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New Season, Stronger Legacies A January Plan Jumpstart
January in Southwest Florida means different things to different people. The season is in full swing here. Depending on how long you’ve been in the area, the current weather conditions are either a delight or a slight discomfort. If you’re visiting from another part of the country, you’re likely walking around in shorts, even on one of the few days in the month when temperatures typically drop to the 50s or 40s. If you’re a native, you’re probably feeling downright cold and bundled up in a parka! (I can just imagine our readers from the Midwest chuckling and shaking their heads at that last sentence.) Either way, I hope this message finds you well and that you enjoyed a wonderful holiday season with friends and family. Although 2025 is just beginning, our firm has hit the ground running. By the time this newsletter arrives, our Client Care Program members should have received a copy of their annual Client Care package, which we sent out a few weeks ago. It contains an end-of- the-year letter outlining changes to tax laws over the past 12 months and a custom-specific estate plan review. This document reminds you of the decisions you’ve made so far regarding your estate plan, including the individuals you’ve named as your trustees, health surrogates, and beneficiaries. This year’s package also includes a special white paper, “Sharing Wealth Wisely,” which provides an overview of the mechanisms available to give a lifetime gift. Additionally, we’ve included a response form you can use to inform us of any changes to your existing plan. Considering how quickly 2024 went by, everyone will surely be racing against time in 2025. With that in mind, I urge you to review your package immediately. Often, we’re visited by clients in the summer who need to address issues already outlined in the information we provided the previous December or who don’t recall specific provisions already built into their plans. We do all we can to future- proof your documentation. Still, we can address certain elements well before a problematic situation arises — simply by thoroughly
reviewing your package to ensure it has all the protections necessary to secure your legacy. In other news, Craig, Hayley, and I recently returned from attending a special tax law conference at the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning at the University of Miami. The event was incredibly enlightening, and we intend to announce a special workshop in the not-too-distant future that will explore how recent and upcoming changes to the law will affect your plans. We will announce the details soon and encourage you to attend. The start of any new year allows us all to reflect on our lives and make plans to improve our security and peace of mind in the future. It is also a time to consider how to better protect our families moving forward. Naturally, having your estate plans in order is one of the best ways to guarantee your loved ones’ comfort and stability after you’re gone. While some New Year’s resolutions come and go as the months unfold, ensuring you’re up to date on everything needed to execute your wishes is one promise worth keeping to yourself. Until next time, keep enjoying our great Florida skies. Even when it gets “cold,” remember that wearing a parka every now and then is far more pleasant than needing a shovel every day!
–Michael Hill
1 (239) 265-9779
JANUARY 2025
From Aggravated Assault to Dental Drama
Runaway ‘Dentist’ Dodges Detection
While TikTok may be a go-to app for funny videos, it’s probably not the best way to find a new dentist. Last year, Texas-based “dentist” Nikki Calloway used TikTok to generate buzz for her business, ISmilez Cosmetic Designz. The campaign attracted new patients, including one who scheduled an appointment after receiving a $1,350 quote from Calloway
to have 16 teeth removed, replaced, and a bridge added. There was only one problem: “Nikki Calloway” wasn’t a licensed dentist. In reality, she was Juanetta Solomon, a notorious local felon with a long history of crime. The botched dental surgery left the patient dizzy, bleeding, and with a tooth that fell out shortly afterward — and prompted Solomon to go on the run from the law. According to authorities, Solomon had operated her “dentistry” office while out on bond for a weapons charge. Her past offenses include assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and unlawful carrying of a weapon by a felon — and that was just in 2023 and 2024! In one infamous case, she was accused of shooting at her boyfriend’s former girlfriend. Her record also includes a December 2016 conviction for the delivery of a controlled substance.
“Juanetta Solomon is the definition of a career habitual offender,” commented Andy Kahan, director of victim services and advocacy at Crime Stoppers of Houston, in a story on Katy Magazine Online. “She’s been in prison multiple times in different counties, so it’s no surprise she is once again wanted. Her latest offense is extremely brutal, pretending to be a dentist [and] causing undue pain and stress on individuals, so the quicker we get her back in custody, the less anyone has to suffer as a result of her criminal conduct.” Law enforcement was still attempting to capture Solomon at the time of this writing. Her bizarre turn as a “dentist” serves as a chilling reminder that Google and a little research — not social media — are the best tools to determine whether your chosen provider is a professional or someone destined for prison.
