Featured Blog Posts - LaunchPad - INW

BUSINESS IS LOVE

2012-05-21T17:00:00.000Z

Do you love 'Mr. Roger's Neighborhood'?

Do you believe in Richard Scarry's 'Busytown'? Its is where and how we live. It helps us recognize and create a 'Sense of Place'.

I founded http://ourtownzip.com to promote local commerce and sustainable neighborhoods, because I believe they are essential to a positive healthy community culture and business climate.

I want to thank everyone who has helped me in anyway to achieve this goal and I look forward to meeting new friends who believe in this simple mission. (Especially my daughter Rosa who has carried the torch).

Lastly I am posting a video about how you can benefit from OurTownZip.

Have a great day - lend a hand, if you can.

http://youtu.be/t-k39PD0sYE

Real Estate News 5-21-2012

2012-05-21T17:53:41.000Z

Check out and LIKE us on Facebook to follow other industry news!

Today’s news that may be of interest to you:

FHA Ready to Ease Rules for Mortgages on Condos
Boston Herald | May 20, 2012
The revisions could remove at least some of the obstacles that have dissuaded condominium homeowner association boards from seeking FHA approvals or recertifications of their buildings for FHA loans during the past 18 months.

JPMorgan’s Home-Loan Debt in Europe Increases Anxiety: Mortgages
Bloomberg | May 20, 2012
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)’s holdings of home-loan bonds from outside the U.S. soared 35-fold in the past three years. Now, with its chief investment office facing scrutiny after a $2 billion trading loss, investors are raising concern the European market’s biggest buyer will pull back.

Economists More Upbeat About Job Growth, Housing
USA Today | May 20, 2012
A new survey shows economists are growing slightly more optimistic about recovery in the job and housing markets but expect other pillars of the economy to remain weak.

Celebrity Sellers Have Little Effect on Home Prices
The Los Angeles Times | May 19, 2012
Their internationally recognized names sell music and movie tickets. They promote perfumes and presidents. But when it comes to selling their own houses, celebrities often find that their cachet doesn’t pull in the cash.

Commercial Real Estate Follows Economy Into Recovery
RealtorMag | May 18, 2012
In his remarks yesterday at the Commercial Business Trends Forum during the Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C., NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun sounded a cautiously optimistic note regarding the state of the commercial real estate market.

Dearth of affordable rentals cause for concern, housing experts say
HousingWire | May 18, 2012
If a more renter-centric economy is the solution to America’s housing woes, policymakers and developers will have to tackle two issues first — falling incomes and rising rents, housing experts say.

BofA Offering Up to $30K in Relocation Assistance for Short Sales
DSNews.com | May 18, 2012
Just days after Bank of America officially announced its nationwide program offering up to $30,000 in relocation assistance for short sales, a Massachusetts-based real estate company revealed in a blog that one of its clients was approved to receive $10,000.

Find me on:

Anthony V. Carollo / President
Stewart Title of Spokane
606 W. 3rd Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Telephone: 509.328.7171
Direct Line: 509.321.3939
Direct Fax: 866.652.8834
acarollo@stewart.com

Please remember to choose Stewart Title of Spokane on your next transaction!

www.StewartSpokane.com

LaunchPad Recieves Innovation Grant to Create Mentoring Program for Start-Ups and Small Business

2012-05-17T16:16:51.000Z

Science, Technology, Engineering, Math... Oh my!

2012-05-15T02:10:52.000Z

Join LaunchPad INW for our next LaunchPad Live taping and Technology Community Event, happening next Wednesday May 23rd. This event will feature topics such as the launch of the Spokane STEM Network, the new Mobius Science Center and takes place at MOBIUS in downtown Spokane.

Guest speakers will include WSU Spokane Chancellor Brian Pitcher, who chaired the planning effort
that led to Spokane getting a $220,000 grant award from Washington STEM. The new Spokane STEM
Network will help coordinate programs in Spokane County that emphasize science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in alignment with local economic development.

The network recently hired a new executive director and will be based at Greater Spokane
Incorporated. GSI Director of Education and Workforce Shelly O’Quinn will also be on hand to discuss
how GSI has successfully advocated for STEM initiatives in our region and why its importance is too great to ignore.

We'll also hear from Mobius CEO Chris Majer about the recent developments for the Mobius Science
Center, a 26,000 SF facility featuring seventy-five hands-on, interactive exhibits with complementary
programs and demonstrations, slated to open its doors Fall 2012. Spokane residents and visitors were
treated to a preview of the center though MOBIUSLAB, a temporary installation at Northtown Mall.

The free exhibit featured interactive labs that focused on energy, sound, motion, magnetics, and more.
An estimated 10,000 MOBIUSLAB guests experienced the wonders of cutting-edge science right at their fingertips. MOBIUSLAB was a limited-time sneak peek of the forthcoming Center, which promises to be a world-class science and technology institution.

Washington STEM forecasts robust job growth in areas that require science and technology skills in
Spokane County during the next several years. The test for local school districts and universities will be to provide enough qualified candidates to fill vacant jobs.

If you’re interested in learning more about these exciting initiatives and how Spokane is positioning
itself to be competitive in the 21st century, come see what it’s all about on May 23rd. RSVP here today
to secure your spot!

Understanding the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Differences Under Washington State Law

2012-05-02T20:00:00.000Z

It seems that there are several questions or misunderstandings surrounding to the FMLA. I often receive emails regarding certain aspects of the Act and how it works.

The FMLA allows certain employees to take unpaid, job protected leave for specific family and medical reasons. Eligible employees may take off 12 weeks within a 12 month period for:

1. The birth of a child and to care for that child within one year of the birth;

2. The adoption of a child or placement of a foster child into the employees home and child care for that child within one year;

3. To care for a spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition;

4. A serious health condition of the employee that makes them unable to perform the essential functions of their job.

A mother can use FMLA during her pregnancy or after childbirth. A father can also use FMLA after childbirth or to care for the mother during her pregnancy, if needed. If the FMLA is being used for numbers 1 or 2 above and both parents work for the same employer there is a total of 12 weeks given rather than 24 weeks.

In order for an employee to qualify for FMLA, an employee must:

1. Work for a covered employer;

2. Work 1,250 hours during the 12 months prior to the start of the leave;

3. Work for an employer who has 50 or more employees working at the location of the

employee requesting the leave or within 75 miles of that location.

4. Have worked for the employer for 12 months.

The 12 months of employment are not required to be consecutive.

There are three different kinds of FMLA leave:

Continuous FMLA leave: An employee is absent for more than three consecutive business days and has been treated by a doctor.
Intermittent FMLA leave: An employee is taking time off in separate blocks due to a serious health condition that qualifies for FMLA. Intermittent leave can be in hourly, daily, or weekly increments. It is often taken when an employee needs ongoing treatment for their condition.
Reduced schedule FMLA leave: An employee needs to reduce the amount of hours they work per day or per week, often to care for a family member or to reduce stress.

