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714-533-9210 www.surfcitylawyers.com SEPTEMBER 2018
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It’s not uncommon to stagnate and find yourself just going through the motions at some point in your career. The more expertise and experience you get in your field, the more settled you become. The disease of mediocrity plagues us all, but I think what Christine and I have creates a mutual breeding ground of ambition. We’re always looking for ways to better serve our clients and our communities. To do that, we have to invest in ourselves. That’s why I took off to Texas for Medi-Cal training. I saw a teaser for a two-day training seminar with 10-hour courses each day, which is right up my alley. When we look at estate plans, there’s a spice cabinet of tactics to choose from to protect assets. The know-how to use the ones that work in harmony with each other is what defines a competent attorney. There’s one tactic that few lawyers in our area understand: how to maneuver assets in such a way as to qualify for Medi-Cal properly. OUR SECRETWEAPON: AN INCESSANT DESIRE TO LEARN How Surf City Is Growing in All Aspects
techniques I learned at the course in Texas can preserve anywhere from 64–100 percent of your holdings. Without getting too technical, this method allows us to protect more of your assets, more of your life, and more of your future. When combined with our continuing education in other areas, our service offerings become not only more varied but better for all our clients.
In the meantime, Christine has certainly not been sitting on her hands. For those of you who know her, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. She’s pushing our marketing forward in ways I never could have imagined. YouTube videos, seminars, and new courses are just the beginning of what she’s doing. The content is something that has me particularly excited. I think a lot of businesses are quick to try to put out these slick videos with a boring talking head that spouts off a
bunch of facts. That’s just not us. The videos feature Crochet Corner, Winedown Wednesday, and other activities that make our practice truly unique.
Whatever we do as a firm to move forward, we do together. We’re always trying to add new practices to get better at what we do, but it all stems from a shared belief that it’s what’s best for the client. We want to be teachers for those in need of what we can share. A big part of that is knowing what we’re capable of. If you have clients who could benefit from an expert in Medi-Cal, please reach out to us. Even if we can’t help them, we can definitely do some crocheting or have a glass of wine. I think that’s a pretty solid alternative.
“We’re always looking for ways to better serve our clients and our communities.”
There are only about 18 attorneys in California who can truly get every inch out of Medi-Cal. Most lawyers use a method called “half-a-loaf” to protect about 50 percent of your assets. The
–Anna Serrambana
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DON’T SET YOUR TEAM UP FOR FAILURE
THE PERILS OF THE ‘OVERPROMISE, UNDERDELIVER’ MENTALITY
RECRUITING
unreasonable expectations and sets your relationship with your prospect up for failure. When you overpromise and underdeliver, you develop a system of dysfunction that fosters lukewarm clients you won’t retain. But lost sales won’t be the only consequence; you’ll also form a culture of dysfunction within your team. Employee retention should be at the top of every business owner’s mind. Depending on your industry, a new hire can cost thousands — even tens of thousands — of dollars. In light of today’s strong economy and low unemployment rate, many large businesses have shifted their hiring strategies to poach talent from small companies. This threat of losing employees causes many small-business owners to overpromise and underdeliver in their internal communications. Making promises you can’t keep to employees results in a high turnover rate, low morale, and lack of trust. RETENTION
The competitive job market has led to aggressive headhunting for top candidates. But in some cases, aggressive recruiters promise grandiose perks and unsustainable work environments. Just as with a sales client, overpromising and underdelivering is a sure way to set new employees up for failure. When you perpetuate a facade of what your company can actually provide, you open the door for disappointment and regret. The consequences become evident when employees leave or cultivate negativity within your team. So how do you avoid these pitfalls? The best place to start is by bonding the actions of your company and its teams to the values that make your business successful. Another key is to have confidence in the culture of your company. Many leaders succumb to the idea of overpromising and underdelivering out of fear. If you’ve created a dynamic that breeds creativity, accomplishment, and growth, you’ll never have to make promises in the first place.
While trying to woo your next big client, it can be easy to get caught up in doing whatever it takes to close a sale. What starts as a simple pitch can quickly turn into promising the moon if you let it. Starting down this slippery slope creates
Women across the country are tearing down the cultural misconception that homeownership is primarily for men or families. According to the National Association of Realtors, 18 percent of homebuyers in 2017 were single women. Meanwhile, only 7 percent of single men bought a home in the last year. The discrepancy in these numbers doesn’t necessarily stem from buying power, however. In fact, studies show that single women can only afford to purchase 39 percent of the homes on the market. The idea that women should be married or need a support structure to maintain a property on their own is ingrained in our societal fabric. But this increase in female homeowners has sparked a global conversation regarding women’s ability to rally against the existing subliminal misogyny that tells them to support rather than lead. Why are these women buying homes in greater numbers? In addition to their salaries, higher education, and matrimonial choices, many women credit motherhood as the driving factor in their choice to become a homeowner. In the past, single-parent households weren’t traditionally allowed to adopt. The Rise in Single Female Homeowners SINGLEWOMEN, SUCCESSFUL HOMEOWNERS
Now, however, one-third of all U.S. adoptions happen in single-parent households, and statistics show that unmarried women are far more likely to adopt than their male counterparts. Despite making up a sizable portion of the buying market, single women don’t have an easy path to ownership. Because they aren’t relying on a partner’s income to help with a down payment, they have to take a lot of financial precautions. Zillow.com estimates that it will take an unmarried person 11 years to save up for a 20 percent down payment on a typical home in the U.S. Despite these obstacles, many single women are finding ways to make homeownership a reality. Some slowly build up their savings, while others rely on brokerage accounts and retirement funds or pensions. Regardless of the method they choose, these women are creating a new frontier for others who are ready to take the leap. If you are a part of this rise in female homeownership, it’s important that you protect your assets with a proper estate plan. Reach out to Anna today for more information on how she can help create a customized estate plan that meets your goals and needs.
