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February 2025
RAKtivism 101
How to Brighten Someone’s Day Without Being Caught A Question to Ask (or Answer for) a Loved One Asking and answering important questions helps preserve your family’s values and life lessons for generations to come. How have others been generous with you?
There’s something oddly thrilling about sneaking a little kindness into someone else’s day. Maybe it’s the joy of slipping a $5 bill inside a library book for the next reader to find, tucking your spouse’s favorite snack into their bag when they’re not looking, or leaving an anonymous, glowing review for a struggling small business. These small, secret acts of kindness are like little life hacks — small enough to brighten someone’s day, but big enough to make you feel great. It’s not about getting credit; however, it’s just the sweet, mischievous satisfaction of doing something nice and totally unexpected. Feb. 17 is Random Acts of Kindness Day, and it’s the perfect opportunity to embrace the spirit of thoughtful surprises done just for the sake of being nice. A few years ago, I stumbled across the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, a nonprofit organization that aims to make kindness the norm. They work with a concept they call RAKtivism or Random Acts of Kindness Activism, and I loved the idea. Think about the way people organize and participate in protests or marches for a cause. Replace the protest signs with smiles and doors held open for strangers, and you have the RAKtivist, a person who goes out of their way to make everyday life a little better. There are many health benefits in doing kind things for others, but the part that makes it really fun is if you do it anonymously. There’s a little good-natured mischief in it, knowing your secret plot will change someone’s day when they least expect it. And, if you get caught in the act, it’s fine. No one will scold you for getting caught red-handed for being thoughtful. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation publishes monthly calendars filled with unique ideas to be a RAKtivist. Every day, there is an idea or tip for something you could do for someone, like leaving positive notes in a public space or complimenting five people around you. The options are limitless. I immediately thought of how easy it would be to slip golf balls into a friend’s bag without being noticed or the excitement someone would feel finding a scratch-off lottery ticket under their windshield wiper with the note, “Today is your lucky day.” Acts of Kindness create emotional warmth, gratitude, and the release of feel-good hormones like serotonin for both the receiver and giver. Regardless of what you are going through in your own life, it’s hard to feel down in the dumps when you’re doing a kind act for someone else. There’s that extra boost of endorphins and anticipation when you can sneak a nice gesture in without anyone ever figuring out who was behind it. While it’s great to hold the
door open for someone or let a driver in during heavy traffic, there’s something uniquely thrilling about planning a kindness that leaves the recipient wondering, “Who could have done this?” We all face struggles in life, but going out of your way for others takes your mind off yourself and your worries, even for a little while. It can help you feel better, especially if you happen to be around when someone discovers that surprise note or treat you quietly planted. Performing random acts of kindness can boost your life expectancy, increase your energy, and make you happier. This month, I encourage you to come up with truly unique, secret acts of RAKtivism. Think of ways to brighten someone’s day without them ever guessing it was you. Leave a nice note on a stranger’s windshield, quietly pay for someone’s meal, or surprise a friend with
something they’ll love. The challenge is to keep your identity hidden and let the act of giving be its own reward. Embrace the joy, creativity, and fun of knowing you’ve made a difference — no recognition required.
“When you give to the needy, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” – Matthew 6:3 Philip J. Corson, Founder
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SAFEGUARD YOUR LEGACY The Benefits of Forming a QTIP Trust
Every family has a unique dynamic and history. If you have been married more than once, you may feel conflicted about the needs of your current spouse versus your children’s needs from previous marriages. However, you can preserve your legacy and provide for all your loved ones in your estate plan without alienating your children or spouse. By incorporating a Qualified Terminable Interest Property (QTIP) trust into your estate plan, you can solve the issue equitably, giving both parties the security they need. How QTIPS Work Unlike other trusts, QTIP trusts allow you to name a life beneficiary and a final beneficiary for your property. For instance, you can name your spouse as your life beneficiary, who will have
limited rights to use the property set aside in the trust during their lifetime. Then, you can name your children as the final beneficiaries, who will inherit the property in the trust after you pass away. If your spouse passes away before you do, the property in the trust will be given directly to your final beneficiaries without needing alterations. QTIPs also offer benefits for a surviving spouse. Any income from the trust can go to the surviving spouse for the rest of their life, and estate taxes are not assessed until after the surviving spouse’s death. The Advantages QTIPs are a great way to meet the needs of two conflicting parties of beneficiaries. It is ideal for people who have been married more than once and have children from
previous marriages; few options offer such a flexible trust that allows your children to inherit your property after your living spouse no longer needs it. This can help ease tension and reduce disagreements when settling your estate.
Planning for the Unthinkable Explore Funding Options and Pet Trusts
As a pet owner, the thought of your pets no longer being with you is something you don’t like thinking about. After all, you’ve had them their entire lives. Now, imagine the roles are reversed. What if something happens to you first, and you can no longer care for your pet? It’s a daunting thought, but pet estate planning is designed to ensure your
pet is well taken care of in the event of your passing or incapacitation.
caring for your pet now. Then, take that amount and project how long your pet is likely to live to determine a number. Also, consider reasonable compensation for the person caring for your pet. Life insurance and retirement plans are excellent financial sources for funding your pet’s lifetime care. Establish a pet trust and trustee. Unlike life insurance and retirement plans as funding sources, pet trusts legally shore up the financial obligations of caring for your pet. Ultimately, the money you leave the caretaker isn’t a lump sum they can spend anywhere; it provides accountability for how they spend it. Your caretaker can be the trustee, too, but it could create a conflict of interest. A professional trustee is probably best to ensure funds are distributed according to your wishes.
