Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, November 11, 2017

B2 
Mountain Views-News Saturday, NOVEMBER 11, 2017 
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS B2 
Mountain Views-News Saturday, NOVEMBER 11, 2017 
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS 
Jeff’s Book PicsBy Jeff Brown FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett 

than a hundred thousand miles that 
year, across the world, dealing with crises in Ukraine,
Central America, and Iraq. When a call came from
New York, or Capitol Hill, or Kyiv, or Baghdad “Joe,
I need your help” he responded. For twelve months, 


All Things By Jeff Brown 

RUPERT SPIRA QUOTE 

Your Self, Aware Presence, knows no resistance to anyappearance and, as such, is happiness itself; like theempty space of a room it cannot be disturbed and is,
therefore, peace itself; like this page, it is intimately onewith whatever appears on it and is thus love itself; and 

The Midnight Line: A Jack 


while Beau fought for and then lost

Reacher Novel by Lee Child 

his life, the vice president balancedReacher takes an aimless stroll past a

the twin imperatives of living up topawn shop in a small Midwestern town.

his responsibilities to his countryIn the window he sees a West Point 

and his responsibilities to his family.
class ring from 2005. It’s tiny; a woman

And never far away was the insistentcadet’s graduation present to herself.

and urgent question of whether heWhy would she give it up? Reacher’s a

should seek the presidency in 2016.
West Pointer too, and he knows what 

The year brought real triumph andshe went through to get it. Reacher

accomplishment, and wrenching pain.
tracks the ring back to its owner, step

But even in the worst times, Biden 
by step, down a criminal trail leading

was able to lean on the strength ofwest. Like Big Foot come out of the

his long, deep bonds with his family,
forest, he arrives in the deserted wilds 

on his faith, and on his deepeningof Wyoming. All he wants is to find the

friendship with the man in the Ovalwoman. If she’s OK, he’ll walk away. If

Office, Barack Obama.Writing withshe’s not - he’ll stop at nothing. He’s still

poignancy and immediacy, Joe Bidenshaken by the recent horrors of Make

allows readers to feel the urgency ofMe, and now The Midnight Line sees

each moment, to experience the dayshim set on a raw and elemental quest

when he felt unable to move forward 
for simple justice. Best advice: don’t get

as well as the days when he felt like hein his way. 

could not afford to stop.This is a bookwritten not just by the vice president,

Promise Me, Dad: A Year of

but by a father, grandfather, friend,

Hope, Hardship, and Purpose by 

and husband. Promise Me, Dad is a 

Joe Biden 

story of how family and friendshipsA deeply moving memoir about the

sustain us and how hope, purpose,
year that would forever change both

and action can guide us through thea family and a country.In November

pain of personal loss into the light of2014, thirteen members of the Biden 

a new future. 
family gathered on Nantucket forThanksgiving, a tradition they had

Two Kinds of Truth: The New 

Harry Bosch by Michaelbeen celebrating for the past forty

years; it was the one constant in what

Connelly

had become a hectic, scrutinized, and 

Harry Bosch is back as a volunteeroverscheduled life. The Thanksgiving

working cold cases for the Sanholiday was a much-needed respite,

Fernando Police Department and 
a time to connect, a time to reflect on 

is called out to a local drug storewhat the year had brought, and what

where a young pharmacist has 
the future might hold. But this year

been murdered. Bosch and the 
felt different from all those that had 

town’s 3-person detective squad siftcome before. Joe and Jill Biden’s eldest 

through the clues, which lead intoson, Beau, had been diagnosed with a

the dangerous, big business worldmalignant brain tumor fifteen months

of pill mills and prescription drugearlier, and his survival was uncertain. 

abuse.Meanwhile, an old case from 
“Promise me, Dad,” Beau had told his 

Bosch’s LAPD days comes back tofather. “Give me your word that no

haunt him when a long-imprisonedmatter what happens, you’re going to be

killer claims Harry framed him, andall right.” Joe Biden gave him his word.

seems to have new evidence to provePromise Me, Dad chronicles the year

it. Bosch left the LAPD on bad terms, 
that followed, which would be the most 

so his former colleagues aren’t keenmomentous and challenging in Joe

to protect his reputation. He mustBiden’s extraordinary life and career.

fend for himself in clearing his nameVice President Biden traveled more 

and keeping a clever killer in prison.


CAN YOU BEQUEATH 
YOUR FREQUENT FLYER 
MILES? 

If you’re a frequent airline traveler, one of your estateplanning concerns may be what will happen to youraccumulated miles once you’re gone. They couldbe worth thousands of dollars, so you probablydon’t want them to just disappear, but some airlinepolicies say that’s exactly what will happen.

