THE LEGAL NAVIGATOR AUGUST 2020
FROM THE DESK OF
Mike Bryan
Hello, everyone!
I hope you have been enjoying your summer. Over the past year or so, I have been featuring interviews with various nursing homes, assisted living homes, and home health care agencies. In addition, I unveiledmy most recent book: “Estate, Medicaid &VA Planning: An Ohio Guide.” I have also highlightedmy Medicaid, VA, and estate planning reports as well. However, one of the most important benefits for clients is access to our Estate, Healthcare andWealth Preservation Team—Courtney Haug and Amber Black. Courtney is the Estate, Health Care andWealth Preservation Case Manager. Inmany cases, she is the primary go-to person here in the office for my cases. She is well versed in Medicaid andVeterans Benefits and will be able to answer many of your questions. Also, you will likely see her during documents signings as well. Amber is our Financial Data Analyst. She completes all the behind-the-scenes work necessary to understand each client’s financial situation. She is a critical component to our team and helps us understand exactly what assets, debt, and income each client has. She then compiles this into a format that is easy for us to understand. You may also see her at document signing as well. With the above team at your disposal, you can have the confidence your case is being taken care of by a very dedicated group. By having these different roles, it allows our office to efficiently meet your Estate, Health Care, andWealth Preservation planning goals.
TRANSFORM YOUR FAVORITE FOODS 2 Steps to a Healthier Diet
Everyone has their culinary vices. For some, nothing beats a slice of chocolate cake, and for others, it’s a hearty bowl of mac and cheese. But these guilty pleasures are often packed with highly refined carbohydrates, added sugars, too many heart -un healthy fats, and a whole lot of calories.
What if you could make your favorite foods healthier and more nutritious without having to give up the flavor and experience of indulging in them?
There’s no great secret that transforms mac and cheese or chocolate cake into something jam-packed with nutrition, but there are a couple kitchen tips you can use to cut calories, fat, carbs, sugar, and salt — all without sacrificing what you love about your favorite foods. OUT OF THE DEEP FRYER AND INTO THE AIR FRYER Air fryers have gained popularity over the past few years, and for good reason. They produce foods that are remarkably similar to foods fried in oil —without the oil! It’s like a mini-convection oven for your countertop. Hot air is pushed down onto the food, where it circulates around the food and back out. The end result is evenly cooked cuisine that’s crispy and full of flavor.
Please visit our website at www.swbwlawfirm.com/ meet-your-estate-healthcare-and-
wealth-preservation-team/ to watch a brief video interview of Courtney and Amber. Have a great month!
–Mike
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servings, of course, but that’s the great thing about cooking — you can change things to suit your specific tastes. Experiment with herbs and spices you’ve never tried before or substitute fresh herbs for the dried stuff. Have fun with it! In the end, your body will thank you.
For the most part, if you can deep-fry it, then you can air-fry it. You can air-fry french fries, chicken wings, shrimp, vegetables, and even pizza! However, you can’t air-fry freshly battered food. Anything that’s been liquid battered must be frozen first. Otherwise, the batter will stick to the air fryer basket and make a mess. Using an air fryer cuts calories significantly . For example, there are approximately 360 calories in one serving of traditional, oil-cooked french fries. In comparison, there are about 230 calories in a serving of air-fried french fries. While air-fried foods might not taste quite the same as oil-cooked foods, air-fried foods come out crispy and delicious while keeping that classic flavor you love. DON’T BE SALTY — BE SPICY Salt is one of the most important ingredients because it helps our food taste better. Unfortunately, too much of a good thing really can be bad, and when it comes to salt, excessive consumption leads to inflammation and high blood pressure, which increases the risk of stroke and heart attack. On top of the health implications, constantly seasoning your food with salt can actually dull your taste buds. The more you eat salty foods, the more bland unsalted food will taste. Still, you don’t want to stop using salt completely. It may take some experimenting, but in many dishes, you can cut your salt intake by half or more by adding more herbs and spices. It varies by recipe, spice, and
SKIP THE STUDENT DEBT 3 Ways to Pay for College That Aren’t Loans
Work-Study Depending on your child’s financial need, their college or university may be able to set them up with a part-time position with an hourly rate on campus. Work-study positions are often community-service oriented and/or matched with the student’s field of study, and the jobs in these programs may be on or off campus. Alternatively, students can also look for other on-campus jobs that aren’t part of a work-study program. Before the school year starts, many schools post job openings for positions like computer lab assistants or event caterers.
We all know how expensive college can be. The bills can pile up fast, and in many cases, paying that debt off can take years, if not decades, especially if private loans are involved. That said, if you have kids who are getting ready to graduate high school, then don’t let the cost of higher education scare you away. If you can’t pay out of pocket, you can help your child apply for loans, but if you’re looking to mitigate debt, or eliminate it entirely, here are some other popular options. Grants
Private Scholarships There is no shortage of private scholarships. The challenge is finding and applying for them. This can take time, but it’s often worth the effort. If you can’t find any scholarships your child is eligible for online, then try using an app like Scholly. It’s designed to help students and parents find and apply for scholarships without having to search all over the internet. Another great resource is your student’s high school guidance counselor. They often have resources about local and regional scholarships that may be worth looking into.
