Check out our March newsletter!
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Don’t Let Documents Pile Up! Why It’s Time to Spring-Clean
My wife, Jamie, and I have lived in three homes in the past 20 years, and with every new home we move to, I make the same promise: I will keep the garage organized.
can find just about anything in our garage!) However, the time it took their child to clean out the paperwork wasn’t worth saving all of those old documents.
I’ve failed to keep that promise for 20 years.
We all have that drawer, closet, or room in our home that is chaotic and unorganized. No matter how well-meaning we are or how often we organize it, the space just becomes a catch-all for everything that is worth saving but doesn’t have a place. That’s our garage. For instance, we have so many bikes in this garage! As many of you know, I have four children — one who is off at college — and we still have all of their bikes. We even have the bike Jamie bought when we were first married. She would ride around the neighborhood with our oldest, Connor, in the back. She hasn’t used it in a long time, yet there it is, taking up space in our garage. Hopefully by the time you read this newsletter, I will have been inspired to do some tidying. It’s the appropriate season for it. I just might get into the spirit of spring-cleaning and finally live up to the promise I keep making to myself! It’s common to have a little junk in your home, but when it comes to paperwork, it’s better to be organized. This should include how the documents are organized as well as what you keep. This is difficult. You may worry about thieves stealing your personal information, or maybe you have a voice in your head that’s wondering if you will ever need to use it again. However, just as not properly organizing your paperwork and documents can be a pain after your passing, the act of hoarding as many documents as you can is just as detrimental! Years ago, I had a client who kept every piece of documentation that may have had some importance. Upon their passing, their child was left with weeks’ worth of paperwork to sort through. I’m sure my client knew where every document could be found and had an organization system they believed would be beneficial for this process after they passed. (The same can be said for my wife, who
If you take on the challenge of organizing your paperwork this spring, I would encourage you to think of each document like it’s a tax
document. The rule of thumb for these is that they are unnecessary after seven years, which is about as far as the IRS will go if you are audited. After documents are seven years old — or the use or effectiveness is seven years past its date — these items can be shredded to avoid any potential identity theft. As a final tip, consider utilizing your estate planning binder from The Sheppard Law Firm. In it, we have a tab for trust assets, where you can store an up-to-date balance sheet and records of what accounts are active or closed. To be honest with you, I may not get to my garage this spring! Work and my personal life keep me busy. But there is one area of my life I would never let get as unorganized as the garage, and that area involves my personal documents. I hope you’ll take time to organize these this spring. Don’t treat your documents like the junk drawer. –Mike Hill P.S. I’d be remiss if I let International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month pass without recognizing two women who made a huge difference in my life. My mawmaw on my mom’s side was always cooking and taking care of her family. I have so many fun memories with her. And my mawmaw Pearl on my dad’s side was a real stalwart in her community. She managed a movie theater, and I always enjoyed working with her.
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MARCH 2022
5 Ways to Deal With Annoying Robocalls Protect Your Identity and Kick Scammers to the Curb
According to the latest data, scammers and telemarketers make 1,528 robocalls to Americans every single second. No wonder they’re driving us all crazy! Some of these calls are legitimate reminders about doctor’s
is a free app that will give you caller ID and block spam calls, and Nomorobo is an award-winning option that’s free for landlines and costs $1.99 per month for cellphones. 3. When in doubt, let it ring out. If you don’t recognize the number calling, don’t answer. You can always call back if they leave a legitimate voicemail. 4. Suspect spam? Hang up. So, you accidentally answered a spam call. Whether it’s a person or a robot on the line, hang up immediately! Even saying your name or the word “yes” could set you up for identity theft. 5. Handle voicemails with care. If you get a suspicious voicemail, never call the number or visit the website given by the caller. Instead, Google the company or agency they claimed to be with and call that number. If the real agency has no idea about the call, you’ve just escaped a trap. By taking all five of these steps, you can protect yourself and your wallet from Ponzi schemes, identity thieves, and annoying telemarketers. For even more specific advice, visit AARP.com and search “The Definitive Guide to Reducing Robocalls.”
appointments and payment plans, but around 55% of them are just nuisances — and we can’t rely on the government to stop them. If you’re sick of hearing about “your car’s extended warranty” or the “student loans” you paid off 40 years ago, try these five tips to cut down on robocalls and outwit scammers. 1. Explore your carrier’s free tools. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all offer services to cut down on scam calls. Some of them are free and/ or come with your phone, but others you have to pay for or activate. If you have Verizon, for example, you can download the “Verizon Call Filter” app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Visit your carrier’s website or call them to learn about the tools they offer.
2. Download an ad blocker. For extra protection, you can download a separate ad blocker from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Hiya
T h i s ? T o s s T h
3 Tips for Mastering Clutter
Whatever you do, though, don’t create “maybe” piles! This is how clutter accumulates.
At some point, we all look at our closets and think, “Where did all this junk come from!?” Inspired to organize, we try to clear the mess, but it’s not always that easy. How do you know what to keep and what to toss? What if your kid(s) or grandchildren want that piece of furniture or jewelry? Where do you even begin?
Take your time.
Cut the noise! We have a checklist to get you started this spring.
This is not a chore you have to complete in an afternoon. If you need
Start with piles.
time to think about what you want to keep, or if you have a big mess to sort through, allot a set amount of time for your work. For instance, you could set aside one hour every afternoon for sorting through your belongings. Piece by piece, you will clear your space.
