A new year is the time to see what’s trending and what’s fallen from favor. There is nothing scientific about this list. It’s gathered from a range of publications that claims to be in the know about what’s hot or not across a wide range of topics.

Consumers are embracing sustainability

Happily, consumers are getting serious about environmental issues on a number of levels. The Trump administration may choose to ignore it, but Americans clearly understand the urgency of protecting our environment.

WHAT’S OUT

Low-fat diets

Manufacturers have tricked us by coming up with low-fat versions of our favorite foods—specifically yummy things like cookies, cereals, muffins, etc. The problem is that Americans never quite got that low-fat doesn’t mean low-calorie. When fat was removed from these products, it was replaced with refined carbohydrates, which many health experts blame for the country’s obesity epidemic. The result? People are getting fat on low-fat food!

The growing health problem of vaping

When electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were first introduced, they were promoted as a smoking cessation tool and a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes. Now vaping has been linked to more than 2,500 hospitalizations and 54 deaths for lung injury, as per the CDC. Tragically, it has also hooked a new generation on nicotine.

Plastic straws

A big shoutout to local lawmakers and big businesses, including Starbucks, for leading the way on this one. Plastic straws are being phased out in many areas of the country. Straws are just one component of a bigger push to cut down on all of the plastic that’s piling up in landfills and polluting wildlife and waterways. Many cafes now offer compostable straws as an alternative; others have turned to metal options. To think about: Do you really need a straw?

Kale: It’s finally over

Kale may pack a wallop of vitamins and nutrients, but so do other dark leafy greens, including collard and mustard greens, bok choy, spinach and dark, leafy lettuce. It’s also time for Swiss chard to have its moment in the sun.

Food waste

Between 30-40% percent of the country’s food supply gets wasted each year. The best way to reduce food waste is not to create it in the first place. Shop smart, plan out meals and buy only what is needed. If you have a fridge full of limp vegetables, throw them into a pot of stock for a quick and easy soup or whip up a frittata.

Sugar-sweetened beverages

Sugar-sweetened beverages are full of empty calories and pack on unwanted pounds. I used to share office space with a colleague who drank one of those 67-oz. bottles of coke every day. That’s a full day’s worth of empty calories! Look for substitutes. The sparkling water industry is doing interesting things with carbonated options, and they’re infusing natural fruit into water.

Processed plant-based foods

The new impossible burgers, thick, juicy, meat-like (but meat-free) patties, are showing up on fast-food and restaurant menus. But these wannabe burgers and other highly processed foods are loaded with sodium.

WHAT’S IN

Telemedicine. Changing the way doctors and patients interact

I lived in San Francisco for a long time and my health care providers are still in the City. Yet I live in Napa. When I have a question for my doctor of 20+ years, she makes me schlep all the way to San Francisco for a five-minute consultation. This is old medicine. More hospitals and physicians are meeting with their patients over video calls. Some are monitoring patients’ blood pressure, sleep and activity levels through wearable devices. More than 75% of U.S. hospitals are connecting with patients and consulting physicians through technology, the American Hospital Association reports.

Youth activists who inspire us; leading the fight for a better world

It’s not just Greta Thunberg, the courageous 16-year-old Swedish climate activist and Time’s 2019 Person of the Year. Helena Gualinga, a teen Indigenous activist from the Ecuadorian Amazon, took world leaders to task at the COP 25 climate summit and accused oil companies of violating our human rights. University students in India are protesting a new citizenship law that excludes Muslim migrants. The students at Parkland High School mobilized after the shooting that slaughtered their classmates. These brave young people are raising the bar for all of us.

A boom in college access

More and more people are going to college. Access to higher education has expanded rapidly across the globe over the last five years, says Michael Green, CEO of Social Progress Imperative, and he expects this trend to continue in 2020.

The Internet of things

The Internet of things is a phrase we’ll be hearing more of. It’s about the pervasiveness of the internet, how it is integrated into every part of our lives. As we embrace 2020, experts estimate that more than 30 billion devices will be connected. Advanced technology translates to huge development opportunities in well, everything we do–politics, education, media, health, commerce and leisure.

