HOLLYWOOD 1909 TYLER ST., SUITE 501 HOLLYWOOD, FL 33020 561-708-0513 BOCA RATON 561-299-4523 NAPLES 239-529-4267 WHISLERLAWFIRM.COM
AUGUST 2020
WE’LL HELP YOU MEET ALL OF YOUR ESTATE PLANNING NEEDS INTRODUCING MARTY ELBERG
Last month, The Whisler Law Firm announced that it’s teaming up with Martyn Elberg, Esq. to start providing estate planning services to a wider range of clients, and we’re excited to finally introduce Marty Elberg!
I graduated from California Western School of Law in 2006, and that’s when my new wife and I moved back to my hometown of Eagle Grove, Iowa, to be closer to family and raise our boys with the Midwestern values we’d been taught. After being admitted to the Iowa bar, I opened an office to serve as a general practitioner for our small town because we needed a jack-of-all-trades. It was an enjoyable time in my life, and we successfully transitioned our boys into young men. But I was ready to dedicate myself to the type of law I had loved for so long, so we moved to Florida and I began focusing almost solely on estate planning. I was admitted to the Florida bar in 2012, and my team members at my practice, Circle of Life Legal Services, have evolved into experts at comprehensive plans for family well-being. I understand the fear of sitting down and planning for the inevitable. I know it can be hard to think about, both for yourself and for others. But estate plans are too important to be without, which is why my new of-counsel relationship with The Whisler Law Firm is such an exciting endeavor. Through and through, they are about putting people first, and that’s really what estate planning is all about too. We pride ourselves on our ability to truly listen to our clients and to translate their vision into estate plans that meet their desires and expectations. With every new client, I always appreciate the unique composition of each family and know firsthand that thoughtful, creative, and customized
planning can maximize financial security and the harmony that results from it.
If you want to leave a legacy behind that you feel proud of and secure in, our expertise in family protection, wealth preservation, values-based planning for couples, planning strategies for unmarried couples or divorced individuals, and all aspects of estate administration will help you achieve just that. Whether you’re married or single, have a traditional family or a blended one, are just starting out, or may now be looking back on a life well- lived, The Whisler Law Firm will help you craft a plan to achieve your goals for your loved ones for years to come. Our goal is always to help you preserve your most cherished family needs and values. I’m so honored and excited to be a part of this team, and I can’t wait to meet you and help you lay down the plans you need for yourself and your loved ones.
My enthusiasm for estate planning began in the classroom. Having entered law school at 35, I was one of the older students in most of my classes, and our trust, wills, and estates class had a tendency of putting most students to sleep. But it held my attention, and that’s thanks in part to my age at the time. As someone who had recently gone through a divorce and had a young child, it was intriguing to me that there were ways to guarantee that my child would be cared for in the ways that I wanted him cared for, even if something happened to me. This idea of “ruling from the grave” can often be a daunting and uncomfortable topic for some, but for me, it was so significant that I couldn’t ignore it.
–Marty Elberg
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HOW 1 FATHER IS PASSING ALONG LIFE LESSONS ‘DAD, HOW DO I?’
Being abandoned by a parent is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a child. Rob Kenney experienced this trauma firsthand when his father said he no longer wanted any of his eight children. Kenney was only 12 years old when his father walked out of his life. In an interview with Q13 News in Seattle, Kenney explained that after that experience, he decided that when he had children of his own, he would raise them into good adults and make sure they didn’t have a fractured childhood. But he didn’t stop there. Now 50, Kenney has a 29-year-old daughter and 27-year-old son who are living successful lives thanks to that decision he made many years before. However, even with an empty nest, Kenney realized he still had life lessons to pass on. After thinking about other young people in the world who have gone through
the same unfortunate experience as he did, he decided to do something about it.
