Updating Your Will or Trust, Staying Strong and Coordinated, and Maximizing Your Social Security Benefits

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A will or trust isn’t something you write once and never revisit. Life changes — families grow, finances shift, and your wishes may evolve over time. Reviewing these documents every few years helps ensure they still reflect what you want and protect the people you care about.

Several moments in life call for a closer look at your will or trust. If you’ve had changes in your family — such as a marriage, divorce, birth, or death — your documents may no longer match your intentions. The same is true if you’ve bought or sold a home, received an inheritance, or made significant financial changes.

It’s also wise to update your documents if the people you named as executor, trustee, or guardian are no longer the right choices. They may have moved, become ill, or simply no longer be the best fit. Any shift in your medical preferences or long-term plans is another reason to revise your paperwork so everything is clear and current.

Begin by reading through your documents slowly, looking for anything that no longer feels accurate. Check that beneficiaries are up to date, that your executor or trustee still makes sense, and that your property and financial accounts are listed correctly. Make sure your advance directive and power of attorney also match your current wishes — these often get overlooked.

If something feels unclear, outdated, or incomplete, set up time with an estate-planning attorney. Even small adjustments can prevent confusion for your family later. And if it’s been more than five years since you last reviewed everything, a quick check-in is usually worthwhile.

💌 If you found these ideas helpful, forward this newsletter to a friend — a simple update now can spare loved ones from hard decisions later.

StoryCorps Archive
A vast collection of recorded conversations between friends, family members, and strangers, the StoryCorps Archive offers intimate portraits of ordinary lives. The pacing is gentle, the themes universal, and the listening experience often feels like being invited into a quiet corner of someone’s memory.

NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day
Each day, NASA features a single astronomical image accompanied by a short, plain-spoken explanation from professional astronomers. It’s a calm, steady way to connect with a larger sense of scale—one image at a time—without needing any background in science.

Europeana Photography Collection
Europeana brings together historic photographs from libraries, archives, and museums across the continent, offering a reflective look at daily life, landscapes, and moments long past. The images are thoughtfully presented and easy to browse, making it a soothing place to wander visually without rushing.

This daily section is brought to you by MemoirGhostwriting.com, experts in capturing life stories for loved ones and/or the public. We can meet any budget. (Does your story deserve to be told?)

Take a few minutes to jot down your thoughts. Even a few sentences are a memory preserved for loved ones.

Hands-free calling makes driving safer and simpler, especially if you want to stay reachable without handling your phone. Most modern cars support Bluetooth, and even older vehicles can be upgraded with a small adapter. Here’s how to get connected step-by-step.

If your vehicle already supports Bluetooth, setup is straightforward.

If your car is older and doesn’t support Bluetooth, consider a simple adapter like the Anker SoundSync, which adds wireless calling through your car’s AUX port.

If you’re comfortable with technology, you can unlock more hands-free options.

Use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Many vehicles support these systems for safer calling, navigation, and messaging.

Try voice commands for fully hands-free dialing.

Improve automatic reconnection.
Keep Bluetooth on, and mark your car as a trusted or saved device so your phone reconnects the moment you start the engine.

Upgrade an older dashboard.
If you want a modern touchscreen with better audio and full CarPlay/Android Auto features, aftermarket systems like the Pioneer DMH-W4660NEX fit many vehicles.

After the initial setup, hands-free calling becomes one of those small conveniences that make everyday driving noticeably better.

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Unscramble the letters to find a famous person, event, or object! Be the first to reply with the correct answer, and we’ll send you a free gift in the mail.

Today’s clue: Class that combined recipes with sewing projects.

OEMH OMSCENIOC

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