Winter 2019 • Life Matters Newsletter • Volume 26, Number 4

Happy New Year! The calendar has flipped to 2020 and do you know what that means? If you thought I was going to say “resolutions”, you know me well. In addition to a brand new year, I’m also looking forward to the “big game”. Super Bowl 54 (or LIV as they denote it) will be in Miami, Florida in early February. A lot of my fellow New Englanders have been spoiled over the last two decades with the success of our local team, but there is still hope for 11 other teams. The Super Bowl is not only known for the game, but also for the pageantry that comes along with it. Many people like to watch just for the halftime entertainment and commercials. Did you know that over 98 million people watched the Super Bowl last year? And some companies paid over $5 million for one 30 second advertisement. I suppose it is money well spent when you have an audience that big.

2 What to do after an auto accident3 Rinsing raw poultry3 Lessons from United Parcel Service

founder James Casey4 Keeping the peace during holidays

Voya Life MattersSM

I may be biased, but my favorite commercials happen to include a rabbit named Vern and a squirrel named Val. That’s right, it’s the Voya Financial® commercials. Those little origami animals dole out some sage advice. But, if that’s not enough, please don’t hesitate to call the Financial Lifeline Team with any questions you may have. Enjoy the New Year!

Seniors should weigh all factors before undergoing surgerySeniors represent a disproportionately high percentage of all surgical patients. According to the New York Times, 40% of all patients undergoing surgical procedures in America are over age 65, even though seniors represent only 16% of the population. While it’s a given that children require pediatric specialists, geriatric medical specialists, who understand the specific needs of older adults, are not as common.In comparison with younger patients, seniors are more likely to have chronic health issues in addition to the condition that the surgery is intended to address. Seniors are also likely to remain hospitalized longer after surgery and thus are at greater risk of acquiring infections. Additionally, the post-surgical outcomes for senior patients are often less positive than for younger patients. The last thing that any family member wants to hear after surgery is that the operation went well but that the patient will require life-changing medical intervention such as dialysis or a ventilator. Yet, in too many cases the physician, the elderly patient and his or her family have not considered the additional potential risks and consequences of undergoing a specific surgical procedure. It is important to weigh fully all available alternatives. A patient in his or her mid-80s may value quality of life over living more years whereas a 30-year-old might value such factors as the ability to play tennis or to run a marathon. This may lead the younger patient to opt for potentially risky surgery in an effort to regain full mobility.

The American College of Surgeons has been conducting a multi-year study of geriatric surgery to assess the impact of aging on various surgeries. Thus far, the study suggests that health care practitioners should work as a team to discuss the patient’s personal goals and treatment preferences prior to opting for surgery. They should assess the specific positive outcomes while recognizing the possibility of functional decline, the risk of losing independence, and the burden of skilled care that may be required after surgery. Additional specific post-surgical considerations include: dealing with nausea and pain management; avoiding lung and urinary tract complications; treating short-term cognitive impairment; avoiding adverse drug reactions; minimizing the risk of falls; ensuring proper nutrition; avoiding bed sores; and determining what’s needed in terms of the patient’s social support system and health care plan after discharge. For patients with poor prognoses – especially those who are not expected to survive more than six months after surgery (perhaps due to other conditions) – non-surgical alternatives should be carefully considered. Before undergoing a surgical procedure, discuss your treatment expectations and concerns with your family and your physicians to ensure that you understand fully all risks.

Matthew D. Lynch, Product Manager Voya Financial Lifeline, Phone: 866-906-1362 option #2, Email: FinancialLifeline@voya.com, http://financiallifeline.voya.com

It’s not uncommon for a loved one to take out a life insurance policy without telling family members. In fact, one-quarter of life insurance beneficiaries are unaware that they are entitled to unclaimed benefits. It may be worth investigating further as the average benefit is $2000.To be eligible for payment, the policy must have been in force at the time of the policyholder’s death. Whole and universal life policies may remain in force even after premium payments stop if they had any residual cash value. In addition, policyholders of mutual insurance companies that converted to publicly-traded stock companies may be entitled to stock.

Start by searching the deceased’s files and safe deposit boxes for insurance-related documents. Check their contact lists for names of insurers or agents. Look through credit card and bank statements for premium payments made. A significant amount of life insurance is provided through the workplace so former employers, trade unions and professional associations should be contacted to see what benefits may still exist.Using the name and Social Security number of the deceased, as well the names of any potential beneficiaries, search https://eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator. Additional databases that list unclaimed property or benefits that have defaulted to the government include MissingMoney.com and

unclaimed.org. Be sure to search each state where your loved one may have purchased a policy or had personal property. You should not be charged a fee to conduct these searches.Contact the insurance commissioner in the state where the policy was issued if you find a policy for an insurance company that is no longer in existence.