Grants are similar to scholarships in that they don’t need to be repaid. Many colleges, states, and other organizations award grants based on a number of factors, like academic standing and the income of one or both parents as reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as FAFSA. A great starting point for parents who are helping their kids look for grants is the Federal Student Aid website: StudentAid.gov/ understand-aid/types/grants.
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Battling Mental Hurdles 3 Habits Entrepreneurs Use to Excel During COVID-19
They practice creating. You don’t have to wait for inspiration to strike. Cultivate creativity by making something every day, even if it has nothing to do with your projects at work. Doodle during lunch, sing along to the radio during your drive home, or write a few sentences of a short story each night. Don’t worry about whether these personal projects are “good,” just focus on bringing them into the world. Practice makes perfect. If you believe that creativity is something that only a select few are born with, then you might find yourself struggling to be imaginative during difficult times. However, when you view it as a skill that can be strengthened, you’ll develop habits to see you through what might otherwise be a creative drought.
all already on the calendar. Reducing daily decisions gives you more time to think about what matters and helps you dedicate more of your mental energy to solving problems or refining big ideas. They take time to recharge. This doesn’t mean spending all day watching Netflix. Recharging your imagination is an active process. If you’re feeling creatively drained, go to a place that inspires you. This could mean taking a walk around a park, going on a hike in the woods, or visiting your local library. Immersing yourself in others’ ideas can also help recharge your creative batteries. Swing by an art museum, pick up a new book, or treat yourself to a solo movie date. Ask yourself why a particular piece of art inspires you, what makes it worthwhile, and if you would have done anything differently.
Why did some companies thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic while others had to shut their doors forever? The answer is simple: Successful companies embraced creative solutions to overcome the obstacles of the shelter-in-place orders. Creativity is key to a profitable business. Innovative problem- solving is how business leaders come up with new ideas, address unexpected issues, and inspire their teams during difficult times. Here are a few habits that resourceful entrepreneurs share. They make a schedule. Though it may sound counterintuitive, structuring your day actually improves your ability to be creative. Establishing a schedule in advance allows you to avoid having to make small, inconsequential decisions. You won’t be distracted by wondering when you’ll get lunch or if you’re missing a big meeting. It’s
PROTEIN-PACKED BREAKFAST BURRITOS
Sudoku
You can make these easy freezer breakfast burritos in under an hour! They’re healthy, delicious, and perfect for mornings on the go!
Ingredients
• • • • • •
1/2 tsp pepper 1/2 tsp paprika
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2 tbsp olive oil, divided 1 medium onion, diced 1 bell pepper, diced 16 oz ground chicken
1/2 tsp garlic powder
6 eggs
12 8-inch tortillas
16 oz sausage
12 slices cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp salt
Directions
1. In a skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper and sauté. Remove from pan and set aside. 2. In the same pan over medium heat, add chicken, sausage, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Cook for 3–4 minutes before stirring to get a brown crust on the bottom. Then, stir and continue cooking until meat is cooked through. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs together. 4. In another skillet over medium heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil. Pour in eggs and scramble them, cooking until no liquid remains. Set aside. 5. Lay out the tortillas with one slice of cheddar cheese on each. 6. Place an even amount of vegetables, meat, and eggs on every tortilla. Wrap each burrito and enjoy immediately or wrap in foil and freeze for another morning!
Inspired by TheToastyKitchen.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Mike PAGE 1 Transform Your Favorite Foods PAGE 1 How to Pay for College Without Loans PAGE 2 Cultivating Creativity to Optimize Efficiency in 3 Steps
PAGE 3 Sudoku PAGE 3 Protein-Packed Breakfast Burritos PAGE 3 Why We Still Need Travel Agencies PAGE 4
GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TRIP With the Expert Advice of a Travel Agent
regulations to get you where you want to go. They will be your go-to experts for what you should do when you get to your destination, especially if you’re traveling to a foreign country or overseas. They can lower costs. Enlisting the help of a travel agency isn’t as expensive as the average customer might think. Travel advisors receive a small commission from airlines and hotels when they book your trip, which allows them to keep your travel costs down. Every agency charges different fees based on the package you purchase, but on average, you can expect to pay around $75 per traveling person for an agent to book your trip. With all the added experiences and deals they can find, this cost easily pays for itself and then some.
Once upon a time, you couldn’t plan a vacation without using a travel agent. They would book your flights and hotels, provide information about local activities, and point you to the best sites to see. But with the advent of the internet, it seemed travel agencies would become obsolete. However, these services are actually far from disappearing: Nearly 20% of travelers still use an agency. Because the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way people travel for the foreseeable future, travel advisors, as they’re now called, are more valuable than ever. They give expert advice. If you want to get the most out of your trip, then you should talk to someone who knows exactly how to give you that. Travel advisors undergo training and gain experience with different policies, customs, and travel
They simplify the complicated process. The No. 1 reason people use a travel agency is because planning a trip can be overwhelming. You have to research the location, book flights, plan ground transportation, secure lodging, discover activities, and find restaurants. If you don’t travel often or are going to a destination you’re unfamiliar with, then tackling everything yourself leaves room for mistakes, stress, and disappointment. A travel advisor makes the entire process as simple as possible so you can enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
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