02 Jul 2013

Plan Ahead for Your Online Hereafter

By Ginny Grimsley
Asset Protection Lawyer Offers 3 Steps to Take Now

Now, you really can live forever, but that's not necessarily a good thing.

Many of your online accounts - from automatic bill payments to eBay - may remain active after you pass away, unless you take steps to ensure they don't, says attorney Hillel Presser, author of "Financial Self-Defense (Revised Edition), "www.assetprotectionattorneys.com.

Automatic bill pay, for example, can theoretically keep tapping your bank account long after you're gone or, at least, until your money is.

"It's important to make sure your online bank and shopping accounts, even your social media, can be closed out, or that your loved ones are authorized to access them," Presser says. "You may ask, 'Why would I care if I'm gone?' I can tell you from experience: because it can create real headaches, and more heartache, for your family."

Bank and shopping accounts will be vulnerable to identity theft, which would affect your estate if someone opens credit cards in your name. You might have valuable intellectual property, like domain names. They may need access to your health records, particularly if you died under questionable circumstances, he says.

There's the sentimental stuff - photos and emails -- that your family may want as a remembrance of you, and the libraries of music and ebooks, which may represent a considerable investment on your part.

"The problem is, even if you provide a family member with all of your accounts, log-ins and passwords, they may not be legally allowed to access them," Presser says. "In many cases, they may be violating the accounts' terms of service or violatingfederal privacy and computer fraud laws. Some states have laws governing online materials, but they're different and which of your accounts are covered depends on where the provider is located."

What can you do to ensure your family isn't left with a virtual nightmare after your passing? Presser offers these tips:

• Create a list of all of your accounts, including log-innames, passwords, and answers to any security questions. Obviously, your list will need to be securely stored. Since you'll need to update it regularly as you add accounts or change passwords,  it will be easiest if you keep the list on your computer in a password-protected folder. Some versions of Windows allow you to create protected folders, but you may need to get third-party software to do this, such as freeAxCrypt. Remember to create a backup of your list, whether it's on a jump drive or printed out on paper. Store the backup in a secure place such as a safe deposit box. Do not put password information in your will, which is a public document.

• If you have a Google account, set up the new inactive account manager. In May 2013, Google became the first site to give users an option for choosing what becomes of their content if they should become debilitated or die. Under the profile button, click "Account," scroll down to "Account Management," and you'll find instructions for "Control what happens to your account when you stop using Google." You can select how long the account should be inactive before your plans are set into motion; choose to whom you want to offer content, such as YouTube videos, Gmail, Google+ posts, Blogger and Picasa web albums, or whether it should simply be deleted.

• Appoint a digital executor. Perhaps the simplest way to ensure your online life is taken care of is to appoint a digital executor - a tech-savvy person who will be willing and able to carry out your wishes. Authorize the person to access your inventory of log-in information and spell out what you want done with each account, whether it's providing access to loved ones or business partners, or deleting it.

The digital world has grown and transformed so rapidly, the law hasn't kept up, which makes managing your digital afterlife challenging, Presser says.

"Until there are more consistent laws and procedures governing this area, it's best to plan ahead, leave clear instructions and be sure you have a list of accounts where your estate lawyer or a loved one can find it and access it," he says. "It will make a world of difference to your survivors."

About Hillel L. Presser, Esq., MBA

Hillel L. Presser's firm, The Presser Law Firm, P.A., represents individuals and businesses in establishing comprehensive asset protection plans. He is a graduate of Syracuse University's School of Management and Nova Southeastern University's law school, and serves on Nova's President's Advisory Council. He is a former adjunct faculty member for law at Lynn University. Complimentary copies of "Financial Self-Defense" are available through www.assetprotectionattorneys.com.

25 Jun 2013

Is There Anything to Celebrate on the Fourth?

By Ginny Grimsley
By JOHN HORVAT II

The cloudy day set the mood for the Fourth of July barbeque. It was a family get-together but there was not much family to get together. Several members were too far away to come; others were on cruises. There were a few absent because they were no longer family since some marriages had turned ugly.

But the barbecue was lively as people gathered around the picnic tables eating plenty of ribs, potato salad, corn-on-the-cob and fixings. Not everything was homemade, much less homegrown ? there was simply no time for that. As the night progressed, a discussion arose. Almost everyone agreed that Fourth of July was not what it used to be.

It used to be so happy. Everyone could remember the times when they would get together and there would be plenty of food, conversation, outdoor games and fireworks. It was a real celebration. Now everyone seemed to be complaining about everything.

"The problem is big government!" one exclaimed."We need to just get rid of big government and that will solve everything."

