Synchronized Wednesdays

#WackyWednesday

“On my tombstone they will carve, "IT NEVER GOT FAST ENOUGH FOR ME.” ― Hunter S. Thompson

For no particular reason this Wednesday, here is a short video of synchronized motorcycle driving and the Italian Polizia.

Stay inspired my friends!

Revealing Heart

"The heart does not lie." - Vittorio Alfieri

Our true self is revealed by the actions of our heart.

No more true does this happen then when we have difficult times in our life.

In Sanskrit, the “heart” is referred to as Hridayam which means, “Here is the Center”. Hridayam or the Heart in this definition is thought of as the center of our existence. In ancient Eastern texts and scriptures, the heart is talked about in the context of physical health, mental health, spiritual health and vitality.

It is rare if ever we ask, “What is in your brain?”.

It is possible we might ask, “What is on your mind?”

Neither of these statements have the warmth of asking “What is in your heart?”

If we ask someone, “what is in your heart,” we are looking for true and direct communication with the other person. You might call this having a "heart to heart talk.” Which means having an open, truthful and mutually respectful conversation.

It is said the term heart literally means truth.

When we want to know the truth, we go to the heart of the matter. When I say to someone, “I want to speak my heart”, it means I want to speak my truth. I want to give my true feelings.

Jill Sweetman, Counselor and Life Coach, has said "Tough times expose our true heart." This is true and the nature of our heart is less surprising if we examine our own heart. It means looking inside and understanding what and who we are.

One's true heart will reveal itself eventually.

More times than not it does so during times when we are having difficulty. If your true heart is weak and hard, there is work to do in order to strengthen it. We prepare ourselves by understanding who we are. And it is our heart which reveals the true person inside of us.

Stay inspired my friends!

Lift Me Up

"Open doors, they may be closed to me. The fire's still burning in my heart."
- YES, "Lift Me Up"

There are many in life who could use a hand to help pull them back up. It takes only a moment of time to make a difference in their life.

Reach out your hand and make that difference.

Lift some one up!

Stay inspired my friends.

Financial Smarts

“Financial fitness is not pipe dream or a state of mind it's a reality if you are willing to pursue it and embrace it.” ― Will Robinson

Each day we hurry about working to provide for our family and to get ahead in life. We worry about our teenage children driving, the frightening drug use trying to lure them away and all of the possibilities of what could happen. Yet an article I read asks, "do we worry about what if something happens to you...what will happen to those around you?"

You are probably the most careful person around. You buckle your seat belt, eat all of the right foods and exercise is part of your daily routine.

But as the saying goes, "stuff happens."

Financial experts estimate that nearly 70% of men have not taken the needed steps to secure their family's finances. Heaven forbid you end up getting hit by a car. But it happens and all too often without warning. It is natural as human beings not to think about dying.

Heck, who wants to think about that stuff?

But it is relatively easy to take a few steps and ensure some 'after-you' stability. Those steps you can take are;

1. Get yourself together - put together a document listing details of your finances, investments, bank account, insurance policies and any financial advisers. Then ask around for an attorney to draft a will for you.

2. Replace your salary - employer-sponsored life insurance policies will normally cover two times your annual salary. This is much less than your family needs. So buy a term life insurance policy to cover you until the kids have graduated and moved away. From that point on, the kids are less dependent upon you. Notice I didn't say they are totally independent.

3. Pay your family, not Uncle Sam - when you die and leave everything to your wife, your children lose something many of us didn't know we had: a $2 million exemption from the estate tax. Upon your wife's death, your kids benefit from her $2 million exemption, but yours would be lost. For your kids to get the combined $4 million exemption, the attorney can set up a credit shelter. Transfer $2 million in assets (or up to this amount as all of us do not necessarily have that much) into the trust, including your house and enable your wife to access the funds, but name your kids the beneficiaries upon her death. What happens is eventually the kids will inherit your $2 million and her $2 million...all estate tax free.

4. Protect your legacy - remember to update and keep updated all beneficiary forms for 401(k)s, IRAs and other retirement accounts as these override your will. Just make sure they are current. Ensure that your will includes instructions including specific instructions about how your assets should be handled.

5. Hire your replacement - when you and your wife are travelling, there is that underlying thought of, "what if the plane goes down?" Assign the jobs of executor and guardian to different people. Divide the power by giving control of your kid's inheritance to one person while someone else takes them in. "The best person to raise your kids may not be the best one to handle finances," says Lisa Osofsky, a tax advisor in New York. Think of things like, what if the guardians divorce? Name one person in a couple as the guardian...and name backups.

It is also important to educate yourself on financial matters not only in case you should die but also in case you continue to live a long and happy life. Having a sound financial plan will make that life even happier.

Stay inspired my friends.