visit our new offices — and, of course, take the opportunity to update us on your families and ensure your estate plan is current and secure. We’re looking forward to a great year ahead, and we hope you’ll join us on this journey.
At Bott & Associates, Ltd., we’ve always aimed to think ahead and find ways to evolve and enhance the services we provide to our clients. We’ve also worked to give our talented legal professionals an environment where they love to work. From exciting new additions to our team to upgraded office spaces, I’m delighted to share recent changes that have shed new light — quite literally — on our services and daily operations. On Nov. 1, we finalized moving three floors up in our building to the 10th floor. We were looking for a more modern, open area to conduct business, and the new location on the top floor meets that need exceptionally well. Honestly, I always thought our previous office was a bit of a cave, especially considering it didn’t have windows! Now, we enjoy plenty of natural light — and the addition of a second conference room — as we work to serve our clients better than ever before. It’s already clear that we’re not the only ones thrilled by the changes, as invitees to our Open House on Dec. 12 remarked how much they enjoy our newly acquired outside view and the appealing modern look of our new office.
recently honored to welcome two new professionals to our team. Bethany Kasten, our legal assistant and office manager, joined Bott & Associates, Ltd. last October. She comes to us from Wisconsin, where she worked at a divorce law firm. We’re thrilled to have her with us as she explores her new life and career in Illinois. When not working hard for our clients, she enjoys baking, hiking, and traveling with her boyfriend. If you’re a baseball fan, be sure to ask her about her goal of seeing as many major league baseball stadiums as she can! We — along with her growing list of clients — love her sweet, bubbly, and energetic personality, and our estate law team is stronger and more positive for having her.
We’re also happy to welcome Julieta Saldivar, our new probate and trust administration paralegal, who joined us on the same day as our big move. Originally
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People tend to pay more attention to their overall health and fitness as they age. If you ignore your aches, pains, and injuries, they’re more likely to worsen, which is why so many of us go out of our way to track specific health measurements. One measurement you should track, especially if you’re showing symptoms of prediabetes, is your blood sugar. Maintaining low blood sugar helps prevent cognitive decline, kidney disease, nerve damage, and more. However, many don’t know how to lower their blood sugar if it’s starting to reach dangerous levels. Here are two lifestyle changes that can help keep blood sugar low while improving other aspects of your health. Exercise regularly. Exercise becomes increasingly important as we age, but this doesn’t mean you have to go all out every time you strap on your running shoes or go to the gym. Experts recommend that you get around 150 minutes of exercise every week, and it doesn’t have to be any more strenuous than a brisk walk. You’ll see much better results if you pick a routine that’s easy to maintain and follow. Cut back on ultra-processed foods. When people try to keep their blood sugar balanced, they usually make an added effort to reduce their intake of sweets. However, nearly all processed carbs pose a risk. Even eating things like bread, pasta, noodles, and white rice can raise sugar levels. Pay attention to what you eat, and your body will thank you.
Protect Your Beneficiaries From Financial Fallout Shield Your Survivors
Giving beneficiaries too much money can sometimes ruin their lives — even if they’re adults. Clients often ask us for guidance on how to provide for their beneficiaries, especially when they may have an estranged child or one with personal issues that frequently lead them to poor financial decisions. Other times, a client may not have a positive relationship with an adult child’s spouse or have concerns over how responsibly their beneficiaries will handle a sizeable inheritance. Unfortunately, we’re often presented with these problems when it’s too late to address them. If you intend to make your children the beneficiaries of your estate, it is critical to establish a plan in advance to avoid familial
disputes or financial disasters after you’re gone.
the first year. Thanks to the help of a financial advisor, the account grew, yielding my client up to $120,000 — tax-free — annually until he passed away in his late 60s. Although it wasn’t the massive windfall he hoped to receive, that money provided him with a very comfortable life. Ultimately, his mother had considered her son’s shortcomings well enough to base her decisions on what would be in his best interests. Who knows what would have happened to him — and all that money — had he received his inheritance all at once? At Bott & Associated Ltd., we help clients address two of the most sensitive areas of their lives: money and family. Please contact us today so we can address your concerns with the utmost empathy and respect.
