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Kevin’s Peace of Mind
www.kevintharpe.com (770) 503-1022
September 2023
A DAY THAT SHOOK THE NATION
Remembering 9/11
Twenty-two years ago, the lives of Americans changed forever.
On Sept. 11, 2001, the unthinkable happened — the World Trade Center was struck by terrorists and collapsed right before our eyes. To this day, I still have a hard time believing that it actually happened. I heard about the North Tower being hit while on my way into work that day. I was listening to the radio when suddenly a local radio personality came on to break the news. My first thought was, “What?!” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! How could this horrific accident happen in America? As soon as I got to the office, my colleagues were huddled around the TV. This was when I saw the South Tower get hit and realized that this event wasn’t an accident but an attack. It was so heartbreaking. But I still couldn’t grasp the idea that this was real life. It seemed like I was watching a trailer for an action movie. Unfortunately, this drama was occurring in real life, and there was nothing cinematic about it. Seeing the World Trade Center collapse was surreal. Everyone at the firm stood silently as the tragedy played out before us. My prayers go out to families who lost a loved one during this attack. I can’t even imagine the thoughts, feelings, and questions racing through their minds at the time. To this day, it’s still hard for me to describe how I feel about the 9/11 attack. Whenever I go to New York, I get choked up seeing where the towers used to be. I attended training in the Twin Towers years ago, and I can still remember what the inside of those magnificent buildings looked like. Now when I visit, like many Americans, all I’m left with are my memories and the
realization that what happened 22 years ago was, in fact, real. Like this horrific tragedy, there are some things in life that you can’t prepare for. While we can never prepare ourselves emotionally for these events, there are some things you can do legally to prepare yourself and your family for a sudden tragic event. One of the best ways to do this is by estate planning. Here, you can outline all your wishes and needs to ensure everything and everyone is taken care of and protected. When creating an estate plan to prepare you and your family for a tragic event, like the loss of a loved one or a sudden loss of capacity, it’s vital that you keep three crucial things in mind: 1) keep ownership of your assets; 2) focus on access to your assets; 3) look to the types of assets you own (rather than the value of the assets you own). I focus on these three key points with clients when we create their estate plans. Let’s ease those concerns once and for all!
—Kevin Tharpe
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AI Scams: Voice Cloning Could Drain Your Bank Account!
With AI capabilities growing daily, you need to be even more vigilant against potential scammers. We’ve
Scammers looking to steal thousands of dollars will use AI to replicate the voices of people who’ve posted their voices online via videos like TikTok. They’ll clone a person’s voice and then use it to call their relatives and pretend to be their children or grandchildren who need money as soon as possible. The person on the phone is a scammer, not your family member, even though they sound just like them.
already heard about AI’s power to create written content and, more recently, use musicians’ voices to sing different songs. So, how does this relate to scammers? Well, TikTok users and other online users have shared a new scam that utilizes AI to
Never send money without first verifying whether it is or isn’t your relative. Some online users advise creating secret code words to exchange over the phone to confirm their
family member is requesting the money. Always contact your relative and ask if they actually made the call. Remember, anyone who has posted a short clip of their voice can find it cloned with AI and used to scam their families. Stay safe!
drain the bank accounts of their family members called voice cloning.
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collide with their steering wheel, leading to severe injuries to their upper body. Airbags and steering wheel aside, when a driver is sitting too close to the wheel, they run the risk of windshield glass severely cutting them during a crash. These drivers can also find themselves trapped between the seat and steering wheel after a collision crushes their vehicle. Clearly, there are numerous reasons why sitting too close to the steering wheel is dangerous. Conversely, what is a safe distance between the driver and the wheel? Simple changes can save your life! Both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have confirmed that there should be 10 or more inches between the driver and the steering wheel. To be even safer, you should recline the upper part of your seat to add maximum distance while still being able to reach the pedals. Scoot the entire seat back as far as you reasonably can! Another simple step that can save your life is lowering the placement of your steering wheel so that it’s tilted below your face and chest. This will also minimize the impact
to the face and chest, which, when injured, can be severe or even fatal. Finally, for those who are shorter and frustrated by the increased distance, you can contact a professional to adjust your pedals. You can have your pedals modified or new ones installed to ensure your feet reach them while still maintaining a safe distance from the wheel. Just these few easy steps can change the outcome of a potentially fatal car crash. Change the way you sit in the driver’s seat today!
