CANNONS AND COURAGE ENGLAND’S EPIC VICTORY OVER NAPOLEON’S NAVY
directly at the French and Spanish ships, signaling to his men, “England expects that every man will do his duty.” The British fleet punched through the middle of Napoleon’s navy, allowing them to use cannons on both sides of their ship. Once the English took advantage, the battle quickly came to a close. The British claimed 19 or 20 of Napoleon’s ships and took the lives of thousands of Spanish and French sailors, including Villeneuve. Around 1,500 British troops were killed, including Admiral Nelson, or wounded in the battle. Although Napoleon would stay in power for another decade as he continued to fight wars against the rest of Europe, England was officially out of Napoleon’s reach after the Battle of Trafalgar. If there’s one thing we can learn from this battle, it’s that using efficient and effective tactics can help us accomplish anything, no matter the odds.
during the Battle of Trafalgar in the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon had always been in awe of the British Royal Navy. By 1805, Napoleon had left his mark on Europe, conquering much of the continent and building his navy, which consisted of 33 French and Spanish ships that sailed under the command of Admiral Pierre de Villeneuve. In late September 1805, Villeneuve and his fleet were docked near Cádiz on the Atlantic coast of Spain. After a few weeks of preparation waiting for more favorable weather, Villeneuve set sail for Naples, only to find that he was being pursued by Admiral Horatio Nelson and his fleet of 27 British ships. Conventional naval battles of the time saw ships line up parallel to each other, giving both sides easy targets with their cannons. Nelson had other ideas, however. On Oct. 21, near Cape Trafalgar, Nelson ordered his fleet to form two columns and charge
Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the most prolific military leaders in all of human history. Napoleon became the emperor of France in 1804 after proving his military prowess countless times in battles against England, Russia, Austria, and other European powers. He revolutionized warfare and battles, and many consider his tactics to be some of the greatest ever developed. Yet, there was one British naval officer who was able to outwit Napoleon’s navy and prevent the conquest of England
The Trust Advantage SMART STRATEGIES FOR DESIGNATING BENEFICIARIES
So, what do you do instead? You could directly name an adult guardian to become the beneficiary, but this still opens you up to the problem already mentioned. Even if they’re good with your kids, they might not be the best money managers. The best path forward is to create a living trust and name the trust as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy.
As a parent, you want to do everything possible to ensure your children are cared for if you pass away or become incapacitated. Many people start a life insurance policy, thinking they’ll be able to leave a large sum to their children if the unthinkable happens. Many employers offer life insurance as a job benefit, or you can get coverage through an insurance agent. Once you
establish what you want from your life insurance package, you have to name the beneficiaries of your policy. While most people choose their spouse or partner, many consider naming their children as the beneficiaries. It sounds like a great idea on paper, but complications arise when it’s implemented. When you name a minor as a life insurance beneficiary, they won’t be able to receive the proceeds directly. Instead, your appointed legal guardian (if you don’t have a legal guardian named in your estate plan, the state will appoint one for you) will manage and distribute the money. And they could make decisions that don’t coincide with your wishes.
With a trust, you can name a bank or money manager as the trustee while setting specific guidelines for who gets access to the funds and when. This means you can set up the trust to help pay for your children’s education and other expenses as well as a monthly stipend for the guardian without giving anyone untethered control of the funds. You can even determine the age your children will gain full access to the trust. Don’t make the mistake of naming your minor children as beneficiaries of your life insurance policy. Establish a trust — it’s the best way to take care of your legacy.
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