Employer Responsibilities

The employer must notify the employee whether they qualify for FMLA within 5 days of the employee requesting the leave. When the employer notifies the employee that they qualify for FMLA the employer must also let the employee know whether they must provide documentation of the FMLA-qualifying reason and the employee’s right to substitute paid leave. The employer must also notify the employee if the employee will have to take a fitness for duty test when they return from leave.

Upon return from FMLA leave, an employee must be returned to the same position or to an equivalent position with equivalent benefits, pay, status, and other terms and conditions of employment.

While an employee is on FMLA leave the best course of action is for the employer to allow them to have the time off without interference. However, if the employer needs to call or email the employee about something specific that only that employee would know it is generally okay to ask the employee. If the employer finds out that the employee is answering calls and/or emails outside of this situation the employer should put an end to it as soon as possible to protect themselves.

Employee Responsibilities

An employee should give 30 days notice of their plan to take FMLA leave and if that is not possible they should notify their employer as soon as possible. An employee is not required to give their medical records to an employer, but if the employer asks for a certification that sufficient medical facts exist to constitute a serious health condition the employee must provide the certification. The employer may ask for new certification every 30-days unless the original one stated that the condition would last longer than 30 days.

Washington state

While there are not a lot of differences between the FMLA and Washington’s state law the differences are quite large!

Washington state has adopted the Family Leave Act (FLA) and the qualifications are the same as those listed above. The FLA allows for many of the same things that the FMLA does, however it also accounts for registered domestic partners, whereas the FMLA, as a federal law does not.

Washington’s law also allows for the FLA to run after pregnancy disability leave has ended. So, a woman who qualifies for FLA will have 18 weeks of total leave, which is more than the FMLA. There is 6 weeks of disability leave and then the 12 weeks given under the FMLA.

This is a brief overview of some of the information I frequently get asked about. Please keep in mind that there are other rules pertaining to those in the military. There are also other laws in Washington state for individuals who do not work for an employer with 50 employees.

Urgent Request: I Need Your Feedback to Provide to Spokane Mayor David Condon

2012-05-08T13:36:03.000Z

City of Spokane Mayor David Condon has invited me and LaunchPad INW to participate in his Business Advisory Council and I would like to get your feedback on 3 important questions.

This information will be shared with the Mayor on Thursday, May 10th as he and his team work towards improving the business environment in Spokane.

Please provide your feedback to the following questions and although these are complicated subjects please be brief if possible:

1. What is one regulation that the City of Spokane could eliminate to pave the way for progress?

2. Is there anything that the City of Spokane could do to facilitate expansion of your employee base?

3. Do you feel that the economic health in the City of Spokane is improving, staying the same or declining?

Thank you,

Bill Kalivas

Managing Partner, LaunchPad INW, LLC

Spokane Public Library workshop

2012-05-07T06:13:12.000Z

Hi LaunchPad community --

It's been a while in the making but we're ready to roll out the first in a series of Spokane Public Library workshops. The first one-hour workshop, coming up at 7:30 AM on May 17th, will focus on tens of thousands of dollars worth of online business resources that are available to the Spokane business community... for free.

FAQ section:

Q: Do I need to know the Dewey Decimal system to attend?

A: Nope.

Q: How much will this workshop cost?

A: Just like everything else from the library, it's free.

Q: Where do I find the registration for this workshop?

A: Right here: http://www.launchpadinw.com/events/make-20-555-per-hour-at-launchpad

Bonus tip: if everyone behaves themselves and I don't have to shush too many people, we might have a few minutes left over at the end to talk about Kindle-compatible ebooks, downloadable audiobooks and downloadable music. All for free. All online. All from the Spokane Public Library.

Focusing on Aerospace and Aviation

2012-05-01T21:12:31.000Z

Join us for the next LaunchPad live taping and networking luncheon on Friday May 11, 2012. This is a prime opportunity to learn more about the local Aerospace and Aviation Industry through interviews with Carol Weigand, Air Washington Program Manger and Brian Burrow Air Washington Instructional Designer. You will also have an opportunity to build local industry relationships.

What is the Air Washington Project you ask? It is a consortium of 11 Washington community and technical colleges whose goal is to train more than 2600 workers in aerospace programs by fall of 2014.

Who will this benefit from the Air Washington Project?

Current students looking to obtain a career in the Aerospace industry
Veterans looking to acquire new work skills
Adult learners seeking a new career path
Local companies seeking skilled workers

Fun Facts:

There are over 30 local manufacturers of airplane componentry and they are hiring
The average age of student in the Air Washington Program is 29 years old
This program will support five aerospace career areas: Airframe and Powerplant, Composites and Advanced Manufacturing, Aircraft Assembly, Electronics/Avionics and ASO9100 certification

Who should attend this event?

Local Aviation and Aerospace Professionals
Those who think a career in Aerospace might be right for them
Those who want to make great connections with innovators, educators and promoters in this exciting community

We look forward to seeing you there! RSVP here today seating is limited!

Mentoring Foster Youth in Our Community

2012-05-01T16:06:24.000Z

MAY IS NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH, which provides an opportunity for us to shine a light on the experiences of some of our very own local youth growing up in the foster care system. Learn why there is an incredible need for mentoring these precious and vulnerable youth.

...A mentor is a caring guide, a wise advisor, a partner on the journey and a trusted and reliable friend...

My younger son was in foster care before he was adopted at age 3 1/2. After being a foster parent myself, I became involved in three different foster youth organizations and have become very aware of the difficulties and challenges of foster teens growing up and aging out of the system. These teens are in most urgent need of our attention. Every year, approximately 30,000 young people in the U.S. leave the foster care system without lifelong families – most at age 18. On their own, as these young adults "age out of the system" they are often unprepared emotionally, financially and without the skills to handle the challenges of living independently. It can be a terrifying place to be and within 18 months of aging out, between 40% and 50% of foster youth become homeless.

About three years ago I was in a one-on-one mentoring program called Foster Care to College, but the funding was cut so the program no longer exists. For some time now I have had the idea of creating a new mentoring group connecting foster teens with local people in our community. Recently I have worked with foster youth doing art projects and have been touched by some of the experiences I have had connecting with them. It's an awesome thing when I talk with them and listen to their dreams and ideas. They light up!

Research shows that young people who age out of foster care are far more likely than their peers in the general population to not only endure homelessness, but poverty, compromised mental and physical health, insufficient education, unemployment, incarceration, and early pregnancy and parenthood.

