Check out our November newsletter!
t
Gratitude and Grief Embracing Love and Loss on Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it might be the only day of the year you can expect to have your family in one place. Christmas is hit or miss, with people scattered or dropping in on different days. With gifts to lug around, many people also prefer to spend Christmas at home. But people all tend to gravitate toward the same spot for Thanksgiving, and you can usually count on a big gathering with all of the people you love. Since we’re the ones who moved away, our family travels to Jacksonville every year for the holiday. It’s a long drive, but no direct flights to Jacksonville exist. After a layover in Atlanta or drive to the Tampa airport, you realize you could have road-tripped it. At this point, the car ride is part of the tradition. But we’re careful always to make the return trip a day early. The one year we drove home on Sunday, traffic turned a six-hour drive into a 10-hour one. Our families live in the same small town, and we can visit my and Jamie’s parents. It’s so much fun to watch diets go out the window. My sister-in-law’s macaroni and cheese is my and one of the kids’ all-time favorites. We always look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas meals because of her endlessly gooey, cheesy side dish. I’m not always big on leftovers, but the mac and cheese is one I always pack up. Unfortunately, this year will be different from most. This Thanksgiving is the first we’ll celebrate since Jamie’s father, Paul, passed away. As many of you know, we miss the people we’ve loved and lost more during the holiday season. It will be very strange, and probably emotional, to not have Paul with us at the table for Thanksgiving dinner or give the blessing before the meal.
imagined. This probably will be, too. But I also suspect it will be bittersweet and hope we’ll be able to reminisce and laugh in his memory. Some will struggle this Thanksgiving for other reasons. It will be our second holiday season since Hurricane Ian upended many lives. So many
were displaced, my family included. We are incredibly grateful to be back in our home now and look forward to celebrating there this year. But I know not everyone is so fortunate, and those who lost a loved one in the disaster will have a particularly difficult time over the holidays. Hurricane Ian and the loss of my father-in-law have given me a new appreciation for what I have. More than ever before, I’m incredibly thankful for shelter and safety and even more grateful to have my family. For better or worse, the past year has reminded us that none of us will be here forever. So, we must make the most of our time together now.
–Mike Hill
We’ll get through it together, but I anticipate it won’t be easy. I thought Paul’s funeral would be tough, but it was still harder than I
1 (239) 265-9779
NOVEMBER 2023
You Could Get Arrested for What?! 3 Bizarre Laws That Still Exist
Since the beginning of time, cities, states, countries, and other groups
to earn their own money, so how could this simple tradition be considered illegal? In many cities nationwide, lemonade stands are treated like any other small business — if your child is making money by selling food or beverages, they must abide by food safety regulations and have a business permit or license. Only 14 states don’t
have developed laws to provide structure for their citizens. Many laws of the past are now completely outdated, but they’re still technically legitimate laws! Here are three of the oddest laws still on the books today.
require permits for kids to set up lemonade stands! Fortunetelling is only allowed in health care and religious facilities.
Forks and knives are prohibited! In 1961, Gainesville, Georgia, passed a law that made eating fried chicken with anything other than your hands illegal. The ordinance was a publicity stunt to advertise Gainesville as the poultry capital of the world. Although the rule isn’t taken literally and is hardly enforced, 91-year-old Ginny Dietrick received a citation for eating fried chicken with a fork and knife in 2009. The practical joke made everyone in the restaurant, including Ginny, laugh and play along. Ginny’s punishment for breaking the law was that she could not leave her table until she mastered the proper way of eating Southern fried chicken. You must have a permit to set up a lemonade stand. At least once in your life, you’ve either seen or operated a lemonade stand. This longstanding rite of passage teaches kids the value of working hard
Many cities worldwide have small businesses that provide services in fortunetelling, astrology, palm readings, tarot cards, evil spirit removal, and other New Age practices. In New Orleans, however, it’s illegal for a business to provide these kinds of services unless you’re in a health care profession or a place of religious worship. Remember, laws are still laws, no matter how silly they are, so do some research online to see if your city has any bizarre mandates you could be breaking right now!
a nv a s A w a
Reawaken Your Creative Side in Retirement
Many of us put away our art supplies and musical instruments for the last time during grade school. Most don’t work in creative fields, and raising children while building a nest egg often leaves no time for hobbies. But while you might have spent most of your life as a banker, teacher, engineer, or medical professional, it’s never too late to let your creative side flourish. Retirement is the perfect time to find your inner artist. With more time and fewer responsibilities, many develop creative hobbies later in life. They might finally sit down to write a novel or find they love the quiet and intricate work of crocheting. Consider what you’ve always wanted to learn or told yourself you would do if you had the time. Now, you can!
Too many shut themselves from new experiences by saying they’re “too old.” But you can learn and create at any age. World- famous painter Pablo Picasso created 347 engravings in a year when he was 87. While few of us will ever be that accomplished or prolific, his work proves that age need not stifle your creative impulses. However, developing a creative passion out of nowhere can be tricky. If it has been a long time since you let your artistic side show, consider looking back to activities you enjoyed as a child. There’s no guarantee you’ll still love drawing or playing trombone, but it can be a great place to start. Others try a bit of everything to discover what they find most inspiring. Taking a dancing, painting, sculpting, or jewelry- making class is a low-commitment
way to learn what you enjoy. You might also expand your definition of creativity. Cooking, photography, and journaling all count! You can also uncover your passions by giving yourself time to sit alone and daydream. Experts say creativity isn’t something you’re born with but a habit you develop over time. It starts by opening yourself up to new ideas and actively engaging with your thoughts without television, your telephone, or company around. Give yourself space and solitude. People tend to flourish in retirement when they have a purpose and something to fill their days. So, do yourself a favor and begin to explore. You might be surprised by what you discover from within.
