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MAY 2026
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Caps, Gowns … and Contingency Plans Why Graduates Need an Estate Plan Now
We’re approaching one of the most exciting times of the year for many young adults and their guardians. After many late nights doing homework and studying for upcoming tests, years of persisting through challenging courses, and the joys of being recognized for their academic and athletic accomplishments, that hard work is about to pay off. It’s graduation season, and before long, many high school and college seniors will walk across the stage to grab their diplomas and start the next chapter of their lives.
Some of you reading this may be scratching your head, wondering why a recent high school graduate with little money and few assets to their name would need an Estate Plan. You have to remember that an Estate Plan is more than a way to divide and distribute assets. It allows you to set guidelines for some of life’s scariest and unexpected events. If you become incapacitated or are unable to speak for yourself, your Estate Plan will protect your wishes for what happens next. Your Estate Plan consists of many critical documents that protect your future. One such document is a Durable Power of Attorney, which allows you to choose someone to manage personal and financial affairs if you become incapacitated. The person you choose can manage bank accounts, pay bills, and speak freely with the university or college about tuition or other important information. Without this, a loved one will have to go through court proceedings to establish a guardianship that will allow them to make these decisions. Another piece that needs to be established is an Advance Health Care Directive. This includes two documents, the Living Will and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. The Power of Attorney for Health Care allows you to choose someone to make health care decisions on your behalf while receiving medical information from your doctors. The Living Will outlines your wishes, so your agent can easily make these choices without any guilt that they are doing something you wouldn’t prefer. These are just a few examples of how an Estate Plan can protect your future, regardless of age, wealth, or any other factor. If your child is going off to college in the fall, an Estate Plan is your best option to ensure you can still take care of their needs if the unimaginable happens. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Over the next few weeks, many recent graduates and their parents will receive advice and guidance from just about everyone they encounter. Some people will tell them to take their time finding their passions and to explore degrees that truly align with their interests, while others may say to keep their head down and keep pushing until they come out on the other side. Everyone’s college experience and even life experiences are different, which means the advice will change person to person. Not all the advice you receive during these critical years is relevant or applicable to everyone, but I want to share some vital guidance for recent graduates and their parents to protect their futures if the unexpected happens. Establish your Estate Plan at the earliest opportunity, ideally before you even leave for college at the end of the summer.
Congratulations to all of the recent graduates in our community!
-Barry Siegel
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Some people spend their whole lives trying to avoid certain conversations and topics. At the top of the list are discussions about what happens during the final stages of life. Even among loved ones, people can feel uncomfortable when discussing Estate Planning or Long-Term Care Planning. You can’t let discomfort stop you from protecting your future and ensuring your wishes come to fruition. Without these carefully crafted plans, everything can become much more complicated, difficult, and demoralizing for everyone involved. If you’ve ever tried to talk to a parent about these topics, you may have been met with resistance and avoidance. They don’t want to think about death or the possibility of living in a nursing home. Worse yet, they may think you’re just bringing it up because you’re angling for an inheritance. Thankfully, there are strategies to make this conversation easier. It all starts with how you approach them. Instead of jumping into plans of action and what they have already established, approach them with empathy. This conversation is all about finding where their fears and feelings lie. Ask them what they would prefer if they could no longer live alone or age in place. When Parents Avoid the Conversation Breaking Through Estate Planning Resistance
It’s Not Nonsense After All The Real Purpose Behind Ancient ‘Absurd’ Laws
Long before modern ideas of rights and fairness, societies made laws that seem downright bizarre today, yet each was crafted to solve a real problem or reinforce vital cultural values at the time. When you dig into the reasons behind these ancient rules, the logic reveals practical concerns rather than pure absurdity. SPARTA MADE MARRIAGE A CIVIC DUTY. In militaristic Sparta, personal freedom took a back seat to state survival. Spartan men were expected to marry and produce soldiers; refusing to wed was frowned upon, and inveterate bachelors were fined and punished socially. Bachelors past a certain age faced ridicule and exclusion because every man who stayed single did not produce children who could then become warriors. In a society built around war readiness, strong incentives for marriage were strategic. OLIVE TREES WERE PROTECTED LIKE NATIONAL TREASURES. In ancient Athens, an olive tree was not an ordinary plant. It was sacred, symbolic, and economically essential. Olive oil had many uses: It lit lamps, healed wounds, and was a popular item people would trade. In the 6th century B.C.E., the Athenian lawmaker Solon made it illegal to cut down olive trees without official permission, with sometimes severe penalties for lawbreakers. Back then, preserving olive groves was literally protecting the city’s future. RUSSIA TAXED BEARDS TO SPUR MODERNIZATION. Fast-forward to 17th-century Russia, where Tsar Peter the Great was determined to drag his kingdom into the Renaissance era. Part of that meant shaving off traditional beards, which were seen as backward by Western European standards, and adopting clean- shaven faces. When the outright banning of facial hair sparked religious resistance and rebellion, Peter pivoted: Keep your beard, just pay a tax, and carry a metal token. It was a unique combination of cultural reform and fiscal strategy. These examples remind us that what now sounds absurd often grew out of urgent needs or deeply held values. Punishing men for not marrying, olive tree preservation, and beard control may sound silly at first, but each solved a problem that mattered in its day.
