VanDyckLaw
VANDYCKFIRM.COM
QUARTER 3 2019
AN ECLECTIC SUMMER JOB RESUMÉ What All My Summer Jobs Growing Up Taught Me
Whether they’re at a prestigious internship, or in a kitchen flipping burgers, many students are in the middle of their summer jobs. Their motivations range from gaining valuable experience relevant to their desired career path to just earning a paycheck, but any summer job can hold valuable lessons. As a student, I worked a variety of summer jobs. Some I worked for just a few hours, and some for much longer than that. No matter how long I worked there, however, each job taught me hard work and something valuable about myself.
us work out in a field during a thunderstorm — under metal fixtures. When I pointed out the obvious safety hazard, they brushed me off. I quit that job after three days. Don’t get me wrong; I worked plenty of jobs longer than just a few days. I worked as a typist for a bank, a gymnastics instructor
(even though I’ve never actually done gymnastics — figure that one out!), a babysitter, and a customer service representative for an insurance clearinghouse. In fact, I’ve worked almost every job that’s not related to what I do now! My favorite job I had as a student, however, was as a canvasser for the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group. I went door to door, advocating for different initiatives to clean up New Jersey’s environment and improve the quality of drinking water in some areas. I wanted to make my mission their mission. Sometimes, the work was easy. I once knocked on the door of a very wealthy woman in the middle of her fancy dinner party. She made all the guests listen to my mission statement and told them to get out their checkbooks and donate. Other times, the work was hard. Walking door to door in the summer heat and soliciting strangers isn’t a fun experience by itself. But I loved that job because I got to take part in
“Even when the work is scary, if it’s something that you believe in, it brings you joy.”
a mission I believed in. Even when the work is scary, if it’s something that you believe in, it brings you joy. Having so many different work experiences before running my own law firm has helped me make the firm a place where my staff is happy and appreciated. Even if it seems like all I got from early work experiences is funny stories, I can still remember which work environments I liked and didn’t like. I want to make Van Dyck Law a place where employees enjoy working, even when it’s challenging.
One summer, I got hired at Dunkin’ Donuts. Within hours of starting, I could already see that the management team was rude to their staff. I didn’t want to spend a summer in that environment. During my only shift, a car broke down on the side of the road just outside. The occupants only spoke French. I was the only one at Dunkin’ Donuts who spoke any French, so I helped them contact the authorities, took that occurrence as the reason I was supposed to work at Dunkin’ Donuts at all, and turned in my apron.
-Fiona Van Dyck
In a similar situation, I worked for a gardening business where the managers had
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BEWARE THESE RETIREMENT SPENDING MISTAKES
Common Financial Pitfalls
The bulk of retirement planning is spent discussing how you will save money in the years leading up to the end of your career, but that’s only half of the picture. Once you enter retirement, your focus shifts to the smartest way to divest your money for both your own enjoyment and your continued financial security. There are countless ways to wisely spend your nest egg, such as taking trips, providing for the education of your grandchildren, and more. However, this article isn’t about good ideas. Instead, let’s talk about some of the worst ways to spend your retirement funds. TIMESHARES The appeal of a timeshare seems obvious. It’s a space of your own for a few weeks of the year, and you get to enjoy a nice change of pace from your regular environment. The problem is that these properties are full of hidden costs and have been outpaced by other vacationing options. In a world where you can book an Airbnb with just a few clicks, timeshares are poised to become a relic of a past age. ONLINE SCAMS Hackers and cyberscammers love to prey on the elderly. As gross as it may sound, they know that older generations tend to be less tech savvy than their younger counterparts. You should be wary of online offers that look too good to be true. If you have even the slightest doubt, have a loved one take a look at That last thing we want for our clients or our community is for them to be alone in their search for answers to questions regarding aging, mental health, and disabilities. Over the next three months, there will be four presentations through The Education Center at Van Dyck Law on an array of topics. If any of them relate to your current situation, please stop by to hear one of our speakers. There will be two presentations in July. On the 10th, our own Sheli Monacchio, Director of Life Care Resources, will speak on caregiver stress and family transitions. Transitioning into a routine that includes providing care for an aging loved one is never easy — but you don’t have to go in completely unaware. You can learn more about what to expect, and how to cope with added stress in your daily life, at Sheli’s presentation. On July 30, there will be a four-hour workshop on dealing with dementia for either family or professional dementia caregivers. We will provide a comprehensive guide to the facility where we present, so their management team has resource for training their staff. Originally a component of the Rosalynn Carter Institute REACH program, the guide is only offered in 20 locations across the US. The Rosalynn Carter Institute found the guide incredibly useful and What ’s Coming Up
the offer to ensure you’re not being scammed. Never provide your private financial data to a source you don’t absolutely trust.
TCHOTCHKES Many of us have walked into the house of an older relative to find a room full of American Girl dolls or a display case of Candlewick glassware. Collecting can be a rewarding hobby when done in moderation, but amassing junk simply for its own sake is a waste of money and space. Make sure you’re acquiring objects because you truly want to treasure them. RUSHED RELOCATIONS In general, real estate-based purchases can be extremely beneficial for retirees. The exception to this rule is a spur-of-the-moment relocation in order to be closer to your family or a retirement community. Because real estate transactions are so expensive, it’s best to approach them with extreme care and due diligence.