Weconomics: Crowdfunding takes off

Look for crowdfunding to explode. The US leads the trend, but crowdfunding is also flourishing across the Eurozone. We could see a radical change in the funding landscape for entrepreneurs and SMEs. Here’s where it gets interesting–people will want to own a share in these startups–becoming respected partners rather than just generous consumers.

Food: Cooking as a craft

From food industry pros to home cooks, it’s time to get back to cooking as a craft, cooking that’s soulful. In-house, scratch preparation of foods is gaining momentum for foods such as mustards, jams and preserves, pickles, mayonnaise, breads and stocks. Home cooks are interested in learning techniques such as breaking down a whole chicken, canning, making gravies and sauces and fermenting foods.

Eco-friendly home design

Sustainability surfaces again in home design as Americans gravitate toward more eco-friendly lifestyles. It shows up in overall design sensibility as well as in a desire to bring warm, earthy elements into our interior spaces.

We look forward to assisting our clients with their uncontested legal matters

As we embrace another year, we look forward to assisting our clients with their uncontested legal matters. Whether it’s a Divorce, Living Trust, Probate or Business Formation, we guide our clients through the process. We prepare the legal documents and file them with the courts. We’re helpful, compassionate and affordable. Schedule an appointment today at one of our three Bay Area offices.

2020 Tax Tips for the Gig Economy

What has the IRS cooked up for us this year? I was reviewing some of the tax changes for 2020, and it seems like the big changes came last year as part of the Trump administration’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. What did get my attention were some cautionary items directly related to the growing number of people who are employed as contractors—the gig workers.

Back in the days when we all had regular jobs, it was easy. We got one W-2 form in January and used it to file our taxes. Now contractors can easily have ten or more W-2s to include in their April filings.

Outsourcing has become a standard part of the way we do business

Despite the pending new gig law legislation, companies of all sizes are routinely filling in skill gaps and boosting efficiency by hiring contractors or companies with specialized services. As the gig economy grows, we’re seeing a flood of contractors in the workforce. Still more people are not so much contractors as working multiple low-paying jobs to make ends meet.

All of this translates to more taxpayers with multiple streams of taxable income that their employers may or may not be reporting. The burden is on the IRS to track all of these incoming and outgoing payments–which could go undetected. Then again, by not reporting these payments, taxpayers could receive a penalty and set themselves up to be audited.

If you’re audited, you’re more likely to be audited again

According to the IRS, each tax return is individually evaluated for an audit. If a prior audit was resolved in your favor, every effort is made not to select your return the next year for the same issues. However, let’s say you’re audited because you didn’t include all of your earnings and the audit was not resolved in your favor. If you file another return and fail to report all of your earnings again, you are setting yourself up for another audit. No one wants to become a consistent audit target by the IRS.

Paying estimated quarterly taxes on time

New gig workers may not know that taxpayers are required to pay quarterly estimated taxes for the current tax year. They may not know how and when to make their payments. A failure to pay quarterly estimated taxes does a couple of things. It can:

• Result in a massive tax bill in April.
• Trigger late fees and interest on top of the base tax figure. For high earners, such as those in the tech sector, this could amount to thousands of dollars in additional taxes.

Quarterly tax payments: Estimates of what you’ll earn over the course of a year

• In order to accurately estimate your tax burden, contractors need to keep meticulous records and run calculations to generate a ballpark estimate.
• You may slightly underpay, but it’s better to overpay to avoid a big surprise in April.
• A rule of thumb: Set aside 22-24% of every client payment you receive into a savings account that’s reserved for making payments throughout the year.

These quarterly tax payments need to be paid on time, yet an estimated 20% of people file their taxes late. The result is penalties, fees and other inconveniences.

Errors on Tax Forms

Errors lead to delays in processing, but there’s a bigger issue–they can also flag audits. Typical errors include incorrect Social Security numbers, inaccurate bank account information, a lack of proper signatures and missing information. One of the biggest errors that taxpayers make is underestimating the amount of taxes they owe.

