Check out our October newsletter!
The Cary Connection OCTOBER 2025
Cary • Raleigh • North Raleigh • Chapel Hill
Growth and Gratitude 7 Years of Building Trust
Time flies when you’re helping people build peace of mind.
October 2025 marks Cary Estate Planning’s seventh anniversary. Seven is considered a lucky number, and we’ve been incredibly fortunate to enjoy nearly a decade’s worth of growth and great partnerships with our clients. What began as a bold vision and a leap of faith has become something we’re incredibly proud of, and we’re grateful for every client who has entrusted us with their estate planning needs along the way. A lot of life — and a fair amount of ups and downs — can unfold over seven years. We weathered the COVID-19 pandemic storm, embraced consistent change in our industry, and celebrated countless wins. Our continued climb wouldn’t be possible without our clients, who regularly refer us to their friends, neighbors, coworkers, and families. Thank you for taking this journey with us and helping us stay strong. From the beginning, we’ve prided ourselves on creating community-facing access to all things estate planning. In April 2021, we expanded our efforts in this direction by creating PlanWell Legal, a law firm focused on a simpler, more straightforward approach to wills and trusts for North Carolina residents who want to get a plan in place but may not need the level of comprehensive
estate planning offered through Cary Estate Planning. Additionally, Cary Financial Planning continues to offer client services, including tailored financial analysis and solutions. We pride ourselves on being a single-source provider for legacy planning. We are excited to re-launch our tax planning services and expand some of our existing niche service offerings. On a personal note, I’m humbled by the response our work has received. We currently have over 600 five-star reviews on Google, and have continued to receive many peer- based and community awards. We are always thrilled to hear from new clients referred to us by people they trust or who became aware of us through your recommendations. I’m also proud of my collective team, now more than 40 members strong! Of course, we also try to bring a bit of fun and positivity to our community. We’re delighted to support a variety of local organizations and causes, and we enjoy our partnerships, including the North Carolina Football Club. I couldn’t resist sharing the photo of my family and me from last June’s North Carolina Courage game in this month’s newsletter! Thank you for everything you’ve done to help make Cary Estate Planning and our related entities a pillar in Cary
and beyond. I can’t begin to express how much our clients mean to us, and we’re thrilled to move forward in serving you. The best is yet to come!
SCAN THIS CODE WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE!
-Paul Yokabitus
CaryEstatePlanning.com • 1
The Child-Free Retirement Playbook
SECURE, SMART, AND SATISFYING
When you look into why people decide to create an estate plan, you’ll find a common thread connecting the top reasons. Many people want to leave money or assets to their heirs, ensure their kids have a prosperous future, and provide a plan regarding guardianship for any minor children. Many common reasons for estate planning involve children, but what if you never had any? Is it still necessary to create an estate plan? Do you need to take other actions to plan for your senior years properly? For starters, everyone should establish an estate plan, regardless of age, family situation, finances, or health. Creating an estate plan allows you to lay out your wishes for various aspects of your life. You can determine what will happen to your money and personal possessions, who can make health care and financial decisions
on your behalf, and more. Establishing an estate plan lets you gain peace of mind about the future while ensuring your loved ones follow your wishes. When looking toward your senior years, estate planning will only get you so far. You should take other actions to ensure you can enjoy retirement comfortably. Consider looking into long-term care insurance to help offset assisted living costs and other facilities. Get out of your comfort zone to meet new people and find a network that provides assistance, encouragement, and support. You can do this by getting more involved with your community, church, or other local organizations. Another thing you should do is list out all your important information. Keep records of your bank accounts, insurance policies, important contact information, monthly
bills, and upcoming medical appointments. Having this information on hand will make everything easier if someone else has to step in to help out. Your senior years do not have to be confusing, challenging, or lonely if you have never had children. By taking action and making plans, you can make the most of your retirement and enjoy it to the fullest!
CREATIVE TRICKS TO BEAT DOGGY BOREDOM KEEP THOSE PAWS BUSY
Teach a new trick. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Training sessions teach obedience and provide mental exercise! Whether it’s “shake,” “spin,” or even “put your toys away,” learning something new gives your dog a sense of purpose and boosts your bond. Schedule short, interactive play breaks. Even five minutes of fetch or tug-of-war can break up the day and add excitement. Short bursts of play are especially great for working pet parents or anyone with a packed schedule. Enrichment on a budget. You don’t need to spend a lot to keep your pup engaged. With a bit of creativity, cardboard boxes, old towels, and even ice cubes with treats frozen inside can become boredom busters. Think of it as DIY enrichment!
Have you ever come home to find chewed shoes, shredded pillows, or your trash mysteriously scattered across the floor? If your dog has become a one-pup demolition crew, boredom might be the culprit. Like us, dogs need mental stimulation and activities to keep their minds sharp and their behavior in check. The good news is that you don’t need fancy gadgets or
endless free time to keep your dog happy. A few simple tricks can go a long way in keeping their tails wagging and your belongings intact. Make mealtime a game. Ditch the food bowl and turn mealtime into a brain workout. Try using treat-dispensing toys or puzzle feeders that make your dog work for its food. You can also scatter kibble around the house or yard and let them “hunt” it down. It taps into their instincts and keeps them busy in a fun and rewarding way. Rotate toys to keep things fresh. If your dog has a pile of toys but only plays with one or two, it might be time to mix things up. Keep half of the toys hidden and rotate them out every few days. This keeps things new and exciting, even if your pup has seen the toy before.