In early April 2020, Kenney created a YouTube channel called “Dad, how do I?” and uploaded his first video, titled “How to tie a tie.” In the video, he gives a helpful hint for choosing a tie. Then he talks viewers through the process of how to tie a tie while demonstrating it on himself. As April progressed, Kenney uploaded a number of videos on other seemingly simple tasks, including how to unclog a sink, check the oil in a car, install a shelf, and even how to shave. As he continued uploading videos, he started to include dad jokes along the way.
for help finding a boyfriend, that would be a different stud finder.”
Kenney hopes that, by uploading these videos, he can be there for someone who doesn’t have a parent around to teach them these things. And in the course of just two months, it looks like he is already doing just that. At the end of May, Kenney’s channel had over 2 million subscribers and thousands of people have reached out to Kenney to share their own similar experiences and express their gratitude and appreciation for everything he’s doing.
“So today I’m going to show you how to use a stud finder,” Kenney begins in one video. “If you came here looking
MEET STEVEN WILLNER
OUR NEW LITIGATION ATTORNEY
worked with several other prestigious firms in Florida between then and now. “I took one law business course during my undergrad years in Albany and was hooked,” Steven says. “I’ve always enjoyed helping people work through their problems, and here was a chance to do it as a career.” Steven was also a Spanish language minor and speaks Spanish fluently, another skill set that made us excited to welcome him to our practice. Steven is an incredible fit with our team because he operates under the same values that we uphold every day. “I always keep the client informed at every step in the process, and I’m a huge advocate for client participation,” Steven explains. “This is their case, after all. If a client feels strongly enough to take legal action over an issue, then I feel strongly about getting them involved in that process as much as I can.”
Outside of work, Steven enjoys watching and attending sporting events, namely baseball, with his wife. Originally from New York, he’s a Yankees fan through and through but has been trying (and failing) for years to become a Marlins fan. When they’re not cheering on their favorite teams, Steven and his wife spend time with his parents, who are Florida locals, and his in-laws, who live in Costa Rica, where his wife is from. “It’s been too long since we’ve gone down to see them,” Steven says. “I’m looking forward to the day when we can visit them again.” We’re excited about the years of experience and knowledge Steven will bring to The Whisler Law Firm as we expand our reach. He’s already become a reliable team member who’s making our firm better, and we’re lucky to have him.
We’re continuing to grow The Whisler Law Firm team because we’re excited to provide more services to our clients. That’s why, at the beginning of July, we brought litigation attorney Steven Willner onto our team to help us tackle more property insurance, personal injury, and workers’ compensation cases. Steven has been practicing law for almost 27 years. He’s been a member of the Florida bar since 1994, during which time he also owned and operated his own firm, and has
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WHO SHOULD HAVE AN ESTATE PLAN?
EVERYONE, INCLUDING YOU! Nearly 50% of the population dies without an estate plan in place. Creating one can be a scary process, but it creates reassuring peace of mind. There’s so much value in knowing that your loved ones will be secure after you’re gone. No matter your income level or age, estate planning is important for couples who are not married and for single and married people with minor children. Even if you don’t have young children, you may want to make particular instructions if you have other heirs. Estate planning with an attorney is helpful if you can’t decide how to divide your assets or just want to make special provisions.
• Medical Surrogate — also known as medical powers of attorney, these are very important if you have special health care needs and desires. They’re also important in an emergency.
• HIPAA Authorization — a proper HIPAA authorization gives your medical providers the legal ability to speak with your loved ones.
• Trust — a trust allows you to control and preserve your assets during life, during incapacitation, and after life. A properly funded trust will alleviate the need for probate. If you do have estate plans in place, reviewing your accounts is just as important as drafting legal documents. If you have an insurance policy, make sure your beneficiary designation is correct. Check with your bank and investment advisor to ensure that you’ve indicated the proper person for a Transfer on Death or Pay on Death. Estate planning is for everyone who cares about the legacy they want to leave behind for their loved ones. If you’d like to discuss your estate plans, call our office so we can help.