"It's taxes! That's what killing us. We need to cut taxes across the board. I can't make my new car payments, student loans or pay my mortgage."

"I can't make it anymore on my Social Security," an older baby boomer chimed in. "It's not right."

And so each had their own grievances, some complaining about too much government and others claiming not enough benefits.

At the end, someone made the comment that, with this government, there really wasn't that much to celebrate this Fourth of July.

With that, there was a lull in the conversation that left everyone uneasy. Some took advantage of the awkward interval to check their emails on their iPhones or make small talk. And as the talk died down, the grandfather unexpectedly spoke up.

He was now a frail old man, a World War II veteran who had known hard times and good times; economic depression and happy days.  He had difficulty getting around and spent a lot of his days thinking and praying.

Now he stood before them with an air of dignity saying: "Yes, government has changed. But you know something, we've changed, too.

"When I was growing up, families looked after their own members. We didn't need or want handouts. We managed, even if we didn't have the latest gadgets or the best car. When there were problems, everyone pitched in. Times were hard, but we were happier.

"Today, it's all about money. Back then, money didn't rule everything. People had honor. They were faithful to their spouses and family. People weren't afraid to be leaders and accept responsibility.

"We knew the difference between our government and our country. Politicians are one thing and America is another. Today, people treat our county like a corporation where they  expect only dividends. When the going gets tough, everyone abandons her and sells off their shares. That's not right.

"No, America should be more like a family. When the family's in trouble, everyone pitches in. I pitched in. I served my country because America is my country and I love her. Many of my buddies served too ... and some didn't return."

A silence hung over the area as darkness was falling and lightning bugs were starting to appear.

The old man still continued: "I'm sorry for rambling on but I've been thinking a lot about this lately. We need to turn to God again. We used to say 'give us this day our daily bread' now everyone turns to the government - they don't even know how to ask God for things - or what to ask for.

"We complain about government but we've become just like the government we criticize. We've got the government we deserve. We should get our own ships in shape. We need to return to order."

The silence was now complete and everyone became pensive. The old man settled down in his lawn chair still apologizing for rambling on. Everyone in their heart knew that he was right.

At that moment, a rocket soared into the night and burst in air and the darkness was lit by a marvelous display of light and a mighty boom. There was something grand about the way the fireworks exploded that stirred the hearts of those who watched and filled them with awe and pride. At least for an instant, they forgot about their own problems, and celebrated that special something called America.


About John Horvat II

John Horvat II is a scholar, researcher, educator, international speaker and author "Return to Order: From a Frenzied Economy to an Organic Christian Society - Where We've Been, How We Got Here and Where We Need to Go," (www.returntoorder.org). His writings have appeared worldwide, including The Wall Street Journal, FOX News, The Christian Post, The Washington Times, ABC News and C-SPAN. For more than two decades he has been researching and writing about the socio-economic crisis in the United States.

25 Jun 2013

7 Mistakes Nearly All Back-Pain Sufferers Make

By Ginny Grimsley
Expert Debunks Common Myths

Back pain is one of the most common health issues in the United States, with up to 80 percent of the population suffering the condition at some point in one's life.

"But this exceedingly high number is just the beginning of the problem, because multiple studies indicate that roughly 70 percent of back surgeries fail," says Jesse Cannone, a back-pain expert and author of "The 7-Day Back Pain Cure," (www.losethebackpain.com). "It's so common that there's a name for it - failed back surgery syndrome, or FBSS."

One recent study monitored 1,450 patients in the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation database; half of those on disability endured back surgery, half did not. After two years, only 26 percent of those who had surgery returned to work. Additionally, 41 percent of those who had surgery saw a drastic increase in painkiller use.

"The success rate for the most common treatments is pathetically low, so it's no surprise people often struggle years or decades with back pain, with few ever finding lasting relief," Cannone says. "The majority of back surgeries are not only ineffective, but most could have been completely avoided."

He reviews seven common mistakes made by back-pain sufferers:

• Continuing a treatment that doesn't work: One of Cannone's clients experienced 70 treatments with a chiropractor, resulting in no relief. "Here's a general rule to follow," he says. "If you see no improvement after going through a three-month period of treatment, consider making a change."

• Failing to solve the problem the first time: Take pain seriously the first time. Cannone's own mother suffered a significant bout of back pain, which subsided after a few days. But two years later it came back, and the second time was so debilitating she couldn't work. "If she had taken the first bout more seriously, she probably would have prevented the second, more debilitating bout."

• Thinking you're too healthy or fit to have back pain: Staying in shape is always a good idea, but it does not make you invulnerable. People who train their body can be more prone to back pain because they often push their body's limits, says Cannone, who has been a personal fitness trainer since 1998.

