Kelly Clarkson has filed to legally change her name in wake of divorce from Brandon Blackstock

February 18, 2022

‘My new name more fully reflects who I am: Kelly Clarkson seeks to change her name to Kelly Brianne in wake of divorce

By Adam S. Levy For Dailymail.com
Published: 04:04 GMT, 18 February 2022 | Updated: 04:04 GMT, 18 February 2022

Kelly Clarkson has filed to legally change her name to Kelly Brianne.

The entertainer, 39, on Monday said she desired to make the name change – which is her first and middle names – as her ‘new name more fully reflects who’ she is, according to court docs reviewed by US Weekly.

Another hearing on the matter is slated for March 28, the outlet reported.

The latest: Kelly Clarkson, 39, has filed to legally change her name to Kelly Brianne, as she said her ‘new name more fully reflects who’ she is. The singer was snapped last month

The Fort Worth, Texas-born star has spent more than a year and a half working through her divorce from Brandon Blackstock, 45, with whom she shares daughter River Rose, seven, and son Remington Alexander, five.

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Prior to the breakup, she was also the stepmother of his two kids with ex-wife Melissa Ashworth, Savannah, 19, and Seth, 14.

The Kelly Clarkson Show host initially filed for divorce from Blackstock in June of 2020 saying there were ‘irreconcilable differences’ in the marriage, which began when the couple wed in October of 2013.

In court, last month, the A Moment Like This songstress conceded 5.12 percent of the $17.8 million Montana ranch they lived on to Blackstock, which is worth around $908,800, according to the outlet.

The My Life Would Suck Without You artist was court-ordered to pay Blackstock $150,000 in monthly spousal support, with an extra $45,601 earmarked toward their children.

The Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) performer, who shares joint physical and legal custody of her two kids with Blackstock, told Extra last fall that she and Blackstock had ‘a lot of help as far as therapists or child psychologists’ for their children because they want to do it right,’ adding, ‘Everyone’s sad and it’s OK to be sad.’

‘I know with me and Brandon, it’s just a difficult thing because we’re in different places,’ she said. ‘And it’s like, we both agree on the main things, but it’s a hard thing when you’re not together all the time, for me personally.

‘As long as you make sure it’s about the children and their best interests, then we’re both on board.’

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Protect your house from sewer backups

Don’t let clogged sewers wreak havoc on your home Backed up sewers can cause thousands of dollars in damage to floors, electrical systems, walls, furniture and other belongings. Learn about causes of sewer backups, what you as a homeowner are responsible for maintaining and steps you can take to protect your home against sewer problems Homeowners’ responsibility for sewer maintenance Most homeowners may not realize that they are responsible for the maintenance and repair of their house or sewer lateral—that is, the pipeline between the city sanitary sewer main (which is usually located in the street) and the building. The sewer lateral is owned and maintained by the property owner and the homeowners responsibility includes any part of the lateral that extends into the street or public right of way. A cracked or deteriorated lateral or one filled with tree roots can allow groundwater to seep into the system, contributing to the problem. For homeowners who want to insure themselves against sewer backups, coverage is available from most providers for a nominal cost. Causes of sewer backups While most basement water problems are not caused by sewer backups, the Civil Engineering Research Foundation reports that the number of backed up sewers is increasing at an alarming rate of about 3 percent annually. There are a number of causes of sewer backups—here are some of the most common. Aging sewer systems ‒ The American Society of Civil Engineers indicates that the nation’s 500,000-plus miles of sewer lines are on average over thirty years old. The increase in the number of homes connected to already aging sewage systems has also contributed to rapid increases in sanitary sewer backups, flooded basements and overflows. Combined pipelines ‒ Problems arise in systems that combine storm water and raw sewage into the same pipeline. During many rain storms, the systems are exposed to more volume than they can handle, and the result is a sewage backup situation that allows sewage to spew out into basements and other low lying drains. Tree roots ‒ Seeking moisture, small roots of trees and shrubs make their way into sewer line cracks and service pipe joints, and can cause extensive damage or blockages as they grow larger. The cost of the clean-up will fall to the problem tree’s owner. When the issue is a result of a combination of city and private trees, the costs are sometimes split between the city and the property owner. Sanitary main blockages ‒ A blockage can occur in a city sanitary main. If the blockage is not detected in time, sewage from the main can back up into homes and businesses through floor drains. Usually this happens slowly and there are early indications of a problem. If you see seepage at the floor drains, call a licensed plumber to assess the situation and the damage. If water is entering into your basement at a rapid rate, call the city public works office and report the problem immediately. How to prevent backups in your sewer lateral and in the city main Properly dispose of grease. Cooking oil should be poured into a heat-resistant container and disposed of properly after it cools off, not in the drain. Washing grease down the drain with hot water is unsatisfactory. As the grease cools off, it will solidify either in the drain, the property owner’s line, or in the main sewer causing the line to constrict and eventually clog. Properly dispose of paper products. Paper towels, disposable (and cloth) diapers, hygienic wipes and feminine products do not deteriorate quickly and can cause a great deal of trouble in the property owner’s lateral as well as in the city main. Periodically cut tree roots. If you have continuing problems with tree roots in your lateral, you may have to regularly have the roots cut by a professional. Replace your line with new plastic pipe. Plastic pipe will prevent tree roots from entering your line is to replace your line and tap with new plastic pipe. Correct illegal plumbing connections. Do not connect French drains, sump pumps and other flood control systems to your sanitary sewer. It is illegal to do so, and debris and silt will clog your line. Consult a plumber to correct any pre-existing illegal connections. Install a backwater prevention valve, which is a fixture installed into a sewer line (and sometimes into a drain line) in the basement of your home or business to prevent sewer backflows. A properly installed and maintained backwater valve allows sewage to go out, but not to come back in. Be sure to use a qualified plumber. What to do if you experience a sewer backup A sewer backup can lead to disease, destruction of your valuables, damage to your house or business, and can even result in electrical malfunctions. Prompt cleanup of affected property can help minimize the inconvenience and prevent mold or further damage. If you experience a sewer backup situation, immediately arrange for the cleanup of your property. This should include: Wet-vacuuming or removal of spillage Mopping floors and wiping walls with soap and disinfectant Flushing out and disinfecting plumbing fixtures Steam cleaning or removing wet carpets or drapes Repairing or removing damaged wallboard or wall covering Cleanup of ductwork To facilitate a sewer backup claim, take “before” photos of your basement (or any area likely to be affected) and create a home inventory. If you have an incident, be sure to take “after” photos of the affected areas and itemize any property losses. Save all receipts related to repair, cleaning or damages and contact your insurance professional as soon as possible.
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What are the different types of term life insurance policies?

