Smith Debnam 2017 Spring E-Brief-1

E-BRIEF EMPLOYEE MAGAZINE Issue 3 | Spring 2017

REMEMBERING THE PAST

CELEBRATING THE PRESENT

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

MEMORIES FROM NEW BERN

WHAT'S TRENDING TODAY?

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?

SMITH DEBNAM E-BRIEF

FEATURE

10 YEARS? 20 YEARS? 25? 30?

SETTING THE BAR HIGH

This year, we have seven employees celebrating significant milestone anniversaries. We're thrilled to honor these wonderful ladies with a few stories from their past.

Each started with the firm in a very different role than where they are today. They have worked in various sections across the firm.

They each bring a dedication and loyalty to their job that is unsurpassed.

Let’s give them a rousing round of applause for their achievement. Congratulations to Lisa Nickalson (30 years), Julie Pekarski (25 years), Sherry Watson (20 years), Alicia Jurney (10 years), Danielle Norris (20 years), Donna Talley (25 years), and Debbie Coats (30 years)!

REMEMBERING THE

PAST "On one particular

snowy day while at work, several of us decided we just had to go sledding. Of course, none of us had sleds handy we could use.

So we improvised. We snuck into the kitchen and grabbed a few of the serving trays and headed outside to sled down a big hill near our building. It was such a sight to see employees racing down the hill on those trays."

"Back then, our employee events took place in the back of our old office building. We usually had a great turnout of attorneys and staff as well as their families.

PERSONAL STORIES, FOND MEMORIES.

"I remember when..."

The sections would often compete against each other in various games, such as sack races, hula hoop challenges, or egg toss. In addition to bragging rights, the winning section also received "The Bird" - a giant pink flamingo -they would proudly display in their section for the rest of the year. Rumor has it "The Bird" is still be around here, somewhere."

"In our old building,

"We had a particularly bad snow storm one night and most of us

we had a workout

couldn't make it into work the next day because the roads were

room and shower,

that awful. For one paralegal, staying home was not an option.

which was great since I often worked

The moment she called her attorney to let him know she

so late. the next day I

couldn't come in - he said that wouldn't do - and he kindly

would sleep in until

offered to pick her up and take her into office - they had a lot going on that needed to get done and he really needed her help.

the last minute, then grab my belongings, jump in my car and get ready at the office."

"One of the things I

All was well and good - until later that afternoon when the paralegal suddenly realized that her attorney, her ride home, had already left for the day to attend a neighborhood "Snow Party," leaving her stranded at work with no way home.

Of course, she eventually got home. And, the attorney, who shall remain nameless, felt very bad, indeed."

loved about the old building was our chef who worked in the kitchen preparing our breakfast and lunch for all of the employees."

SMITH DEBNAM E-BRIEF

RECENT FIRM EVENTS

NEW BABIES Annabeth Caroline Horton

11.16.16 Mother - Sarah Horton

Vincenzo Wayne Malek Christley

3.9.16 Mother - Natalie Christley

Eight Smith Debnam attorneys were recognized in the 2017 edition of North Carolina Super Lawyers.. They are Caren Enloe, Sam Fleder, Alicia Jurney, Jerry Myers, John Narron, Max Rodden, Bettie Sousa, and Rose Stout.

Four Smith Debnam Attorneys were recognized in Business North Carolina’s “2017 Legal Elite.” They are Caren Enloe, Bettie Sousa, Lynn McNally, and Connie Carrigan.

NEW HIRES WELCOME "NEWBEES"

from l-r Greg Clymer Albeda Murphy Tara Whitley Heather Nieves Alyssa Sheppard

Chelsea Robertson

from l-r Phillip Mariso Jasmine Darby Kelly Wynne

Smith Debnam attorneys Caren D. Enloe and Lauren V. Reeves led a seminar for area bank executives on what banks of all sizes need to know about TRID and how TRID affects community lenders.

The Smith Debnam Family Law Group held its 2nd Annual Mediation Mixer, an appreciation event for family law mediators from around the Triangle who have referred or selected our family law mediators to serve as mediators on cases involving family law disputes.

In case you missed the announcement, Smith Debnam launched its new website in April. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the new site and follow the firm on social media sites LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, for the latest news and updates.

CELEBRATING THE

PRESENT More of Today's Trends...

The "it" Foods of 2017 Roasted Radishes Smoked Carrots Purple Cauliflower Veggie Charcuterie Platters Kelp is the new Kale Mason Jars are the new Bowls Poke Bowls are the new Sushi

WHAT'S TRENDING TODAY Technology that will dominate 2017

Home Decor & Fashion Trends Glitter Grout is the rage Green is THE color Off-the-shoulder blouses, florals & stripes, & embroidered jeans are this year's fashion musthaves.

Trending Coffee Cups and M&Ms Limited edition flavored

IoT – the Internet of Things age is here. Things like smart TV’s, internet connected appliances, thermostats, etc.

M&Ms like Vanilla Cupcake Spring-colored coffee

AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality), think Pokémon on the go and Snapchat. In fact, law firms are already using this technology to prepare clients to give courtroom testimony.

Machine Learning - Ever notice when you are on the Internet that the ads you see on the right or top of web pages are ads from the same websites you have previously visited? Your browser is watching...

Automation - Think about all the things you can push a button to do that previously required manual input or operation.

Humanized Big Data – Think Google. Every time you perform a search on the Internet, you are accessing massive amounts of datasets to get that information.

Physical Digital Integration – Think Amazon Echo Dot, where you can ask your phone to order something from Amazon, and within seconds it tells you how much it will cost and asks if you want to complete the order. No physical shopping, just talk to your device.

Everything on Demand – Now our refrigerators can order milk when we run out.

cups and Unicorns

TRENDING "WORDS" Ship - short for "relationship" High Key - opposite of low-key, when you love or approve of something Carm - Sweet, fine, or cool Salty - to be exceptionally bitter or agitated about a situation Hundo P - means you are 100% in agreement Easter Egg - an unexpected or undocumented feature in a piece of computer software. tv show/movie, or website, included as a joke or a bonus.

SMITH DEBNAM E-BRIEF

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? What can we anticipate in 20 or 30 years from now?

Read below for a preview of things to come.

PLANNING FOR THE

FUTURE UPCOMING FIRM NEWS EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY May 11 NC CREDITORS' BAR ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING at SMITH DEBNAM June 29

Robotics – From Amazon’s 45,000 Kiva robots that move products all over their warehouse to robotic ants (the size of a human hand) that act like real ants, robots will surely be in our future.

Population - Barring a global catastrophe, there will be far more people on Earth than today. Fifty years ago the world population was below 3 billion. It has more than doubled since then, to 6.7 billion. Though the growth rate has slowed, it is projected to reach 9 billion by 2050. The excess will almost all be in the developing world where the young will outnumber the old.

Climate - The world will be warmer in 2050; the patterns of rainfall and drought across the world will be different. If we pursue "business as usual," CO2 concentration levels will reach twice the pre-industrial level by around 2050.

The higher its concentration, the greater the chance of us seeing the adverse effects across the globe.

Trains vs. Planes - Maglev (magnetic levitation) trains are high-speed trains that eliminate friction to travel at up to 580 kph. Leading experts predict that trains may eventually overtake air travel as the No. 1 choice of transport. Highspeed rail has had a major impact on European air travel, gaining 90 percent of London-Paris routes, 80 percent of Milan-Rome, and 95 percent of Paris-Lyon.

Space Travel - For the wealthy, a trip to space is already possible. In 2001, Italian-American tycoon Dennis Tito became the first "space tourist" - paying a reported $20 million to join a Russian mission to the International Space Station. Today, companies like Virgin Galactic, XCOR Aerospace, and Space Adventures are making it possible for other wannabe space tourists to go to infinity and beyond. So far, 500 people worldwide have signed up for space visits, according to Hong Kong’s only accredited space travel agent, Miramar Travel. A seat on Virgin Galactic's spaceship will run you $200,000.

RECENT NEW HIRES Tonya Williamson Effective Monday, April 24 SUMMER ASSOCIATES Alexa Cannon Vanessa Garrido Effective Monday, May 8

NEW SALARIED PARTNER We're pleased to welcome a new Family Law Attorney to the Firm effective Monday, May 1.

Andrea Bosquez-Porter is a Certified Family Law Specialist and Certified Family Financial Mediator and Parenting Coordinator. She will be joining Smith Debnam's Family Law Group effective Monday, May 1.

PLANNING FOR YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE STAGES SOURCE: BB&T

Having a sound overall financial strategy requires you to recognize that your finances are in a constant state of change. Not only do financial markets fluctuate, but your financial needs also change over time. It can be hard to predict the direction of Wall Street and other financial markets. Fortunately, it is easier to predict changes in your own financial life.

Most individuals pass through three primary financial life stages as they age. Income levels, spending patterns, family situations and areas of financial concern, while not exactly predictable, tend to follow a pattern.

Stage Two—During Your Prime Earning Years This is often a time when your income is rising as well as expenses. Nicer homes, nicer cars and raising children can easily consume your increasing income. This is also the time when the financial decisions you make have the greatest impact on the financial lifestyle you enjoy during retirement.

1. Plan ahead for your children’s college expenses.

Consider Section 529 Plans or Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (Education IRAs)—both of which offer significant tax advantages.

2. Take full advantage of employer-offered retirement plans. If you have a 401(k) plan available, contribute as much as you can or at least enough to get the full matching contribution from your employer.

3. Invest wisely. Consider an asset allocation strategy that matches your time horizon (age) and risk tolerance. Don’t ignore the potential long-term returns of equities.

4. Be sure your insurance protection has kept pace with your needs.

5. Prepare an estate plan to minimize taxes and to ensure that your custodial, financial and medical wishes are carried out.

Stage Three—Nearing or During Retirement These years can be some of the most enjoyable and fulfilling times of your life. If children and grandchildren are part of your life, having the financial ability to help them can be rewarding.

However, there are still financial issues that should be addressed.

Stage One—Building a Financial Foundation Young adults face the task of learning how to manage budget within the constraints of their income levels. Developing sound financial habits is critical.

1. Learn how you spend your $ to identify ways to save. Prepare a household budget.

2. Use a wise borrowing strategy. Borrow for things that provide long-term value. Control the use of credit cards.

3. Establish a saving pattern and set some savings goals. Consider using direct deposit and setting up a recurring automatic transfer into a savings account on a regular basis.

1. Be sure your medical insurance is adequate. We are all living longer, and the costs of medical care continue to rise. Health savings accounts (HSAs), Medicare, Medicaid and private health insurance will all be important.

2. Be sure your estate plan is up to date. Any change to your financial picture should be a trigger for reviewing your estate plan with a qualified estate-planning attorney.

3. Continue to manage your investments carefully.

4.Enjoy.

E-brief Editorial Team Theresa Lough Patricia Picquet

5. Make sure you have adequate insurance.

6. Take advantage of employee benefit plans at work.

Confidential. For internal use only. This material has been prepared and distributed solely for informational purposes. All publication rights reserved.