John Ellis

Protecting the boss is your business

BY JOHN ELLIS

FINANCIAL ADVISOR

LAST week we discussed personal protection and the need to protect ourselves and our loved ones against the nancial problems that follow serious illness and death. is week we look at the situation as a business owner as there are additional concerns should we fall victim to serious illness or the future running of the business in the case of our death.

In the event of the death of a business owner who would take over their share of the business? And where would the remaining shareholders get the funds needed to buy the shares back from their family and even more importantly has this plan even been formalised?

What would happen to your business if a co-owner died prematurely? Would the remaining co-owners continue to maintain control of the business? Will they have the funds to buy back the share of the business from the deceased member’s family and has this plan been formalised?

Many business owners believe that it simply won’t happen to them. e chances of a partner or director, in a small business dying or becoming seriously ill before retirement are a lot higher that you might think.

Many problems can arise for a business when a partner or key employee dies prematurely or becomes seriously ill. e lack of credit to small businesses could result in some surviving business owners having insu cient funds to purchase a deceased owner’s share of the business or in some incidences getting into nancial di culty because of a key employee’s death.

What if you have an investment property within the business? Ask yourself these questions.

Does the property form part of your nancial plans? Could the property be a burden to your family instead of the safety net it was meant to be? And if you died, would you leave it mortgage free? ere are speci c business protection plans available in the market ey are for individuals who want to ensure that their business or investment property will provide their family with nancial security in the event of death or serious illness rather that a burden. ese plans are exible and excellent value for money and can be used to provide funds needed to buy out a deceased partner’s share of the business or clear outstanding mortgages or debts. ey provide for a deceased business owner’s family in the event of premature death, ensuring a surviving business partner retains ownership and control of the business and avoid the need for personal loans to be taken out

In the case of an investment property, contracts are available that can be used to pay o some or all the outstanding mortgage on the investment property thereby reducing the burden of monthly payments for dependants and providing an asset for dependants

You can’t predict the future but you can plan for it. While we all hope and often believe it won’t happen to us, the reality is that people throughout Ireland are a ected by unexpected illness and premature death every day.

Each year, Financial Advisors sees the serious life changing and personal challenges that their customers must face, along with the real value of having a relevant protection plan in place.

So its again imperative to talk to a professional nancial adviser who can help you make the right decisions about the ways you could help protect your business and family.

John@ellis nancial.ie. 0868362633

Peer support through lived experience

ANDREW MCDONALD HYPNOTHERAPIST

IN this column, we have already looked at how recovering from a mental health crisis is only the rst stage on the path to enjoying wellness. at isn’t to belittle the e ort needed to take that rst step towards getting better. e will and determination required are huge. Anybody who has achieved this should feel very proud of themselves. However, it is frequently a set up for failure to not continue the hard work done to ensure the path to a healthier life doesn’t suddenly veer o in an unwanted direction.

A good comparison would be when somebody breaks their leg. e crisis is the excruciating pain and inability to move which accompany the fracture. We deal with this by going to the hospital where X-rays are taken and the limb is put in plaster. Over a period of weeks and months, the bone knits back together. However, this is only part of the process. e patient will almost certainly have to engage in a programme of physiotherapy to regain full strength and movement. Without it, only a part of the process is completed, the leg won’t be fully functional and will be vulnerable to further injury.

A mental health crisis is no di erent. At this stage, professional medical attention is needed. In milder circumstances, going to a GP is a good rst step. If the situation is more serious, a person may need to go straight to hospital. A doctor will be able to prescribe medication to stabilise a patient’s condition and can also recommend a programme of treatment, therapy or counselling. Other therapeutic options such as CBT or hypnotherapy can be very effective but quali ed expert attention in the form of a professional medical practitioner should always be the rst port of call.

Medication and therapy are only part of the process though. ey can help a person to get to a point where they can start putting building blocks in place to improve and stabilise their road to recovery. It’s very di cult to start on the path to wellness without them but they, on their own, can only do so much. ink of them like the plaster on a broken leg. Without it, the pain is intolerable and movement impossible, but it isn’t the full picture either.

Peer support can be extremely valuable. is is when you work with somebody who is on their own recovery journey, only a little further ahead than you. is helps you to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel and gives you opportunity to learn from somebody who has been exactly where you are. Recovery colleges are a great place to nd this support. Professional expertise and lived experience are brought together to deliver valuable skills in mental wellness. Both peer support and useful courses are o ered and can be very bene cial for anybody seeking to progress on their journey of recovery to mental wellness.