Term insurance comes in two basic varieties—level term and decreasing term. These days, almost everyone buys level term insurance. The terms “level” and “decreasing” refer to the death benefit amount during the term of the policy. A level term policy pays the same benefit amount if death occurs at any point during the term. Common types of level term Yearly- (or annually-) renewable term 5-year renewable term 10-year term 15-year term 20-year term 25-year term 30-year term Term to a specified age (usually 65) Renewable term policies Yearly renewable term, once popular, is no longer a top seller. The most popular type is now 20-year term. Most companies will not sell term insurance to an applicant for a term that ends past his or her 80th birthday. If a policy is “renewable,” that means it continues in force for an additional term or terms, up to a specified age, even if the health of the insured (or other factors) would cause him or her to be rejected if he or she applied for a new life insurance policy. Generally, the premium for the policy is based on the insured person’s age and health at the policy’s start, and the premium remains the same (level) for the length of the term. So, premiums for 5-year renewable term can be level for 5 years, then to a new rate reflecting the new age of the insured, and so on every five years. Some longer term policies will guarantee that the premium will not increase during the term; others don’t make that guarantee, enabling the insurance company to raise the rate during the policy’s term. Some term policies are convertible. This means that the policy’s owner has the right to change it into a permanent type of life insurance without additional evidence of insurability. “Return of premium” In most types of term insurance, including homeowners and auto insurance, if you haven’t had a claim under the policy by the time it expires, you get no refund of the premium. Your premium bought the protection that you had but didn’t need, and you’ve received fair value. Some term life insurance consumers have been unhappy at this outcome, so some insurers have created term life with a “return of premium” feature. The premiums for the insurance with this feature are often significantly higher than for policies without it, and they generally require that you keep the policy in force to its term or else you forfeit the return of premium benefit. Some policies will return the base premium but not the extra premium (for the return benefit), and others will return both.
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How Much Money Do You Need to Live Off Investments?