As you dive into these thoughts, remain focused on care instead of the dreaded what-if scenarios. This shows you’re trying to support and protect their future, not control it. As the conversation flows, you may find an opportunity to ask where they are with their plans. Do not assume they have nothing worked out. They could already have a full- fledged estate plan in place and just need your support. It’s important to work these details out; just don’t start the conversation with it. The most important part of this discussion is showing that you are there for support. It’s not about providing all the solutions or getting your way; you just want to offer support to ensure their goals come to fruition. You probably won’t figure out all the details in one conversation, nor should you. Take it one question at a time at a pace that is comfortable for them.
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Staying Home as You Age The Fine Print No One Talks About
When people think about their senior years, they often envision themselves relaxing in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded by loved ones and continuing some of their favorite hobbies. Unfortunately, life is rarely so predictable. Things happen. Our health could worsen, our spouses could pass away, and several other unexpected events could occur, causing us to change our plans. Those opposed to living in assisted care facilities may wonder if they can receive in-home care for their needs while on Medicaid. A special Medicaid program called Home & Community Based Services (HCBS) can be highly beneficial for anyone seeking home care. To participate in this program, you need to qualify for a Medicaid waiver under a specific plan offered through iBudget Florida, Developmental Disabilities Individual Budgeting, Florida Long-Term Care, Florida Model Waiver, Long-Term Managed Care, and a few other options.
Once you enroll in a waiver program and choose your plan, you’ll hear from a case manager who will visit your home to ensure you need the care you are requesting. The thing you have to understand is that your case manager may not think your needs qualify for HCBS. Unlike the services you’d receive in a nursing home, Medicaid for in-home care may not give you all the services and help you need. They may provide services for 20–30 hours instead of the 40 you think you require. While the waiver program sounds promising, especially to those who really want to remain in their homes, you still have to meet the same requirements and qualifications of Medicaid to enroll. This is not necessarily an easy task, and the five-
year look-back period makes it even more challenging. You need to start planning early, and working with an experienced attorney will help you qualify and avoid spending too much time on the waitlist. We’re here if you need any help or have any questions!
Sudoku
Barbecue Jackfruit Sandwiches
Ingredients Barbecue Jackfruit • 1 white or yellow onion, sliced thin • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 cans young green jackfruit in water or brine, not in syrup. • 1/2 tsp each: paprika and cumin • 1 tsp each: chili powder and garlic powder. • 1 cup barbecue sauce of choice. • 8 buns
Coleslaw • 4 cups shredded cabbage • 1 shredded carrot • 1/2–1 tsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar • 1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise • Pinch of salt and pepper to taste
Directions 1.
In a large pan over medium-high heat, sauté onion in olive oil until translucent. 2. Drain and rinse the jackfruit. Slice jackfruit from the core to the end lengthwise. 3. Add the jackfruit to the pan and cook another minute or two. 4. Add the paprika, cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder. 5. Using a potato masher, mash the jackfruit until it resembles shredded meat.
6. Stir in barbecue sauce and simmer until warmed through. 7. Coleslaw: Mix all ingredients together and season to taste. 8. Fill each bun with jackfruit mixture and top with coleslaw.
Inspired by DelishKnowledge.com
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Inside This Issue
1 2
Estate Planning for New Grads
How Unusual Laws Shaped Ancient Societies
Help Your Parents Open Up About Their Plans
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The Reality Behind Medicaid In‑Home Care Options
Barbecue Jackfruit Sandwiches
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Tranquil Travels Beyond the Tent
Nature’s Nirvana Camping With Comfort and Class
When we were kids, the idea of camping likely conjured images of pitching a tent, “roughing it” with rationed food, crossing our fingers for decent weather, and potentially being half-eaten by bugs. Well, times have changed. Although adventures in the great outdoors have always been fun for folks who want to connect with nature without everyday conveniences, the world of camping (and, these days, RVing) has evolved to where a trip can feel more like time spent at a luxurious rural resort than in makeshift housing in the woods. Here’s a look at three locations that offer a more comfortable camping experience than anything you may have encountered in your Scouting days. AMENITIES GALORE IN MASSACHUSETTS Located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Normandy Farms is an idyllic spot to explore between Boston and Cape Cod. The site offers (among other things) four pools (including two outdoor
Olympic-size ones); a Creative Arts Center featuring arts, crafts, and yoga; a 20,000-square-foot lodge; and a 1.5-acre onsite dog park.
A TASTE OF WINE COUNTRY COMFORT A Sonoma Valley mainstay, the River Bend Resort in Forestville, California, connects camping and RV enthusiasts with the refined tastes of wine country. This family-friendly destination includes a general store, an arcade, nearby vineyards, and plenty of opportunities for movie nights, horseshoe games, and nighttime stargazing. RESPITE NEAR THE ZION RIVER Southwest Utah is home to both the Virgin River and Zion National Park, two sites accessible through a stay at the Zion River Resort in the town of Virgin. From bus rides to and from the national park to gemstone mining, the resort offers campers and RVers an eclectic journey through one of the country’s most memorable regions.
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