Category: Wisdoms

  • Make Your Dream Home Come True

    You have the resources to turn your house into the dream home you’ve always wanted. Now, what? Here are some tips to help you plan your remodel. Compile your wish list. Prioritize your list by identifying what projects and features are important to you and your lifestyle. Use your list to determine the scope and…

  • Preying in Church

    Pope Francis recently said, “Be careful! Beware of someone who is sly or sneaky who tells you that you need to pay. Salvation cannot be bought.” He was warning us that scam artists use faith as a source of income. We must always be on guard against people that use emotion and desperation as tools…

  • Increase Your Retirement Funds

    If you are like many people, you are looking for a way to create funds and security for your future. If you own low-interest CDs or underperforming stocks, one idea is to transfer these assets to a qualified nonprofit organization in exchange for a charitable gift annuity. In return, the charity agrees to make payments…

  • Who Should Think About Medicaid?

    An unpleasant fact of life is the prospect of needing long-term care someday. Statistics tell us that 70 percent of Americans will need long-term care for some period of time before death. So it is not just possible, but very likely that you or someone close to you will need long-term care. In Hawai‘i, the…

  • Help Your Employees with Retirement

    As a small-business owner, one of the greatest benefits you can provide to your employees is a retirement plan that helps them save for their financial future. Your contributions to a retirement plan are a deductible business expense, and a strong compensation package helps you compete for and retain talented people. As an employer, you…

  • Knowledge is a Gift

    We talk a lot about gifts and how to structure your gifts for maximum benefit. But one of the best gifts we can give ourselves is knowledge to stay healthy. Aging gracefully also preserves our savings and financial resources for our later years and for our heirs. Many nonprofit organizations offer public information about your…

  • What is a POLST And Do I Need One?

    If you were to collapse unexpectedly, how aggressively would you want emergency medical personnel to act in trying to keep you alive? If you were a typical, healthy, individual, you would probably say, “do whatever it takes to keep me going, even if you have break a few ribs to do it!” (This can happen…

  • The Most Difficult Conversation

    During the winter break, I read a book called Difficult Conversations, how to discuss what matters most. The authors teach ways to engage in conversations, maintain good relationships and convey and receive meaning and intentions without blame and defensiveness. They point out that the key to engaging in successful difficult conversations is to talk about…

  • Beware the ‘Friendly’ Stranger

    I It’s difficult to believe that anyone would take advantage of our aloha spirit. Unfortunately, the Prosecutor’s Office has seen an increase in cases of friendly strangers who turn out to be con artists preying on seniors. Edith (not her real name) was walking through Kapi‘olani Park when Alexander Nebre approached her. He said that…

  • Joint Bank Accounts: Think Twice

    Earlier, I wrote about a woman from Waianae, who added her daughter to her bank account. The daughter was to use the money to pay contractors to remodel the mother’s home. This money was solely the mother’s, but instead of helping the mother, the daughter helped herself to the money (over $200,000) and disappeared. After…

  • 2016 Tax Planning that Works for You

    Are you looking for ways to reduce capital gains tax on the sale of your appreciated assets, save and plan for the future or save on your income taxes? A planned gift can help you achieve your goals. It’s possible to increase your income now or in the future and save money on taxes —…

  • Secure the Next Chapter of Your Life

    One challenge to living a good life is learning how to balance the realities of today with what lies ahead — to live in the present while you wisely plan for the future. Since change is always around the corner, you owe it to your future self to consider what you’d like the next chapter…