Beckett Law - November 2018

Beckett Law - November 2018

Beckett Law, LLC Peace of Mind. Not a Piece of Paper TM Estate Planning Law Center, LLC

NOVEMBER 2018

Gratitude in Freedom

Coming from a long line of ministers, dating back to the Mayflower, our family gives thanks before every dinner. We often talk about freedom — which, to the kids, may be seeking freedom from rules, but they’re getting old enough to really understand what freedom means. Freedom means different things to each of us, but freedom of speech seems most important. We can’t ever take it for granted. Our Chinese exchange student is a living reminder that other countries aren’t so lucky — my kids were amazed to find that the Chinese internet is restricted — they can’t even access Google! Thanksgiving dinners are more of the same but on a larger scale as the entire family gets together. We enjoy the usual traditions of watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade and football, but the best part of the day is the Thanksgiving meal and the family stories. They’re gone now, but my Uncle Bobby used to share hilarious stories of his childhood and growing up on Farmington Avenue in Hartford. My great-aunt Louise told tales of tremendous changes she saw in her lifetime ... from delivering baked goods in a horse-drawn

“Freedom means different things to each of us, but freedom of speech seems most important.”

carriage (her father was a baker), to taking the trolley from Hartford to New London, to a world of cars and planes. She had a firsthand view of so many of the country’s major events, sharing stories like the horror of suicides during the Great Depression as men hoped their families could keep going by collecting on life insurance. She shared happy stories, too, about her family, her long career at SNET, her many beaus, and her escapades as a single independent woman in a world where the vast majority of women were married. These days, my mother and siblings and I are the older generations, and our children, the millennials, have changed the tenor of our discussions. I love to hear about my nephew’s passion for his latest project to save the environment, and my niece’s travels all over the world and her love for all the people she meets. All of my mother’s 12 grandchildren bring something unique to the table. I remember one year, my nephew and I got into a heated discussion over something silly. He was absolutely adamant that he was right. Being a Beckett, I couldn’t help but challenge him on it. At 27, he decided the only way to express his

feelings about my opinion was to throw a jelly bean across the table at me. An interesting way to make your point ... but pretty funny too. For the past few years, my mother has been our host in her big house in the woods. I’m looking forward to another great family dinner, catching up with my siblings, nieces, and nephews that I rarely see during the year. As much as I love my mother’s cooking, it’s really all about the time we spend together. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones too.

Perhaps the greatest compliment you can give our firm is a referral. Referrals are our favorite way to grow our firm, as we are very choosy about the clients we work with. We find that our clients tend to refer friends and family who hold similar values, and those are the ones we most enjoy helping. If you know someone who would benefit from our services, please ask them to give us a call.

–Suzann Beckett

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Peace of Mind. Not a Piece of Paper TM

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AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Find FreedomThrough Debt Elimination

Should Last Beyond Thanksgiving

Shame can be devastating; it ruins your confidence and directly impacts your perspective. Why is shame associated with bankruptcy? Bankruptcy has been a government- sanctioned process since 1898 and continues to be a viable way to start over.

The Misconception

It’s perfectly reasonable to feel shame when you’ve done something you know is wrong based on your personal moral code and beliefs. But bankruptcy is not like cheating on a spouse or lying to your parents. There is no shame in freeing yourself from the burden of debt. Bad information abounds and is continually perpetuated even though there is little basis in truth. Bankruptcy is a legal way to get “fresh start” so you can learn from your mistakes and regain financial security.

Taking the time to acknowledge who and what you’re grateful for is a Thanksgiving tradition far more important than turkey or football. It’s the cornerstone of the holiday and the reason we feast together in the first place. But when you really think about it, should expressing our gratitude and appreciation for others be limited to one day every year? Of course not! Why Gratitude Matters As we get older, it’s easy to succumb to negativity and pessimism — “Kids these days,” “The world isn’t what it used to be,” etc. The crabby grandparent and angry old neighbor are archetypal depictions of later life. But these fictions don’t have to be your reality. Recognizing and acknowledging gratitude will help you take stock of the positive aspects of your life and dwell less on unhappy thoughts. Being grateful has also been linked to significant health benefits. According to gratitude expert and author Dr. Robert A. Emmons, “Preliminary findings suggest that those who regularly practice grateful thinking do reap emotional, physical, and interpersonal benefits. Adults who keep gratitude journals on a regular basis exercise more regularly, report fewer illness symptoms, feel better about their lives as a whole, and are more optimistic about the future.” How to Practice Gratitude In the above quotation from Dr. Emmons, he mentions the practice of keeping a gratitude journal. This activity is a great way to start seeing the world with a more positive, appreciative eye. As often as you can, take a few minutes to write down the acts, people, and moments that you’re grateful for. Some will be big, others small — but all will have an impact on your mood and bring a smile to your face. Before you know it, you’ll have an entire book full of good memories and warm feelings. While keeping a journal is great, there are other ways to go about cultivating and expressing gratitude. The easiest one is simply to say “Thanks” whenever you can. It may seem insignificant, but you’d be surprised what a difference it makes. When you approach the world with the perspective that every day is Thanksgiving, it’s only natural to be grateful. We all have moments when we want to curse the world, especially as we get older, and those experiences are perfectly normal. Just as frequently, though, we have moments that are worth celebrating, often with people who are worth appreciating. Which will you think about more?

Pride

Pride is the antithesis of shame, but its effect on bankruptcy is nearly the same. Pride can inhibit people from declaring bankruptcy because they don’t want to admit “defeat.” Bankruptcy is often misconstrued as failure, so sometimes people let their pride stop them from making what could be the best decision for themselves, their family, or their business.