• Treating only the symptoms: Cortisone shots, anti-inflammatory drugs, ultrasound and electrical stimulation only address pain symptoms. "You may get rid of the pain, but the problem causing the pain will persist if not addressed," he says. "If you want lasting relief, you must address the underlying causes, and it's never just one."

• Not understanding that back pain is a process: In most cases, back pain, neck pain and sciatica take weeks, months or even years to develop; the problem may exist for quite a while before the sufferer notices it, except for rare one-time trauma incidents like automobile accidents. Most people sit for hours at a time, yet the body was developed for diverse movements throughout the day. "Think of a car with steering out of alignment; eventually, tires will wear down unevenly and there will be a blow out," Cannone says. "The same is true with your body." Just as the damage was a process, recovery is the same and can be time-intensive.

• Believing there are no more options left: Not only does back pain hurt and prove physically debilitating; it also tries the morale and determination of the patient. A sufferer can run the gamut of treatments. But, often, it takes a cocktail of treatments that address all of the underlying causes. "Remember, you can't really treat the root of pain until you know what's causing it," Cannone says. "In so many cases, this is precisely the problem."

• Failing to take control: Doctors and other specialists are ultimately limited to what they know and what they're used to. If you have a debilitating back problem, it should be among your top priorities to learn all you can about it, and how to fix it. Get a second, third and fourth opinion if treatment isn't working; try out alternative therapies, and consider a healthy mix of treatment. Most importantly, take control; it's your back, your body and only you can heal it, with help from others.

"I may be critical of how most handle back pain, but that's because I've proven to patients that there are flaws in the traditional approaches as well as more effective alternatives," Cannone says. "I also feel that I'm offering a hopeful message because of my high success rate in helping to cure the back pain from my clients."

About Jesse Cannone

Jesse Cannone is a leading back pain expert with a high rate of success for those he consults. He has been a personal trainer since 1998, specializing in finding root causes for chronic pain, and finding solutions with a multidiscipline approach. Cannone publishes the free email newsletter "Less Pain, More Life," read by more than 400,000 worldwide, and he is the creator of Muscle Balance Therapy™.

25 Jun 2013

Are Businesses Crossing Lines by Tracking Employees?

By Ginny Grimsley
Expert Cites Benefits & Ways to Ease Privacy Concerns

Nearly 10 years after real-time package- and people-tracking went viral with the advent of GPS-enabled cell phones, small businesses face two big concerns.

"One is expense. Small businesses, especially those still recovering from the worst recession in modern history, can't always afford to provide their employees with GPS-equipped smart phones," notes location-based services specialist George Karonis, founder and CEO of LiveViewGPS, Inc., provider of Mobile Phone Locate tracking service,  (www.mobilephonelocate.com).

"The second issue is privacy. People generally don't want their employer to be a 'big brother' boss who can track their every move. It's not because they're doing something they shouldn't, but because it invades their space, and the information could be misinterpreted or misused."

But employee tracking has plenty of obvious benefits to small business owners:

• Provide baseline information. It gives businesses solid data to analyze for initiatives such as improving efficiency. Businesses with lots of workers in the field making deliveries or service calls can optimize routes and schedules.

• Improve customer service and satisfaction. Tracking helps a business tell people waiting somewhere for a delivery or service exactly where their package or service-person is and how long the wait will be.

• Improve response times. On-site coordinators can re-route workers in the field to respond to unscheduled calls in the most efficient way possible.

• Reduce costs. The greater efficiency provided by tracking helps lower costs by reducing both downtime and overtime.

So how can businesses circumvent affordability and employee privacy concerns?

One way is to accomplish both is to use a service that doesn't involve extra equipment, including software, or a contract, Karonis says.

"If you're not loading apps or software onto someone's personal phone, it's less intrusive for the employee and he or she will be more willing to allow use of their own phone. There's also no added drain on the battery, because there's no app constantly running in the background, and no hitch-hiking on their data plan or incurring a data charge," he says.

"If you make it non-intrusive employees won't tend to feel that you're invading their privacy."

Using a service that charges per location, with no requirement for a time-specific contract, is also more cost-efficient for the business, Karonis says.

"For the small business that's merely seeking to improve efficiency and customer service, constant tracking isn't necessary. That's more appropriate in a situation where employers have large number of people constantly in the field, for instance, UPS. Or, employers who feel the need to monitor unproductive employees," he says.

There's a growing backlash as the public is subjected to more and more stalking - from cameras mounted at traffic lights to social networking sites recording shopping habits and topics of conversation, Karonis notes.

