Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 21, 2015

13

BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS

Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 21, 2015 

FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett


GET THE CREDIT 
YOU DESERVE

Mortgage applications are being reviewed far more thoroughly now than in the past, and your credit 
score should be 680 or higher to qualify for the best interest rates. So how do you determine your 
score, and know you're getting the credit you deserve?

Everyone is allowed one free credit report per year from the three reporting agencies (Experian, 
Equifax and TransUnion). Review the reports for accuracy and act quickly to correct any errors or 
omissions. 

Approximately 35% of your credit score is based on the timeliness of your payments. Make sure that 
no late payments older than seven years are still on your report.

If you have paid off loans or credit cards, a zero balance should appear on those accounts. Sometimes, 
agencies don't properly update those balances after settlement.

15% of your credit score is based on the length of your credit history, so make sure that the opening 
dates of all your accounts are accurate. Also make sure that the limits on your credit cards are 
correct, and keep the balances under 50% of those limits. Total debt accounts for 30% of your credit 
score.

Finally, think twice about closing credit card accounts with zero balances, because this negatively 
reduces your ratio of "available credit" to your debt. First, get the facts. Then, make corrections. 
Finally, apply for home financing with confidence!

“TO KNOW AND NOT TO ACT IS NOT TO KNOW” 
-CHINESE PROVERB

When people learn what I do for a living they often 
tell me, “I know I need to get an estate plan in place 
for my family.” When I hear that, I get excited. I talk 
to them about why planning is so important, just 
how easy it really can be, and all the cool things they 
can do to truly protect and provide for their family 
and pass on a lasting legacy.

 I make myself available to guide them, answer 
their questions, and help them in any way I can – 
even if they don’t do their planning with me. I’m 
just thrilled to be a small part of their journey 
toward greater consciousness. Some, then, begin 
the planning process. Many, however, never follow 
through.

 So even though they’ve said they “know,” I can 
only assume they don’t really get it. They must not 
understand the consequences for their loved ones if 
they fail to plan. They must not grasp the immense 
peace of mind and satisfaction a good plan will bring 
into their lives. They must not appreciate the fact it 
is not too late for them to plan now but that one day, 
it will be.

 If you’ve already handled your planning, 
congratulations. You’re in the know. If you haven’t 
yet begun your planning, are you ready to make 
the shift between just saying you know and really, 
consciously, actively knowing? If so, then here’s 
what you need to know:

 Will. If you’re an adult and you don’t have a Will 
if and when something happens to you, a judge 
decides who is in charge of your affairs and state law 
determines who receives everything you own. You 
lose all control. With a will, on the other hand, YOU 
appoint who’s in charge of things and YOU choose 
who gets your stuff.

 Advance Medical Directive. Also known as a 
health care proxy, medical power of attorney, or 
living will, this document allows the person of your 
choosing to make healthcare decisions for you in 
case you become incapacitated and unable to make 
them for yourself. Plus, it also lets that person know 
HOW you want decisions to be made if you cannot 
make them for yourself. Without an Advance 
Medical Directive in place, your family could have 
their hands tied when it comes to ensuring you get 
the best care possible, in the way you would want. 

 Power of Attorney. In the event you cannot 
communicate, a power of attorney will allow your 
designated agent to quickly gain access to your 
financial accounts so they can pay your bills and 
manage your financial affairs. Without this in place, 
your family will face an expensive, long and public 
court process while your credit gets ruined.

 Living Trust. If you own any property that would 
go through the probate process (a home, bank 
accounts, brokerage accounts, business assets, real 
estate investments, and other substantial assets), 
you’ll want to make sure to have a Trust set up as 
soon as possible so your family isn’t stuck dealing 
with an expensive, unnecessary, long, and totally 
public probate process in the event of your death. 
A revocable living trust puts the people you know, 
love and trust in control without even having to go 
to Court. 

 Kids Protection Plan. If you have minor children, 
you need a comprehensive set of documents to 
ensure they are taken care of by the people you 
want, in the way you want, no matter what. Not just 
for the long-term, but also in the immediate term if 
something happens to you. Without this in place, 
strangers could gain temporary custody of your 
children and a stranger (a judge) would certainly 
determine who raises your children. 

 If you know you want to make things as easy for 
your family as possible then let’s do something about 
it. Call my office today to schedule a time for us to sit 
down and talk. Mention this article and there will 
be no charge for meeting with me. So don’t just say 
you know. Take action. 