A few years ago, we were contacted by a client in his 50s whose mother had passed away, leaving an $8 million estate. When we reviewed the trust — which his mother had the foresight to create at least a dozen years before her passing — we saw that his brother, who was married with children, received $4 million. An additional $2 million went to the grandkids, while my client — who was unmarried and didn’t have children — received $2 million, dispersed annually at a rate of 4%. Although my client was quite upset to learn of this arrangement, his mother had been aware of his history of bad relationships and unwise spending habits. At 4%, he received $80,000
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Health Care Hope on the Horizon MEDICAID MAPPING FOR LATE-LIFE CARE
Most people work hard for their entire lives to achieve the dream of enjoying a happy, healthy retirement with ample funds. Sadly, that nest egg they’ve spent decades building could unravel when they least expect it. Whether it’s due to natural aging or health issues, many individuals reach a stage of life that necessitates full-time live-in care or a move into a senior living facility. Often, these individuals have an illness that compromises their memory or decision-making abilities, prompting loved ones to step in and make arrangements for their ongoing care. It is typically at this point when the shock of the high cost of these services sets in. Facilities with skilled nursing care can cost anywhere from $15,000–$20,000 a month, while the daily rate of 24-hour live-in care typically ranges between $350–$500! These expenses can wreak havoc on a person’s savings — especially if they suffer from dementia or a similarly debilitating condition over several years. We hope you and your family are happy and healthy in these early months of 2025. Thank you for your ongoing trust in us to fulfill your estate planning needs. We are always available and honored to serve you.
Thankfully, Medicaid planning can offer hope in these situations and protect assets from the financial burdens of long-term care. One option is to consider
establishing a Medicaid Income-Only Trust, either by assigning your assets to a close friend or family member who will safeguard your property and use the funds for your benefit, or by transferring your property into a trust meeting Medicaid guidelines. Navigating Medicaid can be a complex and frustrating process. Still, we have resources available to educate you on the best steps to ensure financial security in difficult times.
We recommend that our clients consider their Medicaid planning options well in advance of needing them, particularly if your family has a history of serious medical issues later in life or if you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with an illness that requires regular care. Bott & Associates, Ltd. has the knowledge and expertise to help guide you toward effective solutions and provide much-needed peace of mind when independent living becomes challenging or life-threatening. Please contact us today to move forward with confidence.
One-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
• 2 1/2 lbs skinless, bone-in chicken thighs • 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp pepper • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 large onion, chopped • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 10 cups chicken broth • 4 celery ribs, chopped • 4 medium carrots, chopped • 2 bay leaves • 1 tsp dried thyme • 3 cups uncooked egg noodles (about 8 oz) • 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley • 1 tbsp lemon juice
1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. In an 8-quart stockpot over
medium-high heat, add oil and chicken
and cook until golden brown, 3–4 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside. 2. Add onion to drippings; cook over medium-high heat for 4–5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add broth and bring to a boil. Return chicken to pot. Add celery, carrots, bay leaves, and thyme. Reduce heat and cover; simmer until chicken is tender, 25–30 minutes. 3. Turn off heat. Remove chicken to a plate. Add noodles and let stand, covered, until noodles are tender, 20–22 minutes. 4. Shred chicken meat into bite-size pieces, and return to pot. Stir in parsley and lemon juice, and discard bay leaves.
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1 • New Colleagues, Renewed Energy 2 • Simple Lifestyle Tweaks to Keep Your Blood Sugar in Check • Set Your Beneficiaries Up for Success 3 • Solutions for Senior Health Care Strain • We’re Honored to Serve You • One-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup 4 • Declutter With TikTok’s Latest Trend Inside This Issue
REVAMP YOUR SHOPPING HABITS WITH ‘UNDERCONSUMPTION CORE’ SAY GOODBYE TO OVERBUYING
Repurpose and Rejoice Learning to repurpose is key for those who love to shop till they drop. That old dress hiding in the back of your closet? Snip it into a chic crop top. Are your jeans a tad too long? Hello, trendy shorts. Repurposing isn’t just thrifty; it’s creative. It scratches the itch for something new without the wallet woes. Plus, it’s eco-friendly! Plan, Don’t Panic Buy Impulse buys? A big no-no in the underconsumption playbook. Start each month with a plan. What do you have? What do you genuinely need? Make thoughtful decisions that value durability over disposability. This way, you’re not just saving money — you’re curating a collection of truly life-enhancing items. When you embrace underconsumption core, you tidy up your space and upgrade your life philosophy. You save money and cultivate an environment that boosts your mental health and productivity. It’s about making peace with possessing less and enjoying life more. So, next time you feel the urge to splurge, remember: Less is more, and in the case of underconsumption core, less is everything.
Move over, overconsumption. It’s time to put down our wallets and declutter our lives. Welcome to the latest TikTok craze: underconsumption core! Imagine a world where last year’s still-functioning iPhone is celebrated, and the only time you dash for more food is when your produce starts to look more like a science experiment. That’s underconsumption core — embracing the essentials, bypassing the fluff. Undercomsumption core is about stepping off the relentless consumer conveyor belt to admire and utilize what you already own. It’s a shoutout to sustainability and a bow to minimalism, all rolled into one. Declutter Like a Pro Starting on this journey? Kick it off with a decluttering session Marie Kondo would be proud of. This isn’t just about creating space — it’s about reshaping your buying habits. Once your space is clutter-free, you gain clarity on what truly matters. You’ll find yourself asking, “Do I need this, or does Instagram think I do?” The goal here is to filter out the noise of fleeting trends and focus on quality that lasts longer than a social media cycle.
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