"We've reached a crossroads where we need to find a balance between surveillance that provides legitimate business advantages and surveillance that invades people's privacy," he says.

"It really is possible to strike that balance and, in a small business that thrives on trust, mutual respect and fully invested employees, it's essential."

About George Karonis

George Karonis has a background in security and surveillance, and has specialized in location services since 2005. A self-professed computer geek, one of his chief concerns is balancing the usefulness of tracking with the protection of individuals' privacy. He is founder and CEO of LiveViewGPS, Inc.

24 Jun 2013

Does Your Child Have a Hidden Visual-Spatial Challenge?

By Ginny Grimsley
Psychologist Shares 3 Therapeutic Activities

Most children learn in infancy that they can grab a familiar treat and put it in their mouth, and the good taste will make them happy. They use sight, smell, taste and touch to identify the treat, and movement to reach for it and to pop it in their mouth.

"It sounds like a simple accomplishment, but it represents a symphony of developmental milestones," says Dr. Serena Wieder, clinical director of the non-profit Profectum Foundation (www.profectum.org) and co-author of "Visual/Spatial Portals to Thinking, Feeling and Movement," a ground-breaking new guide to therapeutic strategies for students with learning and autism spectrum disorders.

"How we use our senses to figure out our relationship to the world around us is an essential -- and often overlooked - building block to learning," she says. "In particular, visual-spatial knowledge - understanding where you are in space and where other things are relative to you - is essential to anything you want to do. When development of that knowledge is delayed, it has a domino effect on every other aspect of development."

Children can be affected physically, socially, cognitively and - perhaps most important - emotionally. But their visual-spatial challenges are often hidden.

"We are motivated by emotion. The baby grabs the toy his mother is holding because he knows he'll feel happy and will look at his mother smiling, both sharing this joyous moment. Imagine the frustration and anger a person might feel if he lacks the visual-spatial knowledge to know that he can reach for and grasp what he wants!" Wieder says.

Through years of clinical work, she and co-author Dr. Harry Wachs, O.D., a pioneer in visual cognitive therapy, developed hundreds of activities to help children improve their visual-spatial knowledge.

Here are three activities Wieder suggests for addressing a deficit that affects a child's ability to understand which body parts to move in order to achieve a specific result, such as reaching for a toy or catching a ball. These "mental mapping" activities help a child understand the parts of his body and the way they relate to each other.

• Body Lifts
Have the child lie belly down on the floor with his arms at his sides and ask him to lift each body part as you touch it. Start with major body parts (head, arm or leg, upper torso.) Next touch two body parts on the same side, for example, the right leg and right arm, and ask him to lift them at the same time. Then try body parts on opposite sides. Next, work on more specific parts, such as elbow, lower leg, should. Then try three body parts simultaneously. Finally, touch two and then three body parts and ask him to lift them in the order they were touched.

• Silhouette
Have the child face a chalkboard and trace the outline of her body on it. Tell her the drawing represents the back of her body. Stand behind her, touch her back, and ask her to draw an X on the board where she thinks you touched her. Next, progress to touching her back several times in sequence and ask her to draw X's on the board in the same sequence. Then reverse it. Now, draw a design on the child's back and ask her to reproduce it on the board.

• Joints
Help the child learn how to use the hinges and pivotal points of his body by exploring how he can twist, turn and bend. Ask him to stand and pretend his shoes are glued to the floor so he can't move his feet. Standing a few feet away, hold a yardstick about 2 feet in front of him and slowly move the end toward him. Tell him to decide how to twist, turn, bend, or pivot his body to avoid being touched by the stick.

Once a child has a good mental map of her body parts, her next activities will help her understand their height, width and length in relation to the world around her, Wieder says. These activities will give her the visual-spatial knowledge necessary to initiate purposeful actions.

About Serena Wieder, Ph.D.

Psychologist Serena Wieder is clinical director of the non-profit Profectum Foundation, which is dedicated to the advancement of individuals with special needs through educational programs. She was co-founder of the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders, and she directed the DIR Institute. Her research has focused on diagnostic classification, emotional and symbolic development, and long-term follow-up of children treated with the DIR approach. Dr. Harry Wachs is a pioneer in visual cognitive therapy.

21 Jun 2013

Can Anyone Become a Millionaire?

By Ginny Grimsley
Research Says 'Yes;' Expert Shares 4 Tips to Take You There
No Matter What Your Income
By: Rick Rodgers

A report released earlier this year from the Chicago-based Spectrem Group estimated there were 8.99 million households in the United States with a net worth of at least $1 million at the end of 2012.

