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SPRING 2026
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Busting the Top Myths About Estate Planning Planning Isn’t One and Done
“I’m married, so my spouse will just automatically get everything when I’m gone.” “I’ll leave my inheritance to my oldest child, and they will make sure their siblings get their share.” “I did my will 30 years ago, so I’m all set.” As an estate planning attorney, you can bet that I’ve heard my fair share of myths about wills, inheritances, and everything in between. Holiday gatherings or family get-togethers usually involve me getting grilled on the ins and outs of planning. In all my years of doing this, the same misconceptions come up again and again. Conversations about plans and paperwork may not be the most riveting at a party, but knowing the truth behind these false beliefs can save you and your loved ones a lot of stress. Myth 1: Marriage gives automatic authority. When you are married, it may feel like your spouse will automatically have the power to make decisions for you or receive everything after you pass by default. Try sending the partner who is not the main account holder to Verizon to change the cellphone plan, and let me know how that goes. Even married couples need to complete legal paperwork to ensure they have the authority to manage their affairs or receive their designations. There are powers of attorney and medical directives you need to specify. You also need to designate what specifically you want your spouse to receive should you pass away before them. Myth 2: One child can manage it for everyone. “I’m just leaving everything to my responsible kid, and they will divide it amongst their siblings after we’re gone.” When you
do this, you’re gifting everything to one person with the hope they will choose to regift it to the rest of your family. There are many reasons that may not happen, and there may be gift tax consequences if it does. Write your inheritance plan the way you actually want it to go so everyone gets their share without having to beg or harass one person. Myth 3: I don’t need a will. If you included beneficiaries on your retirement accounts, you don’t need a will or estate plan, right? This doesn’t address anything if you become ill, incapacitated, or need medical care. It really only does any good after you’re dead. You also need to consider all your other accounts and assets. Who should get your vehicle, house, personal property, and money? Other assets with limited flexibility only allow you to name one beneficiary. Myth 4: Wills are one and done. If your will is old enough to buy alcohol, it’s probably time for a review. Estate planning is not something you set, forget, and never look at again. Many life events warrant changes to your plan. Even if nothing major has shifted, it’s important to review it regularly. Outdated, inaccurate plans can lead to headaches down the road. Myth 5: There’s plenty of time. “I’ll get to that when I’m older. I have plenty of time.” You never know what will happen in life, and holding off on planning is like rolling the dice. You’re betting on the chance that you will have a lengthy heads-up before a health issue or even death happens. Your will isn’t the happiest topic to discuss, but the sooner you can cross that off your to-do list, the sooner you will be protected. If you are one of our clients, you’re in good shape. However, if it’s been more than three years since we put your plan in place, please feel free to give us a call. We can schedule a review meeting if you want to take another look at your plan. If you don’t have a plan yet or haven’t revisited it in a long time, the new year is a great time to call our office and get started.
Communication Policy
We do our absolute best to give your family our undivided attention when we are working with you. In order to provide the best service and highest quality work to your family, Mr. Rosenbauer does not answer incoming calls, emails, or walk-ins while he is meeting with your family or drafting your estate plan (excluding emergencies). However, we do our best to respond to phone calls and emails promptly. If you need to visit or speak with Mr. Rosenbauer regarding your estate, please call the office to schedule an appointment or a phone conference. That way, we can reserve your spot on our calendar and make sure you receive the attention you deserve.