To you family’s health, wealth, and happiness,

A local attorney, father, and CASA volunteer 
(Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children), 
Marc Garlett is on a mission to help parents protect 
what they love most. His office is located at 49 S. 
Baldwin Ave., Ste. G, Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Call 
626.355.4000 to schedule an appointment to sit down 
and talk about ensuring a legacy of love and financial 
security for your family or visit www.GarlettLaw.com 
for more information.


WE ALL WANT ATTENTION ON LINE!

I’m honored to be part of a team of Authorized 
Local Constant Contact Experts. There are only 14 
of us who have been selected by Constant Contact 
to go out in the business community and teach key 
strategies of on-line marketing. 

 There are people on this team 
like Stu Atkins who is a professor of 
marketing at Cal State Fullerton. He 
recently published a great book that is 
worth the read called “W=inning the 
Battle for Attention.” His main focus 
is attracting targeted, relevant traffic to 
a website. 

 I asked Stu a few questions about his 
new book:

Why did you write a book on websites? 
Isn’t social media the digital darling 
these days?

 Social media is important, but 
without an effective website, your 
overall digital strategy has no 
foundation. All your social and digital 
roads should lead to your website. You fully own 
and control your website; you don’t own your social 
accounts—the social media companies do.

 

What benefits will the typical small business owner 
find in this new book?

 The book covers a goldmine of practical tips and 
best practices I discovered since 2008. It includes 
what I learned through my website, many of my 
client’s websites, and also applies aspects of what 
I teach in my university-level internet marketing 
strategy class. In short, it takes the 
mystery out of what makes a great 
website, what is SEO, why does mobile 
matter, how do I measure my site 
traffic, and much, much, more.

 Stu’s book is available on Amazon in 
both paperback and Kindle editions. 
Fro more information about Stu visit 
www.AtkinsMarketingSolutions.com 
for more information. 

 We will be teaching a class with Stu 
on April 18 to help people with Google 
Adwords and Facebook Ads. Join the 
HUTdogs email list to get updates and 
schedules.

 About MJ: MJ and her brother David 
own HUTdogs, a creative services 
business that specializes in Internet 
Marketing strategies and Social Media. They offer 
social media management services and help their 
clients build a strong on-line presence. 

 Get information about their upcoming classes, 
webinars and presentations at: www.hutdogs.com/
workshops/schedule 


RICH Johnson


DOG LETTERS TO GOD

My friends Australian Shepherd asked me to rerun this column from several years 
ago. She said I owed it to her. I told her I was going to do her a favor and tell everyone 
that Australian Shepherds are not from Australia. They were bred in Western 
America because they were great herders of sheep. So if you see her, don’t start with the Aussie accent.

 Do dogs speak to God? I’m not sure but I’m fairly certain God speaks to dogs. Anyway here is a list of 
questions many of us believe made it past the Pearly Gates.

 Dear God: I don’t mean to complain but humans name cars after the jaguar, cougar, mustang, stingray 
and even the puny little rabbit. Every four-legged creature but dogs. How many of those other animals do 
you see with their heads out the window on a Sunday afternoon drive? Why can’t Ford come out with the 
Mercury Maltese. Or Chrysler come out with the Dodge Doberman or something like that.

 Dear God: More meatballs please, and less spaghetti.

 Dear God: When dogs die and come back as humans, is that good or bad?

 Dear God: I see people love to smell flowers but they never ever smell each other. What’s with that?

 Dear God: When we get to heaven can we sit on the couch? Or is it the same old story?

 Dear God: If a dog barks his head off in the forest and no one hears him, is he still a bad dog?

 Dear God: Are there dogs on other planets? I howl at the moon and the stars every night, but all I hear 
back is the Irish Setter across the street.

 Dear God: Is it true that in heaven, dining room tables have on-ramps?

 Dear God: We dogs have to learn and understand not only human verbal instructions, but hand 
signals, whistles, horns, beepers, electromagnetic energy fields and yes, even Frisbee flight paths. What 
do humans have to learn and understand?

 Have a good week!


Square Footage Taped: 5,215 Lot Size: 21,600 
5 Bedrooms / 6 Baths Year Built: 1948 
Offered for sale at $5,188,000 
See more at www.2285Robles.com 
OWNED AND OPERATED BY NRT | Pasadena South Lake Office 
©2015 Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. 
Owned and Operated by NRT, Incorporated. Coldwell Banker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size, or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by the 
seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with the appropriate professionals. 
Exclusive Listing Agent 
“tink” 
CHENEY 
Catherine “Tink” Cheney 
Previews Estates Director 
Cell: 626 233 2938 
tinkcheney@earthlink.net 
www.tinkcheney.com 
CalBRE# 01173415 
2285 Robles Avenue, San Marino