Living off investments defines financial independence, but getting there can be challenging. How much money do you need to live off investments? Here’s the formula: Divide the desired annual income by the expected yield. If you want $10,000 monthly investment income, and expect a 5% yield, divide $120,000 by 5% for the amount of money you’ll need to live off investment income, or $2,400,000 in this example. This is the simple formula to show how much money it will take for you to live off investment income only since yield is a measure of the income an investment generates. In other words, you want to live off the income your investments generate, without spending your investment capital. This is the ideal way to live off investments, so you don’t have to deplete your investment capital. After we stumbled into early retirement in late midlife, we pondered how much money we needed to live off our investments. Knowing we didn’t want to begin depleting our savings, we began creating diversified income streams and did so over the next 15 years. I’ll share what I’ve learned about estimating how much money you need to live off investments, and what all you’ll want to consider before attempting to live off your money. There’s some super important risk related factors you don’t want to miss so be sure to read this entire post. Beyond Investment Income We all love simple formulas. However, there are several more factors you’ll want to keep in mind as you use the formula above to estimate how much money you need to live off investments. First, the reality is that traditional investment income alone doesn’t generate enough money for most people to live comfortably in retirement. You can see that for someone with $2,400,000, making $10,000 a year is achievable since a 5% annual yield is doable for proactive investors. Yet studies show that most people don’t have anywhere near $1,000,000 put aside for retirement, let alone over $2 million. Additionally, most people aren’t getting a 5% yield on their investments, particularly given the popularity of index funds, which usually have very low yields. Second, the norm in retirement planning is to withdraw and live on a set percent of your investment accounts. These withdrawals typically have to dip into more than just investment income for almost everyone, unless investors have chosen to invest in higher yielding investments, or they have a lot of investment capital earning income. As a result, capital gains and maybe even invested capital (aka, your hard earned savings) are needed to live in retirement for most people, in addition to only investment income. In order to make sense of all of this, let’s explore the layers of your nice, prosperous investment account, which I’ll equate to a chocolate layer cake. Investment Income, Capital Gains and Savings Investment income, capital gains, and invested capital can be thought of as different layers of your investment accounts. It’s very important to understand these layers in determining how much money you need if you’re planning to live off investments at any time in the future. That’s because steps can be taken to increase income from investments or elsewhere freeing you from the need to continuously dip into the capital gains and savings layers for large amounts. In this post, I’ll explain the difference between those three potential layers for living off investments so you can see what your options are and how you might go about being able to live off investments at the age you choose. Like you may do, I equate living off investments to financial independence and/or retirement without financial struggle or worry. Living Off Stocks and Bonds Only In this post, first I’ll focus mostly on living off investments in stocks and bonds since these are the most common investments. The reality is, however, there are a lot of ways you can live off investments when you consider real estate and small business investments in addition to stocks, bonds, and slightly alternative investments such as MLPs and REITs. I’ll disregard other potential income sources, such as social security in this post, especially since you may be younger than the common retirement age of 63 like we were when we began living off investments and alternative income streams. Potential Income From Living Off Investments Money Available Yield Investment Potential Assets $2,400,000 5% $120,000 High Yield Assets $1,000,000 3% $30,000 Devident Stocks $500,000 3% $15,000 Devident Stocks $1,000,000 7% $70,000 Alternative Investment $1,000,000 10% $100,000 Covered Call Strategoies Using Account Size and Yield to Determine How Much Money You Need When you’re considering how to live off investments, first, you’re faced with the decision of whether to live off income from investments only, as in the example above, or spending your savings (investment capital) to live. Whether or not this is really an option depends on how much money you have, and how much yield you’ll earn on investments, so let’s start there. For example, if you have $1,000,000 earning 3% from dividend stocks, this will generate $30,000 income a year (before considering taxes or wealth management fees). If you have $500,000 earning 3% in dividends, the income generated will be $15,000 a year. A 3% income yield from traditional stock and bond portfolios is realistic if not overly optimistic these days. The yield can be improved, however, as I’ll explain more later in this post. This simple math is very telling. This is because, in this example, we’re focusing on investment income only vs capital gains from your investments. Capital gains are the increase in value your investments have had, not the income they generate. Most people who live off investments, however, don’t just rely on investment income for several reasons, as I’ll explain next in more detail. If you’re confused about this, click here to read my post How to Understand Your Investments. First, however, let’s dig into exactly what those layers of investment income, capital gains, and savings (or initial deposits) >>Read more
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America’s 15 Coolest Ghost Towns to Visit

