TIPS FOR WRITING THE PERFECT THANK YOU NOTE

                (Casper, WY) -- 'Tis the day after Christmas and all through the house we find the opened gifts -- toys and games and clothes and the boxes they were wrapped in. Now what? You may remember your mom telling you that the appropriate response when someone gives you something is "thank you" and that probably included writing thank you notes. According to author Margaret Page the thank you note is far more valuable than an email or text. After all, she notes, you can’t display an email on your desk or hang a text on your bulletin board. So if the value of the written thank you note is being lost, how do you go about writing one?

                Blogger Trent Hamm says the written thank you note has two big things going for it: it's a simple way of showing gratitude toward someone who has done something kind for you, and it keeps the communication loop open between you and that person. He suggests always hand writing your thank you notes because it provides a level of "elegance" that just can't be captured by typing and printing out your note. The first sentence of the thank you note is simple: begin by saying thank you. Then explain what the gift meant to you and what you plan to do with it. Continue by expressing hope you'll see the person in the future and conclude by thanking the person again.

                Jeanne Field, an editor with Hallmark Corporation says it's important to reply quickly, within a week. If it's longer than that begin your note with a brief apology such as "I've been meaning to tell you..."

                And Jennifer Beeler of Southern Living magazine notes some "Thank You Note Don'ts" such as not exaggerating and not referring to specific amounts of money. She says it's also a good idea to avoid rambling -- in other words, get to the point. And she says you shouldn't assume an in-person thank you is enough.

                So there you have it, tips on writing the perfect thank you note. Don't assume an in-person thank you will get the job done and don't use email or texts. Respond quickly. Hand write your note and begin by saying thanks. Then share how you'll use the gift, express hope for a future in-person meeting, and say thank you again.

                Tips from the experts. Come to think of it, mom was right all along.

RETIREMENT PLANNING DISCUSSED DURING SENIOR-WISE

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                (Casper, WY) -- It was a lively discussion about financial planning this week, during the Senior-Wise program presented at the Casper Senior Center by Bob Thunselle of Thrivent Financial Services. Those attending had questions about a variety of topics during the presentation, including social security, taxes, key stages along the retirement timeline, and juggling life changes during retirement.

                "First of all," Thunselle began, "the folks at Social Security cannot offer advice. They can answer any questions you have but they can't offer advice. So, the best plan is to know what questions to ask." He noted that Social Security income is one income source that's guaranteed so it's a good idea to be familiar with important ages. For instance, you can begin taking Social Security income at age 62 but your lifetime benefit will be less than if you waited until full retirement age.

                There are other key ages to be aware of in retirement. Age 59 1/2 is the first age at which you can start taking qualified assets without paying the 10% tax penalty.  By age 65 you have to get signed up for Medicare Part A. And by age 70 1/2 you're required to take distributions from your qualified assets in retirement. "Uncle Sam says you have to start paying taxes on it by then," he said.

                Thunselle also stressed the importance of preparing for what life throws at you after you retire. "There are countless life changes that can hurt your retirement plans," he warned. "Long term care for a spouse or the death of a spouse and loss of that income are common. You also need to prepare for  market volatility like what happened in 2002 and 2008. If you pull out your assets while the market drops you can find out that your assets are 30% to 60% less." 

                Inflation is another factor to consider; he pointed out that inflation has risen about 2.7% since 1988. Finally, he said that tax regulations will likely change and it's almost impossible to predict what changes will occur in health care costs. "And it's easy to see that longevity can almost be like an enemy," he noted, "if you outlive your income."

                Basic retirement planning includes needs, wants and wishes, he concluded. Needs are the basic life expenses. Wants are items like where you want to go on vacation. Wishes are the one time, special, bucket list things. "Good financial planning can help you accomplish these basic financial retirement goals, he concluded."

                Senior-Wise is held Tuesdays at 12:30 at the Casper Senior Center.

CASPER FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFERS FIRE SAFETY TIPS FOR SENIORS DURING THE HOLIDAYS

 

 

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                (Casper, WY) -- There are words of caution from the Casper Fire Department this holiday season, concerning fire safety in the home.  Ryan Neff of the department's Community Risk Reduction Division (pictured above) addressed a group of local seniors during the Senior-Wise program at the Casper Senior Center recently and offered many suggestions on preventing fires while we celebrate. He said it's important to remember that unattended cooking fires are the number one cause of fire deaths in the US. "Typically, that means stove top fires," he said, "because it's so easy to become distracted and walk out of the kitchen while food is cooking. An easy way to avoid stove top fires is to carry a hot pad out of the kitchen with you if you have to leave for a moment. This will help remind you food is still cooking." 

                Another common cause of fire is related to deep frying turkeys. "They're very tasty when they're cooked that way but it's also very dangerous when they're cooked that way," he cautioned, adding that some cooks haven't realized the turkey needs to be thawed before being lowered into the deep fryer and it can actually explode. "If you're going to deep fry your turkey make sure you do it outside and away from buildings," he recommended. 