The law doesn’t consider airline miles assets that 
can be bequeathed directly to heirs, but there arestill some steps you can take to help ensure yourmiles live on. It all starts with examining the airlinepolicies in question.

Airline Policies Regarding the Transfer of 
Frequent Flyer Miles 

Some relevant policies include:

American Airlines AAdvantage: “Neither accruedmileage, nor award tickets, nor status, nor upgradesare transferable by the member (i) upon death . . . .
However, American Airlines, in its sole discretion, 
may credit accrued mileage to persons specificallyidentified in court approved divorce decrees andwills upon receipt of documentation satisfactoryto American Airlines and upon payment of anyapplicable fees.”

Delta Airlines SkyMiles: “Except as specificallyauthorized in the Membership Guide and ProgramRules or otherwise in writing by an officer ofDelta, miles may not be . . . transferred under anycircumstances, including . . . upon death. . . . ”

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards: “Points maynot be transferred to a Member’s estate or as partof a settlement, inheritance, or will. In the event 
of a Member’s death, his/her account will becomeinactive after 24 months from the last earning date(unless the account is requested to be closed) andpoints will be unavailable for use.”

United Airlines MileagePlus: “In the event of thedeath or divorce of a Member, United may, in its solediscretion, credit all or a portion of such Member’saccrued mileage to authorized persons uponreceipt of documentation satisfactory to United andpayment of applicable fees.”

As you can see, policy terms vary, and theymay vary even further depending on your agent. 

THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CHORAL COMPANY 
PRESENTS IN DULCI JUBILO: A CONCERT OF 
HOLIDAY MUSIC, BOTH FAMILIAR AND UNUSUAL, 
FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD. 

BUSINESS TODAY 

The latest on Business News, Trends and 

The two unrelated cases wind around 
each other like strands of barbed wire. Along the wayBosch discovers that there are two kinds of truth: the 
kind that sets you free and the kind that leaves youburied in darkness. 

like water that is not affected by the shape of a wave, it ispure freedom. Causeless joy, imperturbable peace, lovethat knows no opposite and freedom at the heart of allexperience....this is your ever-present nature under allcircumstances. 

On Saturday, December 9th, 2017, at 7:30pm, join theSan Gabriel Valley Choral Company (SGVCC) fortheir presentation of In Dulci Jubilo at the Parish ofSaint Luke’s (Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, 122 SouthCalifornia Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016).

Join the San Gabriel Valley Choral Company in theromanesque ambiance of historic St. Luke’s EpiscopalChurch for a thrilling choral concert featuring MichaelPraetorius’ 17th century piece for double choir, InDulci Jubilo. You will also hear the choir sing holidaymusic in Hebrew, Georgian, Spanish, and English.

Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for seniorsand students, and $5 for children 12 and under. Tickets 
may be purchased online at http://www.sgvccsingers.
org or by sending checks payable to “SGVCC” to POBox 2225 Monrovia, CA 91017. They will also be 
available at the door. 

The San Gabriel Valley Choral Company wasfounded in 1995 and has been bringing stunning choralmusic to the community ever since. We invite the pressto review our concerts as well as interview our new 
artistic director, Dr. Alexandra Grabarchuk. 

Alexandra Grabarchuk, PhD, is a Ukrainian-born 
musicologist and performer. She received her doctoratefrom UCLA in 2015, supported by an Alvin H.
Johnson AMS 50 Dissertation Fellowship Award anda UCLA Dissertation Year Fellowship. Her most recentpublications include a chapter on Soviet progressiverock in Prog Rock in Europe: Overview of a PersistentMusical Style (2016), alongside the work of AllanMoore and Franco Fabbri. In addition to teachingand performing in the Los Angeles area, she has alsoworked as a score reader for the Metropolitan Opera’sLA-based live HD broadcast team since 2014. 

Airfarewatchdog.com has found differences 
between written policies and what customer 
service representatives told them over the phone—adiscrepancy that played out in the story of KatheHolmes, who successfully claimed her late husband’sAlaska Airlines miles with minimal effort and 
no additional fees, even though that seemed to goagainst official policy. 

How to Transfer Miles After Death 
The main takeaway is that although airline policiesmay say they don’t allow miles transfers after death,
employees often have the discretion to approvethem. Still, there’s no sure way to know whether yourairline will work with your loved ones regarding thetransfer of your miles.

One way to better ensure your miles get transferredis to include a provision in your will that makes yourwishes clear. This step is especially important if yourairline requires a copy of a will as documentation,
but it can be helpful in any event.

