Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, July 15, 2017

B2 
Mountain Views-News Saturday, July 15, 2017 
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS B2 
Mountain Views-News Saturday, July 15, 2017 
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS 
Jeff’s Book PicsBy Jeff Brown FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett 


Sting-Ray Afternoons: A Memoir 

by Steve Rushin 

A wild and bittersweet memoir of a 
classic ‘70s childhood.It’s a story of the1970s. Of a road trip in a wood-paneledstation wagon, with the kids in the way-
back, singing along to the Steve MillerBand. Brothers waking up early onSaturday mornings for five consecutivehours of cartoons and advertisingjingles that they’ll be humming all day.
A father-one of 3M’s greatest and lasteight-track-salesman fathers-travelingacross the country on the brand-newBoeing 747, providing for his family butwanting nothing more than to get home.
It’s Steve Rushin’s story: of growing upwithin a ‘70s landscape populated withBic pens, Mr. Clean and Scrubbing 
Bubbles, lightsabers and those oh-socoveted 
Schwinn Sting-Ray bikes. Sting-
Ray Afternoons paints an utterly fond,
psychedelically vibrant, laugh-out-loudfunny 
portrait of an exuberant decade.
With sidesplitting commentary, Rushincreates a vivid picture of a decade ofwild youth, cultural rebirth, and themeaning of parental, brotherly, sisterly,
whole lotta love. 

The Guernsey Literary and 
Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie 
Barrows & Mary Ann Shaffer

“I wonder how the book got to 
Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort 
of secret homing instinct in books that 
brings them to their perfect readers.” 
January 1946: London is emerging 
from the shadow of the Second World 
War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking 
for her next book subject. Who could 
imagine that she would find it in a letter 
from a man she’s never met, a native 
of the island of Guernsey, who has 
come across her name written inside 
a book by Charles Lamb….As Juliet 
and her new correspondent exchange 
letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of 
this man and his friends—and what a 

wonderfully eccentric world it is. The 
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel 
Pie Society—born as a spur-of-themoment 
alibi when its members were 
discovered breaking curfew by the 
Germans occupying their island— 
boasts a charming, funny, deeply 
human cast of characters, from pig 
farmers to phrenologists, literature 
lovers all.Juliet begins a remarkable 
correspondence with the society’s 
members, learning about their island, 
their taste in books, and the impact 
the recent German occupation has 
had on their lives. Captivated by their 
stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and 
what she finds will change her forever.
Written with warmth and humor 
as a series of letters, this novel is a 
celebration of the written word in all 
its guises, and of finding connection 
in the most surprising ways. 

The Enemy (Jack Reacher) byLee Child 

In this award winning book 
Jack Reacher is a hero, loner, 
soldier, soldier’s son, an elite military 
cop, he was one of the army’s brightest 
stars. But in every cop’s life there is 
one case that changes everything. For 
Jack Reacher, this is that case. New 
Year’s Day, 1990. In a North Carolina 
motel, a two-star general is found 
dead. His briefcase is missing. Nobody 
knows what was in it. Within minutes 
Reacher has his orders: Control the 
situation. Within hours the general’s 
wife is murdered. Then the dominoes 
really start to fall.Somewhere inside 
the vast worldwide fortress that is the 

U.S. Army, Reacher is being set up as a 
fall guy with the worst enemies a man 
can have. But Reacher won’t quit. He’s 
fighting a new kind of war–against an 
enemy he didn’t know he had. And 
against a conspiracy more chilling, 
ingenious, and treacherous than 
anyone could have guessed. 
portability can save hundreds of thousands of dollars ofestate and gift taxes. And for those who are proactivelyplanning, it also makes crafting your trust or will muchmore flexible so we can tailor the plan more towards youand your family’s needs, and less to the needs of the IRS. 

What’s new with portability?

Under a new IRS revenue procedure, you now haveadditional time to take advantage of portability. In thepast, you had only 15 months after the death of a loved oneto file for portability. Now, you now have two years afterthe passing of a spouse to file for portability, making thisoption much easier to use than before.

The IRS is also allowing a unique opportunity to filea late portability estate tax return, as long as you meetcertain requirements and have it submitted by January 2,2018. 