You don’t have to make any decisions immediately. Create piles for items to filter into as you stumble upon them. For instance, you may have a pile of items you intend to keep and store in your home. The next pile could be for donations, and a third pile is for items you are throwing away. If you are unsure about some of your items, you can try two things. The first is to create a pile for your family or friends to sort through. They may want to keep something you’re unsure about, or they could give you advice. The second option is to make a snap decision and then gauge how you feel. For instance, if you regret placing a shirt in the donation pile, you may not be ready to part with it. 2 floridaestateplanning.com
Don’t fall into old habits.
When putting the items you choose to keep back into the space they came from, avoid old sorting habits. Instead, use bins, shelves, racks, and other sorting tools to store these items. Play around with placing certain items in new places, and be imaginative with your space. A contractor, professional organizers, or friends and family members can provide a fresh set of eyes, too!
Protecting You
The Biggest Lesson Attorney Craig Hanson Learned After an Accident
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is designed to protect against personal violations, but does it go too far sometimes? In this month’s column, attorney Craig Hersch examines this very idea. The full version of his Sanibel Island Sun column, “The Story of Uncle Benny,” can be found at FloridaEstatePlanning.com. (You can learn more about Benny’s story in the column!) HIPAA prohibits doctors and hospitals from discussing anyone’s medical condition or history without that person signing a release. To violate HIPAA could result in the doctor or hospital committing a federal crime. This leads me to the important document that everyone should have as a part of their estate plan: the general HIPAA waiver and release. Suppose you are in an automobile accident, are rushed to the hospital, but are unable to sign that hospital’s HIPAA waiver. The doctors and other hospital support personnel are prohibited under federal law from discussing your condition even with your spouse or children. I would agree this law is overzealous and borders on silly. And if you don’t believe that a hospital would limit your spouse’s access to you in such an event, take it from me ... More than a decade ago, while biking alone, a car hit me. I was actually on the Summerlin Road bike path when a car coming in or going out of a subdivision caused me to crash.
I don’t remember much about it. Whoever hit me fled the scene. A good Samaritan must have called 911 because I was unconscious. I began bleeding from my ears and had suffered skull fractures (my bicycle helmet saved my life). They named me as a John Doe in the helicopter since no one looked in my bike’s saddlebag where I kept a health insurance card exactly for this scenario. Eventually, I was able to tell them Patti’s name and cellphone number. She rushed to the hospital — where they wouldn’t let her see me. Why? Because I hadn’t signed a HIPAA waiver. Luckily, I have good friends who are doctors, and they helped Patti. But it was frustrating for her. After that incident, I decided to update my general estate planning portfolio for clients. I now include a standard HIPAA waiver and secure, mobile access to that waiver that allows each client to list any and all individuals he or she would want to receive their health status from doctors and hospitals in case they hadn’t signed that specific hospital’s waiver.
If this column prompted personal questions about your plans for medical care, please contact the Sheppard Law Firm today.
Cheer on your favorite team and chow down in minutes with this easy chili recipe!
INGREDIENTS
• • • •
2 lbs ground beef 2 tbsp chili powder
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2 16-oz cans diced tomatoes 2 16-oz cans small red beans 2 8-oz cans tomato sauce
1 tbsp Creole seasoning
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1 tsp ground cumin
DIRECTIONS 1. In a deep pot, brown the beef, stirring often. 2. Once beef is cooked, add chili powder, Creole seasoning, and cumin, cooking for 1 minute. 3. Stir in diced tomatoes, beans, and tomato sauce and bring the mixture to a boil. 4. After the mixture boils, reduce the heat to low and let chili simmer for 15 minutes. 5. Serve with toppings of choice, like cheese, sour cream, or chives.
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INSIDE this issue
Spring-Clean Your Document Storage! PAGE 1
Handle Robocalls Like a Pro PAGE 2
Spring-Clean Your Home Without Fretting Over Heirlooms PAGE 2 Why We Include HIPAA Waivers in Every Estate Plan PAGE 3
Easy March Madness Chili PAGE 3
Enjoy Spring Weather — Even From Work PAGE 4
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S p Enjoy Warm Weather While Stuck Indoors The weather is warming up, the sun is out — and you’re trapped inside. Most of us have jobs that leave us stuck indoors during spring’s prime midday hours, and it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out on the season’s best parts. Unfortunately, your boss probably won’t give you the day off just because of the gorgeous weather. So, we’ve compiled the next best thing — some tips to enjoy the season as much as you can while also getting your job done. Bring the outdoors in. When the weather is nice, open as many curtains and blinds as possible. The natural light will warm up the room and brighten your mood. While you’re at it, try opening the windows and positioning yourself near one. If you can’t be outside, the spring breeze on your face is the next best thing. Plants decrease stress, and having them on your desk might also trick your brain into feeling less cooped up.
Take a break. You’ve still got to work, but that doesn’t mean you can’t sneak in a few minutes outdoors. Use your break for an outdoor stroll; if possible, you can also walk or bike to work. At the very least, park farther away to give yourself time to enjoy the weather. Volunteer to do a coffee run, pick up lunch, or take out the mail — you’ll be an office hero while catching some rays at the same time. Try working outside. If your boss will allow it, there’s probably some opportunity to do a bit of work outdoors. Meetings and conference calls might offer your best option. For in-person meetings, your coworkers will also likely relish a chance to take it outdoors. In the event of a conference call, you won’t need to convince anyone else — grab your laptop and go! It’s not the same as enjoying the weather while you’re off the clock, but it’s a lot better than being cooped up inside.
With any luck, these tips will help you make it to Friday with your sanity intact. And luckily, the weekend is always just around the corner.
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