Robert C White & Co April 2019

Robert C White & Co April 2019

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APRIL 2019

THE NUT DOESN’T FALL TOO FAR FROM THE TREE

The Wit and Wisdom of My Dad (AKA Rickyisms)

My dad is a wonderful man.

problems before they start? Most importantly, do they “own it”? My dad is right, “Tomorrow never comes.”We have to live in the present to be successful in this job. If we waited for a problem to come up, if we pushed things off until tomorrow, we couldn’t possibly serve our clients to the best of our ability, and our clients would not get the peace of mind we promise to deliver.

He has definitely had a huge impact on who I am as a person. His influence was much more muted when I was younger. He was so busy working to support his big family that we didn’t see him much outside of working with him on Saturday mornings, church on Sundays, and holidays. As I got older, I started working for him on renovation and construction jobs during the summer. We would have long trips in the truck together getting to and from the job, and the days would go by fast with work, joking, and classic rock music playing in the background. That was when his fingerprint really started leaving its mark. As he (and his five sons) have gotten older, he has slowed down quite a bit, and we have greatly benefited from more time spent hanging out together. His grandkids (all 18 of them) are getting to know“Grandfather,” as he likes to be called, in an entirely different way than we did as kids. One of my father’s more endearing qualities is his habit of making factual statements in such a way that you laugh and scratch your head at the same time. For example, at the church just before I got married, he pulled me aside and told me, “Son, by the time I was your age I already had all five of my boys.”That was it. No further context was given — just the smile on his face. I am smiling right now writing about it. In addition, he has a set of go-to one-liners that he uses so regularly and with such effect that we have taken to calling them“Rickyisms”.

So I have set out to create the most proactive property management company around. If you break down any of our major processes (and most of our minor ones) you will see the consistent string of proactivity throughout. Take our rent collection process, for example. It actually starts before the tenant moves in by forcing them to use the portal to pay hold fees, but it continues with unique lease terms; special relationships with Experian so that we impact credit good or bad; consistent messaging and education; statements before the first; multiple reminders after the first; calls, texts, and emails from property managers; and so much more. Why do all that? Because we have to be proactive to enjoy success in this business. Because if we did what other property managers do, we wouldn’t be giving you our best. Because tomorrow never comes. We’re not perfect, but we always work to get better. Plus, I think we are working on the right things, and that makes all the difference.

Some of his classics are:

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“The nut doesn’t fall too far from the tree.”

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“Working with you is like working by myself.”

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“Let’s do something, even if it’s wrong.”

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“I may not be the best, but I’m the best I’ve ever seen!”

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“Tomorrow never comes!”

I want to talk about that last one for a minute or two, because I feel it relates to property management — at least the way we do property management at RCW. I firmly believe that the difference between an average property manager and an excellent property manager is how proactive they are. Are they waiting to react to problems that come up, or are they being proactive and addressing

P.S. - Another classic “Rickyism” is this gem: “Stick with me and I’ll give you rocks as big as diamonds.” To date, he has never let me down. I hope RCW never lets you down either.

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Learning to read opens up a world of possibilities. When your child walks through the back of the wardrobe into Narnia with Lucy Pevensie or rides with Harry Potter on the train to Hogwarts, they connect to something beyond their own experiences. In the U.S., April 23 is World Book Day, and the date commemorates the deaths of legendary authors Cervantes, Shakespeare, and Garcilaso de la Vega, as well as the birth of author Vladimir Nabokov. World Book Day is the perfect time to sit down with your family and let yourself be transported to new worlds. So, here are three great stories to help you take young readers on brand-new adventures. WORLDS WITHIN PAGES Books to Engage the Whole Family

