Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, March 3, 2018

B2 
Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 3, 2018 
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS B2 
Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 3, 2018 
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS 
Jeff’s Book PicsBy Jeff Brown FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett 


by New York Times bestselling authorWhite Houses: A Novel by Amy 

Maureen Johnson and Lambda-
For readers of The Paris Wife and The 

Bloom 

winning novelist Tim Federle. In HowSwans of Fifth Avenue comes a love 

I Resist, readers will find hope andstory inspired by “one of the most 

support through voices that are atintriguing relationships in history”*—

turns personal, funny, irreverent, andbetween Eleanor Roosevelt and “first 

instructive. Not just for a young adultfriend” Lorena Hickok. Lorena Hickok 

audience, this incredibly impactfulmeets Eleanor Roosevelt in 1932 while 

collection will appeal to readers of allreporting on Franklin Roosevelt’s first

ages who are feeling adrift and lookingpresidential campaign. Having grown

for guidance. How I Resist is the kind ofup worse than poor in South Dakota and

book people will be discussing for yearsreinvented herself as the most prominent

to come and a staple on bookshelves forwoman reporter in America, “Hick,” as

generations. 
she’s known to her friends and admirers, 
is not quite instantly charmed by the

Enlightenment Now: The Case 

for Reason, Science, Humanism,idealistic, patrician Eleanor. But then,

and Progress by Steven Pinker as her connection with the future first 

The follow-up to Pinker’s 
as a powerful passion matures into a

lady deepens into intimacy, what begins

groundbreaking The Better Angels oflasting love, and a life that Hick never

Our Nature presents the big pictureexpected to have. She moves into the 

of human progress: people are livingWhite House, where her status as “first 

longer, healthier, freer, and happierfriend” is an open secret, as are FDR’s

lives, and while our problems areown lovers. After she takes a job in the

formidable, the solutions lie in the 
Roosevelt administration, promoting

Enlightenment ideal of using reasonand protecting both Roosevelts, she 

and science.s the world really fallingcomes to know Franklin not only as 

apart? Is the ideal of progress obsolete?
a great president but as a complicated 

In this elegant assessment of therival and an irresistible friend, capable 

human condition , cognitive scientistof changing lives even after his death. 

and public intellectual Pinker urges usThrough it all, even as Hick’s bond 

to step back from the gory headlineswith Eleanor is tested by forces both 

and prophecies of doom, which playextraordinary and common, and as 

to our psychological biases. Instead,
she grows as a woman and a writer, 

follow the data: In seventy-five jaw-
she never loses sight of the love of her 

dropping graphs, Pinker shows thatlife. From Washington, D.C. to Hyde 

life, health, prosperity, safety, peace,
Park, from a little white house on Long 

knowledge, and happiness are on 
Island to an apartment on Manhattan’s 

the rise, not just in the West, butWashington Square, Amy Bloom’s 

worldwide. This progress is not thenew novel moves elegantly through 

result of some cosmic force. It is a giftfascinating places and times, written in 

of the Enlightenment: the convictioncompelling prose and with emotional 

that reason and science can enhance 
depth, wit, and acuity. 

human flourishing.Far from beinga naïve hope, the Enlightenment, wenow know, has worked. But more than 

How I Resist: Activism and Hope

ever, it needs a vigorous defense. Thefor a New Generation by Tim 

Enlightenment project swims againstAn all-star collection of essays about

Federle, Maureen Johnson 

currents of human nature--tribalism, 

activism and hope.Now, more thanever, young people are motivated to make a differencein a world they’re bound to inherit. They’re ready tostand up and be heard - but with much to shout about,
where they do they begin? What can I do? How canI help? How I Resist is the response, and a way tostart the conversation. To show readers that they arenot helpless, and that anyone can be the change. Acollection of essays, songs, illustrations, and interviewsabout activism and hope, How I Resist features an all-
star group of contributors, all edited and compiled 

authoritarianism, demonization, 
magical thinking--which demagogues are all toowilling to exploit. Many commentators, committedto political, religious, or romantic ideologies, fight arearguard action against it. The result is a corrosivefatalism and a willingness to wreck the preciousinstitutions of liberal democracy and globalcooperation. With intellectual depth and literaryflair, Enlightenment Now makes the case for reason,
science, and humanism: the ideals we need to 
confront our problems and continue our progress. 

