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June 2023
Don’t Stop Progressing — Leave Your Comfort Zone! It’s Time to Branch Out!
How much money would you have if you had a dollar for every time someone told you to create or stick to a routine? I’m sure we would all have a good amount of cash in our pockets because implementing routines is discussed in dozens of articles. Routines are great because they provide balance, stability, and comfort. By having a schedule, you know what you will do each day, and nothing is out of the ordinary — it allows us to get comfortable. While routines provide a great structure for us to build on, you shouldn’t solely rely on your schedule or use it as a crutch. We may not want to try new things or get out of our comfort zone when we are comfortable. Now, I’m not saying to avoid a routine. Instead, I challenge you to use your daily routines to guide you, look for ways to change your schedule, and frequently try new things. After all, one of the only ways to improve our skills and grow is to get out of our comfort zone and try things we’ve never done before! However, I understand that getting out of your comfort zone isn’t on your radar unless someone tells you to try it — I know that happened to me! In 2014, I started attending coaching group sessions because I wasn’t progressing in my personal and professional goals. I was so confused as to why that was happening. I was following my routine and doing everything I could! But it wasn’t until my coach mentioned the concept of challenging yourself that a lightbulb went off in my head. The reason I’m not seeing progress is because I’m not getting out of my comfort zone! Once I realized this, I began taking baby steps and slowly started trying new things. I didn’t want to dive head- first into unknown areas because if I got overwhelmed, it would deter me from ever reaching out of my comfort zone again. But by gradually warming up to new things, my confidence grew, and I began taking more risks. Then, I started to see progress in everything I pursued. Not only do I try to get out of my comfort zone, but I also encourage my clients to do so. The comfort zone many of my clients find themselves in while estate planning is procrastination — some may believe they have all the time in the world to develop a plan. But unfortunately, we don’t. We don’t know what
tomorrow brings or when tragedy will strike. There are multiple reasons people delay creating their estate plans: They may be worried about affording the cost, talking to an attorney and being vulnerable, designating roles for loved ones, assigning assets, and much more. But if you wait to create these essential documents, you will add more stress, strain, and heartache to your future. I understand how challenging it can be to prepare these documents when you have dozens of other concerns that seem more demanding. But having a proper plan in place is better than not having a plan at all! Fortunately, you don’t have to go through this alone. I will gladly help you navigate the process and help provide solutions for your concerns. So, if creating or updating your estate plan is one way you can get out of your comfort zone, please call me! However, I implore you to try new things daily. If there is something you’ve always wanted to do but were too afraid to try, now is the time to
do it! We only have one life, so let’s make the most of it and live without regrets!
How will you step out of your comfort zone this month?
–Horacio Sosa
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Break the Ice on Estate Planning How to Start a Family Conversation About the Future
So, how do you start that potentially uncomfortable conversation? Begin by choosing the right moment. Ideally, you should talk in person, but don’t disrupt a holiday or special occasion with the topic. A phone call can work for faraway relatives who rarely meet in person, but chatting via text is unlikely to go well. You might begin the conversation by bringing up a recent news item, but it’s also okay to say, “I’ve been working on my estate plan, and I’d like to share some of the details with you.” Remember that your loved ones will likely be surprised and uncomfortable when you raise the topic. They might try to change the subject or deflect by stating you have a long life ahead. It’s a defense mechanism to avoid thinking about losing a loved one. Talk initially in broad strokes; the details of your trust and how you’ll minimize tax consequences are too much to start. Explain why you have created an estate plan, what you aim to accomplish, and why you think it’s important to discuss. Then, ask for their input or if they have any concerns they’d like to raise. If things get too emotional, take a break and return to the topic later. No estate planning conversation should be one-and-done. Your assets, wishes, and the makeup of your family may change over the years. Try normalizing talking about estate planning periodically; it will feel less daunting. These conversations usually feel uncomfortable initially, but they’ll eventually strengthen your relationships and help you and the people you love better understand each other. You owe it to your family to share your wishes, clarify your intentions, and prevent future heartache. Talking about your estate plan is an unconventional but necessary act of love.
Estate planning is a delicate subject. It stirs up feelings about our mortality, raises questions of fairness, and can open old family wounds. In large part, to avoid this discomfort, countless people choose not to make an estate plan. Even fewer decide to discuss the matter with their loved ones. Keeping quiet on the subject usually feels easier, but it’s a mistake with lasting consequences. While few people look forward to these conversations, having them before anything happens to you is best. When emotions run high, people can make poor decisions and say things they regret. In an outcome no one wants, families can fracture due to fights over estates after a loved one’s death. Further, you probably want to use your assets to benefit family members fairly after your death. But what you and your family members consider fair may be very different. For example, you may learn that one family member doesn’t want a particular asset or that a property means more to one child than another. Dividing your assets is ultimately up to you — but if your goal is to leave your loved ones better off, it’s worth listening to what they say.