AT THE EDUCATION CENTER AT VAN DYCK LAW
decided to make it available where the REACH program is not. We are pleased to offer it as a resource in our workshops. On August 7, Phoebe Shagan from Reliable Health Solutions will present on the ABC’s of medicare. Finally, on September 4, Sheli will be presenting again on the effects of music on the memory of dementia patients. Numerous studies have highlighted the positive effects music can have on dementia, and this presentation will be a great opportunity to learn more. All presentations will be from 9:30–11 a.m. Seating is limited, but we have a waiting list in case of cancellations. To stay updated, check our website or our social media accounts. We look forward to seeing you!
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Finding Time to Exercise And Sticking to a Routine
Those warm summer days just beg us to come outside and enjoy them, don’t they? Why not turn those days into an exercise routine? Even small bouts of exercise have been proven to provide long-term physical and mental health benefits, but habits take time and practice to form. Here are a few ways to create a healthy schedule while taking advantage of the warm weather.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SMALL OPPORTUNITIES
Even 5–10 minutes of exercise can be beneficial to your health. Even if you only have a few spare minutes on your busiest days between work, shopping, and appointments, you can still turn those minutes into exercise time. Try keeping a pair of walking shoes, some free weights, or exercise bands in the car to take advantage of every little opportunity.
whether it’s time spent in a Pilates class or number of steps taken throughout the day. You might be surprised at how much motivation comes from just writing things down.
SIGN UP FOR A CLASS
Getting your money’s worth out of an exercise class is a good motivator to start a routine. Another benefit of exercise classes is the added accountability that comes from working out with other people. Forming connections with other people in the class and pushing each other can help maximize your experience. With so many ways to spend time sitting down, making time to exercise is more important than ever. Let the summer weather motivate you to find ways to move around — and stick with them.
SET AND TRACK YOUR GOALS
Don’t just verbally commit to a power walk or yoga class — write it on your calendar. That will make you treat it like a doctor’s appointment — as a prioritized part of your day. It also helps to be specific with your goals. “Go on a 30-minute walk every morning” is much more specific than “Go to the gym.” You’ll be much more inclined to exercise with a specific routine in mind. It can also help to keep track of your progress,
Watermelon Cucumber
Upcoming E D U C A T I O N CENTER EVENTS
Skewers
Inspired by CookingLight.com
Skewers are a Fourth of July favorite, but these are not your classic kebabs. They’re a fresh, light, and fun way to start a barbecue. Oh, and they don’t require any actual cooking.
JULY 10
INGREDIENTS • 1 medium-sized
Caregiver Stress and Family Transitions — Sheli Monacchio, Director of Life Care Resources, Van Dyck Law
Equipment • 1 packet of bamboo skewers
watermelon, cubed • 2 cucumbers, cut into 1/4-inch rounds • 1 block feta cheese, cubed • 1 bunch fresh mint leaves • Salt, to taste
AUGUST 7
The ABC’s of Medicare: Everything You Need to Know — Phoebe Shagan, Reliable Health Solutions
DIRECTIONS 1. Assemble skewers by placing one watermelon cube, one cucumber round, one feta cube, and one mint leaf on skewer in that order. Repeat until skewer is full. 2. Lightly season with salt and chill in fridge until right before serving.
SEPTEMBER 4
Music and Memory: The Effects on the Brain in Those With Dementia — Sheli Monacchio, Director of Life Care Resources, Van Dyck Law
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Inside 1
My Myriad of Summer Work Experiences
The Worst Retirement Spending Decisions Presentations at the Education Center in July, August, and September
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How to Build a Fitness Schedule Watermelon Cucumber Skewers
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What Is the World’s Best Exercise?
WHAT IS THE WORLD’S BEST EXERCISE?
Not all exercises are created equal. In fact, there is one form of exercise that is better than many others: walking. Harvard Medical School took a look at various exercises and concluded that walking is up there with swimming and tai chi in terms of health benefits. Regular walking can help maintain good cholesterol and blood pressure levels and keep your bones strong and healthy. One study showed that 40 minutes of walking every day helped people reduce blood pressure from hypertension to prehypertension, and then eventually to normal over several months. Walking can even keep many different kinds of diseases at bay, such as diabetes and heart disease. In addition to these physical benefits, walking daily can improve your mood and overall mental health. As simple and straightforward as walking is, it can be difficult for many people to find the time. Most experts agree that you need 30–60 minutes of physical activity per day, but the good news is you can split those minutes up throughout your day. For example, you can take a brisk 20-minute walk in the morning before work, followed by another one at lunch and one more after dinner. Those 60 minutes also don’t have to be strenuous; they just need to happen.
However, the more time you invest in walking, the more you will get out of it. If you slowly increase your distance and speed, you’ll end up burning more calories and strengthening your legs over time. The great thing about walking is that it’s not particularly taxing on the knees, and you can move at your own pace. It doesn’t get any better than that! To get the most out of walking, schedule your walks for after mealtimes, especially the ones that come later in the day, like lunch and dinner. It’s a great way to aid digestion and burn calories — which can’t hurt your waistline!
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