For high school students in foster care, graduation rates vary between 32 and 44 percent, the graduation rate for all students in Washington State has ranged between 70 and 75 percent. Only about 2% graduate from college.

There is a tremendous need for mentoring older youth in foster care to support them in making it through high school, in pursuing their dreams of attending college and/or in finding jobs.

What Youth Want from a Mentor

Advice - Be a source of advice and information.
Access - Help to open doors - to people, opportunities, information.
Advocacy - Someone to be there for them on their behalf.
A Sincere Desire by the Mentor to be involved.
Respect - A sense of respect and dignity will win trust.
Someone to listen.
Empathy - The ability to understand at a deep level
Someone to see solutions and opportunities.
Flexibility and openness - It takes time to develop a relationship.

These young people need – and deserve – loving, caring adults who support them in realizing and achieving their potential. A mentor can help them feel more comfortable with who they are as individuals, discover their own unique gifts and talents, while exposing them to new opportunities and possibilities.

Learn more foster care in general and mentoring by attending the SHINE A LIGHT! event May 9th at Nectar Tasting Room.

http://www.launchpadinw.com/events/shine-a-light

Changing your Mood

2012-04-26T01:04:12.000Z

When in sessions with clients, I often hear them sharing memories and situations from the past. Memories from five, ten, twenty years ago surface as if they were happening right now. I see their feelings and physiology follow their story.

Healing the feelings from the past is important, but often there is the tendency to re-play the past and then the feelings don’t heal. The feelings deepen like water that flows to form a crevice in the sand.

What is great is you have control over what you think and this affects your feelings! It takes practice, but you can change this habit.

When you begin to re-play something from the past that is painful or negative. STOP. Think about what was positive about the person or experience. Write it down. This does not undo what you feel they did to you, but it does help free YOU from the past. You are in control!

Try writing about the situation from the outside looking in. Then write it again from the other person's perspective. This can be amazing!

You can also replace the negative memory with another experience that was positive. For instance I image playful times with my friends, with my grandchildren or my experience swimming with spinner dolphins.

You have more direct control over changing your thinking than your feelings so think yourself into feeling happy, joyful and alive!

Context Matters

2012-04-27T17:24:25.000Z

When meeting with a new advertising client or prospect for the first time, I consider it crucial that we come to a meeting of the minds concerning the singular importance of:

The Message.

What-the-ad-says has more to do with the success of the campaign than any other factor. Demographics, psychographics, media, reach, frequency, formats, etc. are important, to be sure. But The Message trumps them all.

So, early on we discuss message development. What outcome(s) are we hoping to achieve? What do we want our prospective customer to think, feel, and do? How can we penetrate the prospect's brain, the seat of thoughts and emotions, and then press all the right buttons to elicit the desired response?

Messages don't exist in a vacuum. Messages live and breathe in an atmosphere we call context, and there are multiple contexts to be considered. There's the context that each listener, viewer, or reader brings to the table. There's the context of community (think: sports, academics, politics, society). There are temporal contexts, spatial contexts, and seasonal contexts. Every advertising medium brings its own context, as well.

When the message meshes with its contexts, communication is facilitated. But if any context isn't congruent with the message, communication suffers. We've all heard radio spots that should have been updated but weren't. The Christmas gift-giving ad that runs on December 27th. The spot announcing an upcoming Big Sale...that took place last weekend. Or the commercial that opens with, "Summer's right around the corner..." (an unnecessary introduction under the best of circumstances, it sounds especially lame when it airs in September).

Whose job is it to pay attention to context? Everyone's, really. That is, everyone who plays a decision-making role at any stage in the process, from concept to completion.

Let me illustrate.

An ad salesman confers with an advertiser about what his ad should say. The salesman, in this example, works for the local newspaper. He brings his notes, maybe even a rough sketch of the ad, to the newspaper's graphic designer, who in turn womps up the actual ad as it will appear in the paper. They bring a proof copy to the advertiser for review. The advertiser makes corrections (and let's hope his spelling, punctuation, and grammar are up to snuff, because once he's signed off on the ad, that's how it will be printed. If there's an inappropriate apostrophe, for example, the odds these days are against someone at the newspaper catching and correcting it on their own.) and the approved ad is placed to run in the paper.

Let's assume they got the ad right. Is that the end of it? Nope. Because that ad doesn't exist in a vacuum, but in a context. If the layout of the page on which the ad has been placed to run isn't proofed carefully by a competent editor, this is what can happen:

If you're investing in advertising or creating advertising for someone, you'll be well served by remembering that context matters. Pay attention. Follow through accordingly.

Shall we drink to that?

Commercial Lease Agreements: Things to look for before signing!

2012-04-19T22:19:37.000Z

Many business owners or soon to be business owners must find a space for their business to operate from. Oftentimes, when renting a space for business purposes you will be asked to sign a commercial lease agreement. In Washington, commercial lease agreements are quite different from residential lease agreements.

One thing to be aware of is that every commercial lease is different. Just because you have entered into one in the past does not mean you should rapidly sign a second one. Each aspect of a commercial lease should be looked at closely before signing.

Aside from the common elements of a lease, such as; payment terms, length of the lease, and the property to be leased there are many other items that need to be looked at, scrutinized, and perhaps negotiated.

Commencement of the lease

The lease commencement date is one such term. When leasing you need to ensure that the commencement date is right for your needs. Oftentimes, there is a rent commencement date separate from the lease commencement date and both might be different from the date of signing. If the landlord is making improvements or cleaning the space you as the tenant need to be sure you are not paying rent before you can even occupy the premises. Look at both dates and ensure that they make sense and that you are able to occupy the premises when you need it and that you are not paying for something you are not occupying.

Description of the premises to be leased

Another important term to look at closely is the description of the premises being leased. Both parties must agree to the exact space being leased and what the space entails (use of refrigerator, conference table, etc.). Within the lease it will likely say that the description is attached as an exhibit. Don’t wait until after you have signed to see the attached description (or any attachments for that matter). Make sure you and the landlord are on the same page prior to signing anything.

Renewing and ending the lease

A tenant also needs to understand how and when a lease will renew. A commercial lease is usually for a period of years, typically five, but can more or less. Signing a lease for too long can be detrimental, let’s face it your business may not be around in ten years and being stuck in a lease without a business to run sounds pretty scary! Negotiating for a shorter time period in the beginning with the option to renew is probably your best bet. As the tenant you need to know if the lease renews automatically after the initial period ends, if you need to give notice that you are not renewing the lease, and how far in advance this notice must be given (this can vary drastically among leases). Also, prior to renewal the tenant and landlord should both ensure that the lease is still good for both parties, as it can be renegotiated, if needed.