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‘I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY!’
3 SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE WHO DECLARED BANKRUPTCY (WHO AREN’T FROM ‘THE OFFICE’)
WALT DISNEY
There is a stigma attached to the word “bankruptcy.” Between the societal beliefs that money equates to success and that admitting shortcomings equates to weakness of character, people shy away from even discussing bankruptcy as an option. They view bankruptcy as the ultimate failure, succumbing to the misconception that it permanently destroys bank accounts, halts momentum, and is symptomatic of a poor work ethic. In reality, though, bankruptcy is a tool that can help you achieve stability professionally, financially, and personally. The process of declaring bankruptcy won’t leave you in a pile of rubble made up of your “failed” business ventures. Rather, it can help you discover your strengths and your weaknesses, which will help you put your best foot forward in the future. Our team here at Surf City Lawyers can confirm this based on the experiences of our past clients, but don’t take
our word for it! Here are three famous people who achieved success after declaring bankruptcy.
Disney was a pioneer in character animation and perhaps one of the most innovative businessmen in history. He created fictional characters we all grew up with, such as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, and built theme parks that continue to draw millions of visitors each year. Surprisingly, Walt and his brother, Roy, declared Disney Studios bankrupt in 1923 before going on to achieve tremendous success in the entertainment industry. Although these famous people were forced to declare bankruptcy during their formative professional years, they were all still able to achieve success. If you or someone you know is facing financial stress, considering bankruptcy, or just wants additional information, please feel free to reach out to our attorney, Christine, to get you the help you need.
MARK TWAIN
Twain is perhaps most famous for writing the great American novel “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” This book is often required reading in high school. Despite all of his opportunities, talent, and good fortune, Twain also faced money troubles and declared that he was bankrupt in 1893.
HENRY FORD
The founder of the Ford Motor Company radically changed the way we get from place to place by mass-producing automobiles, most notably the affordable Ford Model T. Despite his huge success and the fact that he revolutionized transportation in America, Ford faced financial problems early on and declared that his company was bankrupt in 1901.
M E M E S
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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How Our Desire to Learn Led to a New Service
Why ‘Overpromise, Underdeliver’ Is Never a Good Strategy
The Rise of Single Female Homeowners
These People Declared Bankruptcy and Still Found Success
Puzzle
International Talk Like a Pirate Day
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CELEBRATE TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY
(“Nice shot, dude”) and “Now watch as I fire a broadside straight into your yardarm” (“But watch this”). They decided Talk Like a Pirate Day needed to become official, so they chose Sept. 19, which was Summers’ wife’s birthday (and the only date he could remember besides Christmas and the Super Bowl). In 2002, they pitched the idea to humor columnist Dave Barry, who promoted it in his syndicated column, and the concept quickly spread internationally.
Island.” Historically, English-speaking pirates probably sounded more like Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow. Unfortunately, the pirates of the Golden Age didn’t leave behind any YouTube videos to confirm this.
Ahoy, matey! Wednesday, Sept. 19, is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Brush up on your pirate vocabulary, grab your eye patch, get your puffy shirt dry cleaned, and bring a little seafaring fun to your office or classroom.
LEARN THE LINGO, LANDLUBBER
Participating in Talk Like a Pirate Day is easy. You just need to know a few key phrases. “Ahoy, matey” means “Hello, friend!” “Blimey, that son of a biscuit- eater hornswaggled me out of me doubloons” means “Darn it, that jerk cheated me out of my money!” “Shiver me timbers, that old salt is three sheets to the wind” means “Wow, that old sailor has had too much beer.” And if a pirate (or your boss) says, “Swab the deck, ye bilge rat, or it’s Davy Jones’ locker for ye!” start mopping the floor immediately.
THE HISTORY OF THESE SWASHBUCKLING SHENANIGANS
DID PIRATES REALLY TALK LIKE THAT?
The “pirate-speak” popularized in movies and Disney attractions probably sounds nothing like real pirates did in centuries past. Today’s swashbuckling phrases delivered in a strong southwest England accent can be traced back to Robert Newton’s 1950 portrayal of Long John Silver in the movie “Treasure
The holiday began as an inside joke between pals John Baur and Mark Summers in 1995. For reasons not even understood by themselves, they began speaking like pirates while playing racquetball, saying things to each other like, “That be a fine cannonade”
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