These cautionary reminders may seem like common sense

We all know enough to sign our taxes before filing and to use our correct Social Security number. But I know several people who have just begun working as contractors, and they do not know that they must file quarterly taxes. I’m guilty of being a little late on my own quarterly filing. The bottom line is that you really don’t want to do anything that will raise a red flag with the IRS. An audit is time consuming and expensive. If dealing with your taxes is something that is difficult for you, outsource it. It’s worth it.

Taxes, financials and Living Trusts are all important parts of estate planning

Our Living Trust package includes a Power of Attorney and Advance Healthcare Directive. Our dedicated team has assisted hundreds of families in creating their Living Trusts. We’re responsive and available throughout the process. We’re helpful, compassionate and affordable. Schedule an appointment today at one of our three Bay Area offices.

Divorce and Your Money: A Thoughtful Action Plan

Those in the Divorce business will tell you that they experience an uptick in January. No couple wants to disrupt their family’s holiday, so they push the Divorce off until January. They know that it will be emotional and disruptive, even as they try to minimize the effect on their families.

Here are some thoughts on money matters while preparing for your Divorce

The economic realities

The process of itemizing your property and getting an idea of what will be left after you split it up is routine practice in all 50 states. Some people actually decide to reconcile once they see their financial landscape divided in half. Others use this as a reality check and move forward.

Know that your financial circumstances may change

Certified financial planner Lauren Klein has seen clients make poor decisions such as using retirement funds to help them keep the family home, only to see the house lose value and become an enormous financial burden. Many others overcommit in order to keep the home. They end up with a mortgage that could choke a horse, in a neighborhood that’s beyond their means, with a lavish landscape and gardener. They’d be much better off selling that home, taking the money and buying a smaller home in a modest neighborhood that they can afford.

Waiting too long to separate finances

Do not wait to split joint bank and any other accounts that you share. Change your login information and whatever else you need to do to separate your financial lives. Check your credit report periodically to make sure there aren’t any surprises. Remember that your ex has your social security number and knows your mother’s maiden name. One of my colleagues’ divorced husband died and she inherited nearly $750K of his debt—all of it from accounts that he had not canceled or transferred into his name.

Avoid big ticket, emotional buying

Don’t make any major financial decisions until the divorce is final. Most families deal with varying degrees of financial adjustment as they figure out how to support two households rather than just one. Avoid impulsive purchases until the dust settles.

Do not try to hide money or assets

If you try hiding money or assets to keep them out of the “marital estate,” the risks are serious penalties and possible jail time. Bad idea. This is not worth the risk.

Think about your career and making more money. You’re going to need it

If you’re currently not working, try to get a job, especially one with health insurance. If you are working, look for ways to advance in your career or increase your income because a divorcing individual will likely need a 30% increase in income to maintain his/her standard of living.

California Document Preparers has helped hundreds of families get divorced

Our dedicated team has assisted hundreds of couples with uncontested Divorces. If you and your spouse can agree on division of property and a parenting plan, we can save you a considerable amount of money. 

Guided Divorce: A specially trained, neutral third-party

If, however, your situation is more complex and you and your spouse cannot agree on how to divide your assets and raise your children, CDP’s Guided Divorce may be the right solution for you. We’re a specially trained, neutral third-party who work with divorcing couples to guide them through the issues that have stalled their Divorces. Together we reach a mutually acceptable resolution. There’s no judge, no winning or losing. Instead, our Guided Divorce is based on the principles of negotiation, an open mind and compromise.

We’re responsive and available throughout the process. It starts with an office visit to review the Guided Divorce process. Schedule an appointment today to talk to one of our team. We’re helpful, compassionate and affordable.

Prescription Drugs to Fight Aging—Entirely Experimental

Meet Dr. Alan Green. He has a tiny but lucrative practice in Queens. His patients travel from around the country to get prescriptions to drugs they believe will fight aging. Who are his patients? An estimated 5% are fellow doctors. Others have backgrounds in science or are in the upper-income bracket. He charges $350 for an initial visit and doesn’t accept insurance. Many fly to their appointments in their own airplanes. One 85-year old drove through a Midwest snowstorm to keep her appointment. Dr. Green is 76 and has been taking the drugs for three years himself.

