Trinity Elder Law & Estate Planning December 2019

Trinity Elder Law & Estate Planning December 2019

Spreading Cheer Through the Holidays Peace of Mind Post W hen I was growing up, we would have big Christmas celebrations with lots of gifts and decorations every year. But my family never failed to emphasize the true DECEMBER 2019

meaning of the holidays: being together with family and showing people that you care about them. Through our traditions and our joy, we can spread that true meaning and give back this holiday season! Twenty years ago, we had a sick family friend who wasn’t going to see his daughter on Christmas Day. She was in California for college and he was bedridden in the hospital, so logistically, there was no way they could be together for the holidays. Knowing this, a few of his friends, including my father, coordinated to make sure he was able to see his daughter for Christmas. My job was picking her up from their airport on Christmas Eve. When he saw her at the hospital, he was ecstatic, and no matter how many times I think about that memory, I always remember how wonderful it was. Chances like this don’t always come about, but we make sure to spread a little cheer in one form or another every year. It doesn’t have to be grand to make a difference; one example of this in my life is my church’s several holiday programs! Every winter, my family participates in their Operation Christmas Child program, which sends shoeboxes of toys to children in need of cheer during the holidays. Another tradition my family practices is inviting someone over who doesn’t have a place to celebrate the holidays. Growing up, my grandmother made sure that if anyone didn’t have a Christmas dinner planned, we would go out of our way to have them over. Every year, we always have one or two extra people over for dinner, and it’s so fun to share that experience. If you’re looking for a way to give your family a little more holiday cheer, there is one tradition my dad and I love to do. Ever since I was a kid, my dad and I would cut down a gigantic Christmas tree for the big day!

Christmas Tree in the barn

Gram’s last Christmas at home

We’ve gone a variety of places over the years, but now we usually go to either Grupp’s Christmas Tree Farm or Cypher’s Christmas Tree Farm. Both of them are a bit of a drive, so my dad and I always have a chance to enjoy each other’s company. “Growing up, my grandmother made sure that if anyone didn’t have a Christmas dinner planned, we would go out of our way to have them over.”

Julie’s horse, Rascal, getting into the holiday spirit

But we don’t just get a tree for ourselves. We get one for the animals as well! After our Christmas tree adventure, we will take one of the trees and place it in the barn. We will then decorate it with unbreakable ornaments so that even our farm animals can join in the Christmas festivities! What sort of traditions do you and your family have for Christmas? Let me know the next time you’re in the office! I love finding new ways to give back or spread cheer during the holiday season.

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Organize Your Fin Even the smallest decisions can make ripples in your grander financial plans. Getting organized at the lowest levels of your bookkeeping can have surprising positive effects on the bigger spending you want to do, so if you have elaborate aspirations in the new year, feed into them by getting your smaller finances organized first. Keep Bills Together This is an easy place to start. These days, bills come electronically or through snail mail. Whether digital, paper, or a blend of both, it’s important to make a point of consolidating all your bills in one place. That might mean printing digital bills so you can keep them in a drawer with those mailed, or it might mean digitizing bills you receive by mail so you can keep them in a specific folder on your computer. Whatever your preference, keep bills in one place so you’re never wondering which bill is where. Create a Checklist Every month, create a list of all the bills you’re expecting to receive that month. Don’t leave anything out, no matter if CRANBERRY GINGERBREAD Gingerbread is a holiday classic of the very first order, but it’s often a construction material rather than a treat. This recipe, on the contrary, is purely for eating. AND START THE YEAR SMART

A s a nation, America is getting older. By 2030, 20% of Americans will be 65 or older. With people living longer than ever before and the baby boomers approaching retirement age en masse, older adults will continue to have a massive impact on the American economy at large. Normally, we think of seniors as people who cash in on the hard work they’ve already accomplished. Many young people even worry Social Security will be wiped out by the time they reach retirement age. But who’s to say older adults can’t contribute to the economy? If you’ve ever tried to change jobs late in your career or pick up some part-time work after retirement, you know it’s hard to be hired as a senior. Quartz recently called seniors “the economy’s most underused natural resource.” Until more employers understand the value and potential of older workers, entrepreneurship remains the most viable avenue for seniors wanting to work after their primary career has ended. There are a number of reasons why seniors find creating their own business to be rewarding and why they tend to succeed when they do. Unlike younger people, who often become business owners in an attempt to make a fortune, older entrepreneurs can be content with small, sustainable micro-businesses. They also approach their businesses with a wealth of experience that can’t be purchased. As a result, 70% of ventures founded by older entrepreneurs are still open five years later, more than double the rate of the general population. With so much potential to be found in senior-run businesses, it’s no surprise that organizations are rushing to empower older adults with the tools they need to succeed. Senior Planet, a coworking space for seniors with outposts nationwide, teaches classes on skills like website creation in a space that makes older learners feel welcome and comfortable. On top of being an important economic driver, entrepreneurship can be a wonderful way for seniors to generate meaning and value in their lives. It’s never too late to start the business of your dreams. THE JOYS OF STARTING A BUSINESS AFTER YOU ‘RETIRE’

INGREDIENTS

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1/2 cup canola oil, plus more for greasing 3/4 cup unsulphured molasses 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated 2 large eggs

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1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped

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• • • • • •

2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder

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1 tsp baking soda

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1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp kosher salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. Grease a loaf pan with canola oil.

