Law Office of Paul Black - July 2021

Law Office of Paul Black - July 2021

404.410.6820

www.Georgia-EstateLaw.com

July 2021

The Most Meaningful Way to Change Your Life Happy World Listening Day!

Without the skill of listening, it is easy to miss all the really important details in life. And the mark of a great listener is not just staying quiet (although that is an essential quality); it is also asking the right questions. When you ask the right questions, you can start to truly connect with people’s experiences. This has been a huge help for both my professional life as an attorney and my private life. “In honor of World Listening Day on July 18, I wish you more fantastic, compassionate listeners in your life, as rare as they are — but remember, the best way you can make that wish come true for others is to be one yourself.” I think I started really developing my listening skills as a high school teacher (before law) and caretaker for my dad. I learned body language would tell me how to start a conversation or create an opportunity to listen. Does this student look distracted even though they are in a conversation with me? Is my dad too exhausted to go anywhere right now? My dad lives in an assisted living facility now, and one time, I drove to pick him up for church. My dad did not sleep well the night before, and his routine was completely messed up. He wanted to go to church, but I knew neglecting his self-care would set the wrong tone for him, lasting up to a week. “We could go out to church,” I said to him, “but what if we take care of these things first, and then see how you feel?” He took my suggestion happily.

Many older members of a family are dragged from one place to the next, but it is important for my dad to have that sense of control and autonomy. Asking questions is not only about “proving” you

are listening to someone else’s needs; it is also a great way to empower people you care about, especially when they’re in a vulnerable position.

This is very important in my line of work, as we help some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Recently, I met with a client who was not in a great living situation. The wrong person had been in charge of her financial decision for many years, and we were working on changing that. However, I might not have learned about the exact severe degree of her treatment without encouraging her to speak freely. You would never guess her assisted living home refused to take her, a kind woman in her 80s, to the bathroom at night. Not only was it humiliating treatment, but it is also against the law. When she finally revealed that bit of information to me, I was able to ask better questions. Even as an attorney, listening is more important than knowing legal documents and how to draft them. Listening might very well be the simplest, most meaningful way we can change our lives. In honor of World Listening Day on July 18, I wish you more fantastic, compassionate listeners in your life, as rare as they are — but remember, the best way you can make that wish come true for others is to be one yourself.

Do you have estate planning or elder law-related questions? Write to me at [email protected] with “Asked and Answered” in the subject line. Your identity will be kept confidential. The opinions offered in this column are not intended to replace or substitute any financial, medical, legal, or other professional advice. -Paul Black

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What Will Happen to Cryptocurrency in the U.S.?

ANDWHY THIS COULD AFFECT YOU

REGULATORY UNCERTAINTY IN THE U.S. Although criminal usage of cryptocurrency is rather miniscule today, how do you resolve issues with ransomware? One rule proposed by the U.S. government would require anyone holding crypto in a private digital wallet to undergo identity checks if they make a transaction of $3,000 or more. Many believe, however, that this is not a long-term solution. Jesse Powell, the CEO of Kraken, the world’s fourth-largest digital currency exchange, told CNBC that the U.S. is more “shortsighted” than other nations and “susceptible” to the pressures of incumbent legacy businesses, like banks, that “stand to lose from crypto becoming a big deal.” Technically, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulates most crypto, but even Hester Pierce, a commissioner of the SEC, says, “We have seen other countries take a more productive approach to regulating crypto. Our approach has been to say no and tell people [to] wait …we need to build a framework that is appropriate for this industry.” In some ways, crypto is profitable like the stock market is, except you can also use it to purchase goods and services. While this regulatory framework is not clear just yet, the longer it takes to establish, the more the American public, like you, might lose out on these multibillion-dollar markets. Outdoor and exercise crazes come and go almost as fast as hairstyles and popular app games do. But every once in a while, a trend comes along that remains popular — think karate, which spiked in the ‘60s and again in the ‘80s, and it can still be found in almost every American city to this day. Back in 2013, one such trend arose: the stand-up paddleboard, or SUP for short. The act of standing on a floating piece of wood in a surfboard shape and paddling (or poling) yourself along likely goes back thousands of years, but the SUP craze can be traced back to one man — and he is not even in his 60s yet! That man is famous surfer Laird Hamilton, a household name in a sport that does not usually generate them. And Laird, along with theWaikiki Beachboys, showed the world a new way to hit the water in the first decade of the 21st century. Unlike other crazes, the gear was simple and the activity beginner-friendly. To start, you only need a paddle, a board, a life preserver, and of course, a place to go! It is a new way to see the water, which only boosted its popularity. Even veteran water sports enthusiasts were not used to standing on the water instead of sitting in a boat! But according to the industry’s own numbers, that popularity never died down. As it turns out, SUP is a good way to get around, and a lot of folks need that. Many cities, such as San Antonio, feature “paddling trails” that let SUP practitioners see the city in a new way or even commute via their board. How cool is that? If you are looking for a new hobby this summer, it is easy to rent a stand-up paddleboard and learn the basics. Take a class, head out into the water, and give it a shot. Who knows, you might be one of the thousands of Americans to discover a lifelong passion!

Even if you are not familiar with cryptocurrency, you’ll notice one thing about its market trends — it has been trending higher and higher in the past decade. Then suddenly, in mid-April this year, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies plunged significantly in value. That is because the U.S. government has started the conversation it has been putting off for some time: Should cryptocurrencies be regulated and, if so, how? Here are some reasons the discussion needs to move forward. CRIMINAL USAGE OF CRYPTOCURRENCIES Is cryptocurrency still popular with criminals? A blockchain >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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