m e W e l l S p e n t
Uncommon Secrets for Safe Sojourns
Whether you’re a frequent traveler or only hit the road or airport on rare occasions, many tried-and-true pointers can help you enjoy a safe and happy journey. We all know to give ourselves plenty of time to check in at the terminal and dress accordingly for our destinations, but what about the foods to pack to reduce allergies or what you should never post online? Here are three lesser-known tips to make your interstate trips more secure. Keep meds close in the clouds. Let’s say you must take blood pressure medication daily during a weeklong trip. Suppose you take your required dose on the day of the flight and stow away the rest of your prescription in your checked luggage. In that case, you may be setting yourself up for health risks if your luggage is misplaced during a 2 floridaestateplanning.com
connecting flight or unforeseen issues with your flight cause delays in your departure or arrival. Whenever possible, keep your medicine either on you or in the overhead compartment above your seat — and be sure to keep more than you expect to need. Deter allergens with your diet. If your upcoming travel plans include a springtime getaway, be aware that your destination may be a hotspot for seasonal pollen, which could trigger your allergies. Always investigate the pollen count in the area you’ll be visiting, and consult your physician for guidance on avoiding allergens in planes or new environments. For a healthy way to reduce histamines and inflammation on the road or in the air, pack plenty of nuts, blueberries, or tomatoes to enjoy when you feel allergies coming on.
Fend off felon-friendly risks. What’s a trip to an exciting locale without a series of real-time posts and updates on Facebook to immortalize your journey? Well, those smiling pics you post on social media platforms — and the location tags that often accompany them — may inadvertently send an “Open for Business” sign to a home invader. Even if you’re diligent about keeping your accounts private and secure, hackers and identity thieves are getting more creative by the day. It’s wise to wait until you get home to post your images — and even wiser to arrange to have a house sitter while you’re away.
BEWARE THE BOGUS The Case Against Clumsy Online Counsel
Remember back in the ’80s and ’90s when we’d glance at the headlines of a tabloid newspaper on the rack in the supermarket check-out line and chuckle at their absurdity? While most people realized these publications weren’t reliable sources of information, the internet has made it much harder to distinguish fact from fiction. These days, anyone with a phone camera and access to a website or a YouTube account can present themselves as an expert. Unfortunately, following their suggestions is often as sensible as adhering to the advice scrawled on a bathroom wall. Here are two reasons why seeking help online for do-it-yourself estate planning
valid place to add sensitive information. Many of these sites also ask users to provide data via prewritten responses in drop-down menus. These systems typically prevent consumers from making modifications, addressing disputes, complying with specific state laws, or managing any other nuances typical of a personalized plan. Maneurving the Misinformation Mindfield In addition to these pitfalls, the most significant risk to preparing an estate plan online is that you may receive guidance from an entity or individual who has no idea what they’re talking about. Our team at the Sheppard Law Firm is comprised of experienced, Florida-certified attorneys who focus on ethical conduct through ongoing education and examination processes. We are committed to providing our
may put your protections in peril. Neglecting Necessary Nuances
clients with current, legitimate information relevant to state laws and a path toward coordinating a course of action to ensure the best possible
Online technology has allowed consumers to find quick and easy solutions to many of life’s responsibilities. This desire for convenience has led to numerous websites offering inexpensive and relatively hassle-free ways to draw up wills, trusts, and estate plans with the click of a mouse. Before utilizing one of these platforms, thoroughly examine its appearance. A poor layout with typos and confusing jargon is a dead giveaway that the site isn’t a
plan for you and your family. Please call us today before a mythical graduate of Google University leads you down the road to ruin.
C I T R
TAKE A BREAK!
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • • •
1 cup almond flour
• • • • •
1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp almond extract
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup medium-grind cornmeal
Zest of 1 lemon, plus 2 tbsp juice Zest of 1 orange, plus 2 tbsp juice
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
Powdered sugar, optional
3 eggs
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 350 F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment and lightly grease the sides with cooking spray. 2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk almond flour, sugar, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt until combined. 3. In another bowl, whisk eggs, olive oil, vanilla, almond extract, and lemon and orange zest and juice. Combine the wet ingredients with dry ingredients. 4. Pour batter into the springform pan. Bake for 35–40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool for 15 minutes. 5. Run a knife gently around the edges of the cake, then remove the sides of the pan. If desired, dust cake with powdered sugar using a fine-mesh strainer.
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(239) 265-9779
Inspired by GimmeSomeOven.com
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INSIDE this issue
SUDOKU ANSWER
A Legacy Lookover PAGE 1 Crime and Cavities PAGE 2 Seamless Journeys PAGE 2 Escape the Online Misinformation Maze PAGE 3 Citrus Olive Oil Cake PAGE 3 Simple Lifestyle Tweaks to Keep Your Blood Sugar in Check PAGE 4
The best compliments we receive are your referrals. When you refer us to your loved ones, we do all we can to exceed expectations.
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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.
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