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JAN/FEB 2025
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Estate Planning as an Act of Love HOW TO SHOW LOVE THROUGH THOUGHTFUL PREPARATION There is an undeniable stigma attached to estate planning — it is frequently viewed through a lens of loss and grief. However, shifting our perspective reveals a different narrative — that estate planning is not about anticipating death but ensuring life’s achievements and values continue to protect and provide for our loved ones after we are gone. Creating a Purposely Designed Organized Plan TM (PDOP) is more than filling out templates online or drafting legal documents; it is about crafting a comprehensive road map that safeguards your wishes and provides for your family in times of need — whether in disability or death. The right estate plan goes beyond mere asset distribution. It involves detailed instructions for managing your affairs efficiently, ensuring your family easily navigates potentially tough times. What says “I love you” more than that? When you establish clear directives on asset distribution and care provisions, you completely remove the burden of decision-making from your family during emotionally challenging times. This thoughtfulness prevents disputes and preserves harmony among your loved ones. We need to recognize that proper estate planning protects your family’s future, ensuring your financial legacy supports them long after you are gone. It is about making thoughtful choices today that furnish security tomorrow. Knowing you have left no stone unturned in organizing your estate brings immense peace of mind — not just to you but to everyone involved. It assures your family that everything is taken care of, allowing them to focus on supporting each other rather than untangling legal complexities. We want to offer this gift of love to all of our clients and their families, which is why we embrace estate planning technology, simplifying the process for everyone. Our state-of-the-art digital platform, Inheralink ® , organizes and streamlines the administration of our client’s estate plan. It ensures the client’s PDOP works precisely as intended when needed most. Inheralink builds a
wealth report showing the client what they own and how they own it. Inheralink tracks and verifies ownership transfers and beneficiary designations changes, ensuring the ownership of assets and designated beneficiaries all align with the client’s carefully crafted estate plan. With its In Case of Emergency and document Vault features, Inheralink is a state-of-the-art collaborative tool to assist clients and their loved ones throughout the estate planning process. The platform’s collaboration features allow advisors, family, successors trustees, and guardians to all stay informed with efficient access to crucial information to assist in caring for the client during disability and the client’s family after death. If you are an advisor, encouraging your clients to consider thoughtful and heartfelt estate planning is not just good practice but imparting a vital life lesson. You frame estate planning as a loving, proactive measure rather than a reactive or grim task. As we stride into February and the rest of 2025, let us transform your approach to estate planning. Let it be driven by love, guided by meticulous care, and executed with precision, ensuring your legacy is as much about the wealth you leave behind as the love and peace of mind it fosters. Remember, estate planning is not just preparing for the end but ensuring a continuation — a continuation of care, protection, and love for those who mean the most to us. If you or someone you know needs guidance on creating a PDOP, my team and I are here to help. Let us make this act of love a priority this year. – Brian Eagle
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NEW YEAR, NEW INTENTIONS Rethinking ‘Big Goals’ for Lasting Change
ADOPT AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE. While we have so many things we could complain about, think about everything we have to be thankful for. The next time you start to complain about your job, be grateful you have one. Of course, gratitude isn’t always easy, but is it supposed to be? Even the slightest effort to adopt this mindset will change your life forever. EMBRACE WHAT’S MEANINGFUL TO YOU. There’s no better time than the present to lean into what matters most to you. Tell someone you love them the moment you feel it, apologize quickly, and hug them often. The time is now; we don’t know how long we have on this Earth. These resolutions aren’t exactly fitness-focused, but they center on self- improvement for the long game. Be intentional with your resolutions. Remember, if you don’t put much thought into them, you will just as easily neglect them. Let’s be intentional in 2025!
Have you created your New Year’s resolutions yet? If so, do you feel your goals are attainable? And how does that list serve you?
