Sheppard Law Firm - March 2021

Sheppard Law Firm - March 2021

Newsletter Title

t What I’ve Learned

The Life Lessons That Inspire the Work Attorney Andrew Barnett Does for Clients was in litigation, which meant I took cases to court, presented my client’s side to a jury, and let six of their peers decide the fate of the case. It was nerve-wracking and stressful, but I learned a lot from that experience.

When my brother convinced me to go to law school, I had no idea that it would completely change my life. Because of that decision, I met my wife and found a career at a well-regarded law firm. Plus, I get to help people every day by doing something I enjoy. What more could I ask for? I grew up in Suffolk, Virginia, and earned my undergraduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Soon after that, I practiced real estate as an appraiser and realtor — then 2008 hit. Like many in the real estate business, the housing market crash and the Great

Today, I’m honored to work at the Sheppard Law Firm. When I first met with attorneys Craig Hersch, Michael Hill, and Hayley Donaldson, they told me the best part of their jobs is connecting with their clients and helping them create and execute estate plans. I could really tell how much they loved their clients. That left a significant impact on me, and it was something I understood all too well. When I was a young adult, my mom was sick and my dad had to be by her side to care for her. It was my responsibility to manage their business and finances. At such a young age, I would have never been able to do that without the proper plans they had put in place. I was very fortunate to have those legal documents. I could handle business at home, so my dad could care for my mom. I approach the work I do today with that same mindset. I know the work we do offers families the peace of mind they need to overcome big obstacles, and that makes me proud to work at this firm. I’m honored to continue my career at such a well-established and respected firm. Thank you for trusting us with your families’ legacies. –Andrew Barnett

Recession forced me to search for a new focus, so I found work with an electrical and power company. I enjoyed the work because, with my background in real estate, I was able to review contracts and statutes and ensure everything was up to code. That’s when my brother had an epiphany. He was practicing law in southern Florida and mentioned that the work I did was very similar to the work attorneys do. If I was interested, he told me, I should consider going to law school. Something clicked for me that day. As crazy as it sounds, I enjoyed contract work, but I had a feeling law school was my next step. I attended St. Thomas University School of Law — graduating in the top of my class — and that’s where I met my wife. Today, she’s an attorney with the public defender’s office. We try not to talk about work too much, but she has some amazing war stories from her time spent in court. No matter what they practice, attorneys will find themselves in court someday, and I began my career that way. After law school, my first job

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March 2021

Get Your Seasonal Allergies Before They Get You! Spring brings with it many wonderful things, like longer days, picturesque scenery, and spring break, but right alongside those good things is something most people suffer from: allergies.

While beautiful, the blooming trees and flowers make you want to stay away from the great outdoors for fear of nonstop sneezing or puffy, watery eyes. If you suffer from allergies caused by pollen, grass, or other spring plants, take these steps to breathe a little easier. When outside, avoid walking through areas with weeds, shrubbery, or lots of trees as much as possible. Grass and weeds are notably problematic. The slightest breeze can send particles flying through the air in the blink of an eye. When you walk through grassy areas, pollen will get on you, your clothes, and your hair. It’s best to stick to trails, sidewalks, and other paved areas. If you do find yourself inundated with pollen or other allergens, your next best bet is to establish an at-home decontamination protocol. Take your shoes off at the door and make sure your clothes don’t come in contact with soft surfaces such as carpet, upholstery, or bedding. Take care to wash your “pollinated” clothes as soon as possible and wash your sheets and pillowcases weekly. Next, head for the shower. The sooner you can wash away the allergens, the better.

Finally, don’t forget to replace the air filter in your home’s air system in the spring. Consider using an air filter designed to capture allergens. If your allergies are particularly troublesome, invest in a dedicated air filtration system or unit. While you can opt for portable, stand-alone air purifiers, there are larger systems that can be incorporated into your heating and air system that keep your entire home’s air free from most, if not all, common allergens.

o u r W a y t o a Y o u t h

3 Food Groups With Anti-Aging Benefits

There are tons of creams, serums, and regimens that people promise will result in younger-looking skin and more energy, but nothing can beat Mother Nature. When searching for the best anti-aging techniques to slow down the wear of time on your body, look to some of your favorite foods instead. In honor of National Nutrition Month, incorporate some of these anti-aging gems into your diet and reap the healthy — and tasty — benefits. Pro Tip: Get the full effect of the nutrients found in these foods by eating seasonally. Fruits and vegetables contain more nutrients when in season than when grown out of season. Stick to The Orange Stuff Any fruits or vegetables that are orange or yellow will be an instant boost to your skin because of the nutrients that give

these foods their orange and yellow glow. For example, sweet potatoes and carrots are loaded with collagen, which your skin uses to stay strong, hydrated, and elastic. The potassium and magnesium in bananas can also keep skin moisturized, while orange fruits like papaya and oranges contain loads of vitamin C to promote natural collagen production. Believe in the ‘Miracle Fruit’ Often called the miracle fruit, pomegranates, specifically the seeds, are undergoing a renaissance of sorts. Researchers are discovering just how healthy this fruit may be. For starters, pomegranate contains anti- inflammatory properties, which can fight arthritis, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even Alzheimer’s disease. Pomegranates have also been shown to lower cholesterol levels. But that’s not all! Some scientists are even disclosing

pomegranates’ promising effects on prostate and breast cancer treatments. Go Green Much like how orange foods are good for the skin, green foods have their own set of benefits you don’t want to miss. Deeply green foods, like spinach, contain high levels of magnesium, protein, and vitamin K, which can provide immense benefits to your heart and bone health. Spinach, in particular, is one of the highest naturally-occurring sources of vitamin K! Meanwhile, avocados are rich in “good fats,” which give you energy and can give your immune system a boost. You should add broccoli, green tea, and cilantro to your diet for more anti-aging benefits. Bonus: Oats are a great source of carbohydrates — yes, you need carbs! — while also providing good fats and lean protein.