Take a step back in time while visiting these historic – and slightly spooky – ghost towns. While the term “ghost town” may sound like a village haunted by spirits, it actually refers to an old, abandoned city. America’s western states are full of these towns; many were founded during the mining boom in the late 1800s to serve as home bases for miners. Today, these historically significant areas memorialize the once bustling populations that lived there and give visitors a chance to discover a past filled with mystery, legends, and folklore. St. Elmo, Colorado St. Elmo, located less than 83 miles southeast of Aspen, Colorado, is one of the state’s best-preserved ghost towns. Formed in 1880 for miners in search of gold and silver, the town’s final residents supposedly took the last train out in 1922 – and never returned. Today, you can visit St. Elmo by car or all-terrain vehicle to see several wooden storefronts, including the general store. For the ultimate mountain getaway, rent a log cabin. The infamous town of Tin Cup, Colorado, which is known for its ties to shady Wild West outlaws and a spooky town cemetery, also sits nearby. Nevada City, Montana While enjoying Montana’s blue skies and breathtaking scenery, make a pit stop in Nevada City, a ghost town situated roughly 90 miles northwest of Yellowstone National Park. The restored former gold mining town boasts many original log structures along with a collection of antique music boxes, player pianos, and calliopes. Admission starts at $8 for adults and $6 for kids ages 5 to 16 (younger travelers get in for free). During their visits, travelers can pan for gold, watch live reenactments of past events and embark on a 20-minute train ride between Nevada City and Virginia City, Montana. Stay the night in an authentic pioneer cabin or at the historic Nevada City Hotel, a former 1860s stage stop. Spokane, South Dakota Located about 10 miles southeast of Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota’s the Black Hills, Spokane features one of the area’s largest collections of original ghost town buildings. You’ll need to hike about a half-mile from the road to reach the town, which was built in 1890 near a mine with gold, silver, copper, and more. Once in Spokane, you’ll find a large schoolhouse and several old cars lining the streets. To really set the scene, look for the grave that tells the story of a prospector who was shot and killed here. Just be sure to stay outside the abandoned structures, as they are crumbling. When you’re ready to retire for the night, head approximately 5 miles northwest to one of several hotels in Keystone, South Dakota. Goodsprings, Nevada If you’re visiting Las Vegas and want to feel as if you’ve stepped back in time, consider taking a day trip to Goodsprings, Nevada. Situated approximately 40 miles southwest of Sin City, this old mining town is home to around 200 people. It’s where you’ll find the Pioneer Saloon, which was built in 1913 and is said to be haunted by the ghost of 1930s movie star Carole Lombard, who died in a plane crash nearby. The saloon, where many movies have been filmed, offers a Haunted Lockdown tour that lets you relive the experiences of the TV show crew who filmed “Ghost Adventures” there in 2013. Goldfield, Arizona Situated along the Apache Trail about 40 miles east of Phoenix, Goldfield is known as the “gateway to the Superstition Mountains.” The town – which was home to multiple saloons, a boarding house, a blacksmith shop, a general store, and a schoolhouse in the 1890s – will give you a true taste of the Wild West as you watch a live reenactment of a gunfight, ride the state’s only narrow gauge train and pan for gold. Other fun things to do include touring the local gold mine and going zip lining, horseback riding, and target shooting. Book a stay at Santa Maria Place, a four-bedroom home located less than 33 miles away, through the luxury vacation rental website ThirdHome Rentals. Blue Heron, Kentucky Get a dose of history in this abandoned mining community along the Big South Fork River near the Kentucky-Tennessee border. The mine, which was in operation from 1937 to 1962, features structures built in the 1980s to mimic those originally found on-site. Each building shares information about a different part of life in the mining camp through audio tours. Once a year, travelers can hop aboard the Big South Fork Blue Heron Ghost Train to visit the abandoned camp at night while listening to spooky tales. The free trip starts with live music, and visitors are advised to bring a flashlight. Vacationers will find comfortable accommodations at DuPont Lodge, which sits roughly 30 miles northeast of Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. South Pass City, Wyoming See 24 19th-century buildings at one of Wyoming’s largest historic sites. Open to visitors every year from mid-May to mid-October, South Pass City once featured more than 30 gold mines. The town also played an important role in women’s history: It is where a bill was passed to make Wyoming the first territory where women could vote and hold public office and are where the country’s first female judge served. After travelers immerse themselves in South Pass City’s past, they can venture 34 miles northeast to Lander, Wyoming, where everything from smaller boutique hotels, such as The Mill House, to larger properties like the Shoshone Rose Casino & Hotel, is available. Independence, Colorado Located just off the Independence Pass section of U.S. Highway 82, the town of Independence is an easy stop on the way to or from Aspen. The town was founded in 1880 but was deserted just 19 years later when miners wearing wooden skis made from the town’s dismantled cabins left in droves during a severe winter storm. Today, you can wander through several original buildings, including stables, a general store, and a cabin. You can even see >>Read more
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A 6-Step Guide to Making Sure Your Broker Is Legit