Taking off-label drugs to fight aging

Green is among a small but growing number of doctors who prescribe drugs “off-label” for their possible anti-aging effects. In this case, the drugs are metformin, commonly prescribed for diabetes; the other drug is rapamycin, prescribed to prevent organ rejection. Now these drugs are being prescribed for their anti-aging powers, though there’s little evidence to support their premise.

Taking these drugs is entirely experimental

Patients get the drugs legally off-label or illegally from a foreign supplier. This methodology is much easier than it is for researchers to launch clinical trials. To date, no rigorous, large-scale clinical trials have been conducted for aging. Pharmaceutical companies have little incentive to fund costly, large-scale trials because aging is systemic—there is an infinite number of ways that aging takes place—and metformin and rapamycin are generic, cheap and accessible for seniors.

The National Instititue for Health (NIH) rejected a $77 million grant proposal by a prominent group of researchers to determine whether metformin could target multiple age-related diseases at once. It was the second rejection of the ambitious but unorthodox bid.

Advocate for rapamycin and Alzheimer’s study

Studies show that rapamycin extends animal life spans. It also has been shown in such studies to stave off age-related diseases, from cancer to cardiovascular diseases to cognitive diseases. “There should have been a clinical trial for rapamycin and Alzheimer’s disease years ago,” said Matt Kaeberlein a professor of pathology at the University of Washington medical school, who has publicly urged the NIH to use a historic boost in Alzheimer’s funding to study the drug’s effects. But clinical trials are expensive and difficult to fund.

Changing the model: Tackling aging as a whole rather than as one disease at a time

Alexander Fleming, a former FDA official and advocate for the metformin proposal, said he believed it was difficult for regulators and funders to grasp that aging can be tackled as a whole — not just one disease at a time.

In fact, NIH reviewers who rejected the metformin proposal cited problems with the project’s aim of testing multiple age-related diseases at once. The researchers considered appealing the decision, asserting those reviewers were biased against studying aging as a whole. The NIH, which declined to comment, discouraged the attempt.

Researchers have moved ahead with clinical trials focused on specific age-related conditions

• Researchers have shown that a “cousin” of rapamycin boosts the effectiveness of flu shots and lowers the incidence of upper respiratory infections in seniors by up to 30%.
• This group has licensed it from Novartis and is now working on getting approval to target Parkinson’s disease.
• At a recent forum on aging, a NIH researcher asked the 300 people in attendance to raise their hands if they were already taking metformin for aging. “Half the audience raised their hands,” recalled Nir Barzilai,director of the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “And a pharmaceutical rep estimated that metformin sales are up 20%.”

To be successful, clinical trials are necessary

Barzilai contends that researchers in the longevity field first need to set up a framework for testing in clinical trials. Even if metformin doesn’t pan out as the most effective drug, he asserts a model like the metformin proposal is needed for any major clinical trial to proceed. His group is now trying to secure about half the amount of funding it requested from NIH from a mix of nonprofit and private investment.

Proceeding with caution

While Dr. Green plans to continue prescribing his drugs, other doctors who may be open to prescribing metformin are holding off on rapamycin due to side effects in higher doses. Meanwhile, we’re a society obsessed with youth, and supplements with purported anti-aging effects routinely enter the market with little scrutiny and less evidence. There will be more on this one.

Many of our clients are seniors who come in to our offices to create their Living Trusts

The result is numerous conversations on a wide range of topics related to health, healthcare and end-of-life planning–and a Trust is an important part of this planning process. Our dedicated team has assisted hundreds of families in creating their Living Trusts. Our comprehensive Living Trust package includes a Power of Attorney and an Advance Healthcare Directive. We’re responsive and available throughout the process. We’re helpful, compassionate and affordable.

Redefining “Family”: Divorce Lawyers Divorce But Stay Connected

Vanessa Hammer and Brendan Hammer are two divorce lawyers who fell in love and married. Both came from families who had struggled financially, which helped mold their shared values and goals. Vanessa came from a large Mexican-American family in Houston. Brendan was the only child of an Hispanic mother.

