Dellutri Law Group - June 2022

Dellutri Law Group - June 2022

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JUNE 2022

CLAIM YOUR FREE YO-YO! Growing Together with You

Our Homage to National Yo-Yo Day

I have a question: How come you never see kids playing with yo-yos anymore?!

I’m not totally stuck in the ’70s. I know why kids don’t play with yo-yos anymore: It’s because they all have cell phones tethered to their hands. But that doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it. I think it’s time we bring back the yo-yo and share its magic with a new generation. June 6 is National Yo-Yo Day, so what better time to start than now? In honor of the holiday, our firm has purchased 500 yo-yos imprinted with the Dellutri Law Group logo. They’re here at the office waiting for you! We’re ready to give away yo-yos FOR FREE to the first 500 people who come by the office. Just ask for one at the front desk. These yo-yos are for kids of all ages, so how you use yours is up to you. Want to learn your first trick? Refurbish your skills? Teach the next generation how to really have a good time? We’ve got you. No need to call ahead. Just pop in today to claim your new favorite toy.

When I was younger, I had an entire yo-yo collection, and I played with those suckers all the time. I saved up my pennies, nickels, and dimes — whichever coins I could find or make in tips working at my dad’s gas station — to buy yo-yos at the five-and-dime store. They cost a dollar or two apiece. I probably had 10! My favorites were my cheap Duncans (the premier yo-yo brand back in the ’70s) and my butterfly yo-yo, which was shaped like an hourglass. I spent hours working on tricks. I could walk the dog and throw the sleeper, and do gravity pull, break away, around the world, and even the brain twister. Practicing yo-yo tricks kept me out of trouble … as long as I didn’t practice in the house. If I walked the dog indoors and hit something, oh man, would I catch it! Instead, yo-yoing was an outside sport, especially in the summer when I met up with other serious yo-yoers on the block or at the park and we swapped tricks. (Yes, we were very cool.)

Fun Facts About Yo-Yos: •

In 1985 a yo-yo was taken into space by NASA to test the effects of microgravity. The largest yo-yo ever produced was 256 lbs. and is in the Guinness book of world records. Lastly, check out Shu Takada on social media. He is a true yo-yo six-time world champion.

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If any of our readers have a picture of themselves doing a yo-yo trick that they are not afraid to share, please send it to me at: [email protected]. All the youngsters at the office who think yo- yoing is nerdy need a lesson from us back-in- the-day cool kids who were “yo-yo masters.” Long live the yo-yo!

–Carmen Dellutri

If you know someone who would like a copy of this newsletter, please visit this link to add them to our mailing list: DellutriLawGroup.com/resources/newsletters

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What Is Debt Consolidation?

Debt consolidation happens when an individual makes a decision to re-organize their debt using another form of financing. When the person makes this

psychological reasons and financial reasons of why they want to consolidate their debts.

decision, they should do so with a lower interest rate and the mindset of reducing their overall debt. Consolidating debts is not enough. An individual must also make a conscious choice to eliminate those debts once consolidated; otherwise, they run the risk of falling back into the same cycle of debt. The debt consolidation industry has grown in direct proportion with Americans’

For some people, it is easier to go with a debt consolidation group for emotional reasons than it is to even consider the bankruptcy option. This is unfortunate,

and foolish pride leads many people down the wrong path, leaving people caught in a debt cycle which they may never recover from. Even worse, debt consolidation keeps them in the

debt cycle for much longer than they need to be, which could take years or decades to recover from.

consumer debt loads. Although many people fear bankruptcy and will not even consider it as an option to their debt problems, filing for bankruptcy may be in their best interest, and it needs to be considered before making the decision to consolidate. When considering debt consolidation as an option, individuals need to look at its track record of high costs, unreachable goals, and large failure rate. Likewise, an individual must really think about the

Debt consolidation is an option for some people, and it should definitely be considered by everyone before making the decision to file for bankruptcy protection. But, when looked at with an objective eye, it usually can be quickly discarded as an option when you look at the cost and the failure rate for most debt consolidation plans. The best thing you can do is look at all of your options and figure out what option is best for you.

