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Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.
— Ayn Rand
Talking about money is difficult. It’s a taboo subject for many. But talking about money with your parents is beyond difficult. It’s downright uncomfortable. You feel like you are prying, maybe even “gold‑digging.”
2. Start Early. Starting earlier is better. If you start when there is a crisis, it feels like you are saying: “Mom, there’s something wrong with you.” Also, you may not have time to gather all the information during a crisis before making important decisions. But the worst part about waiting is that your parents
Our law firm regularly deals with families where the kids have been left in the dark about their parents’ finances. That can be disastrous. Here are four steps that adult children can take to help out their parents as they age. This message is not just for the kids — if you are a parent, you should
may have lost the ability to plan because of their incapacity. Once incapacitated, someone can no longer sign a power of attorney, will, trust, etc. In that case, the probate court gets to decide. So, be proactive. 3. It’s Not About You! Now that the conversation is started, remember it’s about your parents, not you. Bring
yourself into the conversation as a peer and a helper, not an overseer. Drop the I-know-best attitude, don’t be condescending, and avoid the words “You should ...” Remember, you are helping them with
take this to heart and make sure you are not leaving your family in confusion and chaos if you become incapacitated or after you are gone. 1. Start the Conversation.
their wishes, not yours. 4. Involve Other Family Members.
One son or daughter often lives closer and takes on the bulk of the responsibilities. Even if this is the case, the other children should be involved and understand the parents’ planning and desires. A more open discussion results in less stress and family dissension later. Sometimes it is best to have one or two family members start the conversation and bring others in as you move forward. You will be grateful later if you take these steps now. If you don’t, you will respond to one crisis after the next, and your parents may exhaust their life savings and end up with a lower quality of life than they deserve. Ben Franklin said it best: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”
What do I mean by start the conversation? Well, the biggest problem is that this conversation rarely happens. Once it starts, it’s much easier to continue. Here are some ways to do it: “I’m not telling you what to do, Mom, but how can we work together to ensure we follow your wishes?” Or: “Hey, Mom and Dad, I just got my trust. I’m wondering where you are with your planning?” The most important thing to do is to open the door. Then, ask open-ended questions like: “What do you worry about?” Then what should you do? You listen.
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MichiganEstatePlans.com • 888.487.6150
Oh, the Places You’ll Sleep!
THE TRAVELING SLEEP TREND SHAPING HOTELS
sleep is to our health, more people are prioritizing rest even while they’re away.
If you’ve ever planned a
room touts an intuitive “Restorative Bed,” which adjusts to relieve pressure points and controls climate temperature throughout the night, according to each person’s needs. This suite also includes an array of soothing essential oils, a diffuser, and books about sleep. The Cadogan, a Belmond Hotel (London): This hotel offers a “sleep concierge,” which boasts prerecorded sleep meditations and a pillow selection menu for every type of sleeper. Sleepers can even benefit from the hotel’s weighted blankets, scented pillow mist service, and their proprietary sleep tea. Zedwell (London): The first ever “sleep-centric” hotel, Zedwell uses recycled materials to insulate every door, wall, and floor from sound. This hotel also purifies the air within the hotel and fills every space with ambient lighting.
vacation, you’ve probably picked a few key places to
But being a sleep tourist is about more than going to bed early and ensuring you get your recommended eight hours of rest. It’s about building your vacation around sleep. Some hotels even offer rooms tailored to sleep tourists, with amenities so popular that their sleep options have become regular offerings. So, if sleep tourism sounds like something you’d be interested in, here are three hotels that help you catch those z’s. Park Hyatt New York (NYC): This hotel features a “Sleep Suite” designed by Bryte, a company that uses AI to facilitate sleep. The
visit, like a museum, restaurant, or historic site. However, a new vacation trend is becoming increasingly popular: sleep tourism, where a traveler plans their entire vacation to get the best quality sleep during their time away. Before, common goals for vacations were to eat delicious foods, stay up late to see the sights, and fit in as much activity as possible. However, this left travelers completely exhausted. And as our culture continues to understand how important
It’s happened to everyone — we leave our lunch at home, wake up on the wrong side of the bed, twist an ankle, or get caught in the rain — and someone tells us to “look on the bright side” or that the “glass is half full.” While it may not necessarily be what we want to hear, they’re right! Positive thinking can benefit our overall health and fights off depressing thoughts! Positive thinking begins with self-talk, the unspoken ideas and thoughts that float through your head throughout the day. Self-talk usually incorporates logic and reason but can also be motivational and occasionally damaging (negative self-talk). As we navigate a busy world, ensuring you are kind to yourself and treat yourself with grace through positive self-talk is vital. Some benefits of positive thinking and self- talk include: • A longer lifespan • Increased pain tolerance A Glass-Half-Full Attitude Works Wonders
• Improved stress management • A healthier heart • Reduced depression • Improved problem-solving skills • Lower blood pressure • An immune boost
To embrace positive thinking and incorporate it into your life, you must learn to appreciate the good in every situation (even the highly frustrating ones), smile more, find humor in failures, practice gratitude, and act with intention.
Most importantly, check in with yourself occasionally — evaluate your thoughts and ensure you’re on the right track to maintain your optimism. Your health and well-being are tightly connected to your mental outlook, and in practicing positivity, you are giving yourself the best gift — the gift of a happy and healthy life.
