Stivers Law - March 2022

Stivers Law - March 2022

MARCH 2022

305 - 456- 3255 | PROBATEF IRM.COM

TIPS FROM A POSTING ENTHUSIAST Make Your Social Media Work for You

Did you know that the first-ever tweet on Twitter went live on March 21, 2006? That was just two years after the launch of Facebook, one year after the start of YouTube, and four years before the arrival of Instagram. It’s crazy to me that less than two decades ago social media didn’t exist. Without it, I’m not sure what I would do to stay awake when I’m bottle feeding baby Sophia at 2 a.m.! Scrolling on Facebook and Instagram keeps me from falling asleep on the couch, and they’re a huge part of how I share and promote my business. From the outside looking in, I probably seem like a social media enthusiast. It’s really important to me to post intentionally and consistently, so I try to share something on the firm’s Facebook and Instagram pages every day. You can also find us on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitter. We’ve even started posting on TikTok and Pinterest Business. Our TikTok account is still in the testing phase, but I’m already amazed by the response we’re getting there. A few weeks ago, I shared a video about how to prevent your ex-spouse from inheriting your money when you pass away, and several people commented to share their own experience or how much the information surprised them. You wouldn’t think people would spend time searching for attorney content on TikTok, but it turns out they do! The trickiest thing about social media is finding balance. I want to be active and engaged so my clients, friends, and colleagues can see what I’m up to and get helpful legal tips. But I don’t want to get sucked into a scrolling rabbit hole for an hour and a half every time I open Facebook.

Over my years of posting, I’ve come up with a few ways to keep my time on social media to a minimum while still getting what I want out of it. Whether you’re a business owner or just someone who wants to spend a little less time online, these hacks could help you. 1. Don’t overthink your posts. When I take videos or photos, I don’t stress out about their being perfect. I usually don’t even rewatch the videos! People have short attention spans these days, and I swear they won’t mind if your hair's a little messy or if you stutter. Doing things in one take will save you lots of time and stress. 2. Schedule your social media time. I have an alarm on my phone that reminds me to check my social media twice a day, just in case anything important happens there or a client is trying to reach me. Apart from those quick checks, I give myself permission to scroll during my 2 a.m. feedings with Sophia, and that’s it. Putting social media on my calendar helps me stay away from it during unscheduled time. If you’re a business owner, I have one more tip: Hire someone to do your social media. One of my team members handles social media for me and makes it really easy. All I have to do is take the photos and videos. They do the posting, hashtagging, and post scheduling. This frees up my mental space to think about big-picture things for the business. I hope these tips come in handy for you. If you’re a social media fan, follow me and the firm at the handles on this page! You’ll get to see cute baby pictures and learn important things about probate and estate planning. Win-win.

Justin Stivers

Want to see what I’m up to between newsletters and get your legal questions answered? Follow me and Stivers Law on social media.

Facebook.com/StiversLaw Facebook.com/Justin.Stivers @stiverslaw @justinbstivers

JustinStivers

PROBATEF IRM.COM | 1

But Find the Elusive Good-Luck Charm First MAKE A 4-LEAF CLOVER KEEPSAKE

Clover Craft Once you find your clover, preserve the luck in it all year by placing it in a picture frame. First, gently press the clover leaves between the pages of a large book for several days to flatten them out. After pressing, you can add green food coloring to your clover to enhance its color. Once it’s dry, clean it and let it sit overnight. Then, place your clover onto acid-free paper, cut to fit the size of a picture frame of your choice. Next, use acid-free glue to keep your clover in place, and finally, seal your frame shut. You now have your personal good luck charm! Searching for a four-leaf clover and creating a keepsake will be a great bonding experience for you and your family. We wish you luck! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

One of St. Patrick’s Day’s most popular symbols is a four-leaf clover. In Ireland, these clovers represent luck and good fortune. Each leaf on the clover has a different meaning — faith,

hope, love, and success. It’s a tradition to find a four-leaf clover on St. Patrick’s Day and do activities involving this lucky leaf. So, how do you find these good-luck charms, and what can you do with them? How to Find a 4-Leaf Clover Although it may seem difficult, it’s easier than you might think. First, find a dense patch of white clover — near it is where four-leaf clovers reside. They are different from the rest and are often smaller, so keep that in mind when you look for the lucky green clovers.

Instead of staring at the patch in close detail and counting leaves, search the patch without focusing on the tiny details. This increases the odds of eyeing a four-leaf clover because the

different patterns, shapes, and sizes of these clovers will jump out at you. If you find one, keep looking! There’s a chance another one might be nearby.

This year, I’ve set a new reading goal: three books per month, for a total of 36 books for the year. Each month I’ll read one business book, one biography, and one random book of my choice. It’s going to be a lot of fun. Thirty-six books is a bit less than the 52 I usually aim for, but with a baby in my life now, I don’t have quite as much time to read as I used to. Today, I thought I’d share the three books I read in January to kick off 2022. It was a strong start to the year! ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill This is the quintessential business book inspired by the story of Andrew Carnegie, and I reread it every year in January. It gets me in the right mindset to start, focus on my goals, and stay motivated to achieve them. I truly believe all other business books either point back to “Think and Grow Rich” or grew out of it. If you’re a business owner and haven’t read this one, I’d highly recommend picking it up. What’s Justin Reading?