When Vanessa graduated from law school in 2006 she moved to Chicago where Brendan had one more year. They planned to move to Houston after his graduation. The early years were filled with hard work as they built their careers. They traveled, made friends and were happy.

First signs of trouble revolved around their families

For Vanessa: “I sacrificed to leave my family, and I made concessions in my career in Chicago because I thought we were going back to Texas.” For Brandon, it was the death of his mother, his father coming to live with them and the birth of their son—all in one year.

By 2013, when their son was nearly three, things began to change. Brandon became snappish and began drinking too much. Vanessa learned that he he’d had an affair. This was his reaction to the events in his life.

They spent a year in therapy exploring the roots of their divide

Family was important to Vanessa. She wanted to move home to Texas and wanted another child. He wanted neither.

Divorce became inevitable

In 2014 Vanessa and their son moved to Texas. Brendan visited frequently and spent weekends with their son, who hated when his father left at the end of their visits. In the summer of 2015, Brendan left the firm where he had made partner and moved to Houston. A year later they all moved back to Chicago. “Culturally and educationally, Chicago better fit our values for raising a young child,” he said.

A living solution that was right for their family: Nesting: Two houses for three people

Despite their Divorce, they now are purchasing a home for their son who will stay in that home with one of them as they each take turns living in a separate residence that is also shared. This is referred to as nesting — providing the child of divorce one consistent, stable place to call home.

Feeling stigmatized by Divorce

Brendan feels that there’s a stigma associated with divorce, that their solution for keeping their family together isn’t understood by all. Vanessa wants people to understand that they are a family—though their living arrangement is a little unconventional.

As seasoned divorce lawyers, the economics of their Divorce were settled fairly, with the flexibility necessary to accommodate two parents living in an expensive city raising a child. Yet their incomes now must cover two households, not one. Their son is too young to understand divorce. “He knows there was a time when mom and dad didn’t live together, but he knows we are a family.” They always use the word “we”, as in “we are giving you this gift”. They made a conscious decision not to use the word “divorce” with him.

Life after Divorce: Their priority is raising their son

Having an equal partner helps when one of them travels or has other commitments. “We are clear the marriage is over, but I care about Brendan and what happens to him because he is my family,” she said. Both agree that their son is the best thing that happened to them and that they’ve grown up through the divorce process.

Is their new life better?

In some ways, yes. “I have a lot more freedom, and if I am honest with myself I found marriage restrictive.” She concurred: “I always felt I had to ask permission for everything, for having my own life apart from the family.” The move to Texas had to happen to prove that it wasn’t right for our family.

Advice for others contemplating Divorce

• Compassion for each other. Their own Divorce has made these lawyers more compassionate when dealing with their clients.
• Don’t say anything to the kids until you have a plan.
• There’s happy divorce and I’ll-never-see-you-again Divorce. Be creative and understand the range of options for divorce.
• “If there are children, minimize their exposure to adult issues,” she said. “All a kid wants to know is that everything is going to be okay. Be a rock even if you don’t feel like one.”

California Document Preparers has helped hundreds of families get divorced

Our dedicated team has helped hundreds of families get divorced. We’re responsive and available throughout the process. It starts with an office visit to review the Divorce process, responsibilities and costs. If you’re contemplating Divorce, schedule an appointment today to talk to one of our team. We’re helpful, compassionate and affordable.

Aging in Place: Growing Older at Home

Living Trusts are an important service for us, and creating a Trust often inspires people to get serious about life planning. Many of those who are retired or who are nearing retirement begin to make plans for what they hope will be the next twenty or more years. Health and economics influence every decision, but having a plan—and acting on it–provide peace of mind for many seniors and their families.

Aging in place is a concept that has gained popularity for some very good reasons

Many retirees move to where they can be close to their kids and grandchildren. Remaining in the home where you’ve raised your family and celebrated important milestones may be the most logical place to live out your life. But not every home is suitable for aging seniors. Isolated access, stairs, loose floorboards, porches, electronic gates and winding driveways can seem insignificant now, but what if you have a stroke? You’re suddenly completely isolated, unable to get into or out of your own home.

