The Thursday Report – Special July 4th Edition

A Special Independence Day Edition!

Let’s make this the best fourth of July ever, ever, ever, ever!

– Kentucky Fried Movie

In honor of Independence Day the Thursday Report is taking a break and providing you with this short but sweet (like KFC coleslaw) version.

We wish all Thursday Report readers and their families a very happy and safe Independence Day!

Some Quotes About Independence Day

I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.

– Nathan Hale

The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.

– Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!

– Patrick Henry

 This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.

–        Elmer Davis

 This, then, is the state of the union:  free and restless, growing and full of hope.  So it was in the beginning.  So it shall always be, while God is willing, and we are strong enough to keep the faith.

–        Lyndon B. Johnson

 It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them.

–        Mark Twain

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the 19 firefighters killed in Arizona this week.

But sound aloud the praises, and give the victor-crown
To our noble-hearted Firemen, who fear not danger’s frown.
~Frederic G.W. Fenn, “Ode to our Firemen,” 1878

All men are created equal, then a few become firemen.  ~Author Unknown

Firemen never die, they just burn forever in the hearts of the people whose lives they saved.  ~Susan Diane Murphree

So as you look at the firefighter with his rake, hose or axe,
His beet red face or ice covered mustache,
You should know why he goes through that smoky front door,
And is forced to crawl like a baby down on the floor.
He does it to save both lives and property,
All that is precious to you and to me.
So take a good look at this modern warrior who serves his call proud and true,
And know that he would die just to save me and you.
~Robert J. Athans

You have to do something in your life that is honorable and not cowardly if you are to live in peace with yourself, and for the firefighter it is fire.  ~Larry Brown

            If you would like to do some reading this weekend our coverage so far this year on the new Florida statutes that were passed is as follows:

DID YOU KNOW….

As we celebrate the birth of our nation today, have you ever given thought to what happened to all of the people who signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776?

56 freedom fighters signed the Declaration of Independence and only a few of them are well known for their roles in America’s history, but what happened to the rest of them?

There were 24 lawyers in the group, 9 farmers, 11 merchants and several other well educated men who knew that by putting pen to paper and signing their names that they would face certain death if they were captured.  Five of the 56 were captured, tortured and killed.  12 had their homes destroyed, all in the face of freedom.  Two even had sons killed in the Revolutionary War.

One of the signers, Thomas McKeam, was so constantly pursued by British Soldiers that he had to move his family from place to place.  He also served in the Congress without pay while his family was kept in hiding.

British General Cornwallis took over one of the signers, Thomas Nelson, Jr.’s home for his headquarters during the Revolution.  While fighting the war, Thomas Nelson urged then General George Washington to open fire on his home.  General Washington did and in the process destroyed Mr. Nelson’s home.

Francis Lewis’ wife was jailed and died within a few months and his home and property were destroyed.  John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside while she was dying and his 13 children were forced to flee.  He lived in the forest for over a year and when he returned home he found that his wife had died and his children were gone.  Additionally, his land had been destroyed.  He died a few weeks later, some say from a broken heart.

Of course we know the fate of those few famous signers like John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, but let us not forget both the famous and ordinary people who risked their lives for the freedom and country we enjoy today!

Applicable Federal Rates

Please click here to view a chart of this month’s, last month’s, and the preceding month’s Applicable Federal Rates, because for a sale you can use the lowest of the 3.

Seminars and Webinars

FLORIDA HEALTH CARE LAW CHANGES: HOW THEY AFFECT PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL ENTERPRISES WEBINAR

Date:  Wednesday, July 10, 2013 | 5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (30 Minute Webinar)

Speakers: Healthcare Expert Lester Perling, J.D., M.H.A. and Alan S. Gassman, J.D., LL.M.

Location: Online webinar

Additional Information: To register for the webinar please click here.

ESTATE TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE – EVEN MORE UPDATES TO OUR ESTATE PLANNING SOFTWARE

Date: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 | 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. (30 Minute Webinar)

Speakers: Alan S. Gassman, Kenneth J. Crotty and Christopher J. Denicolo

Location: Online webinar

Additional Information: To register for this webinar please click here.