Another option is to leave your account number,
login and password to the person you would liketo be able to use your miles. Some airlines permitsuch transfers and usage of miles after the accountholder’s death. 

In either scenario, you should talk to your lovedones about your intentions so they know to pursuethe issue in your absence. Also, if you’re the onetrying to claim miles of a deceased person, you shouldunderstand the airline’s policies before offeringinformation about the account holder’s death, as the 
account could be cancelled immediately, leaving youwith no recourse. 

Final Thought on Frequent Flyer MilesFrequent flyer policies can change at the whim ofthe airlines even as you are living, so another ideato keep in mind is to use the miles now and createexperiences with your loved ones rather than planto pass the miles on later. In doing so, you can beabsolutely sure your miles aren’t lost; an addedbonus is that you can also share moments none ofyou will ever forget.

If you have any concerns about frequent flyer miles,
contact our office, and always be sure to include allyour assets, even your airline miles accounts, whendiscussing wills, trusts, and estate plans with your 
attorney. 


A local attorney and father, Marc Garlett is on a 
mission to help parents protect what they love most. 
His office is located at 55 Auburn Avenue, Sierra 
Madre, CA 91024. Schedule an appointment to 
sit down and talk about ensuring a legacy of love 
and financial security for your family by calling 
626.587.3058 or visit www.GarlettLaw.com for more 
information. 

His office is located at 49 S. Baldwin Ave., Ste. G, 
Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Schedule an appointment 
to sit down and talk about ensuring a legacy of love 
and financial security for your family by calling 
626.587.3058 or visit www.GarlettLaw.com for more 
information. 

Techniques 
By La Quetta M. Shamblee, MBA 

IMPROVING YOUR ROI 


With approximately six weeks left until the calendarrolls over to a new year, it is a good time to checkthe status of the return on investment (ROI) foryour business. This performance measurementprovides feedback that can help you make theadjustments to get off to a great start in 2018.

How profitable is your business? What is yourbottomline for 2017 (revenue minus expenses,
minus taxes)? What are your total sales for the 
year? Total expenses? Most importantly, what is thereturn on your investment (ROI) for the amountof money, time, energy and talent that you haveput into your business - in other words how muchprofit are you making for each dollar of resourcesthat you spend? The ROI is one of the common 
performance measurements used in business. The 
formula to calculate ROI is illustrated below: 

Where is your ROI in comparison to industrystandards? Does the return meet your standards?
It should be sufficient to covers all expenses andleave enough profit for you to pay yourself, withmoney left over for savings and investments intoyour personal coffers.

If you are not able to answer these questionsrelated to your profitability, it is imperative that 
you take time to put a proper recordkeeping 
and accounting system in place. A good systemwill put you in the driver’s seat to observe whatis happening in your business in real time. The 
tools needed to establish a good system include a 

computer, accounting software (i.e. Quickbooks)
and a printer. If you don’t have the aptitude or thetime to master this set of tools, it’s a matter of hiringsomeone with those skills. Minimally, you shouldlearn how to review or generate information onsales and expense activities on a daily or weeklybasis. Without the ability to monitor the realtimeactivities of sales and expenses, it is possible to findthat your business has been operating at a loss inthe face of having had a steady flow of cash over aperiod of time. If you are aware of the total numberof customers or sales needed to “break even” or 
that certain services have to be limited due to how 
they impact your ROI, you can make adjustmentsor establish policies for your staff to follow.

By developing an understanding of what drivesROI, business owners are better equipped to makedecisions about the mix of products, services andbusiness activities that warrant time and energy.
You’ll be able to determine how to balance the two 
simultaneous methods of improving your bottomline: 1) By growing revenues, increasing sales byfocusing on certain products, seasonal promotions,
etc. or 2) By increasing efficiency through cost-
cutting measures. Business owners who take time 
to master business basics like understanding andpaying attention to ROI measurements are betterpositioned to generate an impressive bottomline toreflect a healthy profit margin and sound businessoperations. 

STARTING A NEW BUSINESS ? 
FILE YOUR DBA HERE 

Doing Business As, 

SGVCC Concert Tickets: $20 General Admission, 

Fictitious Business Name Filing

$15 Seniors & Students, $5 Children 12 and under 
For tickets or to make a donation, 

 
80 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre 

go to www.sgvccsingers.org or 

626-836-6675 

send checks payable to SGVCC, 
PO Box 2225, Monrovia, CA 91017 


Obtain Street Address - Business Stationary - Flyers 
Rubber Stamps -Business Cards - Mailing Service

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