A contrasting report issued late last year from the American Payroll Association showed 68 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.  More than two-thirds of the 30,600 people surveyed said it would be somewhat difficult or very difficult if their paychecks were delayed for a week.

Is it possible for that average American to become a millionaire?

American millionaires are not all greedy corporate executives. Dr. Thomas Stanley has studied the habits of wealthy people for the past 30 years. His groundbreaking research has uncovered the truth about the lifestyles of the wealthiest Americans.

• Four out of five millionaires are self-made.
• Many millionaires own their own business and consider themselves to be entrepreneurs.
• Their companies are rarely glamorous and are more likely to be very ordinary jobs, like paving contractors and pest control businesses.

Becoming a millionaire most likely doesn't just happen to you.Rather, it takes planning and perseverance.  Here are some steps you can take to grow your net worth.

• Live below your means. This step is so obvious we shouldn't need to be reminded.  Unfortunately, most people never learn to spend less than they make.  Unless you discipline yourself to save something from every paycheck, you will never be able to accumulate money that can work for you.  The secret to living below your means is to have a budget and work your budget every month.

• Save a minimum of 10 percent. George Clason's classic book "The Richest Man in Babylon" tells the story of a man who wanted to become wealthy.  He started by saving 10 percent of his income and eventually became wealthy by having his money work for him.  Research has shown many of today's millionaires accumulated their wealth by saving and disciplining themselves to increase their savings every year.

• Invest your savings in businesses. Your savings should be put into growth-oriented investments. Not everyone has the ability or desire to start and run their own business. However, we all have the opportunity to own businesses by buying stock. Stock prices can be volatile but you can minimize the volatility by owning stocks through diversified mutual funds.  Investing on a regular basis allows you to take advantage of the stock market downturns through dollar cost averaging. 

• Don't follow the herd. The Great Panic of 2008 turned out to be one of the greatest buying opportunities. Stock prices fell by more than 50 percent during this downturn and have recovered to move on to new highs.  Unfortunately, many investors sold their stocks during this period instead of buying as evidenced by the net redemptions of stock mutual funds which totaled in the billions.  This prompted legendary investor Warren Buffett to write in an op-ed article for the Wall Street Journal "A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful."

• Hire a financial adviser. It's not easy to stay the course.  You often need an independent third party to remind you of your goals and help you make the right financial moves -- especially during times of great uncertainty.  A good financial adviser will try to help you develop a good investment strategy and keep you focused when you need it most.  Investors often make their biggest mistakes by allowing emotions to interfere with good judgment.  A financial adviser can help you keep your emotions in check.

Becoming a millionaire is not easy or there would be more of them! It takes discipline to live below your means and to save and invest.  One of the millionaires interviewed by Dr. Stanley never made more than $60,000 per year.

"I have accumulated most of my net worth by living below my means," she told him. "I have everything I want, but I have learned not to want too much."

About Rick Rodgers

Certified Financial Planner® Rick Rodgers is president of Rodgers & Associates, "The Retirement Specialists," in Lancaster, Pa., and author of "The New Three-Legged Stool: A Tax Efficient Approach to Retirement Planning." He's a Certified Retirement Counselor and member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisers. Rodgers has been featured on national radio and TV shows, including "FOX Business News" and "The 700 Club," and is available to speak at conferences and corporate events (www.RodgersSpeaks.com).
21 Jun 2013

Will Your Beneficiaries Beat the Odds?

By Ginny Grimsley
Tips for Helping Your Family Survive
the '3 Generations' Rule

Two-thirds of baby boomers will inherit a total $7.6 trillion in their lifetimes, according to the Boston College Center for Retirement Research -- that's $1.7 trillion more than China's 2012 GDP.

But they'll lose 70 percent of that legacy, and not because of taxes. By the end of their children's lives -- the third generation -- nine of 10 family fortunes will be gone.

"The third-generation rule is so true, it's enshrined in Chinese proverb: 'Wealth never survives three generations,' " says John Hartog of Hartog & Baer Trust and Estate Law, (www.hartogbaer.com). "The American version of that is 'shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations."

There are a number of reasons that happens, and most of them are preventable say Hartog; CPA Jim Kohles, chairman of RINA accountancy corporation, (www.rina.com); and wealth management expert Haitham "Hutch" Ashoo, CEO of Pillar Wealth Management, (www.pillarwm.com).

How can the current generation of matriarchs, patriarchs and their beneficiaries beat the odds? All three financial experts say the solutions involve honest conversations - the ones families often avoid because they can be painful - along with passing along family values and teaching children from a young age how to manage money.