Initial condition and continued maintenance of the premises

The condition and maintenance of the premises is also another important clause in a lease agreement. If you are leasing a portion of the building with a shared parking lot, whose responsibility is the parking lot? Do all tenants need to help out with snow removal? If there is a lobby in the building who takes the time to make sure it is looking nice? These questions and more need to be answered before the lease is signed. Also, are you receiving the premise “as is” or is the landlord supposed to do any repairs or remodeling before the move-in date? If repairs are needed, the tenant should make sure everything agreed upon was done before moving in to the space.

Assignment and subletting

Assignment and subletting rights may also be important. Earlier, I had mentioned that your business may not last for ten years, but what if your business grows faster than anticipated and you need to move to a bigger office in two years! An assignment transfers the entire lease and all responsibilities within that lease to a new tenant and the old tenant is free to move out and into the bigger space. This option is best for the tenant, but maybe not the best for the landlord. A sublease allows for someone new to take over the lease and follow the responsibilities, however the original signatory to the lease remains ultimately responsible. Meaning if the person you sublease your space to decides to walk away and not pay the rent you are responsible for payment and thus may get stuck paying for two leases.

Subordination and non-disturbance rights

Something that may be more common today than ever before are subordination and non-disturbance rights. These help determine what happens if the landlord defaults on their mortgage. Landlords are at risk for foreclosure if the property they are leasing you is mortgaged. The mortgage companies rights are superior to the rights of any person leasing a space within the overall building. If you find that your landlord does not own the building you should negotiate for non-disturbance rights, which means that if the mortgage company does foreclose on the building they will allow you to continue with your lease until it terminates per the lease agreement.

Other considerations

Other items to consider are whether the tenant can hang signage and where it may be placed. If you cannot show that your business exists at a certain spot it may be difficult to keep it open. Also, keep in mind that landlords generally write the first draft of a lease so it will likely be landlord friendly, ensure that the lease you sign is not so landlord friendly that it hurts you and/or your business.

This is merely a starting point when looking at commercial lease agreements. Depending on the lease there may be many more clauses to sift through to ensure that the lease is good for everyone involved.

As always good luck with your business ventures!

Real Estate News Today 4-24-2012

2012-04-24T12:43:23.000Z

Check out and LIKE us on Facebook to follow other industry news!

Today’s news that may be of interest to you:

March 2012 Existing Home Sales Show Significant Decline in Inventory from March 2011
Ted C. Jones Blog | April 23, 2012
The big story for March 2012 existing homes sales was the significant decline in the inventory of homes available for sale (where the months inventory contrasts the current supply, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, to the sales rate).

Raines: Don’t Blame Homeowners, Government for Housing Bust
The Wall Street Journal | April 23, 2012
The former chief executive of Fannie Mae, in a rare public appearance Friday, argued that government policies weren’t the main cause of the housing bust, and that the government shouldn’t stop pushing to expand home ownership. (As I have said here before, we’re all at fault in the housing crisis. Mr. Raines disagrees. ~Anthony)

Fed Likely to Stay the Course, Even as Economic Recovery Appears Mixed
The Washington Post | April 23, 2012
At the start of the year, the Federal Reserve was a dour pessimist– even though a range of economic indicators were starting to suggest that the nation’s recovery was finally gaining enough momentum to sustain itself.

FDIC Expects Healthy Deposit Insurance Fund by 2018
HousingWire | April 23, 2012
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. board expects bank failures to cost the fund $12 billion over the next five years, down from $88 billion in losses between 2008 and 2011.

Tablets are Expected to Replace PCs as Primary Computing Device
Los Angeles Times | April 23, 2012
A paradigm shift may be coming to the digital lifestyle. Instead of the PC being the center of the personal computing universe, consumers will be opting for tablets as their primary computing device and relying on cloud storage to access their content across their devices, according to a new report.

What Should New Dodd-Frank Mortgage Rules Say?
The Wall Street Journal | April 23, 2012
Get ready for another spat over Dodd-Frank mortgage lending rules. It’s been more than a year since regulators unveiled the first set of proposed (and yet-to-be completed) mortgage rules resulting from the 2010 financial overhaul law. Now a new consumer regulator is hashing out a separate rule that will define what kind of loans mortgage lenders will be able to make.

Multifamily Capital is Plentiful for Those Who Need It Less
Multifamily Executive | April 5, 2012
After spending a couple of days with multifamily players in Las Vegas at the Apartment Finance Today Conference, “Meet the Money,” from April 2–4, we’re convinced that worklife behind and beneath the giddy headlines is anything but giddy. (OK I’m sure many or most of you don’t care about multifamily housing financing. But I thought the bullet points this author has on the current state of the economy are right on. ~Anthony)

Find me on:

Anthony V. Carollo / President
Stewart Title of Spokane
606 W. 3rd Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Telephone: 509.328.7171
Direct Line: 509.321.3939
Direct Fax: 866.652.8834
acarollo@stewart.com

Please remember to choose Stewart Title of Spokane on your next transaction!

www.StewartSpokane.com

Stress and the Sexes

2012-04-24T13:16:56.000Z

Today I'm going to suggest that you take a look at this blog post from Business Networking and Sex (not what you think) dealing with how men and women handle stress (and from where their stress comes). There was too much great information to try and paraphrase! http://businessnetworkingandsex.com/stress-and-the-sexes/

If you're interested in learning more, please join us next Tuesday as Dr. Misner discusses with us what he, Hazel M Walker and Frank DeRaffele, Jr. learned through their research.

http://www.launchpadinw.com/events/business-networking-and-sex-not-what-you-think-book-tour

Increasing the Value of the LaunchPad Membership

2012-04-25T19:07:14.000Z

Due to the rapid growth of the LaunchPad Network, now over 5200 members and growing steady, we have been approached by several local organizations looking to establish a partnership with LaunchPad to provide our members discounts to attend events and or to purchase services.

We obviously cannot say yes to every offer and will be committed to entering into partnerships with groups that we feel offer best in class services.

We will be reviewing various strategies available to share this information with you but in the meantime we would like to make you aware of a few events that are coming up soon so that members can take advantage of these helpful seminars and events.

Connect NW Investment Capital Forum
"Fueling Entrepreneurship," featuring keynote speaker Chris DeVore, co-founder of Founder's Co-op in Seattle and a panel discussion featuring investors and local entrepreneurs!

Thursday, April 26, 2012
The Davenport Hotel
Discount Code LPINW50
Normal price is $75, LaunchPad Members pay $50
Registration Link

Get Listed Spokane
Get Listed is bringing in some of the nation's leading online marketing experts for an intense crash course in Internet marketing. You'll learn Search Engine Optimization tips & techniques. Social media tips, paid search & site clinics will also be covered. A representative from Bing will be featured as the keynote speaker.The conference is a FULL day, and includes lunch, happy hour & networking, as well as a Q&A portion of the conference so you can ask specific questions to the experts.

