Take a look at our October newsletter!
Game-Changers THE VALUE OF A GOOD COACH
Organized sports have many proven benefits for children. They improve self- esteem, teach discipline and teamwork, and promote regular physical activity. Children’s coaches are at the center of this crucial education. A coach can impart right or wrong lessons and make or break a kid’s athletic experience. We both played sports as kids, mainly baseball and softball, and we were always fortunate to have inspirational and supportive coaches. But one particular coach from Ashley’s school years stands out in her memory. When she decided she wanted to begin playing volleyball the summer before 10th grade, Coach B. was the one who showed her the ropes. Most organized sports rely on the players to have a basic grasp of the game, particularly by high school level. But Ashley had never played volleyball. She knew the sport involved hitting a ball back and forth over a net but little else. Coach B. spent his summer teaching Ashley and several other students everything they needed to know about the game so they were ready to play that fall. Ashley probably never would have learned the sport if not for him, and she almost certainly wouldn’t have played for three years in high school. She would have lost countless opportunities and memories if someone more experienced hadn’t been willing to offer her an education.
Our son, Russell, is about to go through something similar. He just started playing baseball at age 7, and there’s a lot about the game he doesn’t know yet. We’re relying on his coach to guide him through the process, teach him the fundamentals, and give him a positive start in sports. We can only hope and trust his coaches will be as incredible as the ones we had growing up. The person guiding us through something unfamiliar makes an incredible difference in what type of experience we have. At Bruce Law Firm, every staff member strives to be the coach our clients need while navigating the legal process. Many people come to us afraid, confused, and unsure of what to expect. It’s our job to teach them the rules of the game and give them the tools they need to survive (and thrive!) it. Unlike many family law firms where talking to your attorney is next to impossible, our lawyers make it a point to be in direct contact frequently, usually once or twice a week. We expect our attorneys to discuss specific topics with every client, and we offer multiple educational videos clients can use for self-guided learning in their own time. Our support also goes beyond the legal aspects of a case. A crucial portion of our strategy involves vision planning. In other words, we ask our clients to envision how they want their lives to be after divorce. Many people struggle to see a future while stuck in the middle of a divorce. Our goal is to remind them there’s more on the other side and motivate them to win — which, in the realm of divorce, simply means completing the process. More than anything else, a great coach instills a “never give up” attitude in their players. No matter how poorly a game is going, there’s almost always time to turn it around. We can think of a recent Marlins v. Yankees game that highlights this where the Marlins were down and in the 9th inning pulled it together by scoring 5 runs to beat their rival! Sports history has cataloged many famous, almost impossible-seeming upsets. We want our clients to look at their lives through that same lens during the difficult time of divorce. They may be down, but they’re not out — and countless wins are up ahead.
Russell Bruce playing sports
–Ashley and Chris Bruce
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Redefine Your Legacy With Post-Divorce Estate Planning Was the Worst Year in Human History 536 Divorce does more than end a legal union — it completely upends a person’s life. 3 Reasons On top of the legal process, most people must consider new living, child care, transportation, and banking arrangements. No one can afford to avoid these immediate and pressing concerns, but estate planning is an often overlooked item on the post-divorce checklist. Spouses usually feature prominently in estate plans. They tend to appear not only as heirs but executors, health care proxies, and powers of attorney. Following a divorce, few want their ex in charge of their affairs, but an estate plan is legally binding. Despite the divorce, whatever your will says goes.
It’s wise to reassess how you divide your estate and leave a legacy as quickly as possible. After losing the obvious selection of your spouse, these decisions can be tricky for some people but are necessary. However, note that many changes to your estate plan can only be completed after you finalize your divorce. Work closely with an estate planning attorney on any updates, and ensure they have a copy of the divorce settlement for reference.
When Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, it poured so much dust into the sky that the sun over Eastern Washington went dark. Ash drifted overhead, traveling into neighboring Idaho and forcing temperatures down by as much as 15 degrees F. Locals spent a few weeks scared and shivering under dull skies. They had no way of knowing it, but they were experiencing a tiny fraction of the horror humans felt back in 536 — a time that Harvard University historian Michael McCormick once called “the worst year to be alive.” For decades, the year 536 was a historical mystery. Records showed that it was a terrible time, stricken by the triple threat of: 1. Unexplained, unending darkness 2. Unseasonably frigid weather 3. Crop failures and famines Those horrors and the economic and political instability they brought ravaged the globe from Ireland to China. Although 536 was arguably the worst year, things didn’t get better for more than a decade. In fact, they got worse in some areas! In 541, the Plague of Justinian — the first bubonic plague pandemic — appeared in Egypt and spread through Europe, killing roughly one-third of the continent’s population. For decades, archeologists and historians have puzzled over the tipping point in 536. “What went wrong,” they wondered, “to make the sun go dark and trigger snow in summer?” It was a head-scratcher until 2018. That year, researchers finally solved the mystery with help from, of all things, a Swiss glacier! The glacial ice was riddled with volcanic glass. Further study revealed enormous volcanic eruptions in 536, 540, and 547 likely caused “The Dark Ages.” It wasn’t just metaphorically dark — it was literally dark thanks to ash blotting out the sun and coating people’s homes, skin, and clothing. Scientists have traced the 540 eruption to Ilopango, a volcano in El Salvador that’s currently inactive, but they’re still hunting for the source of the 536 eruption. As we write this, volcanoes in Iceland and Alaska are the most likely candidates.