If you think illegal activity and other shenanigans by brokers and other investment professionals ended with the last Great Recession, you could be making a costly assumption. Although Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff and “Wolf of Wall Street” Jordan Belfort may have spent time behind bars, wrongdoing by brokers and others continues unabated and undetected. That’s why it’s important to check out brokers or investment advisors and their firms before doing business with them. You also should beware of certain signs that a financial professional may be trying to victimize you. Key Takeaways While investing has become safe, low-cost, and efficient for ordinary investors, some instances of brokerage fraud still do take place to fleece unsuspecting or greedy investors. There are several ways to check and see if your broker is legit. Always do your homework beforehand. Check the background of the firm and broker or planner for any disciplinary problems in the past, beware of cold calls, and check your statements for funny business. When in doubt, there are several routes to file complaints and seek restitution. Examples of Brokerage Fraud Here are just two examples of the continuing problems in the industry. The federal Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed fraud charges against a Massachusetts-based registered investment advisory firm and its owner. The agency accused Family Endowment Partners and its owner, Lee Dana Weiss, of, among other irregularities, advising clients to make certain investments without disclosing that Weiss would pocket half of the profits. The SEC also charged that clients were urged to invest $40 million in securities issued by companies in which Weiss had financial interests and from which Weiss received payments. In another case, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced that it had permanently barred from the securities industry a former registered representative of Caldwell International Securities Corp. after charging him with numerous securities violations, including churning customer accounts. Richard Adams’ excessive trading in two customer accounts from July 2013 to June 2014, FINRA said, generated more than $57,000 in commission while costing the customers more than $37,000 in losses. By taking these six steps, you can protect yourself from doing business with an unscrupulous broker or another financial professional: Beware of Cold Contacts Be wary of any broker or investment advisor who contacts you unsolicited from a company with which you’ve never done business. The contact could take the form of a phone call, email or letter. Don’t get sucked in by invitations to investment seminars that promise free lunches or other gifts aimed at getting to you lower your guard and invest blindly. Sixty-four per cent of those 40 or older who responded to a 2013 survey by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation said they had been invited to a “free lunch” seminar. And be especially suspicious of callers who use high-pressure sales tactics, tout once-in-a-lifetime opportunities or refuse to send written information about an investment, advises the SEC. Have a Conversation Whether you’re looking for a broker or a financial advisor, you need to be comfortable with the people who’ll be providing you with advice, products and services. Ask lots of questions about what the company offers and its experience with clients who have similar needs to your own. Also, find out what relationship you’ll have with the professional. Under a so-called fiduciary standard, financial professionals must put their clients’ interests above their own when, for example, recommending investments. That’s a higher level than the so-called suitability standard, in which the professional is required only to make recommendations that are consistent with the client’s best interests. While investment advisors always must follow the fiduciary standard, that’s not the case for broker-dealers—though you may be able to find a broker-dealer willing to adhere to the fiduciary standard. (See also: Choosing A Financial Advisor: Suitability Vs. Fiduciary Standards.) If you can’t get straight answers or the individual seems rushed or otherwise unwilling to provide you with full and clear information, go elsewhere. Don’t forget to ask about rates, fees and commissions. Registered investment advisors should also provide you with both parts of Form ADV (see Step 3’s section on the SEC). Do Some Research The first thing worth trying when researching a financial professional is a simple web search with the broker and firm name. That might bring up new releases or media reports of alleged wrongdoing or disciplinary actions, client conversations on online forums, background information, and other details. For instance, typing “Lee Dana Weiss” into a search engine brings up hundreds of thousands of results, including a link to the news release about the SEC complaint again him and his firm. Then try searching the regulatory agencies directly. Financial professionals and their firms are legally required to be registered with federal and state securities regulators. And that registration information, along with the details of disciplinary actions taken against the individuals or firms, is available to the public. Keep in mind that the agencies sometimes have overlapping enforcement jurisdiction and may provide similar information. Still, it’s worth checking them all because they may have different policies about the details they include and how long the data remain available. Here is a list: State securities regulators: The regulators in your state likely have information on licensing, registration and disciplinary actions about brokers and brokerage firms, as well as on registered investment advisors. Also check any advice your state offers for researching a broker or investment advisor, such as the investor education materials offered by the New Jersey Bureau of Securities. FINRA: Another good source of information about brokers and their firms is the BrokerCheck website operated by FINRA, an independent, not-for-profit organization authorized by Congress to protect investors. Some states refer visitors to the FINRA for broker information. But even if your state’s site has a lot of information of its own, BrokerCheck is worth visiting just to see whether there are any additional details. To research by phone, call 800-289-9999. SEC: Along with many state regulatory agencies, a primary source of information about >>Read more
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