3. In a large mixing bowl, mix together 1/2 cup canola oil, molasses, brown sugar, eggs, ginger, and cranberries. In a separate bowl, sift and combine flour with baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until blended. 4. Scrape batter into loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes. 5. Transfer to a rack, let cool for 20 minutes, slice, and serve.

Inspired by Food & Wine Magazine

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nces

MAKE THE HOLIDAYS COUNT FOR EVERYONE

3 Ways to Give Back

they’re repeating bills or one-time payments. Neither mail or email is perfect, so some bills might not arrive, and those missed payment penalties might land on

While Christmas is a fantastic time of year, it’s easy to get swept up in holiday spending. When this happens, it’s hard to find time to give back to the community that makes Pennsylvania so wonderful. But no matter how you give back this season, every bit helps. Here are some ways to help your community while still making time for all your holiday festivities. Donate Your Clothes and Goods

you. But having a checklist to work from ensures you won’t miss a payment. This same checklist can also be used to keep track of which bills you’ve already paid. Set a Budget

Why make a plan to spend money if you’re trying to save money? Having a budget for certain spending, especially frivolities like dining out and shopping sprees, not only gives you an idea of how much you’re spending on these things but also shows how much money you have left to spend on other necessities. Set limits that are appropriate for your lifestyle, and month after month, reexamine your spending and adjust your budget accordingly. Prioritize what you want to spend your money on so you can make the most of it.

The holiday season is a perfect time to turn those unused items around the house into

holiday presents for families in need! You can find a clothing or toy drop-off in the parking lot of your nearest supermarket or restaurant to make a donation. You can also contact your local Salvation Army or homeless shelter to find out what exactly they need.

S U D O KU

Volunteer at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

As a member of Feeding America, this organization distributes food to local residents in need and mobilizes the community to fight hunger. Today, they

work with nearly 400 partner agencies and seven partner distribution organizations through their 11-county service area. They may have plenty of food, but they’re in great need of people to serve those meals. They have volunteer opportunities for the whole family, as well. For more information, visit PittsburghFoodBank.org. Volunteer at Local Animal Shelters Our local animal shelters are always looking for volunteers, foster homes, and adoption homes. Even spending a few minutes playing with the animals that aren’t ready to be adopted makes a significant impact. If you’re looking to get involved, visit ButlerCountyhs.org for more information.

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I N S I D E This Issue

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Spreading Cheer Through the Holidays

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The Power of Senior Entrepreneurship Cranberry Gingerbread Basic Steps for Organizing Your Finances Giving Back to Your Community

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Florida City Sues Family Over Extreme Christmas Display

LIGHTS OUT FLORIDA CITY BATTLES TO END ‘EXTREME’ LIGHTS DISPLAY T here’s nothing quite like the magic of twinkling Christmas lights. But for city officials in Plantation, Florida, Christmas lights are a stark reminder of a prolonged fight, nearly $500,000 in court fees, and continued drama. the traffic. Police officers in Plantation were dispatched to the light display multiple times each season for complaints by neighbors, accidents, and traffic control.

After a two-year battle in court, a judge ruled in favor of the Hyatts, claiming the city could not prove the display was dangerous or a nuisance. The city had spent nearly half a million dollars fighting their case. For the Hyatts, Christmas 2016 was a celebration, though their display was restrained due to the timing of the court’s decision. By 2017, “Hyatt Extreme Christmas” was in full swing again, much to their neighbors’ chagrin. Mark Hyatt rode the wave of support for his display all the way to a vacant seat on the Plantation City Council in 2016, but the highs would soon stop there. Plantation news outlets reported in 2018 that Mark Hyatt filed for divorce, effectively ending any hope of another “Hyatt Extreme Christmas.” As the snow has settled, an extravagant lights display has instead become a story of nasty court battles with a sad ending for the Hyatts and their “extreme” Christmas devotees.

In 2014, Plantation sued residents Mark and Kathy Hyatt for their “Hyatt Extreme Christmas” lights display, claiming it was a “public nuisance.” Each year, the Hyatts decorated their yard

with more than 200,000 lights, snow, a Christmas tree, a Nativity scene, a

functioning Ferris wheel, and more. Their creation was featured on two nationally televised programs and attracted flocks of visitors.

But, for the Hyatt’s neighbors, extreme didn’t even begin to explain the chaos. Neighbors complained to the city about increased traffic, litter in their yards, and potential injury or death to pedestrians due to

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