BP OIL SPILL CLAIMS – AVOID MISTAKES AND MAXIMIZE CLAIMS

Date: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 | 5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (30 Minute Webinar)

Speakers: John Goldsmith, Esq. and Alan S. Gassman

Location: Online webinar

Additional Information:  To register for this webinar please click here.

MEDICAL EDUCATION RESOURCES PRIMARY CARE CONFERENCE

Alan Gassman will be speaking on the topic of LEGAL, TAX AND FINANCIAL BOOT CAMP FOR THE MEDICAL PRACTICE – A SPECIAL TAX, ESTATE PLANNING AND LAW CONFERENCE FOR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS

Date: July 19 – 21, 2013 (Friday – Sunday mornings; Have fun at Disney in the afternoons and we will not ask what you do at night!)

Topic:         1)             The 10 Biggest Mistakes That Physicians Make In Their Investments and Business Planning

9am – 10am on Friday, July 19, 2013

2)             Lawsuits 101

                                                10:10 am – 11:10 am on Friday, July 19, 2013

3)             Essential Estate Planning

                                                11:10 am – 11:40 am on Friday, July 19, 2013

4)             Asset Entity Planning for Creditor Protection and Buy Sell Arrangements

10:10 am – 11:10 am on Saturday, July 20, 2013

                    5)             50 Ways to Leave Your Overhead – How to Enhance Medical Practice Profitability

11:40 am – 12:40 pm on Saturday, July 20, 2013

                    6)             Stark Naked, or Well Prepared? – Health Law Compliance

9:00 am – 10:00 am on Sunday, July 21, 2013

Location: Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, Orlando, Florida

Topics by Other Speakers: 2013 Tax Changes, Tax Deductions for Physicians, Medical Practice Financial Management, Physician Compensation, Tax Structures for Medical Practices and Retirement Plan Options for Physicians.

Additional Information:  For more information please visit www.MER.org  Please note that the program qualifies for continuing education credit for physicians.

AVOIDING THE TRAPS IN EMR/TECH CONTRACTS….NOW YOU TELL ME I’M STUCK WITH THIS FOR 5 YEARS!

Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 | 5:00 p.m and Thursday, September 12, 2013 | 12:30 p.m. (Each webinar will last 30 minutes)

Speaker: Sandra Greenblatt, Esq.

Location: Online webinar.

Additional Information: To register for the Tuesday, September 10, 2013, 5pm webinar please click here.  To register for the Thursday, September 12, 2013, 12:30 p.m. webinar please click here.

WEDU ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR

Gassman Law Associates meets Big Bird – Sesame Street vs. Wall Street?

Alan Gassman will be speaking on the topic of ASSET PROTECTION – ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND HOT TOPICS

Leading trust law expert Bruce Stone, Esq. will also speak on a topic to be determined.

Date: Thursday, September 19, 2013 | 7:30 am – 11:30 am

Location: TBD

Additional Information:  If you would like to sign up for this seminar please email agassman@gassmanpa.com

NOTRE DAME TAX INSTITUTE

Jerry Hesch and Alan Gassman will be speaking on the topic of INTERESTING INTEREST QUESTIONS, PLANNING WITH LOW INTEREST LOANS, PRIVATE ANNUITIES, DEFECTIVE GRANTOR TRUSTS, AND PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL ANNUITIES

Date: Wednesday, October 16 through Friday, October 18, 2013

Location: Notre Dame College, South Bend, Indiana

Additional Information: Professor Jerry Hesch’s Notre Dame Tax Institute will once again emphasize the importance of income tax planning and implications in addition to estate, estate tax, and related concepts.

Email us now to get your football tickets to the Notre Dame-USC game on October 19.

We welcome questions, comments and suggestions for the presentation that we are assisting Jerry in preparing and presenting.