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TAKE A BREAK
THE GREATEST HEIST IN HISTORY How Pirate King Henry Every Vanished
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The history of pirates is rich with countless stories of lawless thieves and fearless captains. Yet the accounts of what exactly happened to the “King of Pirates” after he led the largest pirate heist in history are still muddled. Henry Every isn’t a household name compared to other famous pirates. However, what makes Every exceptional is that, unlike his counterparts, he was never captured. The first reports of Every were of his service in the British Navy before boarding the warship Charles II as a first mate to battle French ships for their freight. However, after the captain delayed the mission and payment was stalled, Every conspired with the angry crew to mutiny. Renaming the ship the Fancy, Every and his team sailed the coastline of Africa to steal riches. Their final heist against a Mughal Empire fleet returning to India led to the treasure of a lifetime. After accruing more and more crewmates, Every and his gang overtook the various ships and all the gold and jewels they carried. The loot is estimated to be tens of millions of modern-day dollars.
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com COZY FRENCH ONION SOUP
Ingredients
• 5 tbsp olive oil, divided • 1 tbsp butter • 8 cups sliced onions • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 1/2 cup port wine • 2 32-oz cartons beef broth
• Salt and pepper, to taste • 24 slices baguette (1/2-inch thick) • 3/4 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
Every and his crew dispersed with their share and were never to be seen again. Some pirates were
Directions 1. In a Dutch oven, heat 2 tbsp oil and butter over medium heat. Add onions and cook until softened, then reduce heat. Occasionally stir until brown (around 30 minutes). Add garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. 2. Stir in wine and bring to a boil. When liquid has reduced by half, add broth, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 1 hour. 3. Preheat oven to 400 F. On a baking sheet, brush baguette slices with remaining oil. Bake until golden (3–5 minutes each side). 4. In 12 broiler-safe 8-oz bowls, place 2 toast slices and pour soup into each. Top with cheese and broil until melted.
believed to have found refuge in the U.S., but Every was never located despite Britain’s fierce manhunt. His title as the King of Pirates was rightfully earned.
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(770) 503-1022 www.KevinTharpe.com 405 Broad St. Gainesville, GA 30501 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
The Day America Silently Stood Still
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AI Scams: Voice Cloning Could Drain Your Bank Account!
Cozy French Onion Soup
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Vanished With Millions: The Intriguing Story of Pirate King Henry Every
4 Could Your Steering Wheel Position Be Putting You at Risk? COULD YOUR STEERING WHEEL POSITION BE PUTTING YOU AT RISK? When you get into the driver’s seat, you may check all your mirrors or settings, but are you adjusting your steering wheel? This one factor can prevent a car accident from becoming fatal. The proximity and placement of your steering wheel are significant factors in an accident because of the sheer force of the vehicle’s airbags. Unfortunately, shorter individuals will naturally bring their seats incredibly close to the steering wheel due to the distance between their feet and the pedals. Specifically, women and older people under 5 feet, 5 inches tall will scoot their seats dangerously close. However, there are ways to keep yourself safe while driving. How is sitting too close to the wheel dangerous? When airbags activate during a collision, they can create nearly 2,000 pounds of force and expand at almost 200 mph!
That’s a lot of pressure and speed aimed directly at your chest. This impact can lead to severe injury or even death for smaller individuals. Whiplash, neck injuries, fractures, and spinal damage are all possibilities when an airbag impacts your chest or neck. Airbags save countless lives, but if a driver is sitting too close to the wheel, it can do the opposite. Even faulty airbags that don’t deploy can cause an up-close driver to dangerously
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