Estate plans consist of several legal documents:
• Will — a will is a basic planning document that gives instructions on who should take care of your kids and who gets your assets after you die. • Living Will — a living will can alleviate the emotional trauma your loved ones experience when deciding to keep you on life-support or not. You make the choice now so they don’t have to later. • Power of Attorney (POA) — a POA is used while you’re alive, and usually during a time of incapacitation. It authorizes a person of your choice to run your financial affairs.
Nothing says summer like a pasta salad filled with your favorite fresh fruits and vegetables, and this combination is the perfect way to cap off a warm summer day! PEACH AND ARUGULA PASTA SALAD
WHISLER LAW WEBINAR What happens to your assets once you are gone, without a will in place?
Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com
INGREDIENTS
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8 oz penne or fusilli pasta
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2 large fresh peaches, diced or sliced 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced 1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
TUESDAY, SEPT. 15, 1 P.M. EASTERN
1/2 tsp sea salt Pepper, to taste 2 tbsp lemon juice
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1 cup corn
6 cups arugula, packed
REGISTER AT WWW.WHISLERLAWFIRM.COM
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large pot of boiling water, cook pasta for approximately 9 minutes or until al dente. Drain pasta and place in a separate bowl. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Drizzle the dressing over the pasta and toss with the feta cheese. 3. Add peaches, red onions, tomatoes, corn, and arugula to the pasta mixture. Lightly toss to mix well. Add more olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste.
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1909 TYLER ST., SUITE 501 HOLLYWOOD, FL 33020 WHISLERLAWFIRM.COM 561-708-0513
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Leave Your Legacy With an Estate Plan From Marty Elberg
Rob Kenney Is a Father to Many
Meet Our Newest Attorney
Why Estate Planning Is for Everyone
Peach and Arugula Pasta Salad
Meet the Man Who Stole the ‘Mona Lisa’
MEET THE MAN WHO STOLE THE ‘MONA LISA’ THE MOST FAMOUS ART HEIST YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF
One hundred and nine years ago this month, one man — or was it three? — fled from the Louvre Museum in Paris, carrying what would quickly become the world’s most famous painting: Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.” Historical accounts of the theft agree only on who was the ringleader: 30-year-old Louvre handyman Vincenzo Peruggia. He was a house painter, an immigrant, the bearer of a glorious Monopoly Man mustache, and a vehement Italian patriot. At some point on the morning of Aug. 21, 1911, Peruggia lifted the glass case he himself had constructed to house the “Mona Lisa” and smuggled the painting from the building. Some versions of the story say Peruggia was assisted by two brothers, fellow Italian handymen Vincenzo and Michele Lancelotti. NPR reports the trio spent the night preceding the theft huddled
in one of the Louvre’s supply closets, lying in wait to steal the portrait. In his documentary about the theft, director Joe Medeiros claims Peruggia acted alone, driven by an obsession with the work and a dream of returning the painting to Italy. Either way, we know that Peruggia successfully spirited the painting back to his one-bedroom apartment. There it lay concealed in a false-bottomed trunk for more than two years. This period of mysterious absence (during which police grilled and dismissed Peruggia as a suspect in favor of J.P. Morgan, Pablo Picasso, and playwright Guillaume Apollinaire) is what made the “Mona Lisa” world famous. Peruggia was eventually caught attempting to sell the painting in Italy. He pleaded guilty and spent eight months in jail. After his release, he enlisted in the Italian army to fight in World War I, surviving the war only to die of a heart attack on his 44th birthday. Though Peruggia married after the war, some suspect that the true love of his life was the “Mona Lisa” herself. In a CNN article, author and art history professor Noah Charney speculates that over his two years with her, Peruggia developed romantic feelings for the portrait. Perhaps he fell victim to a kind of “reverse Stockholm syndrome,” Charney suggests, the captor falling in love with his hostage. “In this case,” he says, “the hostage was a work of art.”
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