With Your Family in Mind

Did you know that someone other than your spouse could be appointed to make medical decisions for you if you are incapacitated?  Many couples assume that their spouse has the immediate and absolute right to make healthcare decisions for them if they become temporarily or permanently...

Santa Clarita Magazine readers continue to send in terrific questions about the voice-acting business.  Here’s one regarding announcing:
Q:  I’ve done a lot of voice work for commercials, and though people compliment me on my voice, they sometimes say that my delivery is too “announcer-y.”  Is there any easy way to tone down or eliminate the announcer part of my delivery? – Bob W., Sylmar, CA

At Child Care Resource Center’s 18th Annual Legislative Forum held November 16 at The Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills a special honor was conferred upon Assemblymember Sharon Runner.

The California fires have impacted so many of us.  The uncertainty of the direction, the rapid nature in which the fire spread, the homes that were lost or damaged. Why did this happen?  How can we feel safe again?  These are all question and concerns of those who were evacuated, those who lost their homes and those who were impacted by the media coverage.  The empathy felt for others, knowing it was possible that we could be someone who lost our home can be heart wrenching as well. 
The best thing one can do to take care of themselves is surrender to the unknown and let go. 

November is National Adoption Month.  Children’s Bureau is having an Information Meeting at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church located at 27265 Luther Drive, Canyon Country from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday night, November 29.  Children’s Bureau offers an innovative and supportive adoption program that is appealing to prospective parents who have made the decision to help a child in need.  The agency has a high success rate of these newly formed families staying together because of a unique “matching team” approach that it continues to develop and hone with each new family and child.  There are several factors that the agency considers when matching a family with a child that include the child’s age, gender, health, history and special needs as well as how the child might fit in with a family’s interests, activities and beliefs.

When you live in the moment, you have all of your power.  When you stay in the moment by living through your heart, you create your own reality.

When you follow your excitement of all possibility, anything is possible.  Some people don’t truly understand or remember how to navigate through their own life.  Some people are unaware of the divine power of energy that resides in each and every person.  Moment Connections helps people get back to being connected.  Connected to life, dreams, fulfillment of desires and joy.  Kimberly Barclay, Certified Life and Career Coach, will help you create and live the life of your dreams.  She works with clients to develop a unique, customized plan that works specifically for them.

ValenciaMac is your local solution for all of your Mac computer needs.  We are an authorized Apple Dealer and service provider.  We carry the full line of current Apple products and have them here on display in our conveniently located store on Cinema Drive, just across the street from Trader Joe’s.  Our open and spacious showroom offers a naturally lit ambience with two sitting areas and an outdoor patio.  Bring your laptop, come sit down and drink a coffee while you browse the Internet on our serene outdoor patio, we welcome you.  There’s also a grass area for kids to run around.  We have a stunning location in one of the newest buildings in town.

Did you know that you could unintentionally disinherit your loved ones?  Part of the estate planning process is making sure your loved ones are protected.  If you don’t have a plan or your plan is barebones, your loved ones could be left out in the cold.  There are several ways this can happen but here are two quick stories based on actual cases that have come across my desk.

Many companies now have websites as a key element in their overall marketing strategy.  Most small- and medium-sized businesses typically use shared or virtual hosting environments, where they are sharing one computer server with many other companies’ websites and e-mail services.  With website hosting costs typically less than $100 a month and in many cases, less than $50 or even as low as $25 a month, this is a very cost-effective solution for many companies.

So, it’s true when everyone says, “Enjoy them now, they grow up sooo fast.”  It has already been three months since Sophia was born.  Then she weighed seven pounds and now she weighs 12 pounds.  My arm can definitely feel the difference.  She has grown so quickly.  She keeps outgrowing all her clothes, which is fine with me since that means we get to go shopping.  Trust me, she is just like her mother when it comes to that.

A friend, who we’ll call Charlie, has assets in excess of $100,000, including his own business, a sole proprietorship.  He asks, “If I die, what will happen to my business?”

Where have you placed your estate planning documents?  Many people tell me they keep these documents in their dresser drawer, “strong box,” or in a file cabinet.  In California, if your original will cannot be found, it is “presumed revoked.”  This means any or all of the directives in your will could be ignored and the persons to whom you wanted to distribute your estate could be disregarded.   The original will must be kept in a safe and known place to be submitted to a Court in a probate proceeding, if necessary.  This same precautionary measure applies to your Powers of Attorney.  Your agent cannot act on your behalf if the original documents cannot be found.

Many individuals who have established or are the beneficiaries of a trust often believe that their trust cannot be transferred from one trustee to another.  In fact, while certain elements of a trust may not be changed, the person or institution named to act as trustee is usually not one of them.  A trustee holds fiduciary responsibility to manage and administer a trust under the terms of the trust document in a manner most advantageous to the beneficiaries of the trust.  In most cases, a trustee can be changed.

The average daily cost of a private room in a nursing home in the United States is $75,190 a year, or $206 a day, according to the 2006 MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home and Home Care Costs.  This is a 3.9 percent increase over last year, when the average daily rate for a private room in a nursing home was $74,095 a year, or $203 a day, according to MetLife.  In Los Angeles, the average daily cost of a private room in a nursing home is $199 a day.

In the early stages of a dissolution where the parties have minor children, parents are often concerned that the court hear their child’s point of view as to custody and visitation first-hand.  Particularly where the parent believes that the children will express a strong desire to spend time primarily with him or her, it is not uncommon for a parent to want the judge to talk with the child.

Retirement in the 21st century won’t look like our parents’ or grandparents’ retirement.  New rules have come into play that I believe should be considered for individuals to have the potential for a more comfortable retirement.

No driver expects to be in an accident.  Unfortunately, however, accidents do occur and it’s important for you to understand all of your auto insurance options.  One thing we always recommend to our clients is that they maintain adequate collision coverage.  If you have a loan or a lease on your car, your lender probably requires it.  The reason is simple.  If you are properly covered, your insurance company will pay for the damage to your vehicle regardless of whose fault the accident was. 

With the holidays right around the corner, you may be looking for something special to do for your loved ones.  The creation of an estate plan is one of the most thoughtful and loving gifts you can provide your family.

If you are anything like me, you may be tired of the materialism and consumerism associated with the holidays.  You may wish that the holidays were more about family values and less about trying to outdo one another for the greatest material gift.