• "Give them some money now and see how they handle it." Many of the "wealth builders," the first generation who worked so hard to build the family fortune, teach their children social responsibility; to take care of their health; to drive safely. "But they don't teach them financial responsibility; they think they'll get it by osmosis," says estate lawyer Hartog.

If those children are now middle-aged, it's probably too late for that. But the first generation can see what their offspring will do with a sudden windfall of millions by giving them a substantial sum now - without telling them why.

"I had a client who gave both children $500,000. After 18 months, one child had blown through the money and the other had turned it into $750, 000," Hartog says.

Child A will get his inheritance in a restricted-access trust.

• "Be willing to relinquish some control." Whether it's preparing one or more of their children to take over the family business, or diverting some pre-inheritance wealth to them, the first generation often errs by retaining too much control, says CPA Kohles.

"We don't give our successor the freedom to fail," Kohles says. "If they don't fail, they don't learn, so they're not prepared to step up when the time comes."

In the family business, future successors need to be able to make some decisions that don't require the approval of the first generation, Kohles says. With money, especially for 1st-generation couples with more than $10 million (the first $5 million of inheritance from each parent is not subject to the estate tax), parents need to plan for giving away some of their wealth before they die. That not only allows the beneficiaries to avoid a 40 percent estate tax, it helps them learn to manage the money.

• "Give your beneficiaries the opportunity to build wealth, and hold family wealth meetings." The first generation works and sacrifices to make the family fortune, so often the second generation doesn't have to and the third generation is even further removed from that experience, says wealth manager Ashoo.

"The best way they're going to be able to help preserve the wealth is if they understand what goes into creating it and managing it - not only the work, but the values and the risks," Ashoo says.

The first generation should allocate seed money to the second generation for business, real estate or some other potentially profitable venture, he says.

Holding ongoing family wealth meetings with your advisors is critical to educating beneficiaries, as well as passing along family and wealth values, Ashoo says. It also builds trust between the family and the primary advisors.

Ashoo tells of a recent experience chatting with two deca-millionaires aboard a yacht in the Bahamas.

"They both built major businesses and sold them," Ashoo says. "At this point, it's no longer about what their money will do for them -- it's about what the next generations will do with their money."

About John Hartog, Jim Kohles & Haitham "Hutch" Ashoo

John Hartog is a partner at Hartog & Baer Trust and Estate Law. He is a certified specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law, and taxation law. Jim Kohles is chairman of the board of RINA accountancy corporation. He is a certified public accountant specializing in business consulting, succession and retirement planning, and insurance. Haitham "Hutch" Ashoo is the CEO of Pillar Wealth Management, LLC, specializing in client-centered wealth management. All three are based in Walnut Creek, Calif., and advise ultra affluent families.

21 Jun 2013

How to Navigate a Cancer Diagnosis

By Ginny Grimsley
Pioneering Psychotherapist Shares Strategies for Managing
Anxiety & Maintaining Emotional Wellness

Unlike many of the most important events in one's life - graduation, marriage, having a child - almost no one anticipates a cancer diagnosis.

This year, nearly 239,000 U.S. men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 232,000 women will learn they have breast cancer, according the American Cancer Society. Over their lifetimes, nearly half of all men can expect a cancer diagnosis, and more than a third of women.*

"Thankfully, we now have many tools for detecting cancers early and treating them successfully. But learning you have cancer remains one of life's most frightening and stressful experiences," says cancer psychotherapist Dr. Niki Barr, author of "Emotional Wellness, The Other Half of Treating Cancer," (canceremotionalwellbeing.com).

"Developing ways to help patients address their emotional well-being throughout their medical journey, still lag behind medical advances, but physicians and psychologists recognize that healing improves when both the physical and emotional needs of patients are served."

In her years of clinical practice working exclusively with cancer patients and their loved ones, Barr developed an Emotional Wellness Toolbox that patients stock with what Barr has found to be the most effective tools.

Here are some of her tools for managing anxiety - a normal and emotionally healthy response to a cancer diagnosis, but one that can spiral out of control.

• Catch your anxious thoughts. Stop anxious thoughts - thoughts about fear, unease and worry -- before they lead to anxiety. Start by writing your thoughts down on individual note cards and identifying the first one that's leading to you feeling anxious.  Then the next one. When you've identified all of your anxious thoughts, go back to the first one and, on the card, write a new thought that will not make you feel anxious. It should be a thought that is confident and empowering. Continue down the list and do the same for each anxious thought.

• Erase 'what if' thinking. What if the cancer has spread? What if the treatment doesn't work? One 'what if' leads to another and often spirals into anxiety. Be aware when you start asking 'what if' and instead ask yourself, "Is this thought helping me or hurting me?" and "Is this thought moving me forward or backward?"

