Check out our latest edition!
June 2023
REALESTATEPLANNINGLAW.COM 718-698-2200
WE KEEP YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH
IN A MANOR OF SPEAKING
We Gave Our Website a Facelift! Check Out the New Version — Complete With Watercolors
and 2–3 additional articles throughout the site every month, and we regularly update our practice areas and FAQs to reflect the latest legal developments. In other words, the site is far from static. If you visited looking for answers a few weeks ago, try again today — we may have addressed your question since. 3. A Full Catalog of Past Newsletters — Under the “Education” tab, you
Working as a realtor must be challenging because the buyers’ “rules” are always changing. One second, we homeowners want all of our rooms clearly separated to maximize privacy — the next, everyone wants an open floor plan! One day, honey oak kitchens are all the rage — the next, only gray laminate floors and white cabinets will do.
can access digital copies of every Merlino & Gonzalez newsletter we’ve sent out. The archive dates all the way back to June 2017 if you want to reread our December 2022 story about Christmas light installation this winter or review our August 2019 article to learn about some of our favorite summertime foods and activities. 4. Free, Helpful Downloads — Also under the “Education” tab, you can now access various free, helpful forms regarding estate planning and buying or selling real estate. For example, our Estate Planning Process Roadmap includes resources like “10 Things to Know About Beneficiary Designations” and “The 5 Most Important Estate Planning Documents.” 5. More Ways to Get in Touch — There’s now a “Contact Us” button front and center on the main page of our website. With one click, you can send us a comment or ask a question.
This spring, I got a taste of what pivoting with those trends must feel like when I took on the project of updating our firm’s website. The old site my team once loved was as outdated as a 1990s kitchen. So, we added new features and a fresh look to bring it into 2023. If you’ve visited www.realestateplanninglaw.com lately, you’ve probably noticed the updated graphics, the new content, and how much easier it is to find the information you’re looking for. Here are a few changes we made that will make our website more helpful for you. 1. An Easy-to-Navigate ‘Practice Areas’ Tab — If you need legal help and aren’t sure whether we’re the right people for the job, you can click the “Practice Areas” tab to find out in seconds. It opens a dropdown menu listing our four main focuses: Wills and Estate Planning, Estate and Trust Administration, Real Estate, and Elder Law and Medicaid Planning.
2. Fresh Content for Every Visit — We now publish even more helpful information under our “Blog” tab. Our team adds 2–3 blogs
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718-698-2200
Cut the Financial Umbilical Cord
HOW TO RAISE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE ADULTS
to learn the ins and outs of how credit cards work while still having a safety net to protect their credit. Introduce them to the concept of interest. Interest can be beneficial or a disastrous
Adulting is all about doing your own laundry, cooking, and grocery shopping. It means making informed decisions about time management, organizational skills, and understanding how to be financially responsible.
But how do you teach your teenager financial responsibility? Let’s explore five important lessons your child needs to gain financial independence!
hindrance, so your teen needs to understand how it works. While it can be beneficial for certain savings accounts, it can wreak havoc on credit card debt.
Help them find opportunities to earn money. Before your teen can learn to properly manage their finances, they must first make their own money! If they don’t have a job, encourage them to begin the hunt. If your teen is still too young to hold a job, consider paying them for chores around the house or yardwork. Once your teen has a cash flow, you can then teach them how to separate it into spending money and cash to save. Open a bank account . If your child doesn’t have a bank account yet, it’s time to set up a checking and savings account for them. It’s a great way to provide them with financial independence while they still have access to your guidance. While credit cards can be scary to trust your learning teenager with, you should consider a prepaid credit card they can use
Demonstrate interest with different real-life scenarios to show your
teen how they can grow their money or rack up tons of debt.
Whether your teen has just started earning their own money or is preparing to handle finances on their own, these simple tips can help you start training a fiscally responsible adult.
MASTER THE WAVES
Ocean Activities the Entire Family Will Love
who regularly go snorkeling see it as a form of therapy that helps them relieve stress and anxiety. Feeling more relaxed and at peace will help make your vacation feel even more magical. Grab a board. If you want to experience something slightly more intense, you can try some of the many ocean activities involving a board. First-time ocean-goers will love using a boogie board or bodyboard to ride the waves into shore. Those who are more experienced may enjoy surfing for the first time or renting a standing paddleboard. Many beaches on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts have paddleboard rentals or surfing lessons. Be on the lookout at your vacation destination if you want to take advantage of these exciting activities. Tour the ocean. You may want to get away from the beach and experience open waters beyond the shore. If that’s the case, you’ll want to see if your vacation destination offers glass-bottom boat or submarine tours. Some beaches even have whale-watching adventures, which provide an excellent opportunity to see some of nature’s largest creatures in their natural habitat.
