Before we move away from the topic of New Year’s resolutions, there’s one more New Year’s Resolution we’d like to address—that of taking control of your destiny and starting your own business. The desire to move away from corporate America and work for oneself is not at all unusual. Unfortunately, not all who make this resolution will follow through with it. This is not because these brave entrepreneurs can’t make it, but because they get discouraged. Branching out on your own is a scary venture, especially if you aren’t sure where or how to start; but making that start is a lot easier if you have a plan and know that you’re not alone.

The following article from Kiplinger.com, Six Steps to Starting Your Own Business, can help you with the first part, and your attorney can help you with the second.

That’s right; your attorney can help you start your business, and in fact should help you start your business. Although the idea and impetus behind this new venture will be all yours, you should absolutely talk to your attorney about the formal incorporation and formation. Many attorneys are small business owners themselves, and can also help with the challenging and daunting tasks of structuring and formalizing a business plan. Once your business is off the ground and making money (as it undoubtedly will) your attorney can also help you protect it from creditors and lawsuits.

With a clear plan, and a friend in your corner, starting a business seems almost too easy.

If you’ve ever considered starting your own business, this could be the year to do it. Make a plan, call your attorney, and take control of your own destiny.

The hot and lazy days of summer are almost over; parents are thinking about back-to-school sales, kids are making the most of their final days of freedom, and college freshmen are getting ready to embark on their first year of adult-hood. Most of these college students have a list (whether mental or physical) of all the things they’ll need as they leave the nest for the first time, but most of these lists will be missing two key items: A Healthcare Directive and a HIPAA Form.

You may be wondering why a college student needs estate planning documents—aren’t those just for older, established people? Not at all.

Most incoming college students are now (or will soon be) 18, and considered adults under the law. This means that hospitals and medical personnel are no longer required to ask the parent’s permission before performing medical procedures. In fact, once your child is 18 health care providers are no longer required to share information with the parents at all.

Most college students (and parents) are unaware of this side-effect of turning 18, and parents and children alike can run into frustrating roadblocks should an accident occur. You can avoid these roadblocks by simply having your young adult execute the two simple documents mentioned in this blog post.

A Healthcare Directive (or Living Will) can be an in depth document or a very simple one, but the most important part for your new 18 year old will be the nomination of a healthcare agent. A healthcare agent is the person who will make medical decisions for your child if he or she is unable to make them alone.

A HIPPA Authorization Form addresses the issue of security and privacy of health data. In a HIPAA form your child can list the people who have permission to receive information about his or her medical records and status.

For a fledgling 18 year old these two documents are of the utmost importance, and with the right help, they are very easy to execute. Don’t wait until it’s too late; make sure your young adult has these documents completed before they leave the nest.

Séances, hauntings, ghost stories—we’ve come up with a number of varied and questionable ways to keep in communication with our loved ones after we pass away, but now there may be a way to actually do it: a new service called “P.S. I Love You Letters.”

According to their website, P.S. I Love You Letters are “time preserved, hand-written letters that you compose on elegant stationary to share what you’ve always wanted to say to those close to you, but never did. Each of your letters are safeguarded and later delivered in accordance with your instructions.”

Writing letters to loved ones to be given to them posthumously is not a new idea; in fact, many estate planners suggest clients write letters, personal histories, or a more formal document called a “memorandum of intent”, and store the personal missives with their estate planning documents, to be found and delivered after their death. The difference that comes with using the “P.S. I Love You Letters” service is that you can specify at what time you would like your letters to be delivered—and rest assured that they will be safely stored until that time.

We don’t know anything about this service aside from what we’ve found on their website, but as estate planners we certainly agree with the need to consider your family, plan ahead, and make sure you’ve provided for your loved ones before it’s too late. As the “P.S. I Love You Letters” website states, “We are reminded daily of how life can end so suddenly and unexpectedly.” Taking time now to plan for the unexpected can prevent much pain and hardship later.

What are your resolutions for 2011? A majority of New Year’s resolutions have to do with money and health—or more specifically, with saving money and losing weight. Unfortunately, most New Year’s resolutions don’t last through the first month of the year. But what if there were steps you could take in that first month, when you’re still feeling inspired and motivated, that would pay-off throughout the rest of the year when all your good intentions fall by the wayside?

Luckily, there are steps you can take right now that will help you save money throughout the rest of the year. This article in USA Today lists 5 steps you can take right now to help you save money in 2011:

1. Order your free credit report
2. Get a medical exam
3. Update your beneficiaries
4. Increase your 401(k) contributions
5. Rebalance your portfolio

All of these will help you keep your 2011 resolutions throughout the entire year, but the ones we’re most concerned with are #s 2 and 3. Too many people “take care of business” pertaining to beneficiaries and 401(k)s when they first get hired (or open a new account or life insurance policy) and then never think of it again. But lives change over the years, and the people you listed, or the amount you contributed 5 or 10 years ago is probably not what’s best for your family right now.

