Take a look at our May newsletter!
Plan today for peace of mind tomorrow. MAY 2023
THANK YOU, TEACHERS HOW YOU SHAPED OUR FAMILY’S JOURNEY
Throughout our lives, we meet some truly amazing people who can inspire us. For some, it may be a parent or a mentor, but nearly every one of us has had a positive experience or relationship with a teacher. Maybe it was your high school English teacher who taught you the importance of grammar. Or maybe, it was your child’s teacher who helped them develop a love of reading or math. In May, we can share our appreciation for the teachers who touched our lives when we celebrate Teachers’ Day! I believe teachers are amazing and have an incredible ability to leave a positive impact on society. I think we often understate the tremendous effect they have on the world. Think about it for a second. Who taught you how to read properly or helped cultivate your passion for a particular subject? In most cases, it was probably one of your teachers. That’s not to say every teacher left a positive impact on your life, but some of them definitely went above and beyond to help you learn, even if you don’t realize it.
that my children have had such amazing teachers throughout their educational journey. I’ve been blown away by their patience and ability to bring out the best in my children. One of my son’s teachers did a project with him I adored because it made him take a look at himself. The teacher had each kid pick a part of themselves they liked best and explain why they liked it. My son picked his hands and said things like, “My hands can hug my mom, and my hands can make hamburgers.” I loved this project so much that I had his picture framed. I think that project was really important for the kids because it’s important they find things about themselves they like. It becomes even more vital as they approach adulthood. Life is difficult, and we can be hard on ourselves when things don’t work out as planned. I think it’s wonderful this second- grade teacher realized the impact she could have with this lesson by encouraging her students to personalize their work. It’s been fascinating to watch teachers interact with my children and help them develop their skills, but Teachers’ Day has also encouraged me to reminisce
about my time in school and the teachers who shaped me. I had an English teacher in middle school who also became my teacher in high school. She was an incredibly nice teacher but was also strict and structured. It was always clear what the expectations were, and if you didn’t meet them, no excuse was acceptable. Her lessons allowed me to develop a sense of responsibility, which has served me well throughout my life. She was a tough teacher, but I appreciated it because it helped strengthen my work ethic. As a kid, you don’t really understand how the world works, and you try to get away with as much as possible. There was no getting away with anything in this teacher’s class, and I couldn’t be more thankful for it.
Teachers don’t always get the recognition they deserve for everything they do. Thank a teacher this Teachers’ Day, and share your appreciation for the sacrifices they make to help our kids find success in their lives.
WWW.SHOUPLEGAL.COM | 1 –Andrea Shoup
My appreciation for teachers has only grown since I became a parent. It has been a blessing
Estate planning is about much more than determining what will happen to your assets after you pass away. It’s also crucial to plan for medical emergencies. In fact, designating financial and health care powers of attorney (POA) should be an essential component of any estate plan. A POA gives someone the legal right to act on your behalf. These documents also outline the specific type of decisions the designated agent can undertake and sometimes detail a single event. For example, if you become incapacitated, designating financial power of attorney will allow someone you choose to handle your finances on your behalf, while a health care power of attorney grants someone the right to make decisions about your medical treatment. Before designating an agent, consider whom you trust with your money and health. Some people might select the same family member to be their financial and health care agents, but others could choose separate individuals. Each situation is different, and you know what’s best for you. While a relative who cares deeply about your well-being may be an ideal health care agent, this person might make a terrible financial agent if they can’t balance a checkbook. Each state has methods for determining who will make decisions for an incapacitated person when they do not have a predesignated power of attorney. But the process is less than ideal. Having to hash out who should be your representative can cause strife within your family when they need each other the most. Further, an incapacitated person no longer has the ability or right to determine who will take on these crucial responsibilities and make monumental decisions about their care, finances, and life. Creating power of attorney documents while you are of sound mind gives you some measure of control over your future. Fortunately, many POA designations will never take effect, but if the worst happens, you’ll be better off having a power of attorney in place. COMFORT IN AN EMERGENCY WHY YOU NEED A POWER OF ATTORNEY
NO NONSENSE, NO PROBLEM How Our Attorney, Omid, Gets Desirable Results
When you hire an attorney for any legal need, you want someone who will be honest and straightforward about your situation. You don’t want someone who is going to beat around the bush and string you along as you wait to get everything figured out, especially when it comes to estate planning. When we interviewed Omid for our open attorney position at the end of last year, we immediately knew he would be an excellent fit for our firm and clients. Omid first grew interested in the legal field through political ambition. He knew many politicians started as lawyers and felt he could help and learn more about people through a legal career. After graduating from law school, Omid worked at a firm where he handled business litigation and consumer law cases for a year. While there, he discovered trust administration and fell in love with the idea of helping clients plan for the future.
Before long, he joined a different law firm where he could focus on trust and estate litigation matters. While there, he gained vast experience looking over trust documents and finding holes in other attorneys’ drafts. Now that Omid has joined our team, he’s putting his expertise to work and loving every minute of it. He finds great satisfaction in helping people plan their estates. He knows there can be a lot of fear in the unknown and wants to help his clients with that fear by explaining the process in an easy-to-understand manner. More than anything, Omid wants you to feel comfortable about your plan and the future. Omid works diligently to understand your needs, wishes, and concerns. He wants to cover all of your bases with the plan he creates and will leave no stone unturned.
month for the past 10 years and has dreams of sailing in the Caribbean or making a major voyage from California to Hawaii. For now, his favorite adventure is sailing out to Catalina Island. We’re so happy to have Omid on our team, and we can’t wait to see the difference he makes in our clients’ lives.