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The phrase “history is written by the victors” has been around since the French Revolution, and it can make you wonder how truthful far-fetched historical stories actually are. For example, consider the famous WWII story about the USS O’Bannon. This ship notoriously sank a Japanese submarine using potatoes, but let’s take a closer look to separate fact from fiction. In early April 1943, the crew of the USS O’Bannon was returning to the island of Tulagi when they were asked to check out a submarine that had made contact with the surface not far from their location. It was a dark night, but the waters were calm, so it didn’t take long for the crew to spot a Japanese submarine 2,000 yards away. The sub headed right for their ship, and once it was less than 1,000 yards away, the O’Bannon crew knew they were face-to-face with the enemy. What Really Happened Aboard the O’Bannon? THE TATER TALE THAT TORPEDOES THE TRUTH
TAKE A BREAK
CANDY GOURD HAUNTING LEAVES LIBRA MARIGOLD MOON OPAL PUMPKIN SOUP TEACHERS TOUCHDOWN
The O’Bannon unloaded their artillery at the Japanese sub, causing significant damage. They turned around for a second attack, and then a third attack until the sub sank below the surface. They were victorious, but when did potatoes come into play? It depends on the source you check. Commander MacDonald of the USS O’Bannon never mentions potatoes in the official report of the incident. He’s even gone as far as stating it never happened. However, a book called “Action Tonight” by James David Horan
Extra-Crispy Ranch Chicken Cutlets Inspired by TheCookieRookie.com
Ingredients
• Olive oil • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste • 3/4 cup flour • 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese • 1 oz ranch seasoning, store-bought (1 packet) or homemade • Cooking spray
goes into meticulous detail about the events of that fateful night. Horan states that the crew threw everything they could at the Japanese submarine, including bolts, pieces of artillery, and potatoes. Other publications have repeated this story, noting that potatoes knocked Japanese sailors into the water, leading to the sinking of the submarine. Crew members have also stated that they saw people throwing potatoes. Now, 80 years removed from the event, many O’Bannon crew members have passed away. We’ll never know whether this story is true, but one detail may illuminate the truth. The USS O’Bannon was never closer than 90 yards to the submarine. Unless they had someone with the arm of an NFL- caliber quarterback on board, it’s unlikely that anyone hit the Japanese sub with a potato.
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with olive oil and set aside. 2. Season both sides of chicken breasts with salt and pepper. 3. Set out three shallow bowls. In the first, combine flour and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the eggs to the second bowl. Mix panko, Parmesan, and ranch seasoning mix in the third bowl. 4. For coating, dip seasoned chicken breasts in flour, coating both sides. Then, dip the chicken in the beaten eggs and, finally, the panko mixture. 5. Place each coated chicken breast in the prepared baking dish. 6. Spray the tops of the chicken with cooking spray. 7. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 165 F and is golden brown.
CaryEstatePlanning.com • 3
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PLANNING, NOT PAPERWORK.
Cary • Raleigh • North Raleigh • Chapel Hill 1255 Crescent Green, Suite 200, Cary, NC 27518 919-726-0896 • CaryEstatePlanning.com
Inside This Issue
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A Cary Celebration
Planning a Meaningful Future Without Dependents
Tail-Wagging Tips to Keep Your Dog Mentally Stimulated
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Extra-Crispy Ranch Chicken Cutlets
The USS O’Bannon Potato Incident
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Boost Your Emotional Intelligence With These 3 Empathy Skills
Unlock Stronger Bonds With These 3 Tools THE EMPATHY EFFECT
Emotional Empathy: Feeling With Others This kind of empathy tugs at your heartstrings when someone you love is hurting. Emotional empathy lets you actually feel what another person feels. It’s powerful, but it can also be overwhelming. To strengthen emotional empathy, put distractions away during conversations, make eye contact, and be present. When we give people our full attention, our emotional receptors are activated. If you feel emotionally overloaded, though, it’s okay to take a breather. Boundaries are a healthy part of empathy, too. Compassionate Empathy: Acting on Understanding Compassionate empathy goes beyond understanding and feeling; it’s about doing something helpful. For example, if your
Empathy quite literally holds our relationships together. It helps us connect, understand, and support one another. But did you know empathy isn’t just one thing? It comes in three distinct forms, each playing a unique role in how we relate to others. Cognitive Empathy: Understanding the Mind Cognitive empathy involves mentally stepping into someone else’s shoes to understand their thoughts. For example, if your friend is ranting about a frustrating day at work, cognitive empathy helps you understand and relate. If you want to build this skill, practice active listening. Instead of planning your response while someone’s talking, focus entirely on their words. Then, reflect on what you’ve heard. Phrases like “It sounds like you’re feeling ...” can go a long way.
partner is anxious about an upcoming presentation, you can show compassionate empathy by noticing and offering to run through their slides with them. To show compassionate empathy, ask yourself, “How can I lighten their load right now?” Even small gestures like texting to offer help can build trust and deepen connections. When all three types of empathy are present, relationships thrive. You understand, feel, and act, and while not every situation calls for all three, being aware of each type can make you a better friend, partner, parent, or teammate.
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