So, try not to dwell on the negatives, but instead, make time to laugh, smile, and embrace all the splendors in your life that bring you joy!
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MichiganEstatePlans.com • 888.487.6150
As summer rolls around, now is the time to check in on your health before all the summer barbeques, vacations, and fun in the sun! Of course, attending your checkup and health screening appointments with your trusted medical provider is best, but here’s a checklist to dial in your health and live your healthiest life! Stay Heart Healthy If maintaining your cardiovascular health isn’t your top priority, it should be! To take care of your heart and keep it ticking for many more years, reduce your cholesterol intake, incorporate “good fats” into your diet, lower the sodium in your diet, and always get in your cardio! Maintain Your Bones Unless you’ve encountered a complication with your bones (i.e., broken or weakened bones), you likely don’t give them much thought. However, as we age, it’s crucial to reduce bone loss. Talk to your doctor about your risk for osteoporosis, and, if recommended, have screenings for potential complications. Be sure you’re getting your daily recommended amount of calcium, too! The Better Health Checklist Maintain Your Well-Being One Step at a Time
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Helpful Resources • Is your estate plan up to date? Ask us about our FREE Estate Planning Checkup. Call our office or email Julie@mtolaw.com.
• Don’t miss Glenn on “Senior Law
Radio,” WHMI FM 93.5 every Sunday at 8 a.m. You can also listen live (or to previous shows) on WHMI.com.
• Questions about your money? Do you need help with your financial goals, investment management, or retirement planning? Glenn has partnered with his personal financial advisor, Brad Jerome, to bring expert financial services to our clients. Brad meets with you right in our office — no cost, no obligation, and no pressure. Just an opportunity to discuss your goals with a top-notch financial advisor to see where your path might lead. You can reach Brad directly at 517.301.3070. • Let us be your trusted advisor for all your legal matters. We have grown with the referrals we receive from our clients. We want to return the favor by helping you find a great attorney outside the field of estate planning, elder law, and probate. Our clients often call us in need of an attorney who focuses on personal injury, auto accidents, elder and nursing home abuse, workers’ compensation, Social Security disability, and many other areas. To get the best results, you need an experienced attorney to help. If you want a referral, call our office or email Julie@mtolaw.com. We are glad to help!
Stay Active Don’t let yourself slow down! Exercise and staying fit helps
maintain your quality of life, ensures you can explore, play with your grandchildren, vacation, and experience the world without enduring pesky pains and limitations. Don’t Forget Your Eyes and Teeth Just like you visit your primary care physician, keeping up with your optical and dental health is essential. Have your eyes and teeth checked regularly for potential diseases and infections that sometimes go unnoticed. Get a Full 8 Hours of Sleep As we age, getting enough quality sleep can be challenging as more sleep disorders commonly show up. Sleep is crucial for a clean bill of health. Sleep is vital to helping our bodies fight illnesses and stay strong.
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MichiganEstatePlans.com • 888.487.6150
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MichiganEstatePlans.com • 888.487.6150 915 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 6 Howell, Michigan 48843
What’s Inside? 1
Comfortably Discuss Finances in 4 Steps
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3 Hotels to Visit for a Great Night’s Sleep
Look on the Bright Side
Your Checklist to Healthy Living
Helpful Resources
Potbellied Pig Terrifies Burglars
On the night of
Intruders Flee From Ludwig the Pig
New Year’s Eve in
2014, a group of burglars experienced the fright of a lifetime. Expecting to rob a quiet home in Derby, England, the intruders instead came face
the Toronto Star to dispute any defamations against Ludwig’s kindness.
to snout with Ludwig, a 240-pound potbellied pig. Abandoning all thoughts of crime once they spotted the pig, the burglars instantly fled the scene and ran for their lives. The “hero ham” had already become a popular figure in his town and was well-loved for his gentle demeanor. In fact, Michael Maughan, Ludwig’s owner, is confident that Ludwig wouldn’t have harmed the intruders, even if he does look quite intimidating. Local officers believe the robbers must have heard Ludwig’s Rottweiler-like “growl” and immediately hit the road, leaving the door wide open behind them. The story of this heroic potbellied pig became a sensation throughout Europe. Countless fans have applauded the Canadian-born hog for his loyalty to his owners. But the owners want to ensure people understand that Ludwig would never hurt anyone. Some fabricated web stories made Ludwig sound more dangerous than he is, so Maughan spoke to
“He’s being painted as a vicious creature when he’s actually quite a sweet animal,” he explained. “He didn’t exactly bare his tusks and charge, I don’t think. I think he got absolutely, ‘Arrgh,’ and they just ran for it.” In fact, Maughan detailed that after a two- month separation during their move to England, the pig shed tears during their reunion. Adorable and affectionate, Ludwig would have probably become friends with the intruders in no time. Even if his “bark” is worse than his bite, Ludwig succeeded in keeping his owners safe while also protecting their home. This 240-pound potbellied pig continues to enjoy his comfortable home in Derby and is considered a town hero. Anyone looking for a guard dog may want to consider a hefty hog instead!
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Offices: Howell | Clinton Township
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