2
floridaestateplanning.com
The Perils of a Pay-on-Death Account Don’t Make This Mistake!
Has someone encouraged you to create a pay-on-death bank account? You should urgently rethink that advice. Craig Hersch explains the problems such a designation can cause in this abridged blog post. Read his full thoughts at FloridaEstatePlanning.com/pay-on-death-fail. Not to disparage bank employees, but tellers, managers, and other
accounts. Absent such a document, the account funds may not be accessed. The family’s choice would be to head to guardianship court, which takes time and is expensive. Further, the financial institution’s responsibility is to pay the account to the beneficiaries upon demand at the account owner’s death. If the account owner has a surviving spouse who would have rights to the account, that controversy could end up in litigation. So could others. In one case, a client named her son as a POD beneficiary. At the time of the client’s death, the son was undergoing a divorce. The account sums ended up included in alimony calculations. The frustrating aspect of this case was that the client had a revocable trust explicitly drafted to protect the son’s inheritance from a divorcing spouse. All of these problems may be alleviated through a revocable trust. You remain in control when you create a revocable trust and transfer your assets. When you become incapacitated, the person or institution you’ve named to serve as your
bankers have told many of my clients to designate their accounts as “Pay-on-Death” to their beneficiaries rather than spending the money to create a revocable living trust. While a Pay-on-Death (POD) account will generally avoid the probate process, those accounts are not ideal. PODs may name a single or multiple parties, but a beneficiary differs from an account signatory. Generally speaking, if the account owner becomes incapacitated, the POD beneficiaries cannot access the account funds for the account owner’s benefit. Hopefully, the account owner has a validly drawn, current durable power of attorney to enable the agent named in that document to handle POD
successor trustee steps in seamlessly to handle your financial affairs. Upon your death, the assets in the trust avoid the probate process.
Ta s t
TAKE A BREAK!
Just like Grandma made!
INGREDIENTS
• • •
2 9-inch unbaked pie crusts
• • •
3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
6 cups thinly sliced peeled apples
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp butter
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 425 F. 2. Place 1 pie crust in a 9-inch pie plate.
3. In a large bowl, combine apples, cinnamon, sugar, and flour. 4. Spoon mixture into pastry-lined pie plate and dot with butter. 5. Cut remaining crust into 1/2-inch-wide strips, then arrange strips in a lattice design over top of pie. 6. Trim, seal, and flute edges. 7. Bake for 35 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.
ANSWER ON TOP OF PAGE 4
3
(239) 265-9779
9100 College Pointe Court Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 265-9779
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
INSIDE this issue
SUDOKU ANSWER
Why This Year’s Thanksgiving Is Bittersweet PAGE 1 You Need a Permit for a Lemonade Stand? PAGE 2 Rediscover Your Creative Self PAGE 2 A Common Estate Planning Fail PAGE 3 Tasty Apple Pie PAGE 3 Pack These 4 Items for the Best In-Flight Experience PAGE 4
The best compliments we receive are your referrals. When you refer us to your loved ones, we do all we can to exceed expectations.
l e v a t e
o
n v e n t i o
When preparing for your flight, it’s essential to pack the basics, such as clothing, medications, toiletries, and your travel documents. However, there are some surprising and often overlooked items that can greatly enhance your flying experience. These unexpected additions in your carry-on can make your air travel experience more comfortable, enjoyable, and stress-free. Electrolytes Flying is dehydrating! Because airplane cabins are kept at a lower humidity level, your body dehydrates quicker than normal. To help keep your body hydrated without a dozen trips to the bathroom over the course of your flight, pack some electrolyte packets to mix into your water. Speaking of water, pack an empty water bottle with you, and after passing through security, you can fill it up at a water fountain! Noise-Canceling Headphones Flights can be noisy. You can never predict crying babies, loud talkers, or hyper kids traveling alongside you. Noise-canceling headphones can provide a peaceful oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of the airplane. They block out ambient noise and allow you to relax, listen to music, or enjoy in-flight entertainment without any distractions.
Compression Socks Wearing compression socks on an airplane is crucial for maintaining healthy circulation during long flights. Prolonged periods of sitting can lead to blood pooling
in your legs, causing swelling, poor circulation, and even deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Compression socks apply gentle pressure to your legs, reducing discomfort and circulation complications. Portable Charger While you may have remembered to pack your plug-in phone charger, bringing along a portable charger and power bank is a lifesaver! Sometimes, finding an available charging station in a crowded airport can be tricky. But having a backup power source on the plane makes it possible to keep your devices charged throughout your journey! When packing for your next flight, don’t forget to include these trip- saving items in your carry-on for a more pleasant travel experience — you’ll be glad you did!
4 floridaestateplanning.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator