Estate Considerations for Blended Families

Did you know that 42 percent of people report having at least one step-relative? That means blended-family estate issues can be far more common and complex than many realize.1

For couples with children from previous relationships, a simple will might leave everything to a surviving spouse and can unintentionally overlook children from prior marriages. And without proper preparation, a surviving spouse could have enough control to alter a will after the fact.

While traditional trusts are a solid starting point, they can have limitations. An estate professional can offer some guidance and insights into intricate rules. Depending on the situation, a financial professional and a tax, legal, or accounting professional may also need to be involved.

The good news: no matter how complex your family situation, there are ways to create a well-structured estate strategy.

This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Estate strategies, including the use of trusts and wills, involve complex legal and tax considerations and applicable state and federal laws.

Health Tip

When Facing Intense Heat, Adjust How You Drink and Eat

Consider altering your food and fluid intake when it gets hot. The American Red Cross advises you to eat frequent, small meals rather than large ones under such conditions. Your fluid intake should be steady throughout the day, and it is best to avoid alcohol or caffeinated drinks.

Cultivating a Positive Mindset: Strategies for Happiness and Fulfillment

It's not always easy to cultivate a positive mindset. If it were, we'd live in a very different world. However, you can take steps and develop practices that counteract the ordinary negative thinking that can plague us all. Happiness isn't found in wealth, status, or the perfect relationship, as these things only provide a short-lived boost before we return to our emotional baseline, basically wherever our head is at in that given moment. If things are stressful or you're facing a bunch of unpleasant stuff, you might not find yourself in a naturally positive frame of mind! More like Grumpytown, Population: You!

The good news is that a person's choices can shape their happiness. To cultivate more of it, try gearing your thoughts toward positivity through gratitude practices like journaling or writing thank-you letters. You can also invest more time and energy in your close relationships, since strong social bonds are among the biggest predictors of lasting happiness. Another path is to practice mindfulness and savor the present moment rather than dwell on regret or worry. Comfort and meaning can be found in helping others and leaning into your natural strengths. It's also vital to take care of your physical health through regular exercise and quality sleep. Small, deliberate shifts in mindset and behavior, not lucky circumstances, can move the needle most, so think about how you can incorporate some of these practices into your day-to-day life.2

Did You Know?

Every mile of the mighty Mississippi once froze over

For a spell in 1899, America’s most famous river froze from its headwaters in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. A 2-inch-thick ice sheet covered the waterway in New Orleans, lessening to 1 inch at the river’s mouth.3

On the Bright Side

Artemis II Astronauts Offered Heartwarming Tribute

The crew of NASA's Artemis II mission, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, launched aboard the Orion capsule Integrity on April 1 for a 10-day lunar orbit mission, venturing farther from Earth than any humans before them. In a video shared on April 6, Hansen described spotting unnamed craters on the lunar surface and announced two naming proposals: one for a far-side crater to be called Integrity after their spacecraft, and a second for a crater near the boundary of the near and far sides, occasionally visible from Earth, to honor Carroll, Reid Wiseman's late wife and the mother of his two daughters, Katey and Ellie. As Hansen shared the tribute, Wiseman quietly wiped away tears, soon joined by a visibly emotional Glover and Hammock Koch. A neonatal ICU nurse who dedicated her life to caring for others, Carroll is remembered not only by her crewmates but by the many people moved online by the unique memorial.4

Brain Teaser

What five-letter English word does not change its pronunciation when you take the final four letters away?