Swerdloff Law February 2018

SWERDLOFF In The Know

www.lawwithasmile.com • 310-577-9104

FEBRUARY 2018

HOW I LEARNED TO MANAGE STRESS

When my kids were little, I remember being stressed out almost every day. I wasn’t taking care of myself very well, which, as you know, only makes matters worse. I’d just turned 40, and when I stopped to take a look at my life, I wasn’t happy with what I saw. I was overweight, not working out, smoking, and my life just generally wasn’t going well. Furthermore, my job was demanding, and I struggled to fit everything else in around it. Luckily, I stumbled upon a community class at UCLA on stress reduction. The six-month class taught me how to manage my stress instead of letting it manage me. Looking back, it saved my life. I quit smoking, started eating better, and learned to manage my stress. We learned a bit about meditation and slowing down our minds, and I found out how to quiet some of my type-A tendencies. As for work, I was always saying yes, which was great for business but not so great for my health. Plus, because I was always saying yes, I wasn’t prioritizing the cases that I found most meaningful. Through deep breathing exercises, I learned to take a step back, take a deep breath, and, every once in a while, to say no when an opportunity wasn’t the right fit for my firm. Instead of letting my frustration take over when I was presented with a stressful situation at home or work, I took a deep breath and looked at how I could handle it.

These days, people call it mindfulness.

myself, which led me to become a better parent. I’m so glad I did, because I sure do love being a part of my kids’ lives today. I know there’s no way I can completely understand the challenges you face. When you have kids with special needs, the everyday stresses you face are extreme. You might have a hard time dealing with everything going on around you. That’s when it’s time to take a deep breath and find a way, even if it’s small, to take care of yourself. By the way, if you’re looking for a community class like the one I took, UCLA offers free drop-in meditation and other community education courses. You can find more at osher.uclaextension.edu/courses.

For parents, stress is a part of life. You can learn to cope with it, but it can be tough not to let it overwhelm you. The constant stress puts a lot of pressure on couples, and often, you forget to take care of yourself. I’ve seen how this can be especially challenging for families who have kids with special needs. Often, one parent will become the caregiver while the other works to support the family and pay for medical expenses. It puts a lot of pressure on the whole family. Both parents need a healthy way to relieve that stress and take care of themselves — otherwise there’s no way you can continue to care for your kids. For me, turning 40 and taking that community ed class proved to be life- changing. I learned how to take care of

–Arthur J. Swerdloff

1

www.lawwithasmile.com • 310-577-9104

Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com

INVEST IN YOUR GRANDCHILD’S EDUCATION ARE 529 PLANS RIGHT FOR YOU?

PREPAID TUITION PLANS States and some private institutions have 529 plans available that let you pay for your grandchild’s tuition up front, well before they are ready to head off to college. Some plans guarantee to cover a set amount of future tuition expenses in exchange for a lump sum or payment plan. Other plans allow you to buy “units” or “credits,” which translate to a fixed percentage of an institution’s tuition. Essentially, you pay the cost of tuition today rather than what it will cost by the time your grandchild goes to college. Prepaid plans are far less risky than savings plans, but they aren’t as flexible. They often limit options to state schools or select institutions, though most plans offer some form of reimbursement option if your beneficiary decides to attend another school. College just isn’t as affordable as it used to be. Knowing your options and finding a savings strategy early in your grandchild’s life can help ensure the avenues of higher education stay open for them.