On the other hand, if you have a substantial estate (over$5.49 million) or are not a US citizen or resident alienthen the traditional 15-month rule will continue to applyto you. Also, like any legal or tax issue, it’s always a goodidea to obtain qualified assistance as early as possible soyou can have the widest possible set of options and the bestlikely outcome. 

WHAT IS PORTABILITY 

What do I need to do now? 

AND HOW CAN IT If you lost your spouse after 2011 and havn’t yet spokenwith an estate planning attorney about your options, nowBENEFIT YOU AND YOUR is the time. As the stock market and housing markets haverecovered in the last few years, it might be worth a secondFAMILY? look to see if a portability election is right for you and your

family, even if you previously decided against one. ButThe legal concept of “portability” is still relatively new inwhatever you decide to do, do it sooner rather than later.
estate planning, having become available only after 2011.January 2, 2018, will be here before you know it.
Since then, it’s been both a blessing (for its tax savingDedicated to empowering your family, building yourbenefit) and a curse (because of rules that seem to bewealth and securing your legacy, 
constantly shifting). Fortunately, the IRS has recentlyclarified some important details about portability.

So how can a portability election benefit you andyour family? It could help save hundreds of thousands ofdollars of estate and gift taxes for your family if you lostyour husband or wife within the last few years. Althoughthe exact mechanics of the tax remain complicated,
portability makes it much easier for estate planners andtax professionals to save taxes for you and your family. Butbe aware, portability is not automatic (even under the newA local attorney and father, Marc Garlett is on a missionregulations), so you must take action to claim it. to help parents protect what they love most. His office is 


located at 49 S. Baldwin Ave., Ste. G, Sierra Madre, CA 
Why should I care?91024. Schedule an appointment to sit down and talk aboutPortability allows a surviving spouse to inherit and useensuring a legacy of love and financial security for yourthe estate tax exemption from a deceased spouse. If you’refamily by calling 626.587.3058 or visit www.GarlettLaw.
planning isn’t as good as it could have otherwise been, com for more information. 

BUSINESS TODAY 

The latest on Business News, Trends and Techniques 

By La Quetta M. Shamblee, MBA 
THE ART OF WAR: A GUIDEBOOK 
FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS 

Reprint from Jan 17 2013all of your efforts and resources in one single engagementInitial apologies are in order to those who take offenseMaximize – work smarter, not harder by outsmartingto the use of war as a teaching tool for entrepreneurs, butand outwitting your opponentthe lessons found in the study of military strategy areFormidability – establish yourself in the best positiontoo numerous and too valuable to bypass. On a positivepossible, then be flexible as to when you need to attacknote we can glean important lessons to apply to business(proceed aggressively) and when you need to defendfrom any situation, including The Art of War, an ancient(protect your turf)
military treatise that has influenced war strategy for moreIntangibility – fight head-on when needed and 
than 2,000 years.indirectly when it is to your advantage

Attributed to Sun Tzu (pronounced “Sun Wu” orImperceptibility – operate under the illusion of what“Sunzi”), a high-ranking general, strategist and tactician,you want your enemy (competitor) to know about you,
The Art of War is composed of 13 chapters, each devotedwhile being tactical with the implementation of your realto a specific aspect of warfare. Sun Tzu is thought toplanhave lived at some time between 771-476 B.C., the time Out-Maneuver – be clever and perhaps fire the first shotperiod recognized by some historians as China’s Spring(be the first to do something new, but do it with excellence),
and Autumn Period. Some historians have questionedeven if silently; don’t put yourself into a position that willSun Tzu’s authenticity, wondering if he was a real personforce you to be reactiveor simply a created legendary persona, but some facts areStrategy – use your knowledge of your opponents, alliesunquestionable.and terrain to your advantage in every situation

