Merlino & Gonzalez - May 2020

3 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR DIGITAL ASSETS

Digital assets can be as valuable as tangible assets. Anything you have some sort of monetary stake in digitally can be considered an asset of value to take into consideration when creating an estate plan. Things like online bank accounts, PayPal accounts, investment accounts, and digital currency are all digital assets that need protection, just like your regular property. But what’s the best way to protect something you can’t put under physical lock and key? Back It Up Even if your account information is stored in the cloud, on a website’s server, or managed by a third-party company, you should always use an external hard drive to back up your information from your computer. You never know if servers will fail or information will be compromised, so keeping an external drive for files and a thumb drive with information like a list of assets and logins is a safe practice. Be Password Smart It’s never wise to use the same password for all your online accounts. In fact, every single account should have a different password assigned to it — one that’s a complex variety of letters, numbers, and characters. It is extra work, but it’s an easy way to protect your

digital assets from being stolen. If you’re worried about remembering passwords, use a password manager software like LastPass or Dashlane. Never write them down anywhere. Invest in Protection When you purchase a computer, it may come with free virus protection software. This can be a good start, but it shouldn’t be the end of your protection. These free versions, and those you can find online, offer the most basic protection, and if you’re not careful about where you download them from, they can actually be harmful. Invest in quality software programs that are designed to provide you with the highest level of protection for your electronic devices. That includes smartphones and tablets. If you have questions about what digital assets you should focus on protecting, call our office so we can help you figure out what to add to your estate plan. In the meantime, implement these practices so your assets stay safe.

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GRILLED PRIME RIB

Who says the cookout has to ruin your diet? Try this paleo-friendly recipe for a main dish that’s worthy of your next barbecue.

• 1 1/2 lbs beef rib roast • 1 tsp Himalayan salt • 1/2 tsp black pepper INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

1. Take rib roast out of the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to grilling. 2. Season roast with salt and pepper and allow it to rest for 10 minutes while you heat a gas grill to 600 F. 3. Sear roast for 3–4 minutes on each side. 4. Turn off the grill but continue cooking the steak, flipping every 4–5 minutes, until it reaches an internal temperature of 125 F. Remove from grill. 5. Allow the roast to rest — its internal temperature will continue to climb — for 5–10 minutes. Slice and serve.

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