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5 Essential Steps To Craft A Solid Estate Plan

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Crafting a solid estate plan is crucial for ensuring that your assets are distributed according to your wishes and that your loved ones are cared for after you pass away. While it may seem daunting, breaking it down into manageable steps can make the process easier. Brad Dozier shares essential steps to help you craft a solid estate plan:

Take Inventory Of Your Assets And Debts

The first step in creating an estate plan is to inventory everything you own. This includes real estate, investments, retirement accounts, personal belongings, and other valuable assets. You should also list any debts you owe, such as mortgages, car loans, and credit card balances. This inventory will help you determine what to include in your estate plan and ensure all your assets are accounted for.

Identify Your Beneficiaries

Once you have a clear picture of your assets and debts, the next step is to decide who will inherit your assets. This could include your spouse, children, other family members, or charitable organizations. It’s important to be specific about who should receive what to avoid confusion or disputes later on. Consider naming contingent beneficiaries in case your primary beneficiaries cannot inherit.

Choose An Executor

An executor is responsible for carrying out your wishes as your estate plan outlines. This person should be someone you trust, such as a family member or close friend. Discuss your decision with them beforehand to ensure they are willing to take on this responsibility. Your executor will manage your estate, pay off debts, and distribute your assets according to your wishes.

Create A Will

A will is a legal document that outlines how you want your assets to be distributed after your death. It also allows you to name a guardian for any minor children and specify any funeral arrangements you wish to make. It is important to regularly review and update your will to reflect any changes in your circumstances or wishes. If you die without a will, your assets will be distributed according to state law, which may not align with your wishes.

Consider Trusts And Advance Directives

Depending on your situation, you may also want to consider setting up trusts to manage your assets or advance directives to outline your wishes for medical care if you cannot communicate. A trust can provide added protection for your assets and ensure they are distributed according to your wishes. An advance directive, also known as a living will, allows you to specify the type of medical care you want to receive if you cannot communicate. These documents can provide peace of mind and ensure that your wishes are followed even if you are incapacitated.

Tips For Effective Estate Planning

Don’t wait until later in life to start planning your estate. The earlier you begin, the more time you have to make thoughtful decisions and adjustments as your circumstances change. Also, clearly communicate your wishes to your loved ones and ensure they understand your estate plan. This can help prevent misunderstandings and disputes in the future.

Be aware of your estate plan’s tax implications. Work with a tax professional to minimize estate taxes and ensure your assets are distributed efficiently. Moreover, estate planning can be complex, so it’s wise to seek advice from a qualified estate planning attorney. They can help you navigate the legal requirements and ensure your estate plan is comprehensive and legally valid.

Conclusion

Crafting a solid estate plan is important in ensuring that your wishes are carried out and your loved ones are taken care of after you pass away. By following these five essential steps and seeking professional advice, you can create a comprehensive estate plan that provides peace of mind for you and your family.

Ancora High School: Experience the Magic

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Ancora High School’s Award-Winning Academics

You’ve spent years dreaming of the perfect high school experience. You imagined making lifelong friends, joining cool clubs, attending dances, playing sports, and just having an all-around amazing time. But when it came down to picking the right school, you got overwhelmed trying to find one that could make your high school dreams come true. Well, look no further! Ancora High School is ready to deliver everything you hoped high school would be. With top-ranked academics, awesome extracurricular activities, and a vibrant social scene, Ancora has it all. In this article, you’ll learn why Ancora is the high school that will let you experience the magic. Get ready to discover why Ancora is the place where you’ll create memories to last a lifetime.

Ancora High School’s Diverse Extracurricular Activities

When it comes to academics, Ancora High is in a league of its own. Our diverse course offerings and stellar teaching staff have earned us recognition as one of the top high schools in the state. Here are a few highlights of our stand-out academics:

– **Over 30 Honors and AP Courses** – From physics to art history, we provide rigorous advanced coursework across all subjects. Students can dive deep into their passions.

– **Individualized Learning** – With smaller class sizes and caring teachers, each student gets tailored support to meet their needs and learning styles. 

– **Cutting-Edge Technology** – Our classrooms feature the latest tech tools, from 3D printers to VR labs. We prepare students for the high-tech world.