Baseball’s opening day has been an American holiday of sorts since the Cincinnati Red Stockings threw out the first major league pitch in 1869. To celebrate the start of the 150th season of professional baseball, here are three of the best opening days in baseball history. PEANUTS AND CRACKER JACKS The Best Opening Days in Baseball History On April 15, 1947, an opening-day game changed the course of Major League Baseball. On this day, Jackie Robinson started for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African-American player to start for a major league baseball team. Robinson’s historic showing was lackluster, going 0-for-3 at the plate and making a solid showing on the infield at first base, but his mere presence in a Dodgers uniform had already broken history. Despite his nationally-recognized skills — Robinson was named MVP of the MLB farm team league in 1946 — the backlash that followed his rise to the pros, both from fans and teammates, was palpable. Still, as well-known sportscaster Howard Cosell said, “Suddenly, it was a new beginning.” Considered one of the best teams in baseball history, the 1927 New York Yankees started their historic run and 25th season by dismantling the Philadelphia Athletics with a score of 8-3. The slugfest was true to form for the 1927 Yankees, whose players would go on to make up baseball’s famous “Murderers’ Row.”With sluggers like Lou Gehrig, Earle Combs, Babe Ruth, Mark Koenig, Bob Meusel, and Tony Lazzeri, it’s no wonder this team went on to win its fifth championship that year. For decades, no one could match George Herman Ruth. The Great Bambino’s all-time home run record seemed like an impossible feat of strength — that is, until Henry “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron came along. On opening day, April 4, 1974, Aaron smashed his 714th homer, tying Babe Ruth for the most home runs ever hit and extending the Atlanta Braves’ shutout lead over the Cincinnati Reds. A few weeks later, Aaron surpassed Ruth’s record, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd. LOU, COMBS, AND BABE — OH MY! THE HAMMER TIES BAMBINO A NEW BEGINNING

FOR THE ELEMENTARY READER: ‘SONG OF THE WILD: A FIRST BOOK OF ANIMALS’

“Song of the Wild”makes a great read-aloud book for beginner readers because they can get lost in the beautiful artwork while you read the text. Written in prose and rhyming poems, this book showcases sprawling landscapes — savannahs, jungles, and oceans — and features the wildlife living there. It’s worth a read simply to appreciate the colorful depictions of each animal. This book was written by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Petr Horácek.

FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOLER: ‘THE NIGHT DIARY’

12-year-old Nisha navigates her world after the partition of India creates the new country of Pakistan and her family is forced to leave their home. Her mother may be gone, but Nisha finds solace in writing nightly letters to her in her diary as she discovers what the future holds. Based on

author Veera Hiranandani’s memories of her own family, this moving tale lets readers experience life through someone else’s eyes. FOR TEENS: ‘BRAZEN: REBEL LADIES WHO ROCKED THE WORLD’ While some might not think of comics as proper reading, Penelope Bagieu’s graphic novel forces

reconsideration. Her clever, colorful artwork and engaging narrative take the reader through the biographies of 30 women, from Bette Davis and Mae Jemison to lesser-known but equally intriguing ladies like

Giorgina Reid. All in all, this book provides a great way to get kids excited about history in an entertaining form.

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RATED E FOR EVERYONE What Do Ratings Mean, and How Should You Use Them?

Despite guidance from ratings systems, it can be difficult for parents to discern what digital content is appropriate for their children. Learn more about ratings guidelines for common entertainment media and how to decipher that information so you can make educated decisions that work for your family. MOVIES: G-rated movies are considered suitable for all ages, whereas PG, PG-13, and R-rated movies are progressively less appropriate for kids because of violence, nudity, and language. Some ratings come with age limits; children who are under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult at R-rated movies. TV SHOWS: Due to laws that limit inappropriate content on public airwaves, TV rating systems follow unique codes. In the U.S., shows that are rated as TV-14 (content that is suitable for those ages 14 and older) can only air after 5 p.m. Meanwhile, TV-MA (content that is appropriate for mature audiences) can only air between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Most shows airing between the hours of 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. are rated TV-G or TV-PG. These are similar in content to their movie counterparts. Some television children’s shows will also be rated as TV-Y or TV-Y7, and their only distinction is that TV-Y7 has been deemed appropriate for young children ages 7 and older. TV ratings can also have additional descriptors attached to them to explain what kind of content earned the rating. VIDEO GAMES: There are seven video game ratings: Early Childhood (EC), Everyone (E), Everyone 10+ (E10), Teen (T), Mature (M), Adults Only (AO), or Rating Pending (RP). These ratings provide consumers with more information about content. Again, as the age of the intended user increases, content progresses from

allowing mild violence or suggestive content to adult themes. When choosing family entertainment, experts suggest using both the rating and the description of the media to make your decision since the rating system may not fully explain media content. For example, studies have found that a

PG-13 movie can sometimes have just as much violence as an R-rated movie. Additionally, you may be fine with the content in a T-rated video game for a more developmentally advanced 11-year-old.