taking the dog on a brisk walk, it’s not so important what it is as it is to develop those habits. If you can spend some time outdoors with the sounds of nature, you’ll do so much good for your body. There are also special areas to focus on in the winter as this extreme flu goes around. Our lymph system takes care of our immunity by cleaning out toxins that build up in our body. Exercise and massage help keep your blood flowing well, which helps properly flush out toxins. Meditation also has wonderful health benefits. On the days when I meditate for even five minutes, I’m so much more relaxed and focused as I go about the rest of my day. You grew up in Ireland and now live in California. What differences do you notice between the two places? The contrast that comes to mind is the climate. In Ireland, we live in a cold, wet 529 plans are income tax-free savings plans specially designed to help you invest in a child’s higher education. In general, these are treated favorably by financial aid assessors, meaning you won’t hurt your grandchild’s chances of receiving government grants. There are two broad types of 529 plans: college savings plans and prepaid tuition plans. SAVINGS PLANS College savings plans use one or more investment portfolios to grow your grandchild’s tuition fund. Each portfolio contains a diversified mix of investments curated by the plan’s money manager. Most plans allow you to select from a menu of portfolio options that best fit your goals and risk tolerance. Many college savings plans start aggressive and then become more conservative as your beneficiary approaches college age. The downside with these sorts of plans is that there will always be risk involved; there’s no guarantee on investment returns.

There are many strategies out there for folks who want to invest in their grandchildren’s education. Different options may be more attractive than others depending on your income bracket and the needs of your family. Traditional strategies, like life insurance policies or paying for your grandchild’s schooling directly, only work if you have the capital. Furthermore, those methods can often negatively affect how much financial aid your grandchild qualifies for. Before you commit yourself to one of these paths, it’s worth exploring a third option: 529 saving plans.

LEARNING ABOUT RELAXATION FROM AN EXPERT

environment. Here in Southern California, we get a warm, sunny climate that gives us so many opportunities to be outside.

Something I bring to my practice from Ireland is its deep spiritual culture.

How can we find full relaxation through massage? Remember that we’re working together. I’m here to facilitate your relaxation through massage, so it’s important that you feel comfortable. Massage shouldn’t hurt. Sometimes we’re told to have the mentality that it hurts in a good way. That is not the approach we take. Pain is an indicator that something isn’t right, so if you feel any pain, let your massage therapist know. We are here to help you find relief from stress so you can reach healing and relaxation.

Since we’re talking about reducing stress, we thought we’d turn the topic over to an expert. Kieran Kennedy has built his life around helping people relax. As a massage therapist in Southern California, Kieran utilizes Esalen massage to help from Ireland, Kieran has found a home in our sunny state. Today, we asked him a few questions about relaxation. How can we take better care of ourselves? Regular exercise is important for well-being at every stage of life. Whether it’s dancing, playing tennis, or

You can learn more about Kieran’s practice at his website: leimertparkmassage.com.

2

www.lawwithasmile.com • 310-577-9104

Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com

BE SOCIAL MEDIA SAVVY AND STAY CONNECTED

It’s time to break the bad news to your grandkids: Social media isn’t just for them. A study from the Pew Research Center found that 47 percent of baby boomers are using social media. Facebook in particular proves to be an excellent resource for adults moving through the later stages of life. This social media platform helps keep you in touch with friends, family members who live far away, and workplace acquaintances who

you don’t see during retirement. Social media can help you gather the people you want to keep in contact with in one centralized location. Here are a few things to remember for keeping your digital friendships enjoyable. SOCIAL MEDIA ISN’T A DIARY No one wants to see a feed clogged with posts from the same person. Your friends might like reading about exciting vacations or days with the grandkids, but they don’t need updates about your wait in line at the grocery store. Sharing TMI (too much information) will put you on the fast track to losing friends. IT’S OKAY TO HIT UNFRIEND Likewise, if you find yourself sick of Judy’s moment-by-moment updates of her dog’s kidney stone, feel free to cut ties. That might entail unfollowing (you remain friends, but no longer see their posts in your feed), unfriending, or blocking a person

entirely. There’s no reason to keep in touch with someone whose very profile picture makes you angry. CHECK A SOURCE BEFORE SHARING Just because something is online, that doesn’t make it true. It’s just as easy for someone to post a lie about a celebrity or politician as it is for Judy to post about her dog. If you read a news story that gets a rise out of you, double check the facts before you hit share. Googling the article’s claims and main points will bring up similar articles — if those claims are true. This will help you determine if it’s breaking news or a big hoax. Just 10 years ago, snail mail and expensive long-distance calls were the only way to keep in touch with the people we couldn’t see every day. Thanks to social media, we can stay connected to our loved ones around the world. Now that’s something that deserves a like.