Consensus

People avoid the process, afraid they’ll be branded with a scarlet “B” or will never be able to buy a house, a car — whatever. In reality, bankruptcy is more like hoisting a championship belt than a walk of shame. When you wipe out your debt, you’re free to start over without financial burdens and are often a lower credit risk for the banks that might give you a future loan.

Filing bankruptcy is not a failure! Reach out to us today and let us show you the more positive side of bankruptcy.

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I’ve Saved for Retirement. What Now?

Everywhere you turn lately, there seems to be someone telling you how Americans are “failing” at retirement planning. But what about those who have prepared for the future? What should their primary focus be? Mitigate Losses A good financial planner will help you get the most out of your retirement accounts for your remaining years, but it’s also recommended that you begin to think about what will happen to those plans after you’re gone. Having a plan in place to avoid losses is crucial to the longevity of your wealth. Avoid Probate Most retirement plans will avoid probate provided there is a designated beneficiary. Most people identify a beneficiary when the IRA or employer-sponsored plan (e.g. 401(k)) is established. However, that could have been years or even decades ago. One of the things we do with our C.A.R.E. clients is review the beneficiary designations periodically to ensure they are still appropriate and reflect our clients’ current wishes. Remember, your Will won’t transfer any asset that has a beneficiary designation — for better and for worse, depending on the situation, those assets will pass outside of probate. That means if your beneficiary is your ex-spouse, because you never changed it, that person will inherit even if it’s not what you would have wanted. If your beneficiary is deceased, the retirement account could end up payable to your Estate, which might cause other problems.

If you aren’t one of our C.A.R.E. clients, we strongly recommend that you check your beneficiary designations to be sure they accurately reflect your wishes. The end of the year is a great time for this project.

Enjoy These 6 Autumn Activities

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Throughout November, everyone is eagerly looking forward to Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, but you shouldn’t let the rest of the month slip past you! Enjoy these other fall activities with the whole family. Homemade Caramel Apples Homemade treats are no doubt far better than their store-bought counterparts. Try your hand at making your own caramel apples for the whole family to enjoy. You can also add a number of toppings to liven things up, such as nuts, white or milk chocolate, coconut, sprinkles, or pecans. Backyard Bonfire During these cold months, you may be tempted to stay indoors, but heading outside for a bonfire is a great way to spend time with your family while enjoying the brisk weather. If you have a fire pit in your backyard, now is the perfect time to take advantage of it by bundling up with some hot chocolate and s’mores. Autumn Arrangements It’s time to get crafty! Creating your own fall arrangements will ensure that your home has the seasonal decorations you want. Making beautiful fall flower arrangements for your kitchen table or wreaths for your front door to greet guests will create the desired autumn vibe you’ve been searching for.

quality time with each other while watching some family holiday favorites, like “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” or the Thanksgiving comedy-drama “Pieces of April.”

Home-Cooked Food When autumn rolls around, pie and warm cider may be high on your list of tasty treats you’re eagerly anticipating. This fall, encourage your family to take part in making annual goodies and sharing them with your neighbors. Nothing warms the heart more than receiving a loaf of freshly baked pumpkin bread during these increasingly cold days. Knitted Scarves If you’re handy with knitting needles, now is the season to put them to work. Hand-knitted scarves are great gifts to give throughout the fall and winter, and you can also make it a family activity! Take some time to teach your kids how to knit and crochet to create scarves of their very own.

Movie Night Gather your loved ones in the living room with popcorn, blankets, and a great film. Make the most of your autumn evenings by cozying up and spending

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If you need legal or other assistance, don’t hesitate to give us a call. Even if it is in a practice area we don’t handle, we can help you find an excellent attorney or other professional. We can even call ahead and introduce you, which is better than finding someone through Google. We’re here to help in any way we can.

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Freedom Creates Gratitude How to Give Thanks Year-Round There Is No Shame in Bankruptcy Did You Save for Retirement? Caramel Apples, Knitting, and Bonfires A Historic Veterans Day

A Historic Veterans Day COMMEMORATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WORLD WAR I

This year, Veterans Day took on particular historic significance: Nov. 11, 2018, marked the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended the First World War. Countries around the world commemorated the signing of this peace agreement with moments of silence, centennial ceremonies, and historical exhibits. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day is a celebration of life. It’s a day to honor the power of peace and the living veterans across the globe who have served their countries. This November, take a moment to remember the war that helped shape the international community’s dedication to peace and thank the individuals who served to defend it. The Great War

Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire by a Serbian nationalist provided the spark that would eventually burn down much of Europe. A chain reaction of land disputes, pre-emptive attacks, and strategic alliances brought over 30 countries into World War I. The Great War that ravaged Europe resulted in a devastating loss of life, but from those ashes rose a renewed appreciation for the importance of peace and a global effort to ensure its place in the future. The Restoration of Peace In 1918, Germany surrendered unconditionally, and the armistice ended the fighting at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, though the war did not officially end until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles the following July. An estimated 16 million soldiers and civilians died in just four years, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in modern history.

Veterans Day Originally called Armistice Day, Veterans Day was first observed on Nov. 11, 1919, to honor the one-year anniversary of the armistice, and it became a U.S. holiday in 1938. Today, Veterans Day celebrates veterans who served their country honorably. The U.K., France, Australia, and Canada also commemorate their veterans in November. If you know a veteran, thank them for their service this month.

By 1914, a world war had been years in the making, but the assassination of Archduke Franz

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