Friday, April 27, 2012
Northern Quest Resort and Casino
Discount Code LAUNCHPAD
Normal price is $199, LaunchPad Members pay $150
Registration Link

Business Networking and Sex (not what you think) Book Tour
What do networking and sex have in common? Come find out as Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder and Chairman of BNI, discusses his new book, Business Networking and Sex (not what you think) and reveals key networking strategies that will help you reach quality prospects, leverage your contacts and motivate ongoing referral sources to create business growth...especially with members of the opposite sex.
Other speakers include:
Bill Kalivas, LaunchPad INW, Bridging the Generational "Networking" Gap
Carlos Jones, North Star Leadership Coaching, Creating a Success Circle
Barbara Olson, Referral Institute Spokane, All About Style

Tuesday, May 1 2012
Mirabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center.
Normal price is $85, LaunchPad Members pay $75
RSVP to barbara@bni.com

LaunchPad's Mission and Core Values

2012-04-17T23:00:00.000Z

In the pursuit of a more consistent and guiding framework, LaunchPad is focusing on what is really important regarding the development of business relationships within our community.

As a result, we are re-“launching” the mission statement and core values that will guide LaunchPad into the future. We have aligned to create a sense of community while supporting our local economy by enhancing the potential for individual achievement.

At LaunchPad, we believe in creating the best networking experience for both our members and partners. This is evidently highlighted through our new and more complete mission statement:

“LaunchPad INW provides tools and services that empower our members and partners to develop, foster and sustain credible business relationships.”

As we propel into the future, we hope to use this statement as the guiding force behind everything that we do at LaunchPad. Our core values further reflect this vision:

Economic Sustainability: Supporting entrepreneurs and innovators in their quest to open new ventures, helping existing companies to exceed their business goals.

Community Pride: Promoting local business successes taking place in the Inland Northwest through our robust media network.

Individual Achievement: Giving people the tools and training necessary to forge lifelong connections and become successful personally and professionally, transforming the individual to transform our community.

By linking professional networking with Community Partnerships, LaunchPad is able to foster the development of important business relationships within our region.

LaunchPad members receive discounts for attending events produced by our Community Partners. For example; right now our members receive a substantial discount for the Get Listed Event scheduled next week!!! This is an excellent opportunity to build relationships and learn about helpful business topics. More info about Get Listed is available here:

2012 Get Listed Event at Northern Quest Resort
The 2012 Get Listed Event is on April 27th at Northern Quest Resort and Casino. It is a jam packed, full-day local search conference with lunch, networking, and happy hour at the end of the day. There is a panel of experts in every area of the web to expand your online presence. You do not want to miss this event! A $50 special discount code is provided for being a LaunchPad member. For any additional information needed please visit the Go to the following link to register and receive the LaunchPad discount

http://getlisted.eventbrite.com/?discount=LAUNCHPAD

Philanthropic Trends that Keep Us Up at Night: Let’s Start with Systems Change

2012-04-17T20:35:46.000Z

Anyone who has written a grant proposal has probably encountered the phrase “systems change.” Increasingly a trend in the field of philanthropy, systems change seeks to address the root causes of a problem in order to eventually eradicate the problem itself. Certainly a noble (and necessary) cause! But with so many dysfunctional and broken systems, how do we ignore the immediate need for direct services that help mitigate the effects of the problem while we try to solve it? It’s enough to keep any nonprofit professional awake at night.

I recently attended a philanthropists’ panel co-presented by the Empire Health Foundation and Whitworth University. They brought in representatives from three very different foundations: The Gates Foundation, our nation’s largest private foundation; Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, a San Francisco-based foundation specializing in grassroots grant making (using a paperless process – no grant proposals!); and the Thomas V. Giddens Jr. Foundation, which began making grants in 2008.

One panelist told of his experience with an initiative funded by his foundation, which sought to systemically address the problem of homelessness in Seattle. The ultimate goal of the work was to produce one key outcome: to reduce the overall number of people living in homelessness. The initiative used system-level strategies to serve more than 2,000 families with a success rate of over 80%, meaning that more than 8 out of 10 families served transitioned from homelessness to stable housing. However, at the end of the initiative, the overall number of homeless families in Seattle had not decreased. Instead, it had gone up. Does this mean the initiative was a failure and that the investment had been made for naught?

We will be discussing this topic and many other difficult questions at our Nonprofit Community meet-up, taking place this Thursday, April 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. at LaunchPad’s training center in downtown Spokane (120 N. Stevens). The cost is $10 (credit cards accepted at the door), though the event is free to LaunchPad paid members and college students with valid ID.

Transactional vs Relational

2012-04-17T15:36:41.000Z

In his newest book, Business Networking and Sex (not what you think), Dr. Ivan Misner discusses statistics which show that men are transactional and women are relational. Men tend to establish credibility by letting others know of their successes, what they've done, and who they know. This works well when networking with other men. When networking with women, that approach is not nearly as effective. Women are less proficient at speaking of their success and are usually far more interested in cultivating the professional relationship. Women desire to get to know the people with whom they associate on a level deeper than, "What do you do?" and "Who do you know?" Ladies, can we move toward being less hesitant to speak of our success? Gentlemen, can you move toward relationship building? This meeting in the middle is a good thing for business.

Real Estate News Today 4-16-2012

2012-04-16T18:54:48.000Z

Check out and LIKE us on Facebook to follow other industry news!

Today’s news that may be of interest to you:

US Home-buying Season Finally Signaling a Recovery
The Associated Press | April 15, 2012
Five years after the U.S. housing bust sent sales and prices plunging, the spring home-buying season is pointing to a long-awaited recovery.

Wells, Chase Positioning for Mortgage Rebound
HousingWire | April 13, 2012
The nation’s largest mortgage lenders Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase originated more mortgages in the first quarter as each inch toward a cleaner portfolio.

Last-Minute Tax Tips for Those Waiting Until April 17 Deadline
Fox News | April 15, 2012
Getting an extra two days to file taxes beyond the usual April 15 tax filing deadline isn’t likely to cure a nation of procrastinators this year.

As Congress Returns, Republicans Turn Focus to Gas Prices, Domestic Energy
The Washington Post | April 15, 2012
Speaker Boehner, hoping to hit Obama hard, wants to use session to push domestic energy issue.

Obama Bid to End Too-Big-to Fail Undercut as Banks Grow
Bloomberg | April 16, 2012
Two years after President Barack Obama vowed to eliminate the danger of financial institutions becoming “too big to fail,” the nation’s largest banks are bigger than they were before the credit crisis.

Mitt Romney Says He May Ditch HUD
Forbes | April 14, 2012
In a closed-door Florida fundraiser for donors tonight, Mitt Romney offered a rare glimpse into his policy plans if elected President. And, as NBC reports, he got quite trigger-happy. (Wishful thinking on Mitt’s part? That’s an awfully large and complex bureaucracy to dismantle. ~Anthony)

The Bailout Could Turn a Profit, but That’s not Entirely a Good Thing
The Washington Post | April 14, 2012
At a press briefing on Friday, senior Treasury officials had some good news to trumpet: The government’s bailout of the financial system during the crisis has cost less than expected.

Investors Eye REOs as a ‘Gold Rush’
Realtor Magazine |
A modern day “Gold Rush” is on for investors who are pouncing on bargain prices for foreclosures.

Rehabilitation vital to REO-to-rental success
HousingWire | April 13, 2012
Any long-term REO-to-rental strategy will need to adopt extensive refurbishment plans in order to resell the assets. Further, much of the foreclosed property that financial institutions would look to bulk-sell is currently in need of repair. (This reporter makes good case and in fact this should spur a great deal of activity not only on the contractor/builder/remodeler side of the economy, but also the retail home improvement business, construction suppliers, and so forth. If you are a contractor, you should be networking with investors. ~Anthony)

Find me on:

Anthony V. Carollo / President
Stewart Title of Spokane
606 W. 3rd Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Telephone: 509.328.7171
Direct Line: 509.321.3939
Direct Fax: 866.652.8834
acarollo@stewart.com

Please remember to choose Stewart Title of Spokane on your next transaction!

www.StewartSpokane.com

There is no accounting for Accountability

2012-04-17T02:30:00.000Z

What do I mean by the title of this blog?? As I start this blog I ruminate on how many times I have made someone wait for me to arrive, call them back, or meet them somewhere. And as I am writing this I realize that I made a promise I have yet to make good on. Is it irresponsibility that causes me to be unaccountable? Well to answer this question of myself very truthfully yet emphatically, “no!” I’m not irresponsible, but wait a moment maybe I am--maybe I am not responsible or “accountable” to myself for my own actions.

Now that I’ve made a very powerful statement about myself and who others may perceive me to be, not always, just at times, how do I fix me in a world that exhibits a ton of apathy. Come on, tell the truth, if we don’t call that person back we told we would, don’t we find a reason to “excuse ourselves.” Your dog swallowed a piece of rawhide whole and we had to rush them to the Vet, but what about that business call you promised to make around the same time? Speaking for myself I usually get so caught up in the moment, everything else falls to the wayside. But that person you told you’d call around three is now sitting at their desk waiting for your call. So now your actions haven’t only affected you but them as well. They may have even worked their day around the time you were going to call as a convenience to you, and you left them hanging.

You notice I am using myself mostly as an example, because I realize it’s a bad habit I have, but habits can both be broken as well as developed. Maybe it’s time we quit making excuses for our own actions, and instead were accountable for every action we take from inertia to kinetic energy. After all aren’t we all adults and as such responsible for ourselves???

Let’s use our local Cable companies as an example…It used to be they would give you a four hour window, “we’ll be there between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. We would wait (missing work etc...) until they finally arrived at you guessed it 11:45! And was it fair to make us wait until the eleventh hour to arrive? Well I didn’t think so, and evidently neither did a lot of other people either, because now it’s only a two hour window and if they don’t arrive by the designated time they offer you a monetary compensation.

Come on all together now let’s all make an extra effort to be accountable, I ‘m starting today with myself. Let’s all be true to our word, after all isn’t our word our honor? And don’t we want to be honorable in all that we do???

Candidate Coaching and Prescreening ~ Get out of the house.

2012-04-16T16:53:21.000Z

The job search can take a toll on your self esteem, your health, and even your ability to communicate with other people...in person.

You can't just sit in front of the computer and apply for jobs you have to get out of the house and meet people. Attend a networking event, seminar, community activity, or even go to a coffee shop and strike up a conversation.

Volunteer to help at an event, gets you in the door for free (most of the time) and in front of alot of people. If you need help deciding what events are right for you, contact me, I will be happy to help!

I Need Your Feedback: Does Spokane Need a Local Interactive Talk Show?

2012-04-13T16:48:05.000Z

LaunchPad recently had a "soft launch" of a new, local interactive talk show called LaunchPad Live and I would like to get your feedback if possible.

The concept is to highlight local companies and provide viewers with tips for finding employment, growing a business, leveraging technology and advancing career's right here in the Spokane Region.

We film short segments so viewers can also share them via social media. The show will also be seen on a local TV station as a 30 minute program.

You can learn more about the show by going to the following blog which provides more details.

If you could please watch our first episode and provide feedback on this blog post i would greatly appreciate it.

Here is the link to watch the show on our YouTube Channel. This show covers Construction and Development and features a discussion about Measure 1, a local initiative to expand the Spokane Convention Center and Arena.

You can also attend today's Clean and Green Community Event. The taping followed by a networking luncheon begins at 11:30. Our special guest today will be Dave Curry of Demand Energy Networks.

You can RSVP here

Thank you!

Real Estate News Today 4-10-2012

2012-04-10T14:57:38.000Z

Today’s news that may be of interest to you:

The man cave, that great getaway, has become commercialized
The Seattle Times | April 6, 2012
The time has come to leave the man cave — to bulldoze the bro bunker, to kick the kegerator to the curb. The safe house for the Y chromosome is no longer safe; the perimeter has been breached. The man cave is no longer a tenable refuge from the real world.

U.S. to Propose New Mortgage Lending Rules
The Washington Post | April 10, 2012
The federal government plans to propose new rules on Tuesday that will give homeowners more ways to avoid foreclosure and get an accurate accounting of their monthly mortgage payments.

Proposed California Bill Imposes Real Estate Fee for Affordable Housing Fund
HousingWire | April 9, 2012
California Senate Bill 1220, or the Housing Opportunity Trust Fund Act of 2012, proposes the creation of a fund that would raise revenue by imposing a $75 fee on all real estate instruments recorded at the county level.

Baby Boomer Market Bust?
Los Angeles Times | April 9, 2012
As 70 million people born between 1946 and 1964 begin retiring, the big question is: Will they bail out of stocks and other assets to pay for their golden years?

Why Small Businesses Fail to Grow
The Washington Post | April 10, 2012
It takes more than passion. Here is a list of 10 crucial factors.

Bernanke Says Banks Need Bigger Capital Buffer
Reuters | April 9, 2012
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Monday banks need to have more capital at hand in order to ensure the financial system is stable.

BofA Makes Changes to Trim Short Sale Timeline
DSNews | April 9, 2012
Starting Saturday, April 14, real estate professionals working with BofA will be required to submit five documents for short sales initiated with an offer.