A Huge Thank-You to Our Referral Partners!

Testimonial Our Clients Say It Best

“From start to finish, Amanda Downing was very helpful, caring, and professional. Anytime I had questions or concerns, I was able to talk with Amanda or someone on her staff in a timely manner. Information provided to me was always straightforward and accurate based on their extensive experience. They were quite accurate in how the process works and what to expect. I would highly recommend Dellutri Law Group. I have nothing but praise for their professionalism.” –M.E. google review , apr . 2022

Last month we had ... • 31 referrals from friends, family, or previous clients • 22 returning clients for a new matter • 15 referrals from other attorneys • 5 referrals from other professionals in town • We sent out 103 referrals to our trusted referral partners

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Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chicken Skewers Inspired by RecipeRunner.com

A CASE DRENCHED IN DISORDER When It Rains, It Pours Some people love the rain. After all, there’s something magical about thunder rolling through the clouds as lightning illuminates a multitude of raindrops. Yet, if the storm is too strong — or even dangerous to be in — people might not enjoy it at all. And that certainly appears to have been the case in 1996 when an Israeli woman in Haifa, Israel, sued a television station because of their incorrect weather report. The weather forecaster, Danny Rup, predicted that the day would be beautiful and sunny, but the weather had a mind of its own and ended up being rainy, dark, and gloomy. Because the woman relied upon the accuracy of the report, she left her home without a raincoat or an umbrella and got caught in the pouring rain. As the old wives’ tale goes, if you get caught in the rain, you’ll catch a cold. Well, the woman claimed that after being exposed to inclement weather, she caught the flu and subsequently was out of work for four days, had to visit the doctor, and spent $38 on medicine. Due to such a daunting experience, she also said that she suffered additional stress from the entire situation. The woman ended up taking Channel 2 news station to a small claims court where she sought financial compensation to cover her sickness and suffering — as well as an apology from the forecaster who wrongly predicted the weather. The woman stated that weather forecasts are legally binding. Many of us would see this as a frivolous lawsuit, but the TV station settled out of court and the woman received $1,000 for her pain and suffering and an apology from Danny Rup. Despite this case, most people take weather predictions from television and radio forecasters with a bit of skepticism thinking that forecasts are just a well-educated guess based on available resources — and it can change on a whim. It’s just the nature of it!

Summer is here, and you know what that means: It’s time to break out the barbecue and meat skewers!

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients. 2. In a reusable freezer bag,

For the Marinade • 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp soy sauce • 2 tbsp chili garlic sauce • 2 tbsp rice vinegar • 3 tbsp honey • Juice of 1 lime • 3/4 tsp smoked paprika • 1/2 tsp salt

combine cubed chicken and all but 1/4 cup of the marinade.

3. Seal bag and massage

marinade into the chicken. Chill in the fridge overnight. 4. The following day, preheat the grill to 400 F. Thread chicken and pineapple onto skewers, adding two cubes of chicken for each cube of pineapple. 5. Grill the skewers for 3–4 minutes per side, brushing with the reserved marinade in the final minutes. 6. Serve over rice or with your favorite barbecue sides!

For the Skewers • 2 lbs chicken

breast, cut into bite-size cubes • 1 small pineapple, cut into 1-inch cubes

What’s the Good News ? “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” JOHN 16:33

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Inside This Issue

1 Do You Remember Yo-Yos? 2 What Is Debt Consolidation? 2 Testimonial 3 Woman Sues Weatherman 3 Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chicken Skewers 4 Father’s Day Gift Guide

It’s Dad’s Day!

