Category: October – November 2017
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Zero Chance of Winning the Lottery
Over the years, I have spoken to countless people who believed they had won the lottery. They told me on the phone that they knew it was the real thing or they stopped by my office to show me letters, emails, credit cards or business checks proving they had struck it rich and beat the…
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A Wise Estate Plan Includes the ‘Whys’
Estate-planning attorneys offer three types of estate plans: the one-size-fits-all, default “state plan;” the standard “black and white” plan; or the “meaningful” estate plan. If you do nothing, the State of Hawai‘i has the Guardianship and Probate Court, which is a plan for each Hawai‘i resident upon incapacity and death. The state also has the…
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Charitable Giving: Is It for You?
Public charities are not shy about asking us for money — they depend on our gifts to carry out their philanthropic purposes. Deciding which charities to support can be a difficult task, because there are many worthy causes and most of us do not have unlimited bank accounts from which to draw. The following are some suggestions…
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Adjust Your Portfolio for a Soft Landing
Think about this analogy: When an airplane is preparing to land, it doesn’t descend 30,000 feet in a matter of seconds. Rather, it happens gradually. The pilot adjusts to the landscape and weather conditions to assure a soft landing. In the years leading up to retirement, treat your investment portfolio in a similar manner. Prepare…
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Bumper-to-Bumper Service Checks
Have you taken your car in for its 10,000-mile service checkup? If you are like most car owners who need a reliable car that can go the distance, you schedule an appointment the moment your mechanic sends a reminder. The bumper-to-bumper inspection requires a trained professional to perform an extensive list of tests, including a…
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Unexpected Turn of Events
In March, during a mainland trip to visit our college daughter, I started receiving phone calls from old family friends whom I haven’t heard from in years. What I thought were surprise hellos were concerned calls. My mother, Kimiko Suzuki, 88, had reached out to them due to a sudden onset of fluid buildup in…
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When Seniors Choose Solo Living
As home healthcare providers, we’re often asked if a senior can live alone at home. While each situation is different, seniors who are alone can have additional risks that affect their health and well-being. In 2016, the Administration on Aging reported 29 percent, or 13.3 million older adults age 65 and over, lived alone at home.…
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Tighten Your ‘Internal Belt’
Core training is one of the most popular concepts in the field of fitness and physical therapy. Core stability training is often associated with strengthening your abdominal muscles — the “abs.” The ab muscles play a very important role, but the core also includes multiple muscles in the mid-lower back, pelvic floor, hips and buttocks. This ring…