Shoup Legal - July 2022

Shoup Legal - July 2022

Plan today for peace of mind tomorrow. JULY 2022

As we enter July, we get the opportunity to experience one of the most important and special holidays that we celebrate in America. We celebrate the Fourth of July to signify the passage of the Declaration of Independence, which professed our country’s independence from England. You can always expect to spend time outdoors watching fireworks or enjoying something from the grill whenever the Fourth rolls around. In a way, our celebration of the Fourth of July embodies the ideal of the American dream. The Fourth provides us with the perfect opportunity to be patriotic and show off our pride for our country. There have been plenty of times when I traveled outside the country, and upon my return, I am awestruck by the sight of the American flag waving in the wind. I grew up in a small town on the central coast that was your typical Americana town. We had the quintessential park that everything in town was centered around. Every Fourth of July, they hold a parade to recognize the occasion, and it’s very moving for me. There’s something about seeing the kids walk down the street waving flags alongside horses that is incredibly special. That parade is a big reason why we still go to my parents’ house every year for the Fourth. I’ve had a sense of patriotism ever since I was a kid, but it has only grown stronger as I’ve grown older. Over time, the symbol of the American flag has the ability to bring me comfort. There have been plenty of times when I traveled outside the country, and upon my return, I am awestruck by the sight of the American flag waving in the wind. There’s even a flag that you can see from Temecula Parkway that brings me peace every time I see it. TAKING PRIDE IN OUR COUNTRY TO CELEBRATE THE FOURTH OF JULY

Oftentimes, we get caught up in our day-to-day stress and fail to acknowledge how lucky we are to live in such a wonderful country. There are many weekends where the kids will be playing in the house with LEGOS or running around outside that cause me to pause for a moment. I hear the sound of their laughter or look outside to view my garden where I’ll catch a glimpse of the blue sky or the trees waving in the breeze and think to myself, wow, we are so blessed to live in this country. I don’t need to fear that our country will be ravished by war or famine. We’re simply blessed and fortunate to live in a country that values our freedoms. For this year’s Fourth of July celebration, I’m sure my family and I will head to my parents’ house to watch the parade and enjoy some fireworks. We’ll get sparklers for the kids and everyone will have a great time.

Whether you’re getting together with family, heading to the ocean, or going to your favorite fireworks show, I hope you all can take a moment to appreciate the country we live in as we celebrate the Fourth of July.

–Andrea Shoup

WWW.SHOUPLEGAL.COM | 1

OVERCOMING INATTENTION Strategies to Fight Distraction

With our phones always on standby, we’re more easily distracted than ever. Then there are also interruptions by coworkers or family members, emails or instant messages that divert our attention, household chores that will “only take a minute,” coffee breaks, and daydreams. Constant distraction hurts us more than we realize, creating a feedback loop of inattention. It’s time we understand what all this multitasking is doing to our minds and figure out how to break the cycle. No matter how good you think you are at it, multitasking doesn’t exist. What we’re really doing is called task-switching. Our brains can concentrate on only one thing at a time, and the quicker we go back and forth between tasks, the less we pay attention, and the more likely we are to make mistakes. Even worse, research says it takes us a whopping 23 minutes to regain our concentration after being interrupted. But what can you do? If you’ve ever been on a diet, you know that willpower has its limits. Simply promising you won’t check your email or phone rarely results in long-term success. But if technology is a big part of the problem, it can also be part of the solution. Try putting your email or phone notifications on silent. Or, consider a website blocker to keep you off distracting websites and an app that will lock distracting features on your phone. Low-tech solutions like a “do not disturb” sign and putting your phone in another room can also help.

And mental tricks can still have their place. You probably tend to become productive when you’ve got a deadline crunch, and there’s a reason for that. Tasks have a way of stretching out unnecessarily when we don’t have to follow any restrictions. So, make

some! Determine how much time you need to complete a task, and then don’t allow yourself anymore. Ask a colleague for help staying accountable. You’ll be amazed at how much you get done. Though we each have to fight our own battles, this isn’t entirely our fault. Popular apps make billions of dollars by sucking our attention away from everything else, so we’re automatically at a disadvantage. And there may be even more than meets the eye. If you have difficulty concentrating, stress could be the underlying culprit. Get that under control, and distractions might suddenly lose some of their allure.

Working With Compassion and Empathy Meet Bailey, Our Trust Administration Assistant

Everyone who works at Shoup Legal has a vital role in helping our clients. Everyone we bring on board has amazing and unique qualities while also being compassionate, kind, and professional. We are so proud of the team we have here and the growth that they show every day they come to work. One team member who continues to amaze us each and every day is our trust administration assistant, Bailey.

helping her clients move on from the loss of their loved ones while helping them get ahold of their assets. She knows how difficult that loss can be and how much more extreme it can be when other responsibilities and questions pile up. She has an impressive skill where she can place herself in others’

shoes to understand how they’re feeling. This has allowed her to find new ways to help people with whatever they need. Bailey has been incredibly busy when away from work lately. She recently adopted two shepherd puppies just months after she and her boyfriend bought a house together. As you can imagine, they’ve spent plenty of time gardening and building the yard over the last few months. When she heads inside after a long day tending the garden, she likes to unwind with an art film or a couple of episodes of “Bob’s Burgers.” We are so delighted to have Bailey as a member of our team and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for her.