• Ground yourself. Interrupt a chain of anxious thoughts by focusing on details around you. Look at the color of the walls in the room you're in; take in the pictures on the walls, the books on the shelves and the titles on their spines; look at the person you're talking to, the color of their eyes, the clothes she's wearing. Being very focused on external details can derail anxious thoughts.

• Use distraction. Choose a favorite place and visit it. Absorb everything about it - the colors, smells, any people involved, the sounds, tastes, how it feels. Build it up very clearly in your mind, going over and over it, so it can become a distraction tool. When you're waiting for a medical test or procedure, undergoing a procedure, or any other time you need to "be" somewhere else, call up your distraction and visit.

Other tools for your box include meditation CDs that use guided imagery; favorite music CDs; and a journal to record your thoughts and feelings.

"Being able to manage your anxiety enables you to move forward through cancer whether patient, caregiver or family member," Barr says.  "Don't tell yourself you can't handle whatever you're going through. Yes, you can ... five minutes at a time."

*The data does not include non-melanoma skin cancers, the most common diagnosis.

About Niki Barr, Ph.D. (@NikiBarrPhD)

Niki Barr, Ph.D. founded a pioneering psychotherapy practice dedicated to working with cancer patients in all stages of the disease, along with their family members, caregivers and friends. In her book, she describes an "emotional wellness toolbox" patients can put together with effective and simple strategies, ready to use at any time, for helping them move forward through cancer. Dr. Barr is a dynamic and popular speaker, sharing her insights with cancer patients and clinicians across the nation.

17 Jun 2013

5 Recipes that Prove Healthy is the New Delicious

By Ginny Grimsley

With adventurous food tastes and concerns ranging from personal health to ethical agriculture and livestock practices, more people are exploring alternative diets.

But that's not always easy - or palatable.

"You have paleo and primal diets, pescatarian and raw foods, vegetarian and vegan, and they all have wonderful merits, especially when compared with the processed foods many Americans continue to eat," says Holistic Chef and Certified Healing Foods Specialist Shelley Alexander, author of "Deliciously Holistic," (aharmonyhealing.com).

"My focus is on easy-to-follow healing foods recipes that make delicious, completely nourishing meals. Some will appeal to those who adhere to a strict diet, such as vegan, and all will make people feel noticeably healthier without sacrificing any of the enjoyment we get from sitting down to eat."

Alexander offers five recipes that can be used for any meal of the day or night, including:

• Mango chia ginger granola (raw, vegan): 2 ripe mangos, peeled, cored and sliced in one-inch cubes; 2 cups Living Intentions chia ginger cereal; 2 cups nut or seed milk. Put ingredients in a bowl and enjoy! The cereal is gluten-free, nut-free, and raw- and vegan-diet friendly, and extremely nutritious. Preparation takes five minutes or less and is hearty enough to satisfy appetites the entire morning. The ingredients can be substituted for dietary needs or preferences.

• Portobello mushroom and grilled onion burgers (vegan): Marinade for the mushroom is essential - 2 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar; 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil; 1 tablespoon wheat-free Tamari or organic Nama Shoyu soy sauce; 1/8 teaspoon smoked sweet paprika; 1 peeled garlic clove (grated or minced); 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 2 teaspoons organic maple syrup - grade B. The burgers include 4 large Portobello mushrooms - cleaned and patted dry; 1 large white onion (peeled and cut into thick slices); olive or avocado oil to cook mushrooms and onions; 2 sprouted whole grain hamburger buns -toasted; Dijon mustard; ¼ cup baby romaine lettuce - washed and patted dry. Marinate mushrooms and onions for 30 minutes. Drizzle with oil and cook on medium heat for 15 minutes, turning mushrooms halfway through. Serve immediately.

• Wild blueberry smoothie (raw, vegan): 3 cups vanilla Brazil nut milk (there is an additional recipe for this); 2 cups fresh or frozen wild or organic blueberries; 1 peeled banana - organic or fair trade; 2 to 3 cups organic baby spinach; 1 small avocado - peeled and pitted; ¼ teaspoon cinnamon; (optional) a preferred protein powder or superfood. Blend until creamy. Blueberries are an amazing fruit packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients.

• Raw corn chowder (raw, vegan): 4 cups organic corn kernels (best during summer months); 2¼ cups unsweetened almond milk; 1 clove peeled garlic (remove inner stem); 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice; ½ teaspoon smoked sweet paprika; 1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; ½ avocado (peeled and seed removed); unrefined sea salt and fresh black pepper to taste. Blend ingredients and strain; top with corn kernels and diced organic red bell pepper. Among other nutrients, corn provides lutein - an important carotenoid that protects eyes from macular degeneration.