The year 1772 marked the beginning of the book’sVigilance – keep moving and maneuvering your teamimportance on an international scale when it wastoward your ultimate goaltranslation into French. The first completed EnglishSituational Positioning – pick the best strategy and useversion was published in 1905. Although intended as athe tactics most appropriate to the terrain on which you 
guidebook for the most debased of mankind’s activities ofoperatedestruction, The Art of War continues to have a profoundThe Nine Terrains* – become a master at knowingimpact on planning, strategy and tactics for military,the nine types of environments in which you willbusiness and legal applications. We can approach a studyoperate so that you will appropriately apply the principleof this document with the goal of identifying the silverabove (*dispersive, facile, contentious, open, in midst oflinings that can be applied for productive enterpriseintersecting highways, serious, difficult, hemmed-in andtoward economic stimulus and job creation.desperate)

The following list includes the area of focus detailed inUse Fire – attack with fervor and passion; move fast likeeach of the 13 chapters in The Art of War. The Chinese-to-the wind, but apply the passion only to the areas that willEnglish translation may have varying nuances regardingresult in strategic advantagethe meaning of specific words, but the principles areIntelligence – the use of spies; knowledge of enemy’sready-made to apply to business.dispositions

Assessment – take a look at everything and layout yourThe relevance of these principles today indicates thatplanssome things never change. It also shows that there are 
Economize – proceed in a manner that won’t exhaust important lessons to be learned from the past 

A YEAR-ROUND SOLUTION TO THE RISING COST 
OF HEALTH INSURANCE 

By Idelle Steinberg


the local pharmacy if needed.
This is the second in a series about 


2) 2nd MD – offers option tohow Health Sharing can be a year-

get a second opinion if surgery isround answer to the skyrocketing cost

recommended. 
of health insurance. 

3) Additional benefits may include:
What is Health Sharing? Health 

counseling services, member advisor,
Sharing is a proven non-insurance

concierge service, community 
solution to help pay for the cost of

chatrooms, health coaching for 
illnesses and injuries. Because it is not 

smoking cessation, obesity, high bloodinsurance, enrollment is available year

pressure and more.
round. The programs are affordable,

4) A health savings account optionsaving the typical consumer 30% - 60%

is available to help lower the cost byover the cost of health insurance and, 

paying with pretax contributions.
it is satisfies the federal requirement to5) Freedom to use any practitioner,
maintain health coverage, which will exempt participantsdoctor, hospital offers peace of mind to the members .
from any possible penalty.Compared to traditional health insurance, health sharing

These programs have been working for nearly 30 yearsprograms result in savings of thousands per year, asand currently there are around approaching 1 millionreflected in the following examples:
members nationwide. Health Sharing members canExample: Mr. Bower slips on some ice and breakstypically choose any hospital and see any doctor, thishis leg. This injury requires numerous types of care,
being especially valuable as more doctors refuse to acceptmedicine, and treatments. At the end of the day, hissome insurance policies. Many times members maymaximum Initial Unshareable Amount for this incident 
incorporate acupuncture, naturopathic, and chiropracticis $500 based on his membership type:
care. Preventative care services are provided with noExample of Expenses After Incident Occurscopays or deductible. The Health Share members eachAmbulance trip to the ER: $500 - $2,500‘share’ in the community’s health expenses.X-Rays and related tests: $800 - $2,700

The program is great for people proactive about theirHospital expenses (physician, etc.): $3,000 - $15,000health. This aligns with a wide body of research that indicatesCrutches and incidentals: $300 - $600 
many health conditions may be remedied by a life styleOngoing post-operative therapy: $1,500 - $4,500adjustment. In contrast to the routine use of pharmaceuticalTotal Value of Services: $6,200 - $25,300 
medication that can result in drug dependenc for conditionsSettlement Range shared with community: $3,660 that 
may be address through changes to food choices,$15,180 
physical activity and other factors. A health sharing programCost to Health share member (max need): $500*
can in turn, offer nutritional coaching to potentially resolveA Potential Savings of $5,700 - $24,800a condition commonly related to food (i.e. diabetes, highNext week’s article will provide a side-by-side comparisoncholesterol, hypertension).of health sharing program expenses to health insurance 

Five benefits commonly associated with health sharingexpenses. 
programs include:

1) Teledoc - provides 24/7 access to a licensed medicalFor more information about Health Sharing contact:
doctor via phone or video conference. The doctor is ableIdelle Steinberg at (626) 441-7332 or email: idelle@
to discuss the health concern and call-in a prescription to securemoney101.com 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com