While your life insurance policies and retirement accounts are not technically a part of your estate plan, this is also the perfect opportunity to review your beneficiaries. While some accounts or policies may have been split during the divorce, most people want to remove their spouse from any remaining accounts. Your estate plan does not control accounts with a beneficiary, so it’s crucial to have your designations up to date.
Meanwhile, for those who don’t have an estate plan, there’s no time like the present to create one. Divorce
inspires many to take stock of their priorities in life and consider how they want their future to look. These questions are intrinsic to estate planning. As you assess your relationships and build new support systems, consider getting your wishes in writing. It’s the only way to take care of the people you love after you’re gone. Unfortunately, none of us knows what the future holds, so a failure to update your estate planning documents can have lasting consequences for your family’s future. Avoid procrastination to protect the people you love and uphold your wishes.
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We’ve already survived a pandemic this century, so for everyone’s sake, let’s hope both regions stay quiet until at least 2100. We all deserve a break!
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–Ashley and Chris Bruce
How Can You Protect Your Kids Online? Parental Strategies for Digital Safety
consequences for thwarting your efforts. You might also require access to your children’s passwords or that they check with you before downloading any new apps. Some parents also monitor their children’s browsing history. Whatever your rules are, ensure they’re clear and rational. It’s unwise to set up parental controls and count on them to do all the work, and it is much more productive to discuss what types of content you will restrict and why. Your child is more likely to follow the rules if they understand them.
help understanding why they’re too young to see adult content and that what they post online will last forever. Give them room to express their concerns and feedback. Even if their opinion doesn’t alter yours, everyone wants to feel heard. Unfortunately, even the strictest parental controls won’t protect your children from everything. Filters miss inappropriate content, children make bad decisions, or a friend could share their device. So, the most crucial piece of guidance for any parent is to keep the lines of communication open. When something online confuses, upsets, or threatens your children, you want to ensure they know where to turn for help.
For better or worse, the internet isn’t going anywhere, and our kids will all interact with it. It’s a dilemma most adults’ parents had barely begun to consider, so we’re all still learning the rules. But while responsible parents may differ on which boundaries are appropriate, they must be aware of the threats their children face. Today’s kids navigate a virtual minefield of dangers, including online predators, scammers, cyberbullies, and inappropriate content. Any child’s internet use should involve an age-appropriate conversation about online safety. Children should know from an early age not to speak to strangers, send or receive money without parental permission, or share personal information online. You should explain to younger children that “not everyone online is nice” while discussing the specifics of potential scams or blackmail with teens. The next step is determining how you’ll monitor and restrict internet usage. Parental controls will help you filter out inappropriate content, but kids might know how to circumvent them — be clear of the
Kids have less life experience and often overestimate their maturity. They need
The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
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2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda
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3/4 cup packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups (12-oz package) semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup granulated sugar
Directions
Bruce Law Firm breaking bread together
1. 2.
Preheat oven to 375 F.
5. 6. 7.
Gradually beat in flour mixture.
Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl until creamy.
Stir in chocolate chips.
Arrange dough in rounded teaspoonfulson ungreased baking sheets. Bake 8–10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; move to wire racks to cool completely.
3.
8.
4.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended.
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From Baseball to Divorce, Coaches Pave the Way page 1
Step Into 536: ‘The Worst Year to Be Alive’ Have You Overlooked This Post-Divorce Essential? page 2
A Parent’s Guide to Kids’ Online Safety The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies page 3
Money for Nothing: Creative Passive Income Ideas page 4 Effortless Earning Unique Passive Income Strategies
Who doesn’t want free money? That dream is what makes a passive income stream sound so appealing. In truth, virtually every passive income option involves some work, and few make you rich. But your options for extra cash are also much more plentiful than investing in property or the stock market. Here are some creative opportunities you may not have known existed. Utilize Affiliate Marketing Do you regularly recommend products or services to your family and friends? There may be a way to make money from that. Affiliate marketing allows you to create unique product links tied to your identity. If enough people purchase the item after clicking your link, you receive a small percentage of the sales. Amazon’s affiliate program is probably the most accessible to most people, but countless other brands offer them too! Rent Your Property You don’t need an investment property to make money on the things you already own. Renting out a spare
room can earn additional income if you’re willing to share your space. Websites also exist that allow you to connect with people willing to rent your car or store items on your property. Even tools or sporting equipment could be potential money in your pocket. Drive a Billboard This idea is perfect for anyone who does a lot of driving. Websites like Wrapify will potentially pay you several hundred dollars monthly to cover your car in an advertisement. The program uses GPS, so the more you drive in high-traffic areas, the more you earn. If you don’t mind looking slightly silly to your friends, this passive income stream allows you to make money without extra work. Sell Stock Photography If you take photos everywhere, you could be missing out on extra money. Multiple stock photography sites like Shutterstock or Foap allow you to upload your images and sell them as stock photographs. Best of all, once
your pictures are on the website, your work is done. This passive income stream only requires a bit of creativity and well-planned images. But it’s worth a shot if you have a decent eye and use your camera often.
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