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Before YouAct as a Trustee Never take on the role of trustee without knowing what you may be up against. In his 2020 Sanibel Island Sun column, “Oh No! Don’t Do It!” attorney Craig Hersch offers sound advice to those named as trustee. Visit FloridaEstatePlanning.com to read the full column and many others. one another — which speaks to the many issues you must address when comparing their respective needs. Consider Attorney Craig Hersch’s Advice

If the unhappy beneficiary is aggressive enough or feels wronged, they’ll hire an all-too-eager attorney to file a lawsuit. Trust litigation often takes years. In today’s COVID-19 environment, with limited court access, a lawsuit may stretch over many years. doesn’t hurt to make sure you have a professional fiduciary at your side if there’s any hint of a problem. Talk to your friend or relative and insist they name a bank or trust company as a co-trustee. They might object, citing the expense. But a good professional trustee will often save thousands of dollars of grief and heartache. It’s not worth it. My advice? Before taking on the role of trustee, it Please consult with your own independent counsel to determine what precautions you might take to avoid the many problems that could arise.

Consider, for example, a trustee who must balance the income needs of a surviving spouse against the needs of the adult children beneficiaries who inherit when that spouse dies. And what happens when the surviving spouse is merely a stepparent to the deceased spouse’s children? Could there be a greater chance for conflict? In my 30-plus years as an estate planning attorney, I would say, “You bet there is!” I’ve seen disputes between beneficiaries who all claimed the same diamond wedding ring, or a charm bracelet, or even sea kayaks! I’ve had to call the sheriff to stop a beneficiary who pulled a U-Haul truck up to the deceased’s home ready to empty it of its contents. Siblings have sat around my conference room table hollering at one another over whether to sell the island home.

In the past, I’ve encountered calls from clients who, unbeknownst to me, took on the responsibility of acting as a trustee and found themselves at the wrong end of a negligence lawsuit. Acting as a trustee carries with it many fiduciary responsibilities such as prudently investing trust assets consistent with the trust beneficiaries’ needs, providing annual accountings, notices of significant transactions, engaging competent professionals such as attorneys and accountants, and filing tax returns — to name just a few. However, it’s the beneficiaries of the trust you need to worry about. You may not be familiar with them, and the beneficiaries may not get along with

Inspired by OhMyVeggies.com

Tasty Thai Fried Rice

INGREDIENTS:

• • • •

2 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, chopped

• • • •

5 cups jasmine rice, cooked and cooled

1/2 cup peanuts, chopped

8 oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced 4 cups broccoli, chopped to bite- size pieces

2 tbsp soy sauce

Toppings of choice for serving (sliced green onions, sliced cucumber, chopped peanuts, lime wedges, Sriracha, etc.)

Referrals are the lifeblood of our office. If you had a tremendous experience, please do share it as a five-star Google Review, adding a few words as a description. It takes less than a couple minutes. We appreciate our clients so much and hope that our new clients are just like the ones we commonly attract. You can also leave us a review at FloridaEstatePlanning.com/review.

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4 cloves garlic, minced

DIRECTIONS: 1. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 2–3 minutes, until softened. 2. Add the mushrooms and broccoli. Cook for 5–7 minutes, until the broccoli is tender. 3. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.

4. Finally, add the rice and cook, stirring constantly, for 3–4 minutes. 5. Remove skillet from the heat and stir in the peanuts and soy sauce. 6. Serve garnished with your toppings.

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9100 College Pointe Court Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 265-9779

INSIDE this issue

Meet Attorney Andrew Barnett!. .................1

Get Your Seasonal Allergies Before They Get You!.............................................2 Check Out These 3 Food Groups for Anti- Aging Benefits. ..........................................2 Attorney Craig Hersch Offers Wisdom to Acting Trustees..........................................3

Tasty Thai Fried Rice .................................3

A Brand-New Smile for Grandma! ..............4

The best compliments we receive are your referrals. When you refer us to your loved ones, we do all we can to exceed expectations.

G B The Famous Grandmother and Grandson Duo

Watching grandparents become part of the social media community is so heartwarming. Through videos with their children and grandchildren, the wholesome content they create is bound to make any viewer smile — and they can’t help but smile too! One such grandma, a TikTok and Instagram star, is smiling with a brand-new set of dentures in a video captioned, “They gave GB a piece of her youth back.” Matthew Stewart lives in Florida and spends most of his time with GB, Grandma Bobbe. His Instagram is full of photos and videos of himself and his family as well as all the adventures, jokes, and sweet moments he shares with GB. One of the first videos Matthew shared on social media was a light argument about whether or not he should accept gas money from GB. Afterward, the pair quickly rose in popularity, but they became truly famous after uploading a particular video in late 2020. Before quarantines were put in place, GB would visit her beauty salon once a week to get her hair touched up. Knowing that

his grandmother was down about not being able to go, he decided to bring the spa to her. Matthew washed, dried, and styled her hair for her, with a mimosa to top

the experience off. This touching video reached thousands of people and prompted guest appearances for GB and Matthew on “Access Daily,” “Now This,” “Fox & Friends,” and “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” The antics of these two brought such joy across the nation that GB receives a large number of packages and letters regularly. Each video shows GB near tears, overwhelmed by the amount of love and support from her over 173,000 Instagram followers and 2.9 million TikTok followers. In a video uploaded just before Christmas, GB received a wonderful gift from Affordable Dentures & Implants ORL: a brand-new set of dentures. Now she can continue making videos with her beloved grandson with a “beautimus” smile.

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