Expectations Rising for Housing Market’s Spring Season
USA Today | April 10, 2012
The spring season typically runs March through June but may have started early this year because of unseasonably warm weather.

5 Reasons the US Hiring Slowdown in March might Signal a Weakening Job Market
The Washington Post | April 9, 2012
Economists mostly shrugged off news that U.S. hiring slowed in March as a one-month aberration warped by warm weather. But what if they’re wrong? What if the sharp drop in job creation signaled something more ominous?

Berkshire Hathaway unit buys Seattle residential brokerage
The Seattle Times | April 5, 2012
A real-estate subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has acquired a Seattle residential real-estate brokerage.

Find me on:

Anthony V. Carollo / President
Stewart Title of Spokane
606 W. 3rd Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Telephone: 509.328.7171
Direct Line: 509.321.3939
Direct Fax: 866.652.8834
acarollo@stewart.com

Please remember to choose Stewart Title of Spokane on your next transaction!

www.StewartSpokane.com

Create Your Own Online Course – Become the Expert

2012-04-05T16:12:50.000Z

Wіth thе onset оf modern technology, positioning уоurѕеlf аѕ аn expert hаѕ bееn easier tо accomplish. In addition tо hаvіng а blog оr website whеrе уоu provide information nowadays, уоu саn mаkе uѕе оf Udemy.

Udemy іѕ аn online education platform thаt аllоwѕ уоu tо teach online. Wіth thеіr efficient аnd fast platform, аnу expert whо wаntѕ tо share his/her knowledge bу building online courses саn dо іt іn minutes. Yоu don’t hаvе tо pay fоr software оr hosting sites tо mаkе online courses.

Hоw dоеѕ Udemy hеlр уоu profit?

Yоu саn create online resources оr upload whаt уоu аlrеаdу hаvе tо Udemy- videos, audio files, Pdfs аnd PowerPoint presentations tо build аn online course. Yоu саn еvеn host live online conference whеrе уоu саn interact wіth уоur students frоm аnуwhеrе іn thе globe.

Authors оf online courses аlѕо retain thеіr rights оn thе contents they’ve shared thrоugh Udemy. Thеу hаvе varied categories whеrе уоu саn bе ѕurе tо find оnе thаt fits уоur niche frоm technology tо music tо health аnd fitness. What’s more? It’s free. Juѕt create аn account аnd you’re good tо start building уоur online teaching empire.

Udemy shells оut 70% оf thе sales tо thе author/content provider оf thе online course, ѕаmе share online retailers lіkе Amazon pays thеіr content creators. If уоu wаnt tо give аwау уоur соurѕе fоr free, уоu аlѕо саn wіth Udemy. Thіѕ іѕ а great wау tо boost exposure, build уоur reputation аnd tо gain networks.

JOBS Act Makes it Easier for Small Businesses to Raise Money - An Informative Article from Witherspoon Kelley

2012-04-06T17:00:00.000Z

On April 5th, the President signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act) into law. While the new law contains a number of provisions designed to make it easier for businesses of all sizes to raise money, there are two that will be of particular interest to our clients. The first is a provision that eliminates the prohibition against advertising and "general solicitation" in offerings to accredited investors--a prohibition that has been around since the 1960s. And the second is a provision that will allow businesses to use crowdfunding to raise up to $1 million. While the crowdfunding provision has received most of the attention, we think the change that allows advertising and general solicitation is also a pretty big deal.

A Client Update on each of these provisions is below.

JOBS Act: Advertising and General Solicitation

JOBS Act: Crowdfunding

By Jason Whiteley, Contributing Author, Witherspoon*Kelley

15 reasons you MUST attend Get Listed University!

2012-04-08T22:00:00.000Z

A daily blog from the outside looking in!

Get Listed University – Spokane Agenda Video Preview

By Ed Reese at Sixth Man Marketing

Location: Northern Quest Resort & Casino

Time: Friday, April 27th from 8am to 5pm

Cost: $199 (Save $50 by clicking here)

Agenda: Complete Get Listed Spokane Agenda

Capacity: The event is limited to 100 people and will likely sell-out. Register now!

Registration: Call (509) 624-5580 with any questions about registration or register on the Get Listed Website

Reason #9

I present this quote from the landing page at Spokane's Get listed University!

"We're bringing in some of the nation's leading online marketing experts for an intensive day-longcrash course in Internet marketing that will help you navigate the possibilities for marketing your business on the web. You'll learn Search Engine Optimization tips and techniques that will lead to sustained, long-term search engine rankings (and new customers).

Our faculty will explain how Google and Bing rank businesses in results like the above screenshot, and techniques you can use to move your business up the page."

<Save $50 by using "LAUNCHPAD"

Reason #10

Google has made so many changes in 2012 it's crazy! Staying on top of those changes is mind boggling! Are you wondering what in the world to do next? All of your questions have answers at Get Listed University! Maybe you did not realize, all the faculty at this event will be there to answer your questions and even get to know you better!

Reason #11

You will get to hear a presentation from Mike Ramsey! Mike is the founder of Nifty Marketing, a local search marketing company in Burley, Idaho and is also a SearchEngineJournal.com mobile & local columnist. He also moonlights as the owner/publisher of The Voice which is a weekly newspaper in Southern Idaho that is delivered to 18,000 households. He is a master at local search visibility. He will bring out the best ideas and latest changes! Best of all, as a member of the faculty he will be there all day to talk with you one on one! Need more info on Spokane's get listed university? Check out the website for more information - http://getlisted.org/university/spokane.aspx Enter "LAUNCHPAD" in the Promo box and receive $50 off your admission!

Reason #12

Ed Reese is seriously an accomplished artist! His dynamic presentations about Analytics are paramount and informative! Always backed by real time examples and proof of turning Analytics into conversions which relays money to your bank account. Artist you ask? His vision for the whiteboard really make sense...if you don't understand all of the technologies he shares in an hour is solidified quickly with his whiteboard explanations! Oh and Analytics is art! See Eds presentation at Get Listed University.

Reason #13

There is a panel of experts in every area of the web to expand your online presence. As we already mentioned, Social Media, SEO, and Analytics but a very huge part of the equation is paid search. Chris Reilly of Unleashed Online marketing will be presenting the most recent and up to date advice! It is important to be seen on the web and Chris is an expert about getting your business in front of the right users. Sign up now for Get Listed University. and enter promo code LAUNCHPAD to recieve $50 off your entry!

Reason #14

Get Listed University works for Business owners! No one likes going to a conference or class and being sold services! Going to Get Listed University means you will get real examples of methods relevant to your efforts. Extensive research about Social Media, SEO and Analytics have been done by the presenters. These professionals aren't just talking theory passed on, this is from actual experience and they have real life examples that are proven as the presenters speak. Getting the information to be successful online is not college theory and every piece of information on the web may not apply to ranking with search engines locally. Get Listed University is filled with extremely knowledgeable faculty and will be there to speak with you one on one ALL DAY to answer your specific questions. To keep you fresh and able to contain the information Northern Quest Resort & Casino will have snacks, drinks, and lunch for all who attend!

Reason #15

Everyone wants to save money!! Save $50 by entering "LAUNCHPAD" on the SIGNUP PAGE! LaunchpadINW is pleased and excited to be a partner and bring you this important event! Get Listed University is just that, you will find the information relevant to your market that will get you listed locally on the search engines for your business!! Local leaders and influencers will be there to answer questions and offer their services to grow your business even in a lagging economy. The event is limited to 100 people and will likely sell-out.

Innovation Show 2012

2012-03-30T21:04:16.000Z

The show on Wednesday went great- good turn out for the breakout sessions and the keynote speaker- Dave Koopman of GoDaddy.com.

…

Bill Kalivas, Carlos Jones, Barb Olson, AND Ivan Misner - You don't want to miss this event!!!

2012-04-03T18:23:34.000Z

What you need to know about the Ivan Misner Book Signing Event

1. Tuesday, May 1, 2012 noon to 7:30 pm, Speed Networking Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at 7:00 am.

2. Great Speakers
     a. Bill Kalivas
     b. Carlos Jones
     c. Barb Olson
     d. Ivan Misner – Keynote Speaker

3. CNN called Ivan Misner the “Father of Modern Networking”, known by Entrepreneur Magazine as the “Networking Guru”, Mr. Misner is a New York Times Best Selling Author, and he is an International Acclaimed Speaker.

4. Business Networking & Sex (not what you think) is his new book, I think we all need to learn how to better communicate with the opposite sex.

5. This book has great reviews and you will get a signed copy!

6. 5:30 to 7:30 pm, meet the author, cocktail hours, book signing, and business expo.

7. The next morning will be the speed networking event. Great opportunity to meet a lot of great business people in a short period of time.

8. Act now and get a discount to $75. You will get tickets to the seminar, the cocktail hour and business expo, a copy of the book, and entry to the speed networking.

9. Contact me, Diana Carpenter, to register and get this special pricing.

10. Would you like to be a sponsor and be featured at the Business Expo??? Let me know!

Meet Dave Curry, A Local Serial Entrepreneur Solving a Global Energy Problem

2012-04-03T20:28:18.000Z

Are you interested in learning about new ways that companies are solving energy problems? Are you curious about local innovators on the cutting edge of electricity storage and delivery?

Come to the LaunchPad Live taping on April 13^th, at 11:30 am and meet Dave Curry, Co-Founder, President and CEO of Demand Energy Networks.

Did you know that Dave is a serial entrepreneur who’s founded, taken public, and exited two companies for nearly $1B prior to starting Demand Energy Networks?

Fun Facts about Dave and Demand Energy Networks:

Dave won Canadian Entrepreneur of the year in 1996
Dave has over 30 years experience in the telecommunications and software industries
Demand Energy Networks is Local to Liberty Lake but is changing worlds in New York with their battery storage technology, CLICK HERE to learn more
Demand Energy Networks Is poised for rapid growth and is currently hiring

If you are currently working in the Energy Industry, if you have a passion for sustainable, efficient energy solutions, if you have been thinking about a career in the Energy Sector and want to hear from an experienced industry leader this LaunchPad Live session is for YOU.

Click Here to RSVP, we look forward to seeing you there!

The Basics of Estate Planning

2012-04-02T21:30:00.000Z

Estate planning consists of many important documents, not just a will. While a will is one of the items needed there are many more to consider. Most people don’t like to think about these documents or don’t think they need them until they are older, but it is something to think about now before it’s too late! Below you will find a brief description of several of the documents you should consider.

Will

A basic will is important because if you don’t direct who gets your assets when you pass away, state law will. A judge could even decide who raises your children. A will can help you leave property to people and organizations you chose and you can chose a guardian for your kids. With a will you will also be able to identify an executor to handle your property and affairs until the estate is settled.

Trusts

A trust is when one person, the trustee, holds legal title of property for another, the beneficiary. The property in a trust does not go through probate court. A living trust which is formed while you are alive helps your beneficiaries manage their inheritance and can be especially beneficial when minor children are involved. Be aware that there are several different types of trusts and you need to find the one that is right for you.

General Power of Attorney

If you become incapacitated, such as through an accident, sudden illness, unplanned or scheduled absence, you need to make arrangements for your affairs to be handled. Someone needs to make sure bills are paid, banking deposits are made, and medical, insurance, and benefits paper work is kept up. People often don’t stop to consider costs and headaches that could have been avoided by simply signing a power of attorney.

This document allows you to appoint an agent to handle your financial affairs when you are unable to do so. This could be because you are leaving the country for an extended period of time or are mentally unable to handle your financial affairs.

Health Care Directives

A health care directive or living will allows you to request or deny certain medical treatment in the event you later become incapacitated and are unable to make decisions. It allows you to indicate whether you would like your life to be artificially prolonged, in the event of an injury, disease or terminal condition that prevents you from communicating your wishes

Power of Attorney for Health Care

A power of attorney gives someone else the power to make any necessary health care decisions for you if you are unconscious, mentally incompetent, or otherwise unable to make decisions. It is a good idea to name an alternate person in the instance your first choice is also unable to make your health care decisions. You should select people you trust. You should feel confident that your power of attorney will respect your wishes regarding medical treatment, and make good choices for you.

A power of attorney for health care is different from a living will because it allows you to appoint someone to make health care decisions for you. Whereas a living will only allows you to express your wishes concerning life-sustaining procedures. A living will and a power of attorney may be combined into one document called an advanced health care directive.

Other items to consider

1. Care for your pets – some people leave pets to a friend or family member and provide them with money for food and grooming. It is often a good idea to leave money with your veterinarian in case your pet has medical needs after you are gone. If the veterinarian does not use the money you can donate the money to a person or organizations of your choosing. There are also some organizations that take pets.

2. Life Insurance – It is important to take a look at any insurance policies you have set-up every 2-3 years to ensure that the amounts and the beneficiaries are still correct.

3. Business assets – If you own a business you will want to predetermine what will happen to the business upon your death or incapacitation. There are several legal agreements that you can use to help with this.

4. Memorial Instructions – A valid written document expressing the decedent’s wishes regarding the place or method of disposition of his or her remains.

Estate planning is an important step for everyone to ensure less stress on their family members. I have not covered everything here and there are also numerous tax issues that I have not discussed, which could play a part in your estate planing as well!

Not everyone needs or wants all of the documents listed. Figure out what might be beneficial for you today and start there, you can always add more documents at a later time.