-Nick Rosenbauer
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SECRETS OF THE SILENT FILM AGE Silver Screen Speed
Contrary to what the surviving films may suggest, people didn’t move faster during the earliest years of cinema. If you watch an old silent film from decades past, it may appear as though someone’s holding down the “fast- forward” button. Movements seem exaggerated and hyper-fast, bombarding our eyes with visuals that are as surreal as they are comical. However, nothing is wrong with your senses. These films were created this way, and the reasons behind their quicker momentum are an intriguing mix of technology, commerce, and the inventive minds of maverick film directors. Fleeting Frames of Fantasy Here’s a fun fact: Whether we watch a film from a century ago or one released last week, we’re not actually seeing real movement on screen. Instead, we’re viewing a succession of images presented rapidly enough to give us the impression that
someone (or something) is in motion. This technique is called frames per second (fps). One of the earliest pioneers in film, the legendary inventor Thomas Edison, determined that movies ideally needed to be shot at 46 fps or more to produce convincing on-screen movement. However, early filmmakers often faced financial restraints with film stock, causing them to shoot many movies at 12 or 16 fps. As technology advanced over the years, the speed of these primitive films increased considerably when played on more modern equipment. The Cinematic Cranking Craze While most view it today as a retired relic of a bygone era, the Bell and Howell 2709 movie camera was all the rage in the 1920s. Considered revolutionary at the time, the hand-cranked machine enabled users to shoot at varying speeds based on the number of cranks per minute. “Ben-Hur:
A Tale of the Christ” (1925) and Charlie Chaplin’s “The Gold Rush” (1925) were among the movies shot with a 2709. The technology allowed directors to order camera operators to either slow down or speed up their cranking for dramatic effect. From there, the movies would hit theaters, where they’d often appear to move even faster . For example, something shot at 16 fps would appear sped up when shown through projectors running at a quicker pace. In fact, theaters loved to project films at very high speeds, as faster films meant quicker showings, enabling them to sell more tickets per day.
KEYS TO RAISING CRITICAL THINKERS PUZZLES AND PATIENCE
In a culture overwhelmed by algorithms and conflicting media sources, critical thinking is more important than ever. This is especially true of young children, many of whom will become our future CEOs, writers, and world leaders. Here are two simple ways parents can help their little ones develop the thinking skills they’ll need to thrive through life’s challenges. Questions kindle thoughtful truths. Whether you’re raising a young child for the first time or are a veteran grandparent who’s
done it all, you can surely recall moments when a little one hit you with a barrage of questions that tested your patience. Few people would fault you for rushing through your answers to satisfy your tiny inquisitor when stressed, but regularly questioning things is a sign of a critical thinker. Whenever possible, take the time to lean into your child’s questions. Instead of simply giving them an answer, ask them their thoughts about the information you’ve provided. Rather than asking them questions that could be answered with a simple yes or no, prompt them with open-ended ones that will strengthen their reasoning skills and prompt them to consider a topic more deeply. Small struggles make stronger minds. As parents, we want to answer our children’s questions and find solutions to all their problems. While some situations
will always require our intervention (such as a medical emergency), it’s sometimes best to allow kids to find their own path to solving dilemmas or discovering answers. Board games, puzzles, building blocks, and even role-playing games with friends can foster stronger thinking skills, so allow your children plenty of time to engage in activities that expand their minds while they’re having fun. When you see your child struggle to figure out how to complete a playtime task, pause before jumping in to help. Giving them room to sort out the issue instead of immediately coming to their aid will help them think and problem-solve more independently. When we practice patience and give children space to explore the world in their own way, we nurture curious, confident thinkers who are ready for whatever life brings.