Unclaimed life insurance

What to do after an auto accidentThere are nearly six million motor vehicle accidents each year in the US, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While one hopes that careful driving can prevent an accident, this statistic is sobering. However, knowing what actions to take after being involved in an accident can reduce the trauma of the experience.

If there are no injuries, move the vehicle safely out of traffic immediately, set up flares and turn on the hazard lights to prevent further accidents. In some states, you may be legally obligated to report your accident if it involves an injury or if the vehicle damage is over a certain dollar amount, which can be as low as $1,000.

Stay calm and focused. Exchange information with the other people involved. You will need names and phone numbers of the other driver and passengers, driver’s license and license plate numbers, insurance carrier, policy number, and the manufacturer, year and color of the other vehicle. Never admit fault to the police or to other parties involved.

Jot down as many details as you can about the facts that led up to the accident. Record the date and time and address or intersection where it took place as well as the following: the weather, visibility, and traffic conditions at the time of the accident; the speed and direction of travel; and your recollection of what caused the accident. Obtain the names and contact information for the police officers and any witnesses.

Document the damage to vehicles and property (including items that may have been damaged inside the car), with pictures and video recordings from various angles using your cell phone. Note the location of any security or traffic light cameras. If you are not sure whether you sustained an injury, clearly tell that to the police since pain from a motor vehicle accident can be delayed for hours or days after the collision.

Notify your insurance agent as soon as possible. Reveal any pre-existing vehicle damage when submitting the claim to your insurer. If you feel that the settlement offered for your damaged vehicle or property isn’t fair, negotiate directly with your insurance company first. Be professional and polite. Consider hiring an attorney with insurance claim experience if you are still not satisfied with the result. Be aware, however, that this is typically a last resort for potentially high-dollar claims in which there is personal injury.

Lessons from LuminariesSanta’s gifts often are delivered in a brown United Parcel Service truck

Rinsing raw poultry: Pro or conThe beloved chef Julia Child cautioned her audiences to rinse raw poultry before cooking it. However, other notable chefs have claimed that cooking chicken, turkey and other poultry products to at least 165 degrees is sufficient to kill off germs and bacteria.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently weighed in on the debate. Studies showed that even a trickle of water from the faucet spreads germs when washing raw chicken. These germs can cross-contaminate other food, kitchen utensils, sinks, countertops, towels and sponges. The CDC’s emphatic advice is: “Don’t wash your raw chicken!” The same advice applies to raw meat and fish as well, even if the products are organic.

To prevent food poisoning:

• Place poultry in a disposable bag before putting it into your shopping cart or refrigerator.

• Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds after handling raw poultry.

• Never use the same cutting board, bowls or utensils that were in contact with raw poultry for other food preparation until they are cleaned with hot soapy water.

• Blot poultry with a paper towel or soak it in a bowl of water if you want to remove slime or packaging juices.

• When cooking any meat, use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.

The United Parcel Service’s humble beginnings belied its founder’s business acumen. In 1907, with $100 in borrowed funds and a lot of determination, two teenage friends started what would eventually become one of the most recognized brands in the world.

At age 19, Jim Casey and his friend, Claude Ryan, started the American Messenger Company to hand deliver messages. They later delivered packages for a Seattle department store, operating from the basement of a tavern with two bicycles and six boys as employees. The company purchased motorcycles, a Ford Model T and a truck as it expanded the number of stores and territories served. In 1917, Ryan sold his interest in the company to Casey, who changed its name to United Parcel Service.

James Casey was born in Nevada in 1888, the oldest of four children. His father moved the family to Seattle during the Yukon gold boom but then contracted miner’s lung disease and died when Jim was 14. Forced to quit school at age 11 to support his family, Jim worked as a telegraph messenger before starting the messenger company with his friend.

As Jim grew the company that became UPS, his brown trucks became synonymous with cost-effective, efficient deliveries. Stores such as New York’s Lord & Taylor gave up their own horse-drawn vehicles and delivery trucks to rely instead on UPS to deliver customer merchandise.

Jim Casey assessed and seized opportunities. He embraced innovation in package delivery scheduling and handling, brought in conveyor-belt sorting machinery and mapped delivery routes so as to avoid left-hand turns that reduced accidents and to save fuel by limiting idling time.