– **Award-Winning Arts Programs** – Our music, theater, visual arts, and media arts programs have consistently taken top honors at statewide competitions. 

– **Championship Sports Teams** – We’re not just strong in the classroom. Our student-athletes excel both academically and in team sports like football, basketball, and more.

With a balanced mix of academic excellence, real-world skills, and extracurricular activities, Ancora provides a rich high school experience that brings out the full potential in every student. Come see the magic for yourself!

Ancora High School’s Welcoming Community

Looking to get involved and make new friends outside of class? Ancora High has something for everyone!

– Join one of our **25 sports teams** and represent Ancora as an Eagle athlete. From football and basketball to lacrosse, swimming, and more – we’ve got you covered. Let your competitive spirit soar!

– Express yourself through the **performing arts**. Our award-winning theater program puts on phenomenal musicals and plays. We also have an incredible choir, band, orchestra, and dance team.

– Get creative with over 15 **arts and culture clubs** like photography, ceramics, creative writing, and fashion design. Showcase your talents and gain real-world skills. 

– Make an impact with **service clubs** like Interact, Key Club, and Eagle Volunteers. Give back to the community and causes you care about.

– Dive into your interests – from anime to engineering – through our diverse mix of **academic and hobby clubs**. 

At Ancora High, you’ll find activities that speak to your passions and help you grow. Join a club, try something new, make friends, and create memories to last a lifetime. The possibilities are endless!

Clay Advisors Discusses How to Pay For an Unexpected Car Repair Without Maxing Out Your Credit Cards

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Car wrecks happen, and if you’re not able to pay for the repairs you could be in a jam. This is especially true if you use your vehicle to get to and from work. While it can be tempting to use your credit card, maxing it out, or even running it up really high, can be a big problem as well. Here at Clay Advisors we have a few tips on how you can pay for unexpected car repairs without digging yourself into an even deeper financial hole by maxing out your credit cards.

1. Borrow From Friends and Family

It may not be the most dignified thing to do, but it’s better to owe your friends and family money than putting the charges on your credit card and having to pay interest on it. Even better is that when borrowing from people you know, you can typically get away with having a much more lenient payback system. For example, you might be able to talk the person you borrowed from into letting you pay back the money all at once some months later, rather than having to make incremental payments if that would be more convenient for you.

2. Take Out a Loan

While this may seem about the same as just putting the charges for your car repairs on a credit card, there are several advantages here. For one thing, you may be able to get a lower interest rate than on your credit cards. On top of that, you won’t have to worry about approaching or maxing the limit on your cards either. Lastly, opening a new line of credit to take care of your car repairs can also be great for your credit score if you’re making all of your payments on time. But that’s the catch, you will be making regular payments so be sure to take that into consideration before choosing this option.

3. Start a Side Hustle

A side hustle is like a part-time job, but it tends to be something you do on your own in an entrepreneurial way. For example, if you have a great voice you could get on a site like Fiverr and sell voice over services. Regardless of what your talents may be, there is probably a way to monetize them online somehow. The best thing about starting a side hustle to pay for your car repairs is the fact that you don’t have to stop once they are paid off. Having an additional source of income can be a big relief in today’s world, and who knows, maybe your side hustle will become so successful that you can quit your day job.

4. Start A GoFundMe

If you want money for nothing to repair your car, you can try starting a GoFundMe. GoFundMe is a site where people can ask others for donations in order to raise money to do stuff. There aren’t many restrictions on what you can ask for money for, but keep in mind that if you’re going to be convincing people to give you money for your car repairs, you’re going to have to know how to talk them into it. Not only that, but getting the word out about your page is something to consider as well. That said, starting a fundraiser to get money for your car repairs is one of the best options if you can actually get people to donate.

5. Sell Something

Another thing that we at Clay Advisors recommend doing if you need money for car repairs is to consider selling various items of value around your home. This may not be glamorous, but it can be effective if you have no other way of getting money. Just realize that it may take time for the items to sell, and that selling online or in real life is an actual skill. And the more skilled at selling you are, the more money you’ll make

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5 Loan Facts for Bad Credit Car Buyers

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You may be thinking that a bad credit is already a death sentence for a possible car loan or any loan for that matter. Having a previous unpaid debt, or bad payment habits may set you off to sign up for more loans in the future. Although this is true to some extent, there are actually a lot of options you can open yourself to, even with a bad credit.

