Hartwig Law Firm - January/February 2022

Hartwig Law Firm - January/February 2022

THE ADVISOR

JANUAR

Y/FEBRU

ARY 202

We’re Expanding!

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I kept my ears and eyes open looking for opportunities in disability law, and as soon as I had the chance, I got an interview with John Keefe and Keefe Disability Law. I worked there for six years and focused solely on Social

Security disability law. This is where I truly learned everything I know now. During my tenure, John became a true mentor, and I tried my best to follow in his footsteps. I wanted to follow a similar path as John and have passion for my job but still reserve plenty of time for my family. After learning everything I could about Social Security and how to operate a law firm, I decided to set out on my own. That was seven years ago, and Hartwig Law Firm has been going strong ever since. John and I have continued to stay close over the years, and now that he is in his 70s, he’s ready for retirement. He approached me about purchasing his firm, and we officially closed during the week of Thanksgiving. You’re probably wondering what this new acquisition means for you. We will be making some changes, but they will all be positive as we try to blend the two firms. Nothing at Hartwig Law Firm will change. We’ll still have the same great team ready to help you with your needs; we’re simply growing and adding a few extra players to our team so we can help even more people. We’re incredibly passionate about assisting those people we have always helped, and now we can serve even more people who are struggling with the system. The look and name you see in the mail might change, but you can be confident you’ll still receive the same level of service when working with our team. It’s been an exciting few months, and we’re ecstatic to share this news with everyone. If you have any questions about any changes to the firm, or if you’re in need of help navigating the Social Security disability system, give us a call. We’ll be more than happy to assist you with your needs.

EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE OUR RECENT ACQUISITION

Hartwig Law Firm is growing, and we couldn’t be more excited! We spent the last few months of 2021 purchasing another disability practice that will allow us to serve more clients than ever before. This isn’t just any old disability practice that we purchased, though. It’s actually the former practice of my mentor, John Keefe. You might be familiar with Keefe Disability Law since their logo is bright lime green and hard to miss. I never would have thought this is where my journey would take me, but here we are. During law school, one of my internships was with Greater Boston Legal Services in their health and disability unit. This would end up being one of the best internships I ever had. When we do full-time internships in law school, we essentially rotate interning at a firm for 11 weeks and then going to school for 11 weeks throughout the year. With GBLS, I quickly developed a passion for helping others go through the Social Security disability process. So, after graduating from law school, I was ready to tackle the legal world head-on, but I could not find any jobs in disability law. Instead, I did residential real estate law right out of law school, handling the legal end of real estate closings. I attended all of the closings to ensure that the necessary documents were in order. I worked with lenders and buyers but really did not enjoy the job. I felt like this was not what I went to law school for.

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Hartwig Law Firm | (508) 732-8989

The Silent Productivity Killer SOCIAL JET LAG: Maybe it’s not a case of the Mondays after all. Social jet lag, the discrepancy between sleep on a workday and sleep on a weekend, is a real thing! Your chronotype — your body’s natural sleep and wake preferences — is deeply impacted when you switch up your schedule on a whim. The hustle and bustle of your busy weekends may be making your job at the office more difficult or even compromising the accuracy of your work. What can be done?

As a general rule, to avoid social jet lag, aim for at least seven hours of sleep within your normal sleep-wake window.

While you may think that one way to combat social jet lag is by catching up on sleep, it may be a stopgap fix, but it certainly does not cure the problem. Instead, you must make changes in your daily routine so that your circadian rhythm, your internal clock that keeps your sleep- wake cycle normalized, is aligned and your sleep deprivation low. You can do this by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. If the temptation to sleep in on the days you don’t have to be at the office takes over, only allow yourself to sleep in an extra hour. This ensures that your circadian clock isn’t thrown off too much. But, if you

can resist the urge to sleep in and keep your sleep-wake schedule on track, an afternoon nap is a quick way to catch some z’s.

Because our chronotypes are mostly set in stone, it’s easier to work with them than against them. But, if you must shift it, do so gradually to allow your body time to catch up. And, most importantly, prioritize sleep. Without it, showing up at work on Monday morning with social jet lag can make it extremely difficult to get going.

WHO IS JOHN KEEFE? A TRUE MENTOR AND FRIEND

had a successful business as a consulting civil engineer with a firm of architects and engineers who had a long pedigree of designing buildings for many colleges across the country, including Notre Dame and Boston College. When his father was in his 50s, he developed a severe case of rheumatoid arthritis. John watched him struggle to continue working through the pain, forcing him to confront the limits that the disease imposed on him. John also witnessed firsthand the financial struggles from loss of income when his father could no longer work. In 1970, John graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College where he received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He then graduated from Boston College Law School in 1974, receiving his Juris Doctor. During

law school, John married Patricia Bruni from Torrington, Connecticut. They started their family with the arrival of Patricia Mary one week before the bar exam. John and Patti’s doctor told them it was probable that Patti wouldn’t be able to have other children. But later, when it turned out the doctor was wrong, both Patti and John saw each new child as a unique and special gift. They are very grateful to have their lives enriched by six sons and five daughters. Their children are now aged 46 to 26 and all have graduated from college. John changed his practice to Social Security disability in 1994 and has been providing his services ever since. Now, John is finally ready to retire, and we helped him out by purchasing his practice. I look forward to continuing the good work he has already done and helping even more people in need.

If you read the cover for this month’s newsletter, you learned that we have purchased Keefe Disability Law and are expanding our firm. John Keefe has played an important role in my life, and I wanted to share a little more about my mentor and good friend.

John grew up in the West Roxbury section of Boston as 1 of 6 children. John’s father

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Hartwig Law Firm | (508) 732-8989

Vegan Red Velvet Cake

INGREDIENTS

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2 cups flour

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1 cup soy milk

1 cup white granulated sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup canola oil 1 tbsp distilled white vinegar 1 tsp red food coloring (gel works best)

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1 tsp baking soda

If you become disabled and are no longer able to work, here are the disability claim options available. Some are more beneficial than others. The 3 Options Available If You Become Disabled Not Filing a Claim The first option is not filing a Social Security claim at all. You can pay all the expenses yourself and deal with losing your wages while you are out of work, then return to work whenever you are able. Surprisingly, many people see this as a viable option. They see it as being “independent” and not becoming a “burden to society.” The reality is that this is not true at all. They are simply harming themselves unnecessarily. Filing a claim for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits is basically an insurance claim. You paid into the system and are “insured“ for benefits. You are now making a claim on that policy. Filing the Claim Yourself Instead of doing nothing, you can also file the claim yourself and hope the Social Security Administration makes a fair and reasonable “favorable decision” with benefits that permit you to live and support your family. There is no guarantee your claim will be approved. We call this the “Pay and Pray Option” because you’ve paid into Social Security all of these years. Then you pray that the nice people at the SSA recognize this and give you everything you’re entitled to without any trouble. This is how the system would work in a perfect world, but in reality, this is rarely the case. Hiring the Best Possible Help The last and best option is to hire an experienced attorney who has a strong focus on Social Security disability law to file or appeal for you and fight for your rights. It’s essential that you get an experienced attorney who specializes in Social Security disability law because not only do we practice a great deal of Social Security disability law, but we also study the controlling laws very carefully. We understand the ins and outs of filing claims and have in-depth knowledge of how the SSA works. We know how to navigate the obstacles to maximize your chances of winning your case.

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder 1 tbsp lemon juice

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Frosting of choice

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease baking pans of choice. Line bottoms with parchment paper. (Two 8-inch round pans work best.) 2. In a large bowl, sift flour and mix in sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. 3. In a small bowl, combine lemon juice and soy milk. Leave the mixture to sit for about a minute so it can curdle into buttermilk. 4. Add milk mixture, vanilla, oil, vinegar, and food coloring to the flour mixture, stirring well to break up large clumps. 5. Pour batter into pans and bake for 20 minutes. 6. Cool cakes completely before frosting with icing of choice. Inspired by LovingItVegan.com

Answer on Page 4

For more information or to see if you qualify for Social Security disability, call us today at (508) 732-8989 .

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Hartwig Law Firm | (508) 732-8989

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

385 Court St., Suite 210 Plymouth, MA 02360 (508) 732-8989 www.HartwigLawFirm.com

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We’re Expanding!

SHARE YOUR STORY! Do you want to share a story about your disability claim, experience with Hartwig Law Firm, or just a funny story in general? Contact Andrea at (508) 732-8989 or via email at [email protected], and you could be featured in our next newsletter!

Beating Social Jet Lag

Who Is John Keefe?

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The 3 Available Options if You Are Disabled

Vegan Red Velvet Cake

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Health Benefits of Being in Love

LOVE REALLY CAN BE A DRUG The Power of Love

It’s crazy to think that being head over heels, madly in love with someone can benefit your body in the same way that broccoli can, but it’s true! Science has proven that being in love comes with myriad health benefits. Fewer colds and natural pain control? Yes, please! Love triggers the “feel good” hormone, dopamine. When you first fall in love — and the butterflies are flying uncontrollably — dopamine is at very high levels, and mentally, you’re happy, healthy, and positive. As the relationship matures, oxytocin, also known as the bonding hormone, blends with dopamine and reduces stress. We all know that stress can lead to a number of health complications, so the less stress, the better! New research has found that just being around someone you love can act as a natural pain reliever. Research has also determined that married people complain less about headaches

and back pain. When your mind is happy, your immune system is stronger, making you less prone to getting a cold or stomach bug. Some research has even shown that happily married couples live longer than those who are not happily married. The hormone vasopressin helps to control your blood pressure. Being in love releases vasopressin into your body, keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level. Both your heart and lungs are also impacted by the love you have for another. If you aren’t in love, you can still reap the benefits through a strong and healthy social support system. When you have friends who bring you joy and happiness, even just a hug may help to release positive hormones and keep your health on track. Take time to invest in positive relationships to keep your heart and body healthy and happy, both literally and figuratively.

So, what are you waiting for? Let the love flow!

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Hartwig Law Firm | (508) 732-8989

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