6 GIFTS DAD IS SURE TO LOVE

Dad is a very important person in your life! Every year when Father’s Day rolls around, it can be tough to come up with the perfect gift, whether it be for your dad, a new father, your grandfather, or a father figure. Getting creative can be tricky, but this list is sure to help you with an idea or two for all different price ranges! Wallet Why not go really classic and opt for a thoughtful and practical gift? Most men’s wallets see a lot of wear and tear. After all, they’re sat on, toted around in pockets all day long, and sometimes forgotten about and sent through the wash. A new one just may be in order! Massage Gun Massage guns are rising in popularity. To help Dad recover from soreness and injury or just

a tough workout, a massage gun will do the trick! The best part is that they range in price, and you can even purchase one on Amazon! Apple Watch Strap Does the dad you’re celebrating own an Apple Watch? If so, help him customize it with a new Apple Watch strap. You can choose from many materials, colors, and designs so he can blend in or stand out as much as he wants. A New Cooler Men love their coolers — it’s a foolproof Father’s Day gift! Whether Dad loves to camp, fish, tailgate, go to the beach, or barbecue in the backyard, he’s sure to appreciate a new way to store ice, drinks, food, or bait! Tool Bucket Organizer Is your dad a bit of a handyman? Help him get organized and never lose track of his

tools again. Tool bucket organizers come in many forms and, again, can be purchased right online, making your shopping easy! Bluetooth Headphones or Speakers If your father doesn’t have Bluetooth headphones or speakers yet, he’s missing out. The opportunity to jam out wirelessly while working out, cutting the grass, doing hobby work, or just relaxing is effortless with this thoughtful gift.

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Top 10 Reasons Everyone Needs a Comprehensive Power of Attorney

PART II

10. Provides Immediate Access to Critical Assets A well-crafted power of attorney includes provisions that allow the agent to access critical assets, such as the principal’s digital assets or safety deposit box, to continue to pay bills, access funds, etc., in a timely manner. Absent these provisions, court approval will be required before anyone can access these assets. Digital assets are also important because older powers of attorney did not address digital assets, yet more and more individuals have digital accounts. Bonus — Provides Peace of Mind for Everyone Involved Taking the time to sign a power of attorney lessens the burden on family members who would otherwise have to go to court to get authority for performing basic tasks like writing a check or arranging for home health services. Knowing this has been taken care of in advance is of great comfort to families and loved ones. Conclusion This discussion of the Reasons Why Everyone Needs a Comprehensive Power of Attorney could be expanded by many more. Which benefits are most important depends on the situation of the principal and their loved ones. This is why a comprehensive power of attorney is so essential: Nobody can predict exactly which powers will be needed in the future. The planning goal is to have a power of attorney in place that empowers a succession of trustworthy agents to do whatever needs to be done in the future when “life happens.” –Mark Martella, Esq.

Last month, I wrote about the importance of having an effective power of attorney in place and provided the first five reasons you need one. In this month’s article, I give you five more reasons (and a bonus reason) why it is so important for you and your loved ones to have a proper and enforceable power of attorney in place BEFORE “life happens!” 6. Prevents Delays in Asset Protection Planning A comprehensive power of attorney should include all of the powers required to do effective asset protection planning. If the power of attorney does not include a specific power, it can greatly dampen the agent’s ability to complete the planning and could result in thousands of dollars lost. While some powers of attorney seem long, it is necessary to include all of the powers necessary to carry out proper planning. 7. Protects the Agent From Claims of Financial Abuse Comprehensive powers of attorney often allow the agent to make substantial gifts to self or others in order to carry out asset protection planning objectives. Without the power of attorney authorizing this, the agent (often a family member) could be at risk for financial abuse allegations. 8. Allows Agents to Talk to Other Agencies An agent under a power of attorney is often in the position of trying to reconcile bank charges, make arrangements for health care, engage professionals for services to be provided to the principal, and much more. Without a comprehensive power of attorney giving authority to the agent, many companies will refuse to disclose any information or provide services to the incapacitated person. This can result in a great deal of frustration on the part of the family as well as lost time and money. 9. Allows an Agent to Perform Planning and Transactions to Make the Principal Eligible for Public Benefits One could argue that transferring assets from the principal to others in order to make the principal eligible for public benefits — Medicaid and/or non-service-connected Veterans Administration benefits — is not in the best interest of the principal, but rather in the best interest of the transferees. In fact, one reason a comprehensive durable power of attorney is essential in elder law is that a judge may not be willing to authorize a conservator to protect assets for others while enhancing the ward/protected person’s eligibility for public benefits. However, that may have been the wish of the incapacitated person and one that would remain unfulfilled if a power of attorney were not in place.

