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The Cary Connection OCTOBER 2022
4 Years and Counting LOOKING TO THE FUTURE AND INTRODUCING OUR SISTER FIRM, PLANWELL LEGAL
Cary Estate Planning is proud to celebrate our fourth anniversary this October, and we’ve come a long way since our first days in business. We’re so grateful the community has welcomed us with open arms. It has been an honor to serve you and gain your trust. The past year has been a busy and exciting one. We opened our new office in Raleigh, which is off to a great start. We’ve also introduced CEP Secure Client Vault, an ultra-secure online platform that allows our clients to store their legal documents and miscellaneous notes heirs will someday need, like bank account and password information. Even better, our team is now up to 18 staff members, and we’re proud to have more than 175 five-star reviews on Google. Since the sudden uncertainty of the pandemic in early 2020, we’ve seen more people finally realizing the importance of getting their affairs in order. The medical emergencies around us helped many people recognize that everyone needs to have a plan, no matter their financial situation. The demand has been high, and we’ve welcomed many new clients. As we’ve grown, we’ve received a lot of feedback from our community, and we’ve realized Cary Estate Planning isn’t the best fit for everyone. Our niche is still to provide comprehensive estate planning services to high-touch clients with complex needs. Much like you, our clients might have businesses, own properties in several states, have many beneficiaries to consider, or have prior inheritances to protect. But we often get calls from people who just need a simple will or trust. Their budgets and their needs don’t fit the typical law firm model, and they’re okay with sacrificing the “extras” if it means a complete estate plan can still be attained at a more budget- friendly outcome. Once we realized a portion of our community was underserved, we wanted to find a way to help them. Do-it-yourself wills are available online, but they make many people nervous and they’re very rarely completed appropriately, luring people into a false sense of security. And let’s face it, you simply don’t know what you don’t know. It’s one thing to use TurboTax for your annual tax return and another to distribute all your worldly assets without a single conversation with an attorney. In early 2021, we decided to open our sister firm, Planwell Legal. They are a virtual-first estate planning law firm for individuals and
families with basic planning needs. We have a dedicated local team to serve clients, and the goal is to provide simple, straightforward wills and trusts with transparent and budget-friendly pricing. Clients can arrange their own signing or have the firm set one up for an additional fee. Planwell has had a warm reception and allows us to reach more community members with a budget-friendly option that suits their needs. And because everything is virtual, we can more easily work with clients across all 100 counties of North Carolina. Since you’ve completed your estate planning process with Cary Estate Planning, rest assured — you made the right decision. Your needs were sufficiently complex to warrant a comprehensive planning process. But if you have children, friends, coworkers, or neighbors who need just the basics, we hope you’ll refer them to the website PlanWell.Legal for more information. Four years in with Cary Estate Planning, we’re just getting started. We look forward to continuing to serve community members from all walks of life for many more years to come.
-Paul Yokabitus
CaryEstatePlanning.com • 1
Teenager Saves a Woman’s Life After Taking One First-Aid Training Class
It was a typical day at work for 15-year-old McDonald’s worker Sydney Raley — she was taking orders, engaging with customers, and delivering food. Everything went as planned for Raley until the unexpected happened. After handing a woman part of her order, Raley left the drive-thru window to retrieve the rest of her food. But when she returned, something strange happened. “She was coughing like crazy, and I noticed she was gagging … I immediately knew, ‘Oh, no, she’s choking,’” Raley told CNN. The woman’s daughter freaked out because she felt so scared for her mother. Even some of the McDonald’s employees seemed shocked and momentarily unable to take action. Luckily, Raley knew what to do. She immediately told her colleague to dial 911 as she dove through the drive-thru window to help the choking woman. Besides working at the fast-food chain, Raley was also a babysitter and had taken
a first-aid class through the Red Cross. In this class, she learned the Heimlich maneuver, which Raley used to dislodge the chicken nugget the woman had eaten. Although the woman was in shock after what she endured, she felt grateful for the teen and her act of heroism. Her bravery didn’t go unnoticed by Paul Ostergaard either, the owner-operator of the McDonald’s where Raley worked. He told CNN, “Sydney truly personifies what it is to be a hero.” In addition to this recognition, Raley also received $100 from a fund first-responders use to reward people who do brave work within the community. Thank you, Sydney, for showing us that not all heroes wear capes — they are in our community everywhere we go. We encourage everyone to take a first-aid training course, so all of us can become the heroes of tomorrow. Plus, you never know when that knowledge will come in handy.
Never a Dull Moment Why We Should Live for Today
We can’t change the past, nor can we predict or guarantee the future. In the end, all we have is the present, yet most of us live our lives ignoring its many possibilities. It’s easy to tune out the life around you, especially if you do many of the same things every day. Taking care of the kids, commuting, working, and running errands can blur together. Just as bad, when life isn’t going the way we want, it’s easy to fantasize about how things “should” be or how they once were. When we live busy or stressful lives, worrying or planning can also make us feel more in control. The problem with these strategies is that they don’t change anything. They help us discount the only thing we can control: what we do now. Life can pass you by that way if you’re not careful. The solution is to exist in the present moment as much as possible and enjoy the good things around us while we have them. Studies show that living this way makes people happier, healthier, and more likely to form strong relationships. But how do you even get started? The process requires a different way of thinking called mindfulness. Mindfulness is about focusing on what is happening in the present moment — not that work deadline, the movie you just watched, what’s for dinner, or the kids’ extracurricular schedule. It takes practice, and many people use meditation or breathing to help.
When mindful, we concentrate on what others say and become more fully present. We also start to notice the small things we usually overlook: the cool breeze on our skin, the sound of the birds, the feel of a sweater, or the sight of our loved ones smiling. Our lives become fuller. And our stress decreases because we’re not clinging to things beyond our command. No one ever stops worrying entirely, and some planning is necessary to live a successful life. But too much can leave us with no energy or time to enjoy it. John Lennon once sang, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” Start living in the present so you don’t blink and miss yours.