Let’s be honest about our New Year’s resolutions. Based on our 2024 goals, we should all be in the best shape of our lives. We would have beaten our smoking habit, have zero debt, and knocked two destinations off our bucket list by now! Unfortunately, many of us deviate from the commitments we set for ourselves in January. If you can truthfully say your life is better now than last year, then celebrate to your heart’s content. However, if your life hasn’t changed much since last year, it may be worthwhile to revisit your list and consider the following additions. MAKE AN IMPACT ON SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE. We’ve all got “stuff” going on in our lives, but maybe it’s time to pause and think about how to make someone else’s day. It can be as small as smiling at a stranger at the grocery store or sending “thinking of you” cards to friends and family. You’ll be surprised how doing for others will impact your own life.
HOW POTENTIAL TAX CODE CHANGES IN 2025 COULD IMPACT YOUR ESTATE PLAN Will the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Be Extended?
tax deductions at $10,000, doubling standard deductions, ultimately lowering tax burdens for individuals and businesses, and doubling the estate tax exemption. But as these provisions are set to expire on Dec. 31, 2025, Congress must decide what to do next: extend, reform, or expire .
might opt for a short-term extension of the TCJA provisions. This approach would provide immediate relief from potential tax hikes and prolong future tax policy uncertainty. • Expiration: The least likely but most drastic scenario would be the complete expiration of the TCJA provisions, reverting tax codes to pre-2017 statuses. This outcome would introduce significant uncertainty and potentially higher tax liabilities. HOW THIS AFFECTS YOUR ESTATE PLANNING Understanding these potential outcomes is vital for crafting a resilient estate plan. Whether you are considering transferring business ownership or planning for future generations, knowing how the tax landscape could change helps you make informed, strategic decisions. As we look forward to 2025, our team remains dedicated to providing strategic guidance informed by the latest tax law developments. We encourage anyone concerned about how these changes might affect their estate plans to seek personalized advice.
POTENTIAL SCENARIOS FOR THE TCJA
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Long-term Extension: Since the Republicans retained control of Congress, there is a strong chance they will use the
A critical topic on the minds of many is the potential changes to the tax code, particularly with
reconciliation process to extend the TCJA. This extension would likely continue the reduced corporate tax rates, the enhanced estate tax exemption, and other elements of the TCJA. • Bipartisan Reform: If Congress is conflicted, a bipartisan agreement where both parties find a middle ground might occur. This scenario could result in a long-term, possibly permanent, tax policy that might modify existing provisions to reflect the current economic landscape and bipartisan priorities. • Short-term Extension: If comprehensive tax reform proves too challenging, Congress
the looming expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017. However, because Republicans won the House and Senate, it may be extended. Since we do not know yet, here is what you need to know about the possible future of your taxes and how it might affect your estate planning.
UNDERSTAND THE TCJA’S IMPACT The TCJA, enacted in December 2017,
represented the most significant overhaul of the U.S. tax code in almost three decades. The most notable changes included reducing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, capping state and local
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Snack Smart HEALTHY MUNCHIES EASE TRAVEL WITH KIDS
BEGINNINGS BLANKETS CARNATION CAPRICORN GARNET HEALTHY ICICLE PENGUIN PLANNING RESOLUTION SNOWBOARD SOUPY
“I’m hungry” may be the second most common complaint parents hear when traveling with kids — right behind, “Are we there yet?”
Children need to eat often because they have small stomachs and high energy needs. Running on empty can cause irritability and fatigue, tempting many parents to resort to fast-food drive-thrus. A healthier, thriftier route may be to invest time upfront in planning and preparing snacks to keep your kids happy. Some snacks can occupy preschoolers with counting, sorting pieces, or assembling their own treats. For example, preschoolers handed a bag of rainbow-colored Goldfish crackers may be tempted to sort and count by color. Kids can create mini-sandwiches from homemade “lunchable” bags with high-fiber crackers, Artisana nut-butter packets, lean deli meats, and cheese. “Ants on a log” is another entertaining snack: Stuff celery sticks with nut butter, hummus, or cream cheese and line the filling with raisins or nuts. The most satisfying, energizing snacks combine protein, healthy fat, and fiber. Making your own trail mix enables you to select high-fiber, low-sugar ingredients such as nuts, dried fruit, whole-grain pretzels, and unsweetened dry cereal. Legume-based chips such as Harvest Snaps or Hippeas chickpea snacks can add novelty. If you’re short of time, consider assembling some ready-to-grab items such as RX Bars with Nut Butter, high-protein Chomps meat sticks, dried fruit, rice cakes, and portable tubes of low-fat yogurt. Fresh fruit and handheld cheese sticks or Babybel mini-snacks are spill-proof protein sources. A few hard-boiled eggs, perhaps with a little hot sauce or ketchup, can calm hunger. And for youngsters in a growth spurt, some rolled-up slices of deli meat with cheese can satisfy their boundless appetites. Finding the right container or bag can make portable snacks easier to manage. If you have room among your belongings for a small cooler, keep yogurt, fresh veggies, and other perishables handy. A small, inexpensive tackle box or zippered tote can be another space-saving solution. Once all the preparations are behind you, you can relax knowing your kids will be well-nourished and ready to enjoy the trip!