Summer has finally arrived, and many of us will be going on weeklong excursions to the coast to get some much-needed rest and relaxation by the beach. For years, the beach has been one of the most popular summertime destinations for Americans, with millions of us flocking to the coast every year. If you’re planning to hit the sand this summer, you should prepare some exciting activities, so you and your family or travel partners can create memories that will last a lifetime.
Here are a few oceanside activities you’ll want to check out on your vacation.
Explore through snorkeling. Many people want to try scuba diving while on vacation but don’t have the time, training, and finances required to go on an excursion. That being said, you can get pretty close to the scuba-diving experience by snorkeling. Using a snorkel in the ocean, especially in flat water, is a great way to explore the underwater world. You’ll be able to spot fish, crustaceans, and other sea life without needing extensive training. Those
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DON’T LET A NURSING
2. Distribute your assets to friends and family. Giving loved ones their inheritance before you pass can keep it safe from predators and bring you joy and satisfaction. Just be sure to chat with an attorney about the most tax-savvy way to gift your assets. 3. Shift your income to your partner. If you end up in a nursing home before your spouse, transferring your income to them can protect it from outsiders. Each state protects a certain amount of spousal income from seizure. 4. Secure your assets in an irrevocable trust. A trust is very similar to a will, except that when you create a trust, you transfer ownership of your assets to it. Since you no longer own them, your nursing home won’t be able to seize them. 5. Protect your home with a life estate. A life estate can transfer the ownership of your property to a friend or family member but allow you to continue living there until you die or move. This is a great strategy to protect your home if you think it will be five years or more before you’ll need to move to a nursing facility. Our team at Merlino & Gonzalez specializes in real estate and elder planning, so we’re the perfect people to help you, your friends, and your family members protect your money in retirement. Share this article and our phone number (718-698-2200) with anyone considering moving to a nursing home one day. We’ll make sure their money stays safe!
HOME STEAL YOUR MONEY Use These Strategies to Protect Your Assets
Nursing homes can be wonderful places to live out your golden years, but they’re also notorious for stacking up fees and leaving senior citizens penniless. While you play shuffleboard and bridge in your 80s and 90s, the facility could drain your bank account!
Fortunately, you can take several steps to protect yourself from greedy administrators — and the best time to start is now, before you move in.
1. Invest in long-term care insurance. This insurance covers all your nursing home expenses if you become disabled, protecting your home from being seized to pay for care. It’s an effective tool for those who can afford it, although it only kicks in if you become disabled.
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MICHELE’S RECIPE CORNER
SEAFOOD PASTA SALAD
I’m excited about all of these features and the site’s overall new look, but one of my favorite things about the upgrade is hidden under the “About” tab. If you open that tab and click “Our Team,” you’ll see every team member represented in their own watercolor portrait! I commissioned the portraits from artist Hodaya Louis through the website Upwork, and I think she did a fantastic job. Her work adds a creative, homey touch to the site, and it felt good to support a fellow small business by purchasing her work. All of the portraits came out great and can be seen on the “About - Our Team” tab of our website.
Inspired by TheSpruceEats.com
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
I hope you enjoy browsing the new website as much as I do. If you haven’t checked it out yet, visit RealEstatePlanningLaw.com to see all the changes today!
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.
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718-698-2200 | realestateplanninglaw.com WE KEEP YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
John Unveils the New M&G Website! Page 1
Top Tips to Teach Financial Responsibility
Seashore Adventures Await Page 2
How to Protect Your Money in Retirement
Seafood Pasta Salad Page 3
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! Page 4
Check Out Some of America’s Best Zoos MONKEY AROUND THIS SUMMER
in America. Opened in 1899, the Bronx Zoo is responsible for many of the advancements relating to animal captivity. This was one of the first zoos to ditch cages for natural environments and create an animal hospital. With over 6,000 species, there’s an animal for everyone at the Bronx Zoo. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens While the San Diego Zoo is often boasted as California’s largest and best zoo, another zoo is worth checking out. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens outside Palm Springs has entertained visitors for decades. There are events at this zoo every day, one of the most popular being the keeper connections and animal encounters, where you get up close and personal with the animals while learning more about their habitats and lifestyles.
Summer is one of the best times of the year to travel. Kids are out of school and want to do something fun every weekend, which can be difficult to accommodate if you’ve already exhausted your local options. If you’re looking to travel, you can visit a beach, take in the sights and sounds of an amusement park, or spend some time with animals while visiting a zoo. Nearly every state in our country has a handful of zoos or aquariums, but some stand above the rest.
Here are three of the best zoos you can visit in the U.S.
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska, is consistently ranked as one of the top five zoos in the world. It prides itself on hosting rare, endangered animals you can’t see elsewhere. It has the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit, and one of the major highlights is the Desert Dome, an 84,000-square-foot indoor desert that maintains an authentic desert ecosystem. This is a must-visit for any animal lover in your family. The Bronx Zoo You don’t usually think about seeing exotic animals when you visit New York City, but the Bronx Zoo is one of the best places to view animals
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