Recipe inspired by AllRecipes.com

SUDOKU

EGG TARTS HONG KONG

Celebrate Chinese New Year in style with these egg tarts! Originally a Portuguese delicacy, these marketplace treats were influenced by British custard tarts and eventually became a Hong Kong staple.

Ingredients

• Vanilla extract • 1/3 cup white sugar • 1 1/2 cups water • 1 cup evaporated milk

• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar • 3 cups all-purpose flour • 1 cup butter • 10 eggs, beaten

Instructions

and water; bring to a boil. Simmer until sugar is dissolved, then let cool. Strain remaining 9 eggs through a sieve, then whisk in sugar mixture. Stir in evaporated milk and a dash of vanilla. Strain the mixture again and fill tart shells.

1. In a medium bowl, mix

confectioners’ sugar and flour. Mix in butter with a fork until crumbly. Stir in 1 beaten egg and a dash of vanilla until doughy. Shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls and press into tart molds. Use 2 fingers to fold down edges of dough. 2. Heat oven to 450 F. In a medium saucepan, combine white sugar

3. Bake 15–20 minutes, until golden brown.

3

www.lawwithasmile.com • 310-577-9104

Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Address Service Requested

4640 AdmiraltyWay, Suite 800 Marina del Rey, CA 90292

INSIDE

1

The Class That Saved My Life

2

Protect Your Grandchild’s Future Kieran Kennedy’s Thoughts on Self-Care

3

Are You Committing a Facebook Faux Pas? A Perfect Dessert for Chinese New Year

4

Have You Heard of Ruby Chocolate?

SAMPLE THESE CHOCOLATE FACTS

Chocolate lovers, rejoice! After 80 years, a new variety of chocolate has finally graced the world: ruby chocolate. This naturally pink chocolate, created by Swiss chocolatier Barry Callebaut, is not milky like milk chocolate, sweet like white chocolate, or bitter like dark chocolate. Instead, Callebaut describes the flavor of his confection as a “tension between berry fruitiness and luscious smoothness.” Unfortunately, while ruby chocolate sounds like a wonderful treat, it is not yet available to consumers. So, as you wait for ruby chocolate to be stocked in your local grocery store or candy boutique, satisfy your chocolate cravings with some sweet facts about your favorite treat. IMPOSTERS! The names of certain chocolates can be very misleading. German chocolate cake,

for example, is not named after the country of Germany. It’s actually an American dessert that was first baked in 1852, named for its creator, Sam German, and originally called “German’s chocolate cake.” White chocolate also suffers from a mistaken identity. Made primarily from cocoa butter, white chocolate does not contain any cocoa solids, which means it’s not technically chocolate. WHAT’S IN A NAME? The ancient Mayans are credited as the first people to grow and consume chocolate. However, the word “chocolate” comes from the later Aztec civilization. The Aztecs loved a bitter, spicy beverage made from cacao beans called “xocoatl.” And since we’re on the topic of words, the scientific name for the tree that grows cacao beans, Theobroma cacao, is a Greek word, which translates to “food of the gods.” This just

proves cocoa connoisseurs were right all along — chocolate really is divine.

A SWEET DEAL Speaking of the Aztecs, their civilization loved chocolate so much that cacao seeds were used as a form of currency in Mesoamerica. During the American Revolution, chocolate was still accepted as payment, sometimes used in soldiers’ rations in lieu of wages. Even today, chocolate remains a valuable commodity. The chocolate industry is worth around $110 billion a year. Humans have enjoyed the sweet pleasures of chocolate for thousands of years. And with so many chapters of candy history left to explore, namely ruby chocolate’s eventual entrance, it’s clear the treat won’t go out of style any time soon.

4

www.lawwithasmile.com • 310-577-9104

Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com