PINELLAS COUNTY ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL SEMINAR

Alan Gassman will be speaking on the topic of HOT TOPICS FOR ESTATE PLANNERS

Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 | 8:00 am – 12:00 p.m. (60 MINUTE PRESENTATION)

Location: TBD

Additional Information: To attend the meeting or to receive information on joining the Council please click here or email agassman@gassmanpa.com

2013 MOTE VASCULAR SURGERY FELLOWS – FACTS OF LIFE TALK SEMINAR FOR FIRST YEAR SURGEONS

Alan Gassman will be speaking on the topic of ESTATE, MEDICAL PRACTICE, RETIREMENT, TAX, INSURANCE, AND BUY/SELL PLANNING – THE EARLIER YOU START THE SOONER YOU WILL BE SECURE

Date: October 25 – 27, 2013 | Times TBD

Location: TBD

Additional Information: Please contact agassman@gassmanpa.com for additional information.

NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (ICLE) HEALTH LAW SYMPOSIUM – AN ALL DAY SEMINAR

Alan Gassman will be speaking on the topic of WHAT HEALTH LAWYERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FLORIDA LAW

Date: Friday, November 1, 2013 | 9am – 5pm (Mr. Gassman speaks from 1:10 pm until 2:10 p.m.)

Location: Seton Hall Law School, Newark, New Jersey

Additional Information: Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey was founded in 1856, and they have remodeled since.  Today, Seton Hall has over 10,000 students in its undergraduate, graduate and law school programs and is in close proximity to several Kentucky Fried Chicken locations.

NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (ICLE)_SPECIAL 3 HOUR SESSION

Alan Gassman will be speaking on the topic of WHAT NEW JERSEY LAWYERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FLORIDA LAW – A 3 HOUR OVERVIEW BY ALAN S. GASSMAN

Date: Saturday, November 2, 2013

Location: Wilshire Grand Hotel, West Orange, New Jersey | 9am – 12pm

Additional Information: Please tell all of your friends, neighbors and enemies in New Jersey to come out to support this important presentation for the New Jersey Bar Association.  We will include discussions of airboats, how to get an alligator off of your driveway, how to peel a navel orange and what collard greens and grits are. For additional information please email agassman@gassmanpa.com

SALT LAKE CITY ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL’S FALL ONE DAY “TAX AND DEDUCTIBILITY OF YOUR SKI TRIP” INSTITUTE

Alan Gassman will be speaking on the topic of PRACTICAL ESTATE PLANNING, WITH A $5.25 MILLION EXEMPTION AMOUNT

Date: Thursday, November 7, 2013

Location: Hilton Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah

Additional Information:  Please support this one day annual seminar conveniently located near skiing and tourism opportunities.  If you would like to attend this event or receive the materials please email agassman@gassmanpa.com

NOTABLE SEMINARS PRESENTED BY OTHERS:

48th ANNUAL HECKERLING INSTITUTE ON ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR

Date: January 13 – 17, 2014

Location:  Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando, Florida

Sponsor: University of Miami School of Law

Additional Information: For more information please visit: http://www.law.miami.edu/heckerling/

16th ANNUAL ALL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL ESTATE, TAX, LEGAL & FINANCIAL PLANNING SEMINAR

Date: Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Location: All Children’s Hospital Education and Conference Center, St. Petersburg, Florida with remote location live interactive viewings in Tampa, Sarasota, New Port Richey, Lakeland, and Bangkok, Thailand

Sponsor: All Children’s Hospital

THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA TAX INSTITUTE

Date: February 19 – 21, 2014

Location: Grand Hyatt, Tampa, Florida

Sponsor:  UF Law alumni and UF Graduate Tax Program

Additional Information:  Here is what UF is saying about the program on its website: “The UF Tax Institute will provide tax practitioners and other leading tax, business and estate planning professionals with a program that covers the most current issues and planning ideas with a practical, informative, state-of-the-art approach.  The Institute’s schedule will devote separate days or half days to individual income tax issues, entity tax issues and estate planning issues.  Speakers and presentations will be announced as the program date nears to ensure coverage of the most timely and significant topics.  UF Law alumni have formed the Florida Tax Education Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, to organize the conference.”

For details about each event, please visit us online at gassmanlaw.com/newsandevents.html

Thank you to our law clerks that assisted us in preparing this report.