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SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST CREATES OPTIONS Safeguard Assets for Family Members With Disabilities We create estate plans to protect our loved ones, and family members with disabilities are often most susceptible to financial difficulty. But safeguarding their futures is not always as simple as leaving a lump sum behind. An improperly structured estate can ultimately harm your loved one more than it helps, but a special needs trust will support and improve their lives. Many people with disabilities in the U.S. receive government assistance. But programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid have strict eligibility requirements. For example, an SSI recipient cannot own more than $2,000 in assets. Therefore, even relatively small gifts can affect their qualification for benefits.
Inspired by TheSpruceEats.com SEAFOOD PASTA SALAD
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup chopped red peppers • 1/2 cup diced onions • 1/2 cup shredded carrots • 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes • 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese (optional)
• 4 cups fusilli noodles • 2 cups crab meat or shrimp • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese • 2 cups ranch dressing • 1 cup frozen peas, thawed • 1/2 cup chopped green peppers
Directions 1. In a large pot, bring the fusilli noodles to a boil and cook until al dente, then drain. 2. In a large bowl, combine noodles, crab or shrimp, cheddar cheese, ranch dressing, peas, green and red peppers, onions, and carrots, then mix together gently. 3. Refrigerate the pasta salad for 3–4 hours. If salad is dry upon removing from refrigerator, add more ranch dressing. 4. Once you’re ready to eat, top salad with tomatoes and Parmesan cheese if desired.
A special needs trust holds funds for your loved one without impacting their eligibility for government programs. A person can fund the trust with as many or as few cash or property assets as they’d like. A special needs trust will grant your family member additional resources without restricting their access to otherwise costly support services, medical care, or housing. Under a special needs trust, your loved one with a disability is a beneficiary, and they will not have direct access to the trust. You must also designate a trustee, a third party who controls and distributes the funds. Depending on your situation and preferences, the trustee can be a trusted family member or a third-party paid administrator. The trustee cannot give cash directly to the beneficiary but can use the assets to purchase items and services to improve their quality of life. Many people use special needs trusts for out-of-pocket medical expenses, a home, bills, or recreation. A special needs trust can even fund a vacation for your loved one! Ultimately, the trustee has fiduciary responsibility and is legally obligated to act in the beneficiary’s best interests. Special needs trusts can be complicated, and people making their estate plans have options between multiple types of trusts. A mistake can cost a loved one dearly, so it’s always wise to speak to an experienced estate planning attorney to understand your options. They can confirm a special needs trust fits your goals and will draft all necessary documents correctly to ensure your wishes are fulfilled.
TAKE A BREAK
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954-532-9447 www.SosaLegal.com 2924 Davie Rd., Ste. 102 Davie, FL 33314 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Is Your Daily Routine Hindering You?
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Discussing Your Estate Plan With Family 101
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Seafood Pasta Salad
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Special Needs Trust Creates Options
The History of the Statue of Liberty’s Arrival
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Behind the Landmark’s Journey to US Shores Lady Liberty Lands in America
for the statue because he imagined the figure welcoming people to America. Intended as a gift for the United States’ 100 years of independence in 1876, construction did not begin until that year due to funding issues. Even with the help of engineer Gustave Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame, the project was a massive undertaking that took years for workers to complete. Titling it the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World, its creators presented the finished monument to the U.S. Minister to France on Independence Day 1884, then disassembled it for shipping. On June 17, 1885, France’s gift arrived in more than 200 cases. But unfortunately, the United States wasn’t ready. Again facing a budget shortfall, the U.S. had not yet completed the pedestal to support the statue. When workers finally finished that last piece in 1886, a construction crew of mostly new immigrants reassembled the monument. Lady Liberty debuted to the public on Oct. 28, 1886, and she was an instant hit. Originally shiny like a new penny, the copper statue took less than 20 years to oxidize from the elements and gain the distinctive green hue it has today. Despite her French origins, the Statue of Liberty is now as American as apple pie, and her unmistakable image continues to represent the country’s values of freedom for all.
It’s hard to imagine the United States without its most iconic landmark, but the Statue of Liberty didn’t arrive on our shores until more than 100 years after the American Revolution ended. The torch-bearing monument so closely associated with our nation finally reached its home in the U.S. in May 1885 — but it arrived unceremoniously in 350 pieces.
Contrary to widespread assumption, the Statue of Liberty did not celebrate America’s founding. Edouard de Laboulaye was a French anti-slavery advocate who wanted to give the country a statue representing freedom as the Civil War ended. He conceived of the sculpture in 1865 to mark the recent abolition of slavery. Laboulaye and sculptor Auguste Bartholdi decided on Lady Liberty because she was a familiar icon in U.S. culture, and a similar image appeared on American currency. Though invisible from most viewing angles, the statue has a broken shackle by her feet, representing a move toward freedom.
Bartholdi chose Bedloe’s Island, now known as Liberty Island, as the ideal site
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