All Things By Jeff Brown 

WILLIAM FALK, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S LETTER ,THE 
WEEK MAGAZINE 

When Nikolas Cruz decided to turn his former The Federalist this week, John Davidson provideshigh school into a slaughterhouse, he went tothe answer that is the bedrock of all gun-controlthe Sunrise Tactical Supply store in a Parklandopposition. The Second Amendment, Davidsonstrip mall, put down $1,000 in cash, and pointedsays, was not meant to merely protect hunting andto an AR-15. He could have chosen a different self-defense. No: “The right to bear arms stemssemiautomatic rifle, or a handgun, or a knife,from the right of revolution.” Weapons designedbut he wanted a weapon designed for war. It wasfor war must remain legal, Davidson says, so thatthe same choice made by the Las Vegas shooterAmericans can “overthrow their government if(who shot more than 400 people in 10 minutes),it becomes tyrannical.” It’s a terrible shame, hethe Sutherland Springs shooter, the Newtownconcedes, that AR-15s have been used to shoot 
shooter, and so many others. A civilian knockoffup schools, concerts, workplaces, and churchesof a weapon designed for battlefields, AR-15–style— but the Second Amendment “is worth dyingrifles are the perfect tools for mass killings — easyfor.” Seen from this perspective, the bullet-riddledeven for a novice Rambo to fire accurately, withdead of Parkland, Newtown, Las Vegas, et al.
little recoil, and customizable with handgrips,are necessary sacrifices; their slaughter enablessights, and magazines of 30 to 100 rounds. Forliberty-loving Americans to maintain the option10 years, the federal government banned assault-of armed rebellion. This core belief, which drives 
style weapons and large-capacity magazines, butthe intractable opposition to any form of gunthat law expired in 2004. Now the NRA and itscontrol, is not often publicly discussed; untilallies fiercely oppose any renewal of the ban. Why?it’s addressed and confronted, the carnage willYou’ll hear various disingenuous arguments, but in continue. 


DOES A DYNASTY TRUST 
MAKE SENSE FOR YOUR 
FAMILY? 

In 2017, NBA team owner Gail Miller made headlines 
when she announced that she was effectively nolonger the owner of the Utah Jazz or the Vivint SmartHome Arena. These assets, she said, were beingplaced into a family trust, therefore raising interest inan estate planning tool previously known only to thevery wealthy–the dynasty trust. 

Dynasty Trusts Explained

A dynasty trust (also called a “legacy trust”) is aspecial irrevocable trust that is intended to survivefor many generations. The beneficiaries may receivelimited payments from the trust, but asset ownershipremains with the trust as long as the trust is in effect.
In some states, a legal rule known as the Rule AgainstPerpetuities limits how long a dynasty trust can last.

The rule against perpetuities is a common lawconcept that still applies in most states. It generallyprovides that a trust may not last longer than 21 yearsafter the death of the last potential beneficiary to diewho was living at the time the trust was established.

California has enacted the Uniform Statutory RuleAgainst Perpetuities (USRAP), which provides thata trust may last at least 90 years before the commonlaw rule is applied. In fact, this 90-year “wait and see”
approach in USRAP now applies in most other states, 
too. 

Advantages and Disadvantages

Wealthy families often use dynasty trusts as away of keeping the money “in the family” for manygenerations. Rather than distribute assets over thelife of a beneficiary, dynasty trusts consolidate theownership and management of family wealth. Thedesign of these trusts makes them exempt fromestate taxes and the generation-skipping transfer tax,
at least under current laws, so that wealth has a better 
ability to grow over time, rather than having as muchas a 40-50% haircut at the death of each generation.