Casey recognized the importance of being courteous to customers and the value of treating employees well. UPS was one of the first large US companies to offer employees a profit-sharing program. When suburban malls threatened UPS business in the 1950s, Casey adapted by focusing on taking the market share of parcel delivery away from the United States Postal Service. A long and expensive legal battle ensued as UPS successfully lobbied to deliver packages across state lines by truck and later by air.

Inspired by their widowed mother’s sacrifices to singlehandedly raise four children, Casey and his siblings founded the Annie E. Casey Foundation in 1948. It is a private philanthropy that develops solutions to strengthen families and communities. When UPS stock went public in 1999, the foundation’s assets nearly doubled.

Jim Casey died in 1983 at age 95. He was a life-long bachelor who spent most of his life living in hotels.

lightbulb-on The lessons:

1) It is important to evolve and adjust as circumstances dictate.2) Casey took pride in his reputation, adhering to the motto: “Never

promise more than you can deliver, and always deliver what you promise.”

3) Jim Casey, his company and his foundation cared for the welfare of UPS employees as well as for people in need.

Nearly one-third of annual charitable donations are made during December, according to Charity Navigator. Even people on a tight budget may want to be generous to worthy causes but may feel that their donations won’t matter. The fact is, they really do matter.

Small charitable organizations often rely on many small donations to fund their missions. Just $1 enables the Nature Conservancy to plant a tree to protect land or for Feeding America to distribute meals to 10 people facing hunger in the United States. Organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, Helen Keller International and Malaria No More offer a big bang for your buck to help those in dire need in developing countries.

Even large non-profits like to boast about their number of donors, not just the dollars. Having a large donor base can give organizations more clout when seeking foundation support or lobbying for change.

Limit your donations only to causes that matter to you rather than giving a small amount to every organization that sends an appeal. When your giving aligns with your beliefs, you will feel better about your choices.

Before paying by credit card online, check to see if there is a transaction or processing fee that can reduce the amount of your donation that actually goes to the charity. If you are solicited on the phone, be especially wary as telemarketers are especially notorious for taking a large percentage commission or for representing organizations that may not actually be charities.

Find out if your employer matches donations to double the impact.

Donations of your time to small local non-profit groups may be even more valuable than money.

Can a small donation make a difference?

Keeping the peace during the holidays

Family gatherings over the holidays are supposed to be a joyous time, but the reality may be quite different. Critical or judgmental parents, unruly children or annoying in-laws can test one’s patience, but here are some suggestions for keeping the peace.Do not rehash old grudges and grievances. Avoid debates by keeping conversation light. Steer the discussion to another subject if a touchy topic arises.Lower your expectations. Hoping for a Hallmark Channel carol-singing evening or duplicating memories of bygone holidays may not be realistic.Lighten up. Tap your inner Zen and brush off what you may construe as derogatory or offensive remarks.

Limit alcohol consumption. While it may put you at ease, drinking too much can lower inhibitions and increase the chance of argumentative or combative behavior.Enlist a friend to call or text for support if things get particularly hectic. Better yet, consider inviting someone who would be grateful for a place at your holiday dinner rather than being alone.Focus on the positive qualities of family members as annoying as they may seem. Try to look on the bright side and be grateful for having a family to join you during the holidays. Find joy in the food, decorations, and traditions. Recognize that you can only control your own behavior and reactions – not those of others. And do remember that these events are time limited.

This complimentary Advice & Counsel Newsletter is provided as a service to Voya Financial Lifeline customers. While Voya Financial Lifeline is proud to offer this service to Voya customers, we do not take responsibility for materials published herein. We do not independently verify this information, nor do we guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Please contact Voya Financial Lifeline’s customer service team at (800) 625-7440 for specific questions about your account. Thank you for being our valued customer.Advice & Counsel Newsletter is published by Advice Publications, a unit of Advice Company, 2330 Marinship Way, Sausalito, CA 94965. (415) 339-6510. Publish@AdvicePublications.com. The articles abstracted and this newsletter are for general informational purposes only and not intended as professional legal, financial or tax advice. You should consult with a knowledgeable professional for your personal situation.3058790.V.C WLT 250001849 © 2019 Voya Services Company. All rights reserved. Provided courtesy of Voya Financial Lifeline – proudly serving our customers.

Sources used in this issue include: New York Times, Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, Medscape, AAA, Insure.com, Edmunds.com, FreeAdvice.com, Consumer Reports, Bankrate.com, American Council of Life Insurers, NAIC.org, Insurance Information Institute, USA Today, Charity Navigator, Huffington Post, Real Simple, Forbes, The Irish Echo, Money magazine, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore Sun, CNN, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Washington Post, US Department of Agriculture, Drexel University, LiveHappy.com, Psychology Today.