Leaving Your Family a Legacy
WEEKLY EDUCATIONAL  UPDATE - DECEMBER 18, 2019
In This Issue
A family legacy can have multiple aspects. It can include much more than heirlooms. It may also include guidance on what to do with the gifts that are given.

What are your "legacy" assets? Financially speaking, a legacy asset is something that may outlast you, something that might produce income or wealth for your descendants.
To help these financial legacy assets endure, an appropriate legal structure may be necessary. The goal is to have a structure that may permit reasonable management of the legacy assets - not just five years from now, but long into the future as well.

For example, imagine that 40 years from now you have 12 heirs to the company you've founded. Would you expect all 12 heirs to manage the company together?

Probably not. Some of those heirs may not be old enough to handle such responsibility. Others may be reluctant or ill-prepared to take on the role.

Values are also crucial legacy assets. Early on, you can communicate the importance of honesty, humility, responsibility, compassion, and self-discipline to your children and grandkids. These virtues can help young adults do the right things in life and guide their financial decisions. Your estate strategy can articulate and reinforce these values, and perhaps, link your children or grandchildren's inheritance to the expression of these qualities.

Make sure to address the basics. Is your will up to date? How about the beneficiary designations on your retirement accounts? Creating a trust may be a smart move. But remember, a trust involves a complex set of tax rules and regulations. Before moving forward with a trust, consider working with a professional who is familiar with the rules and regulations.

Think about the legacy you are leaving. Your thoughtful actions and guidance could help your children and grandchildren enter adulthood with good values and a promising financial start.

Note: There will be no Weekly Educational Update next week, but we will be back on January 2 with another WEU. Have a happy holiday season!



"If you think you're too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito."

- Dalai Lama
Bacon Egg Cups

These bacon egg cups are the perfect little goodies to wake up to. They're easy to make and will certainly prove that breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. 

[6 servings]

Ingredients:
  • 6 slices of bacon (you can also use turkey bacon if you want a healthier version)
     
  • 6 eggs
     
  • ¼ cup Cheddar cheese
     
  • Salt, pepper, and chives to taste
     
  • A muffin tin

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400° F.
     
  2. Wrap the slices of bacon around the muffin tins and bake for 10 minutes.
     
  3. Remove the bacon and pour out any excess grease. Replace the bacon.
     
  4. Crack an egg in the center of each of the bacon circles and sprinkle the top with cheese, salt, and pepper. Bake for another 10 minutes.
     
  5. Carefully run a knife around the edges of the bacon cups to get them out of the pan. Garnish with chives. 

Recipe adapted from Tasty[1]
 

What's in a Password?

One of the best ways to keep your data safe online is to have a strong password. The IRS shares some tips on how to create and protect your passwords:
  • Your password should be a minimum of eight characters. The longer, the better.
  • Your password should include a combination of letters, numbers, symbols, and special characters. 
  • Don't include personal information, including names of family members or pets, identifying information about where you live, or other personal details. 
  • Don't use the same password for everything. 
  • Substitute special characters and numbers for common letters to make your password more difficult to guess (ex: @ for a, ! for i, 8 for B, etc.).
  • Be aware of scams asking for your password and never tell people your passwords.
If you find yourself forgetting your passwords, a tool like LastPass can help. This tool encrypts your passwords, so they stay safe and can be downloaded on your computer. It will remember your passwords, so you don't have to.

* This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.


Tip adapted from IRS.gov[2]

Tips for Golfing in the Winter: Part Two

We're back with more winter golfing tips. Enjoy your favorite game all year round with these handy tips:
  • Keep your hands warms by placing hand warmers in your pockets or your golf gloves.
  • Make sure to stay hydrated, even in colder weather. It might be tempting to reach for a nice warm mug of hot chocolate, but water will help your health and your game.
  • Use brightly colored balls to keep track of your shot. It will be much easier to see a bright yellow, orange, or pink ball in frost or leaves. Some of the leading ball makers make them, and they are leagues better than a cheap driving range ball of the same color.
  • When tracking your ball in the winter months, remember that the sun will often be lower. So, instead of following its entire flight path, track it with your eyes until it gets lost in the sun, and then look towards the ground where you think it will land. This will save your eyes and make it harder to lose your ball.

Tip adapted from Leading Courses[3]

Practice Mindfulness Everywhere You Go

We know how important it is to take care of our bodies, but it's equally (if not more) important to take care of our minds. During this holiday season, it can feel impossible to take some time to meditate, but practicing mindfulness doesn't have to be a huge, involved process and a time-consuming task. With the rise of mindfulness apps, you can take as little as 5 minutes and enjoy the benefits of taking care of your brain. Some top mindfulness apps include:
There are countless other apps available, or you can search for quick mindfulness exercises on YouTube. All you need to create some space in your head is a quiet spot and a smartphone. Take some time away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and practice mindfulness with these easy apps. 


Tip adapted from Developing Good Habits [4]

Energy-Saving Tips When Cooking for the Holidays

If you're preparing a big meal for the holidays, consider your kitchen habits to save energy and money! Here are a few energy-saving tips to use when cooking:
  • Switch on the oven light to check on your baked goods instead of opening the oven door. When you open the door, you let out a lot of heat, forcing the oven to use more energy by having to heat back up to the set temperature.
  • Speaking of ovens, cook your food on the top rack of the oven, when possible. When the food is closer to the heating element, it can cook 20% faster.
  • If you need to thaw frozen items, throw them in the fridge. The cool air coming off the frozen food will help the fridge cool down, hence using less energy.

Tip adapted from Money Crashers[5]

These are the views of Platinum Advisor Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative,
Broker dealer or Investment Advisor and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer or Investment Advisor gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.

By clicking on these links, you will leave our server, as the links are located on another server. We have not independently verified the information available through this link. The link is provided to you as a matter of interest. Please click on the links below to leave and proceed to the selected site.

[1] tasty.co/recipe/bacon-egg-cups

[2] www.irs.gov/newsroom/strong-passwords-help-keep-tax-data-safe

[3] www.leadingcourses.com/blog/winter-golf-10-simple-tips/

[4] www.developgoodhabits.com/best-mindfulness-apps/

[5] www.moneycrashers.com/electronic-e-waste-recycling-disposal-facts/


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