                Candles are another potential fire hazard during the holidays. "One of the suggestions the Casper Fire Department makes," he said, "is to use flameless candles. That way you get the great fragrance  in your house without the flame. And if you're going to use candles make sure there's a one foot clearance around them from anything that could burn."

                He also addressed fire safety related to Christmas Trees. "With live Christmas Trees the most important thing is to make sure they always have enough water," he cautioned. But he also stressed the importance of checking the strands of lights that are put on the tree, to make sure there are no frayed cords. He also said it's important to dispose of the tree as soon as possible after Christmas. He noted that there are numerous places in Casper where you can drop off your tree when the holidays are over; the city will dispose of them properly. 

                And he offered some safety suggestions for the lights placed outside your house. "Remember not to overload the extension cords you use," he said, "because you shouldn't plug more than three strands of lights into an extension cord or you'll risk overloading the cord and creating a potential fire hazard."

                Finally, if you have questions about fire safety he said the Casper Fire Department will provide free inspections.

                Senior-Wise is a information and discussion program held Tuesdays at 12:30 at the Casper Senior Center.

ESTATE PLANNING HIGHLIGHTS SENIOR-WISE PROGRAM

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                (Casper, WY) -- It's never too late or too early to begin an estate plan. That was the message from Jennifer Rohrer of Hilltop Bank (pictured above) when she addressed the Senior-Wise discussion group at the Casper Senior Center December 2. "In fact," she said, "it's relevant for all situations and stages in life." She explained that all your estate is made up of all your assets. "That includes things like your house, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, investments, personal property and your vehicles; those are all considered when it comes to distributing your estate." 

                She said the two most common procedures to transfer assets at death are a probate estate (at death) and a trust (established during the person's life). If you only have a will (and haven't set up a trust) and your assets total more than $200,000 then the estate must go through probate.  "If you have a trust then it doesn't go through probate," she said, "and probate can be a lengthy process. In my years at Hilltop Bank I've never had an estate go through probate and close in less than a year." She also noted that it can be a costly process and it's public process, too, so anyone who wanted to know about your estate could find that information through the courts.

                The other common procedure to transfer assets at death is through a trust, which is a document that includes a detailed set of instructions and includes three roles. "There is the grantor," she began, "which is the person who established and funded the trust. The trustee administers the trust. The beneficiary receives the benefits of the trust." She also explained that the distributions from a trust can extend for generations. For instance, a trust could include distribution of mineral interests or could be set up to pay for the education of grandchildren and successive generations. Specific ages could be set for the beneficiaries to receive your assets, as can specific reasons for the use of the assets such as health or eduction.

                "There are several important things to remember," she concluded. "Estate planning is not just for the wealthy. It's not just what happens at your passing, it's also for planning what happens during your life. And it's good to set up your own estate plan because you can tailor it to your own specific needs."

                She said most financial institutions offer basic estate planning services for their customers and she also reminded the Senior-Wise gathering that she wasn't offering legal advice but was offering some suggestions for estate planning starting points. 

                Senior-Wise is an information and discussion program held Tuesdays at 12:30 at the Casper Senior Center.

GOOD MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE HOLIDAYS DISCUSSED AT SENIOR-WISE

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               (Casper, WY) -- To borrow a phrase from a popular song, for most of us the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year. But it can also be a time of great stress and even loneliness and that's why good mental health is so important this time of year. That was the message from Kelly Shipley of the Central Wyoming Counseling Center during her presentation at Senior-Wise at the Casper Senior Center. "We have many demands on our time during the holidays," she said, "with shopping and family gatherings and holiday programs. But for some people the holidays are stressful because they don't have family around and they feel lonely -- and that can be just as bad."

                She encouraged seniors to recognize what's really important to them personally. "You're a grown-up," she chuckled, "and so you get to choose what to do. But determining how to make good choices -- that's the tricky part." She said if buying presents is important to you and you stay in your budget, then go for it. But she said it's also okay to say no.

                She also cautioned that it's easy to give in to the demands of others and not take care of yourself. "Self care is the key," she noted. "Set limits, make a plan, and do what's important to you personally. Set a budget for buying presents and entertaining and remember how important it is to exercise and eat well." She noted that it can be difficult to eat a healthy diet during this time of year because the served food at holiday parties -- even though it's delicious -- frequently is not nutritionally sound.

                For those who have recently lost loved ones she said it's perfectly all right to be sad and shed some tears. "But please remember," she encouraged, "that it's okay to have fun, too, even if that special person is no longer with you."

                If you'd like professional help with stress or grief during the holidays, she noted that the Central Wyoming Counseling Center is open for walk-in visits Monday through Friday from 9am until 2pm. Fees are on a sliding scale based on income. "Someone will be there to see you if you walk-in and need to talk," she said.

                Senior-Wise is an information and discussion program held Tuesdays at 12:30 at the Casper Senior Center.