With Your Family in Mind

Have you ever given any thought as to how you will pass your financial wealth to your children?  Responsible provisions can be built into your living trust to protect your children and their inheritance, no matter how modest or how abundant your wealth might be.  Keep in mind that most wealth in this country is lost between one or two generations because people simply don’t take the time to learn how to best pass on their wealth.

Music lessons for the holidays is a great fun and educational gift that  everyone enjoys.  Lowe’s Music has offered music lessons for the past 10 years in the Santa Clarita Valley and hold the blue ribbon awards of being voted The Best Music Store in SCV for 2010, 2009, 2007 and 2006.

November 2, 2010… Make a Difference Day, America’s “National Day of Doing Good,” took place, Saturday, October 23.  During this largest single-day volunteer effort in the country, millions of people in communities across the nation woke up with a united purpose – to better their hometowns by helping their neighbors.  October 23, Santa Claritans lent their collective hand in the altruistic undertaking, hosted each year, by HandsOn Santa Clarita in partnership with the City of Santa Clarita.  

Having a big mouth can get you in a lot of trouble.  Especially after you have been arrested.  Everyone knows about the Miranda Rights from all of those great television shows.  Unfortunately many people choose not to invoke them.  In a time of trouble, it may seem like a good idea to cooperate or tell your side of the story.  If you get such a feeling, just ignore it. 

Retirement in the 21st century won’t look like our parents’ or grandparents’ retirement.  New rules have come into play, which I believe should be considered for individuals to have the potential for a more comfortable retirement.
You will live longer.   Average life expectancy—how long one lives from birth to death—according to the 2008 National Center for Health Statistics is 85 years for women and 82.2 years for men born in the United States.

Readers of The Magazine of Santa Clarita always send me great questions about the voiceover business.  Last month, a voice actor asked about ISDN.  
Q: I need to know some basic info about doing an ISDN session. –Bob J., Los Angeles, CA
Here’s part three of my answer:

As the holidays approach, the stress of last minute gift shopping isn’t the real issue for many separated and/or divorced parents—this is the season of who gets what time with the kids.  But there are ways to avoid the last minute stress of these situations.
1. Try to settle as far in advance of holiday time as possible.  It can be hard to decide months in advance as to what holiday is important to you—but having a first and second choice in mind can make negotiations much easier.

Whether you work in the entertainment industry, communications, management, education, health care, recreation, or your family business, you learn life lessons.  You learn how to relate to others, how to express your ideas, how to make people laugh or cry, and how to establish goals and set standards for your life.  You also learn how to tolerate friction, handle disappointment, and tolerate hard times. 

“...in serving the best interests of children, we serve the best interests of all humanity.” – Carol Bellamy
It’s estimated that 40 percent of our children will experience parental divorce.  Depression and anxiety, lower self-esteem, and more frequent use of psychological services are their likely inheritances.  The good news is that 75 percent to 80 percent will have short term negative effects and develop social adjustment on a par with children of intact families.  The bad news concerns the 20 percent to 25 percent that will endure life-long difficulties from the divorce.  

Thank you for your participation in our “Halloween Candy Buy Back” event on November 1, in a few hours we collected more than 400 pounds of candy and with further donations that week we gathered over 500 pounds that will be sent to U.S. troops.
As part of the program, kids received $1 for every pound of candy they donated at the office.  In exchange, they received a dental goody bag that included toothbrushes and floss.  The participants also entered a raffle and we would like to congratulate the winners of the iPods: Noah Dent, Megan Tuinstra, and Delaney Vandemore.

If he/she cheats on you, should you take it personally, or not?  And if he/she doesn’t?
If he/she says an unkind word to you, should you take it personally, or not?  And if he/she doesn’t?
If he/she follows through on a promise to you, should you take it personally, or not?  And if he/she doesn’t?

Thanks, once again, to the SCV’s generosity for making Comfort Keepers’ “Stop Senior Hunger” food drive a success.  With bins located throughout the valley, over half of a ton of food was raised.  All proceeds were donated to our SCV Senior Center, for distribution to our seniors in need, at an event held at the center on November 6.  Congratulations to Pat Gold, winner of the flat screen television grand prize!  Keynote speaker, Cardiologist Dr. Samuel Kojoglanian, addressed the audience on the importance of proper nutrition among seniors. 

With the holidays just around the corner, it’s important to remember the seniors in your family.  The holidays can be stressful for even the most laid-back folks, so imagine the toll on those who are not used to all the hustle and bustle in their lives.
It’s a festive time of year, but it can also be a stressful time of year, especially for older people.  Seniors can become easily overwhelmed with all the shopping, too much food, too many parties, sending out cards, and the list goes on! 

In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, the primary goal for most debtors is to discharge unsecured debt.  That includes credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, and even secured loans when the debtor is surrendering the security (such as a car or home).
Many debtors are aware that the bankruptcy code does not allow the discharge of some unsecured debts.  Recent tax debt, student loans, government fines and penalties, child support and alimony are a few examples of non-dischargeable debts.

Linda Magara, Santa Clarita Valley Club winner of the Jane M. Klausman (JMK) Women in Business award, was presented with a check in the amount of $500 for the Zonta International (ZI) District 9 JMK award by Marianne Cederlind at the October business meeting.  Her application will be forwarded to ZI for consideration to receive one of twelve $5,000 scholarships.

Do you ever feel like you are walking on eggshells around your own home?  Does your teen say you never understand them?  Do consequences seem useless?  Does the smallest issue cause a blow up?  If you answer yes to these questions, your teen may have a strong-willed temperament.
The most common response of the parent of a strong willed teen is to attempt to gain control of their child and his or her behavior.  This is often done by imposing restrictions, arguing, orchestrating their schedule or telling them what responses they are allowed to have. 

Are you, your family members, or friends, struggling to meet the needs of an elderly loved one or spouse during a chronic illness or disability?  If you see one of these signs of distress, it is time to get the right information—fast!
1. The primary caregiver is suffering from burnout, ill health, frustration, guilt or confusion.

The first job of a revocable living trust is, as many of you already know, to avoid probate.  For those who don’t know, that’s the court procedure whereby a decedent’s will is approved, a personal representative appointed, assets are identified and evaluated, creditors’ claims are approved and paid, and—after payment of administrative expenses—the balance of the decedent’s assets are distributed to his/her beneficiaries or heirs.  Probate is expensive, time-consuming, and a matter of public record.  So, avoiding probate is a good thing.