Outside of work, Omid spends his time sailing on the open ocean. He’s tried to go at least once a
Plan today for peace
2 | (951) 445-4114
Ginger Pork Stir-Fry Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Looking for a healthy stir-fry that has all of the delicious flavors and none of the heavy ingredients? This one might be perfect for you! Ingredients
• 1 tbsp cornstarch • 1 cup orange juice • 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp canola oil • 1 small onion, sliced • 1/4 lb fresh snow peas • 1/2 sweet red pepper, julienned • Cooked rice • Green onion, chopped (optional) • Sesame seeds (optional)
The first full week of May is National Pet Week! Our pets are vital members of our families, provide us with unconditional love, and are often our constant companions. There’s nothing quite like going for a walk around the neighborhood with your dog or taking a quick nap with your furry friends. There’s no doubt about it; we want our pets to live long, healthy, and happy lives, but what would happen to your pets if something happened to you? If this is something that concerns you, you should create a pet trust as part of your estate plan. Pet trusts go into effect after the pet’s owner has passed away and cover a variety of scenarios to ensure your pet has everything they need to continue living a happy life. You start creating your pet trust document by determining which animals are covered. You have to explicitly name the pets included in your pet trust. Your trust ends after the last surviving pet passes away, which means you can’t include money for their offspring. One of the most important parts of your pet trust is determining who will take care of your animals. You want to pick someone you know will keep your pets’ best interests in mind while following your wishes. Don’t just assume a sibling, spouse, or best friend will be okay with taking care of your animal. Ask them before naming them as the caretaker. You’ll also need to determine how much money you need to leave for your pet. Figure out how much it will cost for their future vet expenses, food, and other necessities. Be sure to consider your pets’ ages and conditions. In addition to leaving money for their needs, you also need to provide the new caretaker with instructions on how to best care for your pet. It’s best practice to be as detailed as possible to ensure your pets’ needs are met. As a final note, your pet trust will also determine what will be done with the leftover money should your pet pass away before the trust funds are fully utilized. You’ll even be able to name a caretaker if you become incapacitated and are unable to care for your furry friends. PEACE OF MIND FOR PET OWNERS The Power of a Pet Trust
• 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1/4 tsp ground ginger • 1 lb pork tenderloin, cut into thin strips
Directions
1. In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch, orange juice, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger until smooth; set aside. 2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, stir-fry pork in oil until lightly browned, about 4–5 minutes. Remove pork and add onion, peas, and red pepper. Cook until crisp-tender, about 3–5 minutes. 3. Stir in orange juice mixture and pork. Bring to a boil, and then cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve over rice. Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds, if desired.
TAKE A BREAK
Reach out to us today if you’re interested in creating a pet trust as part of your estate plan!
e of mind tomorrow.
WWW.SHOUPLEGAL.COM | 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Plan today for peace of mind tomorrow. 39755 Date St., Ste. 203 | Murrieta, CA 92563 (951) 445-4114 | www.shouplegal.com
1 | A Tribute to Teachers 2 | Why Every Estate Plan Needs a Power of Attorney 2 | Get to Know Omid 3 | Plan for Your Pets’ Future 3 | Ginger Pork Stir-Fry 4 | Host an Unforgettable Murder Mystery Dinner Inside This Issue
Nipping Spring Allergies in the Bud WHEN POLLEN STRIKES Host a Murder Mystery Dinner! THE BEST WAY TO CELEBRATE MYSTERY MONTH
Did you know May is Mystery Month? There are dozens of ways to celebrate this enigmatic occasion, from playing Clue to rewatching “Glass Onion” — but why not bring those experiences to life and host your own murder mystery dinner at home? Thanks to a plethora of kits on the market, doing so is easier than ever! What is a murder mystery dinner? A murder mystery dinner is essentially a real-life game of Clue. You invite friends over for dinner and turn your home into the set of “Knives Out” — without the blood, of course. Each of your friends takes on the persona of a character in the story, and when one of them is “murdered,” you compete to uncover who dunnit. Step 1: Pick your kit. Planning a murder mystery dinner from scratch would take the ingenuity of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Luckily, you have several ready-made mysteries to choose from! You can find boxes from Masters of Mystery and My Mystery Party at your local board game store, but you can find many options available online, too. Night of Mystery (NightOfMystery.com), for example, sells both in-person and virtual kits with themes ranging from ‘80s prom to Christmas homicide.
If your friends and family don’t like the idea of acting and dressing up, that’s okay — you can still solve a mystery over dinner! Look into kits available through Unsolved Case Files (UnsolvedCaseFiles.com) or Hunt A Killer (Shop.HuntAKiller.com), which involve collaborative mystery-solving without the character work. Step 2: Curate your guest list. Most murder mystery dinners require at least four people, while some include characters for six, eight, or more! Check the number of players on your kit and invite your most creative, analytical, theatrical, and mystery-loving friends. Step 3: Decorate and plan the menu. If you choose a themed murder mystery, level up your event with a matching menu and decor! For games taking place in England, whip up a shepherd’s pie and make a cardboard cutout of Big Ben. For Havana Nights, plan a build-your- own Cubano bar and throw on an Afro-Cuban playlist. You can be as over-the- top as you like. Remember, it’s Mystery Month!
4 | (951) 445-4114
Published by Newsletter Pro | www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator