DuPont Wealth Solutions November 2017

DuPont Wealth Solutions November 2017

L.A.F.F. LAW ADVOCACY FAMILY FINANCE A monthly newsletter providing your family insight about the law and finance (with an occasional dose of humor) from your friends and advocates at DuPont Wealth Solutions and the Law Offices of DuPont and Blumenstiel.

17 NOV

THE STORMS OF LIFE HURRICANES REMIND ME TO BE GRATEFUL

I know it happened a couple months ago, but I still find myself deeply affected by the devastation of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Long after the rain stopped, inspiring stories of heroism and survival continued to pour in. We learned what Americans are capable of when we come together to fight a common enemy. In this case, that enemy was a literal force of nature. I was in Houston for a seminar a few weeks before the storm. As I looked out my 14th-story window of a hotel that would soon be surrounded by water, I thought about America’s fourth-largest city, which rests mere miles from the Gulf Shore. The city looks like it’s made of pure concrete, I thought. If a storm happens, where does the water go? Sadly, we got our answer. On August 24, Hurricane Harvey hit the shores of Texas as a Category 4 at peak intensity. The water continued to rise, with nowhere for the water to drain, and freeway signs were soon dipping their toes in the flood. Experts claimed that Houston’s growth created the perfect flood conditions. Then came Irma, close on Harvey’s heels. The second hurricane devastating several Caribbean islands I had just visited last spring, as well as Puerto Rico and Florida. The cleanup and recovery continues months later and will likely continue for years to come. The hurricanes brought utter and complete devastation. In the coming weeks, the curtain was peeled back and journalists and survivors brought us tales of heroism. We saw the best type of service humanity has to offer. One mattress store owner invited people to stay in his store, eventually helping over 400 people find refuge. Famous defensive end for the Houston Texans, J.J. Watt, started a fundraiser for the victims. He hoped to collect $200,000 but ended up with tens of millions. During this season of gratitude, it makes you appreciate where you live. Sure, we might get a small twister or a blizzard that knocks out our power for a few hours. But we aren’t susceptible to anything that’s comparable to the danger that lurks out there.

“THE CITY LOOKS LIKE IT’S MADE OF PURE CONCRETE, I

THOUGHT. IF A STORM HAPPENS, WHERE DOES THE WATER GO?”

basis, I work with families who are fighting about serious issues like wills and trusts. When a family member passes, simmering problems come to the surface, and the problems manifest themselves in legal proceedings. It’s a reminder

that having an estate plan can prevent post-death family catastrophes. Good and precise planning will mitigate problems so we can continue to show our loved ones gratitude and support without additional bad feelings. I’m also absolutely grateful for the team that helps me keep all the balls in the air at DuPont & Blumenstiel and DuPont Wealth Solutions. They provide an exceptional level of care for our clients and support me in so many ways. I’m also grateful to my incredible wife for supporting me all these years. Now, as our client experience officer, she’ll be helping even more directly. Her job is to make sure none of our clients question whether anyone else in the world can help them better than we can. We’ve always strived to deliver a five-star “WOW” experience that you don’t expect from a law firm or financial advisor. If there’s anything else you think we can do to realize that dream, please let us know. During this season of gratitude, let us all be grateful for the people who support us. I hope we can also continue to support those in need, whether it’s after a catastrophic storm or in our everyday lives.

- Greg DuPont

I have so much to be grateful for in my own life. I’m grateful for my six brothers and sisters and for how well we get along. On a regular

Happy Thanksgiving!

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William Shakespeare, as everyone knows, is the most famous playwright in history. His plays have been translated into every major living language, and it’s said his works

have been studied more than any but the Bible. For centuries, people have loved him for his wit and his wisdom. I’d like to share a bit of that wisdom in a new series of letters called: SHAKESPEARE ON FINANCE

Shakespeare never actually wrote about finances, of course. But I’ve found many of his lines contain important financial lessons. So, over the next few months, I’d like to share a few quotations and the lessons they impart. Hopefully, the Bard’s words will make these lessons even easier to remember.

QUOTE #1: “Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.” The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act 2, Scene 2

In this scene, a jealous husband is planning to take revenge on another man who intends to seduce his wife. He resolves to start early rather than wait, reasoning, “Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.”

When that happens, you:

• don’t have enough for retirement?

• don’t have your affairs in order after you pass away?

The lesson here is on the importance of not procrastinating.

• pay more in taxes than you must, or even incur penalties because you waited too long? • miss out on investment opportunities, or leave the door open for more investment risk? You get the idea. On the other hand, being “three hours too soon” creates the opposite effect. When you start planning, start saving, and start acting long before action is required, you end up with more money for retirement, less money paid in taxes, more protection for your family, less headaches for yourself. More free time, less stress … the benefits are almost endless. If there are any financial decisions you haven’t made yet, or any phases of your life you haven’t planned for, don’t procrastinate. Start now. I promise it’s worth it. Borrow from the Bard. It truly is “better three hours too soon than a minute too late.” Next month, we’ll look at a quote from one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays: Romeo and Juliet!

Procrastination is one of the most common mistakes people make with their finances. Here are some areas where people often procrastinate:

• saving for retirement

• creating a will

• filing their tax returns

• rebalancing their investment portfolio

• checking their credit score

• purchasing life insurance

It’s easy to put off basic, everyday activities, too. Balancing checkbooks, paying bills ... even using that $20 gift card you got for your birthday before it expires. What’s the harm in procrastinating?When you do too much of it for too long, it’s easy to end up “a minute too late.”

You’ve probably seen headlines like this over the past few days: Equifax® Says Cyberattack May Have Hit 143 Million Customers HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF — AND YOUR MONEY — FROM HACKERS

Every year, it seems more and more companies are falling victim to hackers. Even large organizations like Verizon, Walmart, andTarget aren’t immune. But the recent cyberattack on Equifax is especially noteworthy. As one of the three largest credit-reporting companies in the United States, Equifax stores a lot of private information. In this case, names, addresses, birthdates, Social Security numbers, and even driver’s license numbers were stolen. What can hackers do with someone’s name, birthdate, address and Social Security number? The answer is chillingly simple: take the victim’s identity and use it for themselves. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself. WHATTO DOAFTERA >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6

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