Art, music and dance at the butler gallery

WITH the gradual opening of the Arts, Kilkenny’s Butler Gallery are quick out of the traps to announce some of their forthcoming Programme. e Gallery and co ee shop is fast becoming the go to spot as one of the cultural highlights in the city.

THE STILL LIFE PAINTING OF BLAISE SMITH

An exhibition of the still life Painting of Kilkenny based artist Blaise Smith will be presented by the Gallery, and is something of a coup for the venue. e exhibition includes loans from collectors nationwide of works from 1998 to the present.

Writing in the Irish Arts review,

Healthy skin from the inside out

CLAIR WHITTY

ARE you looking to have healthy skin? Good levels of vitamins like A, B, C, D, E, and minerals like Zinc and Magnesium are important for healthy skin. Hormonal balance, and adequate levels of friendly gut bacteria can help too. A healthy diet and nutritional supplements aimed at supporting skin health may help you achieve your goal. ere are many supplements on o er. Take a look at Cleanmarine For Women and Cleanmarine For Men they are both suitable from age 15, and would be an ideal starting point for anyone with acne, or if you just want to improve your skin. ey contain Omega 3 from krill oil in phospholipid form which are easily absorbed and shown to be highly e ective. ey both contain vitamin B2 which contributes to the maintenance of normal skin, and vitamin D too. While Cleanmarine For Men contains Zinc and Selenium.

Diet wise, drink plenty of water, you could add sliced lemon for extra cleansing properties. Rooibos tea is a natural source of antioxidants, and zinc which is traditionally used for skin problems. Dr Stuarts Skin Purify Tea contains a mix of cleansing herbs like burdock and nettle. Fruit is a great source of vitamin C, a building block of collagen, antioxidants, and bre, all important for skin health. Green leafy vegetables are a good source of magnesium. Brightly coloured vegetables like peppers are a natural source of vitamin C. Vitamin D is found in oily sh. Omega oils can be found in nuts, seeds and may support hormonal health and help reduce in ammation. Sun ower seeds are a good source of vitamin B, E, Zinc, bre, protein, and omega oils. Almonds are a source of vitamin E, omega oils, and protein.

Reduce or avoid sugar, zzy drinks, tea, co ee, wheat, and dairy products as they can aggravate in amed skin. ese are also common food allergens which may trigger problems.

Look after your gut: is is important as friendly bacteria can make B vitamins which may support skin health, immunity, and your mood too. Antibiotics, stress, and poor diet can deplete these important bacteria. You may need to top up with a microbiotic like Udo’s Choice Super 8.

Cleanmarine For Women, or For Men plus some small changes may help you to have healthy glowing skin.

If you have any questions about anything at all, why not call in and see us at Market Cross Shopping Centre. Give us a call on 056 7764538 or pop us an email at info@naturalhealthstore. ie. We would be delighted to help with any question you may have. Shop online at www. naturalhealthstore.ie

Aidan Dunne said: “ e genre of still life has inspired some of his most personal and speculative work, in which he tests the boundaries of his whole approach to picture-making. He sees his still life as much more abstract, in a sense, than the landscapes or the potraits.

One of the fundamental artistic genres, the still life remains the staple of Smiths practice. e works on view are carefully structured and represent subject matters such as fruit, vegetables, owers, cheese and such vessels as vases and glasses. ese paintings act as a trace of our everyday world with an often idiosyncratic beauty, which is why they reward a closer examination.

Runs from September 18th to November 14th 2021. CULTURE NIGHT WILL FEATURE MUSIC AND DANCE

Maracatu Il Brilhante is an ensemble of percussionist singers and performers from all corners of Ireland specialising in the beautiful songs of Maracatu Baque Virado from Brazil. Farah Elle is a singer-songwriter whose distinctive music reveals the beauty in ephemeral every day. Farah has eclectic in uences, including North African echoes from her Libyan background. e South Sudanese Song and Dance Troupe will entertain guests with traditional Larakaraka music and dance of the Acholi people.

September 17: No booking required. Free Tickets will be issued on a rst come rst served basis. SEPTEMBER SOUNDS FEATURES LOCAL LIVE CONCERTS

e Butler Gallery will present September Sounds, a music event aimed at supporting musicians, producers , promoters and venues in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny County Council and e Watergate eatre are facilitating the programme of outdoor live performances and the night at the Gallery will feature Traditional and folk musicians on the plaza area of the Gallery.

Acts on the night will include Gary O’Neill, Ali Comerford, Kairen Caine, e Wandering Souls, and Elise Ramsbottom

(September 26th : 7pm to 11p.m)