Ben and Sara have decided to age in place

Ben and Sara have been trying to sell their 40-acre property in the Napa Valley for the last five years. It’s accessible from a steep, winding road that finally ends at their driveway. Visitors hit the buzzer and an enormous, yawning wood and iron gate slowly swings open. Their lovely home is on a single level, but the property traverses the hillsides. Sara and Ben are in their late 70s, still busy and active. Over the years they have spent a lot of money remodeling their home. They have tried to sell, but have not found a buyer who will meet their price. They’ve decided to stay right where they are and age in place.

Really bad idea. This is not the kind of home in which to be aging in place

Ben and Sara are isolated in their home. When the power goes out, that huge gate won’t open and there is no other ingress/egress. When they’re no longer able to drive, they will be completely isolated. Their nearest neighbors live another half mile away, up more winding roads. Their three grown children all live on the east coast.

Maintenance on their 40 acres is becoming a burden

They have a gardener, but Ben does a lot of the work himself. He enjoys the physical effort, including fussing over his tomatoes, olives and grapes. He knows, however, that he is doing less and aching more. While Ben and Sara are financially secure, maintaining their property is a constant drain.

Ben and Sara would be better off taking a financial loss, selling their estate and buying a smaller home or cottage in Napa where they can safely grow old within walking distance of the library, cafes and activities.

Choosing to stay in your own home can be an expensive proposition

Despite the costs, the United States Aging Survey shows that many Americans age 65 and older say they want to stay right where they are, in the homes where it’s comfortable and familiar. But to age in place successfully, it’s often necessary to remodel your home to make it safer.

How will you age?

Consider how you might age before remodeling your house to accommodate life after retirement. Although medical advances and improved diets are keeping seniors healthy and active longer, the years inevitably take their toll. Eyesight and hearing may worsen; it may be difficult to navigate stairs, step over a threshold or climb into a bathtub. It’s not unlikely that at some point you will require a walker or a wheelchair. If arthritis is in your gene pool, you could have difficulty grasping and turning doorknobs.

Falling is a concern as we become less steady on our feet

Seniors dread falling, as old bones heal slowly. Replacing a hip or knee requires a long recovery period. Removing potential hazards is critical to home safety for aging seniors.

What remodeling do you need to age in place?

In the same way that you baby-proof a home, you need to age-proof it for seniors. You might not need as big of a house as you think. If you live in a two-story home, you may want to move to a smaller home on a single level. You may think about remodeling that second floor to make room for a family member or friend to live with you as a caretaker.

Some common remodeling projects for those considering aging in place 

• Install non-slip flooring. Falls are a leading cause of death and injury for older Americans. Replace the floor with a nonslip surface or install nonslip rugs.
• Walk-in tub or shower installations. Making a bathroom safer may require a walk-in tub or shower.
• Wider doorways for wheelchairs. According to the ADA, doorways should be at least 32 inches to make room for a wheelchair or walker.
• Installing a ramp. A ramp will make entering your home in a wheelchair more manageable.
• Install stair lifts or handrails. A stair lift for someone who can no longer access upper levels of a house is an important consideration.
• Change faucets to levers. A small thing, but a big difference maker to someone with crippling arthritis.
• Bathroom remodeling. Remodeling a bathroom quickly gets expensive. Making room for a wheelchair can mean new plumbing and electrical.
• Lower the kitchen countertops. Those in wheelchairs will need to have cabinets and counters lowered.

Creating a Living Trust is an important part of financial planning

Our Living Trust portfolio includes an Advance Healthcare Directive and a Power of Attorney. In this legal document, you can detail your preferences for your retirement years. You can state your wishes to remain in your own home or move to a retirement community. When the time comes, you can identify your preferences for moving to assisted care or a nursing facility or staying in your home.

California Document Preparers assists our clients in the preparation of Living Trusts. Our dedicated team guides you through every step. Schedule an appointment today by contacting us at one of our three Bay Area offices. Our dedicated team is helpful, compassionate and affordable.