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TAKE A BREAK
A Sweet Swindle? The Case of the Skimpy Snack
The concept of “shrinkflation” may be gaining ground in light of today’s economy, but it’s nothing new. In fact, nearly a decade ago, the thought of companies reducing the amount of product available in each sale while charging the same price hit one Midwestern man right in his sweet tooth. In 2017, Robert Bratton of Columbus, Missouri, sued the Hershey Co. for $5 million, claiming that the boxes of Reese’s Pieces and Whoppers he regularly purchased were not filled with enough candy. Citing violations of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, he alleged that 29% of the Reese’s Pieces boxes he purchased were empty, while only 59% of the Whoppers packaging contained actual product. His suit further alleged that the candy company unjustly enriched itself by knowingly selling boxed items containing considerable empty space. Aiming to avoid leaving a sour taste in court, Hershey’s contended that at least some empty space is common in most packaged goods to allow for “efficient manufacturing and distribution.” Additionally, the company claimed that consumers are made aware of this necessary space before purchasing its goods, as the contents of Whoppers and Reese’s Pieces boxes “audibly rattle.” Despite his multimillion-dollar complaint, Bratton continued to purchase Hershey products, a move that ultimately led to the unraveling of his lawsuit. In 2018, Judge Nanette K. Laughrey dismissed the case after it was revealed that the plaintiff had purchased Reese’s Pieces and Whoppers boxes by the hundreds over several years, despite knowing the high likelihood that they would not be full. “Mr. Bratton testified that he initially expected the boxes to be full, but at some point … [he] realized that they’re not,” Laughrey said in her ruling. “Although Mr. Bratton claimed to have always clung to his hope that the boxes would be full, he acknowledged that he did not expect the box to be miraculously filled the next time he bought it.” While Bratton’s love for sugary treats is impossible to deny, his efforts to take down a chocolate giant for shortchanging his confectionery conquests were questionable at best.
MOUTHWATERING MINI CHEESECAKES
Ingredients
• 12 oz package vanilla wafers • 16 oz cream cheese, softened • 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 large eggs • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 21 oz can cherry pie filling
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In two 24-cup miniature muffin pans, line each space with a paper liner. 3. Using a food processor or resealable plastic bag, crush vanilla wafers into a fine crumb. 4. Press 1/2 teaspoon of crumbs into each paper liner. 5. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. 6. Fill each miniature muffin liner with this mixture, almost to the top. 7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the cheesecakes are set. 8. Cool completely in the pan. 9. Top each mini cheesecake with about a teaspoon of cherry pie filling before serving. Enjoy!
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Why Most Wills Need Another Look
1
The Fast Motion of Old-Time Movies
2
The Future Belongs to Critical Thinkers
Mouthwatering Mini Cheesecakes
3
A Chocoholic’s Day in Court
A Burglary Blown by Brightness
4
Sunlit Stupidity Foils a Thief BRIGHT DAY, DIM IDEA
The world doesn’t disappear when you close your eyes. You can be arrested for burglary regardless of the time of day you commit the crime. Most reasonable people accept the above facts as undeniable truths long before they reach 22. Unfortunately (or humorously, depending on your point of view), James Blankenship of Willoughby, Ohio, was unaware of that last fact despite being a legal adult for four years. One day during the summer of 2013, he broke into his mother’s house in the neighboring city of Eastlake by removing a window screen. Already on shaky ground with his parent for reasons not specified in media coverage of the incident, he had been banned from the Eastlake premises for at least three months before attempting to enter it without permission. According to statements his mother later gave to the police, her son had no possessions in the home at the time of the incident.
Because Blankenship chose to commit his crime in broad daylight , his mother spotted him and alerted the police. Rather than fleeing the neighborhood when he was discovered, he hid in a crawl space near his mother’s home. A witness reported seeing him run behind a nearby house, which allowed police to locate him easily. According to an official statement on the Eastlake Police’s Facebook page, Blankenship told the arresting officers, “I thought you could only be charged with burglary if you break in during the nighttime.” After pleading guilty to a lesser charge of breaking and entering, Blankenship served 60 days in prison (with 120 days out of his original 180-day sentence suspended) and was fined $100. Perhaps most significantly, he also learned a valuable lesson on how the sun helps people see things during the day.
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CLIENT ALERT: Is that trust verification letter from your bank a scam? Probably not.