Who will care for your pet? Before discussing the legal and financial aspects of pet planning, the first step is to consider who will get physical custody of your pet. Like planning for children, you must be comfortable with the caregiver. Have they interacted with your pets before? How do they treat their pets? Family and friends will likely be your go-to, but never assume they will take on the responsibility of your pet. Whomever you’re considering, be sure to have an intentional conversation with them about your wishes. Determine the finances for the lifetime of your pet. How much is enough? First, do the math to figure out how much you spend
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Weird Stories From World War II GHOSTS AND GOLD
TAKE A BREAK
CHOCOLATE DREAM EQUALITY GROUNDHOG GRAMMY KING LINCOLN PIZZA ROSES SUPER BOWL VALENTINE WOMEN
World War II, the largest conflict in human history, saw millions of soldiers engaged in fierce battles across the globe, from the deserts of Tunisia and the muddy fields of Kursk to the streets of Singapore and the tropical atolls of the Marshall Islands. Some oddities go overlooked among the countless acts of heroism, savagery, desperation, stalemates, victories, and defeats. Bizarre events, characters, and plans that sound too outlandish to be true (but are!) prove reality is often stranger than fiction. The Ghost Army Deception is a prominent part of war, but the U.S. Army invented an entirely new way of misleading the enemy. The 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, nicknamed the “Ghost Army,” was a unit dedicated to creating a fake army capable of drawing enemy attention and resources away from the rest of the front. Deployed on Jan. 20, 1944, the Ghost Army comprised of around 1,000 men, including artists, fashion designers, and geniuses. The unit utilized inflatable tanks and vehicles, sent out phony commands over the radio, and even created a landfill big enough to convince any aerial reconnaissance that a much larger force was camped at their location. Operation Golden Eye Following the Spanish Civil War, a fascist regime sympathetic to Nazi Germany, led by Francisco Franco, assumed control of Spain. While Spain was neutral during the war — partly due to skillful diplomacy by the Allies — the British Army prepared for the worst. If Spain entered the war and Germany invaded British Gibraltar, they needed a plan to repel the invasion and defeat the Spanish and German armies. The British tasked Commander Ian Fleming of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve with this task. The plan was nicknamed Operation Golden Eye. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Ian Fleming went on to write a series of spy novels starring its titular character, James Bond.
GINGER-GLAZED MAHI MAHI Inspired by AllRecipes.com
Ingredients
• 3 tbsp honey • 3 tbsp soy sauce • 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 tsp grated fresh ginger root • 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 (6-oz) mahi mahi fillets • Salt and pepper to taste • 2 tbsp vegetable oil • Cooked brown rice, for serving
Directions 1. In a shallow bowl, mix honey, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, ginger, and garlic. 2. Season fish fillets with salt and pepper, then place them skin-side down in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 25 minutes. 3. Add vegetable oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove fish fillets and add to skillet, reserving marinade. Fry fish for 4–5 minutes on each side, turning only once, until fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove fillets to a serving platter and keep warm. 4. Pour the reserved marinade into the skillet. Simmer over medium heat until reduced to a glaze. Spoon glaze over fish and serve over brown rice.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Become a Secret Agent of Kindness
1
Build Thorough Estate Plans With QTIP Trusts
2
Ensure Your Pet Is Cared For
Ginger-Glazed Mahi Mahi
3
2 Bizarre Stories From World War II
Why Brando’s Housekeeper Sued His Estate
4
Brando’s Beneficiaries HOUSEKEEPER SUED ESTATE OVER BROKEN PROMISES
Who Were Brando’s Beneficiaries? The problems with settling Brando’s estate did not stem from a lack of preparation: He had a valid will they followed. Instead, those not included in his document created the issues. Marlon Brando was married three times and had 11 children and 30 grandchildren. However, he reportedly cut most of them out of his will, leaving the bulk of his estate to his producer and several associates. Housekeeper but No House In addition to his long list of progeny, Brando excluded his longtime (about 10 years) housekeeper and personal assistant, Angela Borlaza, from his will. According to Borlaza, her star employer had promised to leave her his home in Winnetka, California, after he died. However, despite Borlaza’s insistence that he made his promise verbally, no record of it existed anywhere
Marlon Brando, considered by many to be the greatest actor of the 20th century, appeared in timeless classics like “Apocalypse Now” (1979), where he played the villainous Colonel Kurtz, and “The Godfather” (1972), where he stole the screen as Don Vito Corleone, the soft-spoken and poignant mob boss. However, in stark contrast to his illustrious film career, after Brando’s passing in 2004, settling his estate — considered worth more than $25 million — was a disaster. Near the end of his life, Brando reportedly made amendments to his will that favored business over familial connections — with allegations from some of his primary beneficiaries that he was not in the right state of mind to make these changes. Needless to say, the contents of his will caused considerable controversy, infighting, and numerous lawsuits.
in his estate plan. Regardless, Borlaza sued Brando’s estate for $627,000, the estimated value of the home at the time, but ended up settling for $125,000.
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