‘The People’s Tycoon: Henry Ford and the American Century’ by Steven Watts I’ve always been interested in biographies, especially when they cover famous business owners. This book dives into the life of Henry Ford, and it’s absolutely fascinating! I listened to it on audiobook and was amazed by how much I learned. Everyone knows about Henry Ford and the Ford Motor Company, but the man himself was very impressive, and I loved hearing more about his life. ‘The Bluest Eye’ by Toni Morrison Toni Morrison has been on my to-read list for a long time, and this was her first novel. It follows a young Black girl named Pecola who grows up in the 1940s Midwest wishing for blonde hair and blue eyes. Race, class, and gender issues are big themes throughout the book, and at times, it was pretty painful to read about Pecola’s life. Still, “The Bluest Eye” had a big impact on me and, like Maya Angelou’s poetry, opened my eyes to a lot of the tough parts of American history. MY FIRST 3 BOOKS OF 2022

–Justin

2 | 305 - 456- 3255

Spring-cleaning your garage is easy compared to the mother of all cleaning projects: the filing cabinet. Organizing paperwork can be scary because it’s tough to know which documents you can safely throw out and which ones you need to keep. If you’re staring at a pile of documents right now, follow this guide to make sure you don’t shred something you’ll regret. Wait! Don’t Throw That Out! HOW TO SPRING-CLEAN YOUR LEGAL DOCUMENTS

Thank You for Your Referrals in January!

Ron Rodman Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada Miami, FL

Victor Demesmin Demesmin and Dover Fort Lauderdale, FL Dawn Bradshaw Nirenstein, Horowitz & Associates Glastonbury, CT

Nancy Michel Realtor Miami, FL

DO NOT Shred •

Original documents. Anything with the original blue or black ink should be kept for your records, including contracts, loan agreements, life insurance documents, and leases.

Manny Dobrinsky Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein Coconut Grove, FL Adam Finkel The Haggard Law Firm Miami, FL Bobby Nunez The Accident Law Firm Miami, FL

Max Leinoff Leinoff & Lemos Miami, FL

• Active student loan documents , specifically the master promissory note. You need to keep this until the loan is paid off.

Manuel Rebsoso Rossman Baumberger Reboso & Spier Miami, FL Michael Monteforte Monteforte Law Woburn, MA Prosper Shaked Prosper Shaked Law Miami, FL

• Recent income tax records. Broadly speaking, if you’ve ever had tax trouble you should keep your tax records dating back seven years. If not, the IRS says you only need to keep records for three years. Visit IRS.gov for more specific guidance. • Recent employee benefit paperwork. You should keep paperwork about the health insurance and retirement accounts you receive through your job for at least three years. • Estate planning documents. Keep these until you can reach out to our team at Stivers Law for guidance. We’ll help you determine what to keep and what to shred.

Martha Pomares Douglas Elliman Coconut Grove, FL

DO Shred •

Todd Michaels The Haggard Law Firm Miami, FL

Credit card statements if they’re more than seven years old or you have online access.

•

Income tax records if they’re more than seven years old (see above).

•

Bank records if you have digital access to them, which most banks offer for free.

According to USA Today, $4 billion in 2019 was spent in unproductive labor due to the March Madness tournament.

•

Employee benefit paperwork if it’s more than three years old.

Old copies of updated documents. If you have an out-of-date will, old contract, or similar document, you should shred it to avoid conflict with the updated versions. Double-check with us before getting rid of this paperwork, though. Bonus Tip Spring-cleaning is the perfect opportunity to update your documents, too. When you’re looking over your estate planning paperwork, check your beneficiaries, bank account information, and investments. If anything is out of date or doesn’t reflect the plan you want now, give our team a call to make adjustments.

PROBATEF IRM.COM | 3

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

110 Merrick Way, Ste. 2C Coral Gables, FL 33134 305-456-3255 ProbateFirm.com

1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |

The Smart Way to Use Social Media

Create a Keepsake for Good Luck Year Round

Justin’s First Reads of 2022

Your Guide to Spring-Cleaning Your Documents

Thank You for Your January Referrals!

Get Healthy While Spring-Cleaning!

It’s More Than Just Tidying Up 4 Health Benefits of Spring-Cleaning

Spring-cleaning helps you breathe better. Spring often brings pollen that triggers allergies for many. But pollen isn't the only thing to blame when

Sunday, March 20, is the first day of spring — which means it’s time for some spring-cleaning. Did you know that cleaning is not just about tidying up a physical space? It’s also about improving overall well-being. Here's how organization and cleanliness can help you in more ways than you might expect. Spring-cleaning reduces stress and depression. Tidiness and mental health are actually connected. Studies have found that having a clean home is directly correlated to happiness and your ability to focus. Anxiety can spike when laundry is piling up, items are strewn everywhere, and papers get scattered on various surfaces within the home. Clearing the clutter is a great way to boost your mood and increase those feel-good hormones. It prevents illnesses. Doorknobs, refrigerator handles, light switches, countertops, and remote controls are all things we touch many times a day. Cleaning anything that’s used often is one way to reduce the spread of germs. By keeping household surfaces clean, we help thwart the spread of viruses and illnesses.

people have difficulty breathing. When dust

and pet dander build up in your home, your respiratory system is greatly affected too. Deep-cleaning your air filters and vents can make breathing effortless — and it’s truly amazing how this can improve your well-being. It keeps you more active. Off the couch and on your feet! Even just running the vacuum and clearing the clutter from the dining room table will get you up and moving, which is healthy for your heart and body.

This spring season, putting some elbow grease into your cleaning will benefit you in more ways than one. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later!

4 | 305 - 456- 3255

Published by Newsletter Pro | www.newsletterpro.com