However, these benefits also come at the expenseof other advantages. For example, since dynastytrusts are irrevocable and rely on a complex interplayof tax rules and state law; changes to them are muchmore difficult, or even potentially impossible as apractical matter, compared to non-dynasty trusts.
Because changes are so difficult (or impossible),
the design of a dynasty trust needs to anticipate anyand all changes in family structure (e.g. a divorce, achild’s adoption) and assets (e.g. stock valuation, landappraisals), decades before any such changes occur. 

Is a Dynasty Trust Right for Your Family?

In the past, these kinds of trusts were usually onlyused by very wealthy families whose fortunes wouldbe subject to large estate taxes. However, dynastytrusts are powerful tools for “regular” families todaywho which to protect estates not only from taxes,
but also from divorces, creditors or the ill-advised 
spending habits of beneficiaries. To learn more aboutdynasty trusts other estate planning strategies, callour office today.

Dedicated to empowering your family, buildingyour wealth and defining your legacy, 


A local attorney and father, Marc Garlett is on a missionto 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 talkabout ensuring a legacy of love and financial securityfor your family by calling 626.587.3058 or visit www.
GarlettLaw.com for more information. 


BUSINESS TODAY 

The latest on Business News, Trends and 
Techniques 

By La Quetta M. Shamblee, MBA 
MULTI LEVEL MARKETING IS NOT A 
PYRAMID SCHEME 

What do Avon, Amway, Herbalife and Mary compensation, it serves as a red flag for a potential 
Kay have in common? Each of these companies pyramid scheme. Apply this fundamental test to 
is among the most recognizable companies help make the distinction.
in the multilevel marketing (MLM) industry, In contrast, financial success in a legitimate 
and each of them offers a line of products MLM is directly tied to products and/or services 
marketed to and purchased by a broad base of being marketed and sold to a broad market 
consumers. Unfortunately, many alleged business base “outside” of the company’s own member-
opportunities disguised as MLM’s have turned out distributor base. Avon and Tupperware are two of 
to be nothing more than elaborate pyramids.the oldest and most well known. In recent decades, 

According to the Federal Trade Commission,companies structured as MLM’s have adopted 
there are legitimate MLM’s. Many of them provideterms like “affiliate marketing” and “homeopportunities 
ideal for individuals seeking to startbased business franchising,” but the distinction 
a business or build an additional source of income. surrounding compensation tied to recruitment 
As more individuals are confronted with a barrageversus the sales of products and services remains 
of slick sales pitches and fancy websites that toutthe same. 
how easy it is to “sign up and make money,” it isMake no mistake, the MLM industry remains a 
important to know the key differences betweenviable arena to establish and build a money-making 
legitimate MLM’s (which are legal) and pyramidbusiness. Once you identify a legitimate company 
schemes (which are illegal) camouflaged as MLM’s.that is a good fit for you, learn their system and 
In a pyramid, recruitment is king! The primary work it with consistency and persistence, you will 
focus and incentive to earn compensation is have the opportunity to claim your slice of a multi-
directly related to one’s success in the repeated billion dollar industry. According to a year-end 
recruitment of other people who pay to enroll as report by the Direct Selling Association in 2011, 
a member, distributor, etc. This recruitment may MLM’s were responsible for the vast majority of 
be repeated directly or by encouraging the new $154 billion dollar in sales by more than 90 million 
recruits to enroll other paying members. The distributors worldwide, with approximately 20% 
company’s products and services are primarily and generated by 16 million distributors in the United 
heavily marketed to the members, with minimal States. 
focus, support and/or financial incentive to sell One of the best places to gather basic information 
products/services to a broader audience. At some on how an MLM opportunity compares within 
point in the process when there are no new recruits an industry filled with legitimate opportunities, 
on the conveyor belt, thus, no more enrollment visit the Multi-level Marketing International 
fees, the pyramid collapses. The newest recruits are Association at http://www.mlmia.com. Founded 
left with nothing for their investment. If the act of in 1985, the MLMIA maintains a directory of 
enrolling new paying recruits is the primary basis information and rankings for the benefit of the 
for member-recruiters and management to earn public’s interest. 


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