The truth about bad credit and loans

In fact, there are several possibilities in having a car loan despite a bad credit. The only challenge you must face is the higher interest rates. If you have a payment plan in mind and can deal with the steep interest, then why not?

Having a car is definitely a necessity if you are using it for your business or work. Do not let a bad credit score stop you from having a loan. Given these facts, here are 5 things you should know if you are planning to buy a car with a bad credit score.

5 Loan Facts for Bad Credit Car Buyers

 

1. There are what they call bad credit loans

There is actually a way for you to secure a car loan, and this is what they call bad credit loans. One type of bad credit loan is the subprime loans. This is a varying type of mortgage which serves people with poor financial history. This type of loan would usually have a higher rate than regular car financing, although most of them are competitive in price ranges, so you have a lot of options.

You can also increase your chances of having a better loan by trying to make up through other means. This can include raising some funds to have a higher downpayment. This will make you less vulnerable to bad lenders and will increase your chances of acquiring loans with deals which are in favor of you.

2. Hard money loans are also a good option

Hard money loans are another way to get financing for your car. In this process, a borrower can get money by an assessor giving the equivalent value of a presented real estate. A lot of loan applicants who do not pass in the traditional financing process, or those who are pressed for time to borrow money, under bankruptcy or foreclosure, maybe all eligible for this type of loan. For this option, an individual must make sure that a payment plan is fully set, or else one can have the risk of losing the real estate property presented.

3. Most of these loans have high approval rates

Since these loans are catered to people who have bad credit, there is usually a higher chance of getting approved. There is lesser requirement needed, as long as you agree with the contract and be able to deliver these costs with due diligence. It is important to read the fine print of your loan contract very carefully, as to avoid being taken advantage of. Usually, shady companies would take advantage of people who are desperate to secure a car loan. Do your research about the company you’re applying the loan to, and be certain about their reputation. Online reviews and personal, unbiased testimonials can also help you get some insight.

4. Be aware of higher interest for these type of loans

A factor that makes these types of loans easy to acquire is their high-interest rates. People with bad credit do not make the cut usual financing means, therefore a lot of them may be willing to do agree on high rates. Just be aware that as you sign up to borrow money from these loan companies, you have to pay off the money borrowed, with added interest. These interests can be as much as 15% with for a 60-month financing on a car purchase. As a person with bad credit, just be aware of these facts and make sure that you have a strategy to pay off these loans on a regular basis.

5. You must learn to find a good dealer

Some dealers who have seen your credit score may also take advantage of your situation. They would require you to have unnecessary add-ons, financing methods, or any other extra charges in your dealership which may add to your already-steep financing deal. To avoid this, make sure to find an honest dealer who is willing to work with you. If something sounds fishy, don’t buy it. Trust your instincts, ask questions, and keep on researching.

A bad credit score doesn’t mean that you won’t get a car loan. It is possible if you’re able to do the right decisions. Just know that that there are risks to getting a loan with a bad credit, but you can lessen these risks by finding an honest company who can help you out.

John Jesensky talks Cars, Miami and a Harry Potter-based Symphony

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Miami is one of the world’s most popular cities in the world. It attracts people from all walks of life. Visiting Florida wouldn’t be complete without a walk in the streets of Miami. John Jesensky, a renowned composer, and conductor, has defined the city as charming, exciting and breathtaking. He says that he feels like Miami gets better with time –like wine. He believes that the place will be different a few years from now, judging from the new establishments coming up.

One thing that Jesensky likes about the city is the cultural diversity. He enjoys eating out at different restaurants just to taste steaks and soups from various parts of the world. John revealed that Miami is one of his favorite vacation destinations because the people there are friendly. Moreover, the city offers some of the best orchestra performances.

The orchestra conductor loves cars. He considers vehicles as art –just like music. “I fell in love with cars when I was a little boy,” he says, “That (his love for cars) has stuck with me to date.” Mr. Jesensky has mentioned in one of his interviews that the future for cars looks brighter every day. He’s excited to see what the big names in the automobile industry will come up within the next decade.