Stopping America’s BIG 3 Killers!

In my early 30s, my life was probably saved by giving blood. After a donation, I received a letter stating I should see my doctor immediately due to high enzymes in my blood and high blood pressure. I figured it was due to my high-stress legal career. However, my doctor said all I needed to do was lose 50 pounds! In the meantime, he put me on blood pressure medication to keep my pressure under control. Well, unfortunately for me, not only did I not lose the 50 pounds, but I put on another 20. That caused my doctor to prescribe medications to control my high cholesterol and sugar levels telling me I was pre-diabetic . While the pre-diabetes was a wake-up call, it was short lived because I could control my levels with a medication that Publix supplies for free! (I since have figured out why.) I decided to write this article because statistics say that at least a couple of you reading this are just like me . Now, at 58, I have had a true wake-up call due to events occurring around me. First, a college friend with whom I keep in touch on social media, and then a coworker, both around my age, had open-heart surgery. Some of the pictures shared, and the pain of recovery described, were brutal. Then, I just happened to listen to the “Tim Ferriss Show” podcast (Episode #581) on my way to the office and heard his interview of Rich Roll , a middle-aged, former alcoholic, overweight, stressed-out attorney, who had difficulty making it up a flight of stairs. In his 40s, Rich made a decision to change his life and lifestyle based on what he refers to as a “plant-powered” diet and converted his overweight, coach potato, middle-aged body into running Ultra Ironman competitions (that’s double the normal Ironman triathlon competition of swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles, and running 26.22 miles for a total of 320 miles over three days.) After hearing his story, I had to get his book: “Finding Ultra,” which is subtitled, “Rejecting middle age, becoming one of the world’s fittest men, and discovering myself.” This article is not specifically about his book, but about resources for those of you who are just like me, facing the battle of America’s three biggest preventable killers : heart disease/strokes, cancer, and diabetes. As I read Rich’s book, which first came out in 2013, I discovered he was basing his changes on books and information I had gathering dust on my book shelf. One was the “Forks Over Knives” cookbook (the knife is referencing the scalpel). It is based on a must- see documentary of the same name. The other book is “How Not to Die” by Michael Greger, M.D. (Also, for a quick introduction to the medical benefits of a plant-powered diet,

I highly recommend checking out Dr. Greger’s free videos at NutritionFacts.org .) As I said, I had previous wake-up calls, but they did not stick. However, by the time you read this, I will have been living on a plant-powered diet for over three months. As of this writing, I am the lightest I have been since college; I feel better overall, have more energy, eliminated one of my blood pressure medications, never feel hungry, and need to buy new clothes! Look, I am not here to proselytize a vegan lifestyle as I, too, would have laughed (and have) at the idea, as I have had more than my share of Big Macs, fries, pizza, and fresh mozzarella. I also can’t tell you I will never have a fresh mozzarella and prosciutto sandwich with roasted peppers and a cannoli for dessert. What I will tell you is the resources I shared above have profoundly changed my perspective on what I eat and, more importantly, have given me the motivation to change my lifestyle with diet and exercise as a result of knowing I can REVERSE the damage I have done and improve my quality of life, especially as I get older. If you take up my challenge to at least investigate these resources, it will open your eyes as to why the medical community, despite tons of research on the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle, always defaults to medication to mask the problem, instead of fixing the root cause through diet. In sum, if you have a medical history like mine, I think you owe it to yourself, and your loved ones , to at least educate yourself on alternative ways to improve your health and reverse the negative effects of a lifetime of a bad diet, which is not your fault, but a result of the marketing messages created by the food industry and supported by government subsidies and policies not in your best interests. (See the documentary “Fed Up.”) As an estate planning attorney, I work with many investment/retirement advisors who help individuals plan for long-term care. While we can’t predict the future, what if one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce medical costs and care as we become octogenarians was as simple as a healthy diet? Finally, if you are someone who likes to cook as I do, I have discovered amazing recipes I never would have made but for my change of lifestyle. If I have touched at least one of you to take action to change your lifestyle, this article will have been a success. I would love to hear your story. Ala vostra salute! –Mark Martella, Esq.