The New Year brings with it new beginnings… and new hopes. Why not take advantage of this feeling of optimistic euphoria by taking steps now that will carry you through the entire year?

Coping with the death of a loved one can be a crushing task. There are so many things to do and details to remember; all of this at a time when each small task can serve as a reminder of your loss. At such a time it can be helpful to know that you’re not going through this alone; there are a number of people who can help when you begin to feel overwhelmed. To relieve some of the stress, and help ensure that no important task is forgotten, we offer a list of people to call after the death of a loved one:

Funeral home - This will likely be your first call. The funeral home you or your loved one has selected will be able to help you with a lot of the immediate details and tasks. The funeral director will also be able to help you obtain 10-20 copies of the death certificate, something you will need later.

Family and Friends - This probably goes without saying. Not only will you want to notify family and friends, but they can also help with a lot of the endless tasks and overwhelming details. Don’t be afraid to delegate.

Veteran’s office (if deceased was a Vet.) - If the deceased was a Veteran you may have to stop benefit payments; you may also be able to get assistance with the funeral or memorial service.

The deceased’s employer - You will need to do this not only to inform the employer of the death, but also regarding termination of health insurance.

Attorney or Tax Professional - You will need to know what to do about probating the deceased’s estate, filing tax returns, dealing with bank accounts, etc. An attorney or tax professional can help. It is especially important to find out if your loved one had any existing estate documents.

Office of Social Security - If your loved one was receiving benefits you’ll need to stop payments. You will also want to find out if survivors are entitled to any benefits.

Insurance company of the deceased – You will probably need to file a claim. This is something your attorney or accountant may be able to help with.

Local Newspaper - You’ll want to publish an obituary or notice of death, as well as information about the funeral or memorial service.

Credit card companies and utilities - Give notification of death and pay off any remaining balances.

Bank - Arrange to change any joint accounts or to open an account in your name. Do not close any accounts right away!

Although this list is a good starting point; a complete list of people to call and things to do will depend on where the deceased lived and the details of their estate. Contact your loved one’s estate planning attorney (or your own) to ensure that nothing is left to chance.

Most people don’t think about visiting a financial planner until they’re old enough to have some money to manage, but if your child is a recent college graduate, or in his or her final year, you may want to consider a joint trip to your financial planner. A recent article in the Boston Globe lists a number of very compelling reasons why even young adults with little or no savings can benefit from a little bit of planning.

1. A visit to a financial planner can help young adults learn early the importance of budgeting: “If you are living on your own for the first time you haven’t had the responsibility yet of paying bills and learning to make your paycheck last until the next payday… One of the basic tenets of financial planning is to know where your money is going.”

2. Start planning for retirement while you’re still young. The earlier you start, the better off you’ll be. “A financial planner can go over the various fund choices in your 401(k) or other retirement plan and help you choose one or more funds that suit your needs.”

3. Learn how to turn big dreams for the future into a reality. Whether you plan to get married, buy a house, or start your own business, “A Certified Financial Planner® can figure out how much you need to save and create a plan to make saving painless.”

4. And finally, a financial planner can help young adults learn the basic tenets and terminology of borrowing, lending, saving smart and paying off loans with interest. “Learn about interest rates and how they work, whether they are for credit cards, auto loans, student loan or other borrowing. See how compound interest can help you reach goals faster.” An early trip to a knowledgeable professional can ensure that your child doesn’t get taken in by persuasive credit card companies.

by Yoko Kasai

1. The Gift of Listening
But you must really listen. No interrupting, no day dreaming, no planning your response. Just listen.

2. The Gift of Affection
Be generous with appropriate hugs, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for friends and family.

3. The Gift of Laughter
Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”

4. The Gift of a Written Note
A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

5. The Gift of a Compliment
A simple and sincere: “You look great,” “You did a super job,” or “That was a wonderful meal” can make someone’s day.

6. The Gift of Favor
Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

7. The Gift of Solitude
There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.

8. The Gift of a Cheerful Disposition
The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word 10 someone. It’s not that hard to say. “Hello” or Thank you.”

What Gift Will You Give This Week?

Yoko Kasai is a partner in Front Porch Realty Group in Larkspur, California. Learn more about Yoko and Front Porch Realty Group at www.FrontPorchRealtyGroup.com.