Bailey has been with Shoup Legal for over a year now and fits in perfectly with the team. She got her first experience in the legal field back in 2009 when she started a job at another firm. Over time, she learned the ins and outs of the system. She began as an office assistant but quickly learned how to help people protect their assets and transfer property. Since joining our team, Bailey has been working toward her paralegal certification, but with 10 years of experience, she’s flying through it. When you stop by our office, you can often find Bailey spending time on the phone with clients, scheduling consultations, and compiling and reviewing documents. Bailey truly takes pride in

Plan today for peace

2 | (951) 445-4114

There’s a lot to figure out when you’re making an estate plan. You need to create a will to decide who will receive what assets after you’ve passed while also making decisions regarding your own well-being if you were to ever become incapacitated. While we’re ensuring we and our loved ones are taken care of, we can’t forget about our furry friends that can’t take care of themselves. Pets are an important part of our lives, and it’s essential that we make sure they’re taken care of in our estate plans. We’ve all seen the TV shows or heard stories about people who leave everything to their pets but in reality, that’s simply not possible. In the eyes of the law, our pets are part of our property and one piece of property cannot own another piece of Don’t Forget About Your Furry Friends PLANNING FOR YOUR PETS IN YOUR ESTATE PLAN

Mouthwatering Southern BBQ Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com

Summer isn’t complete without some Southern BBQ!

Ingredients

•

3 lbs boneless pork loin roast, trimmed

• • • • • •

1/4 cup brown sugar 18 oz barbecue sauce

• • •

1 cup water 1/2 tsp salt 1 tbsp pepper

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tbsp hot pepper sauce 10 hamburger buns, split Deli coleslaw (optional)

Directions

1. In a 4-quart slow cooker, add the roast and 1 cup of water. 2. Cover and cook the roast on high for 7 hours or until tender. 3. Once tender, shred the meat. 4. Return the shredded meat to the slow cooker. Stir in salt, pepper, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire, and hot pepper sauce. 5. Cover and cook on the lowest setting for an hour. 6. When finished, serve barbecue on buns with coleslaw (optional).

property, so you’ll need to come up with an alternative plan. That being said, you can make arrangements to ensure that your pet is well taken care of after you have passed or in the instance that you become incapacitated. When planning for your pets as part of your estate plan, your first step should be to designate someone as their caregiver. This will decide who has physical custody over your pets and will provide daily care throughout their lifetime. This decision can be rather difficult and

should not be made lightly. Have conversations with the people you’re considering to figure out whether they would be willing to take care of your pets and if they have the means to meet your wishes. After deciding on a caregiver, you need to set some money aside so the caregiver can effectively take care of your pets. You’ll need to consider how much it costs to pay for your pets now and multiply that cost by the maximum amount of years that your pet could live. Make sure to include some extra funds to cover an unforeseen illness or injury. Our pets should be considered members of our family and treated as such. Don’t leave their future up in the air. If you have any questions about estate planning or want to make sure your pets are taken care of in your estate plan, give us a call.

TAKE A BREAK

e of mind tomorrow.

WWW.SHOUPLEGAL.COM | 3

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Plan today for peace of mind tomorrow. 39755 Date St., Ste. 203 | Murrieta, CA 92563 (951) 445-4114 | www.shouplegal.com

1 | Enjoying Everything the Fourth of July Has to Offer 2 | How Distractions Are Hurting Us 2 | Get to Know Bailey! 3 | How to Include Your Pets in Your Estate Plan 3 | Mouthwatering Southern BBQ 4 | Oceanside Activities to Try This Summer Inside This Issue

Oceanside Activities the Entire Family Can Enjoy

Experience nature. The wildlife and environment of the beach are most likely drastically different from what you can experience back home, so make an effort to see all you can. At many beaches, you’ll be able to see dolphins, whales, and sea rays from the shore. You can also look in the sand for crabs and small crustaceans. By simply standing still and taking in all of the sights and sounds of the ocean, you’ll gain a greater appreciation for the surroundings. Ride the waves. You don’t need to be an experienced surfer to venture into the water on a board. Of course, you can take surfing lessons at many beaches, but you can also get in the water on a bodyboard for a thrilling experience. Additionally, you can rent kayaks or paddleboards if you want to be on the water, but not necessarily in it.

The summer season is officially underway and many Americans are planning to take a trip to the beach to celebrate the occasion. If you’re going on a family vacation to the ocean for an extended period of time, you may be worried about keeping everyone entertained. That’s why we put together a list of some of our favorite oceanside activities to try this summer. Your summer vacation will be filled with fun and excitement after trying some of these great activities! Get active. There’s nothing more relaxing than sitting on the beach and listening to the calm repetition of the waves, but maybe you want a little more excitement by the ocean. If that’s the case, there are plenty of sports to try. You can bring a football and throw it around in the water or on the beach. You can buy a net and set up a game of beach volleyball to get everyone involved, or you can try one of the many new beachside sports hitting the market like TidalBall, pickleball, and Spikeball. TidalBall is the beach version of cornhole, so if you haven’t played it yet, you definitely want to check it out.

4 | (951) 445-4114

Published by Newsletter Pro | www.newsletterpro.com