• Dijon honey chicken wings: 1/3 cup Dijon mustard; ½ medium peeled lemon - remove all the white pith; ¼ cup raw honey; 1 teaspoon unrefined sea salt; 2 large, peeled garlic cloves - grated; 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper; 12 whole chicken wings - rinsed and patted dry; ½ teaspoon paprika. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Blend ingredients in a blender, except for wings and paprika, until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove tips of cleaned wings and store in freezer for future stock. Place wings on lightly greased baking dish, sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper, place in oven. After 30 minutes baste wings with juices from pan, then brush mustard sauce all over wings, sprinkle with paprika and continue baking for an additional 25 to 30 minutes. Wings should have internal temperature of 165 degrees when done. These are a healthy and tasty alternative to deep-fat-fried wings.

About Shelley Alexander, CHFS

Shelley Alexander has enjoyed a lifelong love of delicious, locally grown, seasonal foods. She received her formal chef's training at The Los Angeles Culinary Institute. Alexander is a certified healing foods specialist, holistic chef, blogger and owner of the holistic health company, A Harmony Healing, in Los Angeles.

14 Jun 2013

How Your IRA Can Become Your Tax Nightmare

By Ginny Grimsley
Financial Expert Offers Tips to Avoid
a Hefty Bill from Uncle Sam

Uncle Sam wants you! That is, he wants you to spend your Individual Retirement Account in a manner that he finds appropriate, says independent retirement advisor Gary Marriage, Jr.

"Millions of Americans have put away money into their IRA throughout their professional life, which the government encourages with tax-deferred growth throughout the working years, allowing employees to accumulate more money faster - but there's a catch," says Marriage, CEO of Nature Coast Financial Advisors (www.naturecoastfinancial.com), which specializes in maximizing retirees' finances. He is also responsible for Operation Veteran Aid, which benefits wartime veterans and their families.

"The government's Required Minimum Distribution, RMDs including 401(k)s, 403(b)s or 457 plans, paint retirees and their employer-sponsored retirement plans into a corner."

That's because by the time retirees reach the age of 70½, RMDs require individuals to make withdrawals, which are heavily taxed, he says. Marriage explains the process further with the theoretical example of John and Mary Smith:

• Smooth sailing ... at first: By age 65, the couple has saved $500,000 in their IRA, and because they have been taking no income from it, they're averaging a 6 percent return each year. They sail along smoothly, compounding the growth in the account and earn a return of $40,147 by age 70. But halfway through that year ...

• Compounded tax liability: At 70½, John's IRA has an accumulated value of $669,113. Therefore, his RMD - the amount he's required to withdraw - is  $24,420.  John and Mary weren't expecting the tax bill this creates, which, in their 25 percent tax bracket, is a staggering $6,105! More upsetting to the couple, however, is that this scenario will continue for the rest of their lives.

• Down the road: Fast forward to age 90 and the total withdrawals the couple have been forced to take reaches $908,005. The total taxes owed are a staggering $227,001 - which goes straight to Uncle Sam! Worse still, when John and Mary pass away, their children will pay taxes on the remaining money - likely at a much higher tax rate.

• The solution: Rather than wait for the inevitable RMD, John and Mary can convert to a Roth IRA. This entails taking their distributions early, at age 65, even though they are not required to do so. Each year for 10 years they withdraw $67,934, pay a tax bill of $16,983 from that sum and return the balance to the account. The net effect throughout the 10-year period is a total taxable distribution of $679,340 for a total tax bill of $169,835. The good news for John and Mary, however, is that they are now done paying taxes on this account, forever. They went from taxable distributions of $1.6 million to just $679,000, thus reducing the amount they owe on taxes by almost $1 million dollars! And the money that their beneficiaries receive will be tax-free.

"This scenario considers a number of variables, all of which are different for every client we work with," Marriage says. "As a general rule, however, the sooner you begin the conversion process, the more you stand to gain."

About Gary Marriage

Gary Marriage, Jr. is the founder and CEO of Nature Coast Financial Advisors, which educates retirees on how to protect their assets, increase their income, and reduce their taxes. Marriage is a national speaker, delivering solutions for pre-retirees, business owners and seniors on the areas affecting their retirement and estates. He is an approved member of the National Ethics Bureau, and is featured in "America's Top Hometown Financial Advisors 2011." Marriage is also the founder of Operation Veteran Aid, an advocate for war-time veterans and their families.

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