If you have a trust and recently received a letter from your bank asking you to verify information, including sensitive details like Social Security numbers, you’re not alone. We’ve seen a significant uptick in these requests, and while your initial instinct may be to assume it’s a scam, most of these letters are legitimate. Why is this happening now? We’re not entirely sure why banks are suddenly sending these requests, especially since they often come out of the blue, sometimes years after you originally set up your trust and opened accounts in the trust’s name. What we’re hearing from the banks is that they’re conducting large-scale compliance checks on their accounts. While the timing may seem random, these verification requests appear to be part
Common Questions Banks Are Asking (and How to Answer Them) The letters typically request information in categories that can be confusing. Here’s what they’re really asking for: • Grantor/Settlor/Trustor Information: This is asking about YOU: the person (or people) who created the trust. Provide your personal name, address, contact information, etc. • Trustee Information: This section asks who is currently responsible for managing the trust. In most cases, that’s still you, the trust maker(s). If you’re unsure who your current trustees are, give us a call. • Beneficiary Information: This asks who the current beneficiaries of the trust are. Unless you have a specific type of irrevocable trust, that’s still you, the trust maker(s). • Trust Type: They want to know if your trust is revocable or irrevocable. Answer based on the type of trust you have (most of our clients have revocable living trusts). • SSN/EIN/Tax ID for the Trust: Your revocable living trust uses YOUR Social Security number as its tax ID. If it’s a joint trust for married couples, you may need to provide both spouses’ SSNs.
of routine internal audits. What should you do?
We recommend taking these steps to protect yourself while complying with the bank’s request: 1. Don’t call the number on the letter right away. Instead, use a number you know is legitimate, like the one on the back of your debit or credit card, to contact your bank and verify the request. 2. Don’t go to a branch in person. Bank staff at local branches typically can’t help with trust account matters and will just direct you to call the number on the letter anyway. 3. Once you’ve confirmed it’s legitimate, provide the information as requested. These verification requests are often compliance- related and important to complete.
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CLIENT ALERT: Home Title Theft Should you be worried?
• Step 4: They submit the forged deed to the county Recorder’s Office for recording. • Step 5: Once the document is recorded and they appear as the registered owner, they immediately borrow money using your property as collateral. • Step 6: They disappear with the loan money, leaving you to discover the problem only after receiving notices about loans in default and threats of foreclosure on your property. What can you do about it? You may have heard about paid title defense or title lock services advertised on the radio. At this point, we don’t have enough experience with these services. However, county Recorder’s Offices now offer free property alerts that will notify you if any document is submitted relating to your property. This service is provided directly by the county Recorder’s Office (the government office that handles land records and real estate transactions). Good news for our clients: All the counties surrounding our office currently offer this free service, including Butler, Warren, Hamilton, Clermont, Montgomery, Greene, Preble, Brown, and Clinton Counties, as well as many others throughout Ohio and the rest of the United States. How to Sign Up for Free Property Alerts 1. Search online for the Recorder’s Office in the county where you own real estate (for example, “Butler County, Ohio Recorder’s Office”). 2. Go to the Recorder’s Office main website. 3. Look for a section or page that allows you to sign up to receive free property alerts. Depending on your county, this may include registering for what’s called a “fraud sleuth account.” 4. If you later receive any alerts, contact the county immediately and ask them for a copy of whatever filing was submitted so you can review it to confirm whether it’s legitimate. Important reminder: If you purchase a new property in the future, remember to register that new property for fraud alerts as well.
If you’ve heard the alarming radio commercials about home title theft, you’re not alone. We’ve received numerous questions from clients asking whether they should be concerned and if they need to pay for title protection services. While we can’t speak to how common this scam actually is (we haven’t personally encountered anyone who has experienced it), we can explain what the scam involves and point you toward a free tool that can help protect you. How does the scam work? The home title theft scam exploits publicly available land records. Here’s the typical process: • Step 1: The criminal accesses your current deed online for free. (Note: land records have always been public and free to access, but you used to have to go to the county Recorder’s Office in person. Now most counties have these records available online.) • Step 2: They prepare a new deed transferring your property from you to themselves. • Step 3: They falsify your signature on the deed. We suspect criminals are obtaining fake IDs to impersonate property owners and using them to convince unsuspecting notaries to notarize the fraudulent documents.
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