John expects to see more innovative ideas. He said, “We are not yet done inventing stuff. Those LCD screens on our cars can show us more than just time and our GPS location.” He hopes that automotive engineers will work towards making safer vehicles that embrace the idea of sustainability. Although John is a fan of classic car collections, he says he wouldn’t mind driving new car models from BMW and Audi.

John Jesensky has revealed that he will conduct a Harry Potter-themed orchestra. He draws his inspiration from John Williams’ work on the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone film. Also, he is fascinated with how Williams can do so much with so little. Mr. Jensensky will conduct the orchestra at the Arsht Center. He’s working one the project with CineConcerts, a production company that specializes in live presentations. John defined the event as a dream come true as he has always wished to bring out the dark theme in “The Sorcerer’s Stone.”

Mr. Jesensky said that he wasn’t into classical music while in high school. However, this changed when he listened to the soundtracks from all the Harry Potter movies. The New York University alumnus used the soundtracks to practice his conducting skills. He says, “I am grateful for knowing Harry Potter because he inspired me to conduct music.” John Jesensky believes that film scores are attracting younger audiences to orchestral music. He said that younger people are interested in things that blow their minds.

The Harry Potter Live series will offer the audience a thrilling experience. Thanks to film scores, the orchestral music genre is appreciated by the younger and older generations. Harry Potter fans are expected to enjoy the show. John and his team will offer a memorable experience to everyone.

This Man Darren Pawski

This Man Darren Pawski

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This Man Darren PawskiDarren Pawski is a financial profession who heads the iconic Synergy Financial Solutions firm. His financial strategies and ideas have made the firm a global financial partner. He has surpassed most financial experts by executing practical business plans in his company and in the capacities; he has served in the business world.

Darren Pawski achievements

Darren Pawski started his tactics of business in the 80s and has since gained all the experience and skills there are in finance. His success must be inbuilt because he started as low as a Diploma and Certificate in Financial Planning and Mortgage Banking, respectively.

In Australia, he has a very positive legacy with almost all prominent firms, especially in Perth. Darren Pawski was at one time a scramble for all financial firms, some that could not afford to pay him. The peak of his corporate career came when he was the Commonwealth Bank Boss. He formulated strategies that the institutions enjoy until now.

Darren Pawski in Synergy Financial Solutions

In his endeavor to exploit all the financial potential in him, he started his own firm to offer financial resources to the world. He has grown the firm to heights that many companies would in half a century. Most of the people who have interacted with him describe him as an idea machine. The secret of his financial success must be in how he implements his ideas immediately.

Darren Pawski believes in the power of relevant knowledge and education. In his firm, he offers free training to employees to equip them with expertise of the entire financial market. In addition, he extends his generosity to public forums and seminars to enlighten the world on business. His efforts to empower the employees and the society has being of success both to his career and company.

His passion for education drove him to enroll for a master’s degree. This, according to financial experts, is a sign of a civilized but genius business mind for a successful man like Darren Pawski to source more education. This means he believes he has more financial potential that he wants to unleash to the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Randi Glazer Discusses Risks, Rewards of Classic Car Collecting

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For those with a passion for collecting, restoring or rebuilding classic cars, there is often little thought to the risks and rewards beyond the simple enjoyment associated with such a pursuit. The insurance and underwriting specialist in Randi Glazer, however, immediately focuses on the potential risks and rewards that accompany every last detail associated with classic car collecting.

According to Glazer, many classic car collectors — as well as those who are even remotely familiar with this unique and intriguing hobby — are surprised to learn that a passion for collecting, restoring and rebuilding classic cars is one of the most stable investments an individual can make, as there is always a strong market for just about any classic car ever made available.

While there is enough risk that comprehensive insurance is entirely worthwhile, classic cars tend to be immune to any shifts in the economic climate and therefore represent an investment that consistently yields a significant return or at least provides the opportunity to recover the cost of the initial investment.

Classic Cars Can Be Both a Unifying Force and an Expression of Individuality

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It is not often that the thing that sets us apart can also be the thing that brings us together, but this seeming paradox is perfectly represented in the owners of classic cars. This is especially the case with classic car enthusiasts who are deeply involved with restoration and customization, as it the process of bringing a classic car back to life that allows these unique individuals to express their creative side while also identifying themselves as something of an iconoclast.