INGREDIENTS
• 2 1/2 lbs skinless, bone-in chicken thighs • 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp pepper • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 large onion, chopped • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 10 cups chicken broth • 4 celery ribs, chopped
• 4 medium carrots, chopped • 2 bay leaves • 1 tsp dried thyme • 3 cups uncooked egg noodles (about 8 oz) • 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley • 1 tbsp lemon juice
DIRECTIONS
1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. In an 8-quart stockpot over medium-high heat, add oil and chicken and cook until golden brown, 3–4 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside. 2. Add onion to drippings; cook over medium-high heat for 4–5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add broth and bring to a boil. Return chicken to pot. Add celery, carrots, bay leaves, and thyme. Reduce heat and cover; simmer until chicken is tender, 25–30 minutes. 3. Turn off heat. Remove chicken to a plate. Add noodles and let stand, covered, until noodles are tender, 20–22 minutes. 4. Shred chicken meat into bite-size pieces, and return to pot. Stir in parsley and lemon juice, and discard bay leaves.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Why an Estate Plan Is the Ultimate Act of Love This February Meaningful Mindsets for 2025 Resolutions Estate Planning in the Wake of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Smart Snacks for Stress-Free Family Travel One-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup A Bit of History and Science on New Year’s Resolutions
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Every January, millions worldwide embrace the tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions. But did you know this custom dates back 4,000 years? The ancient Babylonians were the pioneers, marking the new year with promises to their gods during the Akitu festival. Fast-forward to 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar proclaimed Jan. 1 as the beginning of the year, and Romans celebrated by promising good conduct, laying the groundwork for our modern resolutions. So, while we have been practicing resolutions for thousands of years, why do we still have so much trouble achieving them? Discover how common resolution failure is and science-backed tips to ensure your 2025 goals actually come true. WHY RESOLUTIONS FADE Modern-day research reveals a stark reality: Though nearly half of Americans make resolutions, the average time we work on these resolutions before giving up is just 3.74 months. Enthusiasm typically wanes by April, whether it be fitness aspirations or financial goals, and we lose our steam fairly quickly. SMALL STEPS TO BIG SUCCESS So, how can we break the cycle of abandoned resolutions? The key is in the approach. Instead of vast, vague goals, breaking them down into
tangible, manageable steps can lead to more sustainable change. These small victories accumulate, making the end goal seem less daunting and more achievable. THE POWER OF POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT Another crucial strategy is to celebrate your progress, no matter how small. Rewarding yourself for meeting mini-milestones can significantly boost your morale. This method helps form positive associations with your goals, making the journey enjoyable rather than burdensome. STRENGTH IN NUMBERS Lastly, do not underestimate the power of a support system. Partnering with someone who shares your resolution — or can at least offer moral support — creates a sense of accountability. Whether it is a weekly check-in or a shared activity, having someone to share the journey with can make all the difference in staying motivated. As we enter 2025, let us transform our approach to New Year’s resolutions. By setting realistic goals, celebrating small successes, and relying on others, we can turn our fleeting resolutions into lasting changes. We wish you a year of meaningful achievement and personal growth!
THE EVOLUTION OF NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
MASTER RESOLUTIONS WITH ANCIENT
WISDOM AND MODERN STRATEGIES
– Brian Eagle
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