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CEP Secure Client Vault An ultra secure online platform to organize and store estate planning documents, wishes, notes, and more. Why a Vault? It's an organized easy to find location for uploading and storing copies of your Will, Trust, and Powers of Attorney with the ability to scan and upload additional documents Provides enhanced peace of mind for you & your family no matter the distance or time (24/7 access) Allows you to add medical/Rx notes, special needs care plans, "Trustee handbooks", and more without limitation
Gone are the days of lost email files, hand-written notes, and thumb drives. CEP Secure Client Vault takes the guesswork out and provides secure access anytime from anywhere for you and those you love when it’s needed most. This exclusive service, powered by My Life & Wishes, provides you and your successors a complete guide to your life in one convenient place.
919-659-8433 caryestateplanning.com/secure-client-vault
CEP Secure Client Vault
Key Features & Benefits:
A helpful spot for details on your subscriptions and auto-pay bills that others may not know A one stop location for noting your social media handles and passwords Military-grade security (AES 256 encryption) Ability to add users to add users with specific "levels" of access A safe place for your account numbers and login credientials A back-up resource in the event of natural disasters
Our partner, My Life & Wishes, has been in business since 2016 and is rated top three in their industry. In addition, they hold a BBB rating of A+ and work with many estate planning law firms across the country.
Scan with your phone's camera to learn more or visit our website: caryestateplanning.com/secure-client-vault
IT’S WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY! 3 Ways to Show Gratitude
TAKE A BREAK
Teachers have impacted you and your children’s lives in more ways than one. Maybe they inspired you to take a certain career path, always understood you, or were there for you or your child when it was needed. Teachers have a demanding job, so in honor of World Teachers’ Day on Oct. 5, let’s take some time to appreciate them. Here are three ways to show your gratitude this month. Donate school supplies. Some teachers spend personal funds to purchase school supplies for their classrooms. This expense can become costly, especially if they provide for multiple students. Donate unused notebooks, pencils, pens, or other school supplies to a teacher. Some teachers even have wish lists available if you want to purchase new items for their classrooms. They will appreciate your kindness, and the children who need these supplies will also be grateful. Write thank-you letters. If you had a teacher who impacted your life, or if your child has a favorite teacher, write them a thank-you note. Handwritten notes are more meaningful than ones you buy at the store. It shows you put in time and effort to create something specifically for them. You can write about a favorite memory you had with them or the ways they’ve inspired you. If you’re feeling extra generous, add a gift card to the note! A small message can go a long way in turning someone’s day around. Volunteer when you can. In addition to teaching in the classroom, teachers need to chaperone students during field trips, recess, lunch, and standardized tests. Contact your child’s school and see when they need volunteers to help with these activities. Teachers will greatly appreciate it because they will have a chance to take a break or organize their materials for the next class. Even if it’s just for the day or a few hours, teachers will appreciate the extra assistance. Teachers play a vital role in preparing our children for the real world. They teach them vital social skills and problem-solving strategies that will assist them as they age. So, let’s take some time to show appreciation for their dedication to our children.
CREAMY BAKED PUMPKIN RISOTTO
Ingredients
• 5 cups of low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth • 2 cups Arborio rice • 2 cups of pumpkin, diced • 1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin purée • 1/2 yellow onion, minced
• Salt, to taste • Pepper, to taste • 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 2 tbsp mascarpone cheese • 2 tbsp olive oil
Directions
1. Heat the oven to 400 F and arrange a rack in the middle. 2. In a 3-quart baking dish, combine broth, rice, diced and puréed pumpkin, and onion. 3. Season with salt and pepper, then stir until evenly combined. 4. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake until water has been absorbed and rice granules are puffed. 5. Remove from the oven and stir in basil, grated Parmesan cheese, mascarpone cheese, and olive oil.
Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
CaryEstatePlanning.com • 3
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Inside This Issue
Looking to the Future of Cary Estate Planning
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Fast-Food Hero Taking Each Moment as It Comes
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Creamy Baked Pumpkin Risotto It’s World Teachers’ Day!
Age Is Just a Number
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Wanted to Legally Change His Age The Man Who Felt 20 Years Younger
He alleged that he experienced age discrimination because, being 69, he is limited in what he can do. If he were 49, he could buy a house and car and work more hours, and his chances on the dating app Tinder would improve if he were younger. What was the court’s decision? Ratelband’s argument did not convince the district court in the Dutch city of Arnhem. The court said there was no evidence that Ratelband had experienced age discrimination. It stated that, unlike legally changing your name or gender, changing your age causes many problems such as the many rights and duties related to age, such as voting, attending school, military obligations, and pension. Although Ratelband has the freedom to feel 20 years younger, mentally and physically, he cannot legally change his age because of the legal and societal implications that would follow, the court added.
We’ve all heard about people legally changing their name or gender, but have you ever heard about someone trying to change their legal age? In 2018, a 69-year-old Dutch man named Emile Ratelband petitioned a court for permission to change his age. He wanted to alter the year he was born on his birth certificate by 20 years so he could be 49 years old. So, how did this case end? Let’s find out. What was his reasoning? Ratelband wanted to change his age because he argued that he felt 20 years younger. He said his doctors told him that he had the body of a younger man, and his health was far better than most men his age.
The district court rejected Ratelband’s request, but he plans to appeal.
In the Netherlands, the public doesn’t take Ratelband’s claims seriously. They even make fun of his international exposure and willingness to provide interviews worldwide to justify his wishes. So what do you think of this legal case? Is age just a number? Let us know your thoughts!
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