Once the restoration or customization process is complete, however, the car then becomes a beacon for other like-minded souls who want to talk shop and bond over a shared love of gear shafts and other car parts. For friends and family members who often see a tirelessly focused and solitary individual who seems to prefer to be alone with a project in the garage, it can be quite jarring to witness this same person jovially engaging a complete stranger in conversation while looking over the open hood of a classic car. To the car enthusiast, however, this contradictory personality quirk makes perfect sense.

Someone like Ken Fisher is probably quite familiar with this concept, as one of his many books discusses the different kinds of paths taken by wealthy individuals to achieve a remarkably similar level of financial success. The same is true of classic car enthusiasts, and one of the most common subjects these individuals share has to do with the many choices made during the restoration and customization of their passion project. In the end, the car does not look any different to an outsider, but it is readily apparent to those who happen to share this sacred bond.

David Kravitz’s Book Gets My Respect!

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I know one thing I am thankful for would be the people who are in my life because without them I’d be clueless! I spend a lot of time in my garage working on cars for clients and mostly my wife’s car because she’s reckless (but don’t tell her that).

I don’t spend much time in the sun because I always have my face under the hood of a car or under the car itself. I guess you could conclude I don’t have much of a social life either. One day my daughter tells me about this new craze thing called “Facebook” and it’s the best new way to connect with old friends and family.  Why not? I’ll give it a try. That was in 2008.

51x54WJHU7L._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_Just a few days ago, my daughter brings me a book she got from her college professor written by David Kravitz. It’s a nice little paperback book dressed up in my favorite green/blue/teal color and it has, “How to Monetize Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, LinkedIn and Other Social Media Sites” literally packed tightly on the front more so than the engine and other components of a car are packed into the front under the hood. It’s a title so ridiculously long, I guess they didn’t have much choice unless shortening it was out of the question.

I wasn’t interested at first. I don’t want to read, I want to work! “Reading doesn’t make you money,” is what my father would tell me. But wait, this book clearly says in the beginning of all this cramped, claustrophobic text that it’s going to teach you HOW to monetize your social media. I’m in!

With a few minutes of reading, I was hooked on it and I learned so much. I learned I could be making money doing what I have been doing for free with my social media. David Kravitz goes in depth with what it takes to get started, mainly social media, then lists the steps of where you can start making changes.

The good news is that now my garage business is even more successful and I have more clients than just my wife! I can’t thank my daughter enough. She’s really changed my life for the better.

Hugo Sebastian Hirsch Explains His Passion for Classic Car Restoration

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One might expect that a professional blogger who also happens to be passionate about classic cars would be devoting at least some of his energy to writing about his restoration projects, but Hugo Sebastian Hirsch sees his love of antique automobiles as a means of escape from his online work. In fact, Hirsch has said that his best ideas often come to him while he is working on a repair project, and these ideas typically have absolutely nothing to do with classic cars or anything remotely related to the subject.

“When I am working on a car, I usually do so in a solitary fashion,” began Hirsch, explaining his rationale for not frequently writing about his car projects. “As I get more into it, I feel this sense of calm and clarity that enables me to think deeply on a variety of subjects. There used to be a lot of times when I dropped my tools to find a notebook so I could start writing immediately, but now I just keep a notebook right there in the garage so I don’t have to feel so frantic about the possibility of losing my train of thought.”

Hirsch, whose career as a blogger and consultant allows him to arrange his schedule so he has plenty of time for classic car restoration, sees his passion for writing and for cars as remarkably similar and mutually beneficial. Hirsch has said in the past that his writing would absolutely suffer without his passion for classic cars, and his restoration work would not be so detail-oriented if not for his commitment to writing.

“The art of writing and the art of automobile restoration may not seem to be all that similar, and on a superficial level, perhaps they are not all that alike,” says Hirsch. “In both pursuits, however, it is the process and not the outcome that is most rewarding for me. When the work is complete, I feel a great sense of accomplishment, but I also feel entirely ready to move on to the next project and the next challenge. It is in this way that I enjoy every triumph and failure equally, and I have never felt as though I have ever wasted any time doing either one.”

Given Hirsch’s process-oriented perspective, it is perhaps unsurprising that he rarely keeps the cars he restores. Instead, he usually resells them below market value, turning only enough of a profit so he is able to begin his next restoration project in earnest.

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