Once you get past all the combinations of numbers and letters, you as a parent might find that ratings for video games, movies, and TV shows provide helpful information. Couple the ratings with your own research and your own values, and put an end to worrying about what surprises may lurk in your children’s media.

OPENING DAY HAMBURGERS

TAKE A BREAK

Inspired by Saveur Magazine

Ingredients

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1 pound ground chuck, 80 percent lean 4 soft, white hamburger buns, split

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4 1/4-inch thick yellow onion slices

1 teaspoon vegetable oil Salt and pepper, to taste Condiments of your choice

4 1/4-inch thick tomato slices

12–16 pickle rounds

4 small leaves iceberg lettuce

Directions

1. Lightly grease a small nonstick skillet with oil. Heat over medium-high. 2. While heating, gently shape meat into four patties 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Be careful to handle the meat as little as possible to prevent tough burgers. Season liberally with salt and pepper. 3. Sear patties on each side, about 1 minute per side. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking until desired doneness, about 1 more minute per side for medium-rare, 2 more per side for medium-well. 4. Let meat rest for a minimum of 3 minutes. 5. To assemble, place patty on bottom bun and top with tomato, pickles, lettuce, and onion (in that order). Spread condiments on top half of bun and place on top of onion. Serve.

Solution on page 4

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INSIDE 1

The Wit and Wisdom of My Dad

2

3 Great Opening Days in Baseball

Books to Engage the Whole Family

3

Understanding Media Ratings

Opening Day Hamburgers

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2 Tactics Criminals Use to Steal From Older Adults

THE 2 MOST COMMON WAYS CRIMINALS STEAL FROM SENIORS

And How to Spot Them

Scamming older adults has become big business. According to the

If you ever receive a contract from an unknown entity out of nowhere, you should start seeing red flags. Unless you remember entering a contest, there is no chance you’ve won something. And it’s vital to understand that it is never safe to give out financial information over the phone or via email.

American Journal for Public Health, an estimated 5 percent of seniors are hoodwinked by criminals every year, and that statistic is thought to be a steep underestimate since so many scams go unreported. To stem the tide of seniors unknowingly giving $36 billion to scammers annually, it’s important for retirees and their loved ones to get savvy on the subject.

COMPUTER SOFTWARE SERVICE FRAUD

This type of scam is slightly more sophisticated. First, a hacker will call a victim and claim to be a member of a tech support team or an employee from a trusted company like Microsoft or Apple. Then, they’ll tell the victim there is a problem with their phone or computer and that if they cooperate with the “tech support” representative, they can sort it out. They may also ask you to install a piece of software on your device or provide credit card information to “validate your software.” The fact is that well-known tech companies will never send unsolicited emails to ask for your personal or financial information, and they definitely won’t ask you to install some shady software on your computer. If you ever receive a call out of the blue from“Microsoft,” hang up the phone immediately. The first step to stopping these criminals in their tracks is to be aware of their tactics. With these tips in your arsenal, you’ll be able to defend yourself and your bank account effectively.

Here are the two of the most common scams older folks fall prey to — and how to avoid them.

ADVANCED FEE FRAUD

The most common con in 2017 and 2018 was the classic “You’ve won a sweepstakes!” scam. Victims are told they’ve won some exorbitant amount of money, but they must pay a fee to receive the prize. After the “fee” is paid, victims receive a fake check in the mail, but by the time it bounces, the scammers are gone and they’ve taken the money.

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