Campbell Wealth Management's online newsletter for October 2017
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Raise High the Black and Gold
The Campbell family kicked off the new school year with great news. After a summer touring the country and playing in a number of baseball showcases and tournaments, Connor received an offer from the University of Maryland! Yes, he did sign with the Division I, Big Ten school. We’re all pretty excited for Connor, though I doubt we’re as excited as he is. At home, Carter has discovered a newfound love of fishing. All summer long, he fished off our dock and reeled in three or four catfish every single time. Now, it seems that all he can think about is taking a fishing trip (or, if he gets his way, several fishing trips). He even wants to do some deep-sea fishing. As a dad, it’s a lot of fun to see Carter find yet another interest. Codie will admit she’s not as excited for school as her brothers (or her parents). But I know she’ll do great this year. Even if she says she’s not looking forward to school this year, I know she’s still a little excited. After all, on the first day of school she was up at 5:30 in the morning and already dressed and ready to go. That’s impressive and may bode well for the months to come. This is the first year Kim and I made the kids get up by themselves — no parental assistance. In the middle of August, Kim and I went up to Saratoga Springs, New York. As I mentioned a few months ago, Kim
was invited up to Equestricon to do a book signing. We had a great time, Kim autographed a ton of copies of “ The Eye of the Storm ,” and we met Ron Turcotte, the jockey who rode Secretariat through the Triple Crown in 1973. We even got a picture together! As for the company, things have been going well. I’m excited about our team as we go into Q4. Everyone had a great summer and really made the most of it. We hosted a staff retreat at the Campbell household and afterwards we were able to spend some time together and relax out of the office.
And, going into the fourth quarter, I want to send my appreciation to both the team and our clients. Our team has done a wonderful job this year. They all contribute something special to Campbell Wealth, and so much of what we do would not be possible without them. The same can be said of our clients. You keep us going, and when it comes down to it, you make it worth it. So, thank you! I’m excited to see what the last quarter — and 2018 — has in store for all of us.
Kelly Campbell
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4 Ways You May Be Able to Prevent Dementia Before It Starts
Awareness pays off. Over the last year, the IRS has reported a steep decline in the number of identity theft cases. According to the Associated Press, in 2015 there were around 700,000 reported cases of identity theft. In 2016, that number fell to 377,000. In the first half of 2017, the number of cases topped off at 107,000. In recent years, more and more identity thieves have turned their attention to the IRS. Thieves use stolen personal information to submit fraudulent tax forms. When the tax forms are processed, the IRS then sends the tax refund to the thieves, not realizing they are sending checks to the wrong individual. Thieves primarily look for social security numbers, birth dates, and other income information. They can get this data in mailed documents (always shred sensitive documents when they are no longer needed) or through data breaches (such as the breaches that impacted major retailers and insurance providers in recent years). Identity Theft on the Decline F rom the moment you wake up in the morning, it feels like a dense fog fills your head. When you drag yourself out of bed and go to make yourself a plate of eggs and toast, it suddenly seems like a much more complicated task than before. You lose track of time, and the smell of smoke enters your nostrils. Frantically turning the burner off, it occurs to you that you can’t remember the day of the week. According to Time Magazine, 47 million people around the world live with some type of dementia. Typically, as we age, we’re told that all we can do is hope for the best and bide our time until there’s a cure, but recent research by the Alzheimer’s Research Center paints a different picture. A set of simple lifestyle changes may be the key to staving off cognitive decline as we get older. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s by up to 50 percent, according to Help Guide, and it can even slow the onset of already-present cognitive decline. Walk or swim for about 150 minutes each week, along with two to three sessions of moderate resistance training, as well as balance and coordination exercises. Check out eldergym.com for more info on staying active as you age.
Heart-healthy eating may also protect the brain. Limit your intake of sugar and saturated fats and eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Replace
butter and margarine with olive or canola oil. Two diets that have
been linked to heart health are the DASH diet (dashdiet.org) and the Mediterranean diet (oldwayspt.org/traditional-diets/ mediterranean-diet). Frequent social engagement may help keep your brain sharp. Make efforts to speak face to face with someone you’re close to as often as you can. Try to make new friends, volunteer, join a club or social group, get to know your neighbors, or connect with people over social media. Mental stimulation may also be important to brain health as we age. Study something new to you, such as a foreign language or a musical instrument. Make reading books and newspapers part of your regular routine. Try doing crossword or sudoku puzzles. It’s not difficult to find an activity you enjoy that will also help keep your brain active.
New Measures Are Doing More to Protect Taxpayers
The IRS has become a major target for identity thieves because it’s seen as a relatively easy target. With so many taxpayers submitting their tax documents at once, thieves count on volume. Plus, the agency returns an average of $300 billion every year. The agency also works quickly to get returns out in a timely manner, which means many fraudulent returns often fly under the radar. These days, however, the IRS is making strides to protect taxpayer data and to screen incoming tax forms. They have employed sophisticated tax processing software that can more readily identify fraudulent returns. At the same time, consumers have become more proactive when it comes to protecting their personal and financial data. They are utilizing data monitoring services and keeping regular tabs on their credit reports and various accounts.
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Tips for Buying a Car During Retirement
M
aybe your decades-old car finally bit the dust. Maybe your ride got totaled by a teenager on a smartphone. Or maybe you just want a new set of wheels.There are a lot of reasons why youmay find yourself looking to buy a car, and there are a lot of questions to answer before you do. The first question is, did you plan for this expense?The average American buys a new car every seven to 10 years, so if you plan on 20 years of retirement, you need to factor in at least two car purchases during that time —and possibly more. The second question is the biggest one: Where’s the money going to come from? Most people, including most retired people, will finance their new car and trade in the old one. This is a good option for people with steady retirement income, such as those drawing a pension. But it might be harder to get a loan if your income is less consistent, say, if you liquidate investment assets every month to pay the bills. Third, could you just pay cash? Most of us don’t have buckets of cash lying around, but you can always tap into an IRA or other account for the money
to buy a car. Try to do half inDecember and half in January to split the tax penalty between two years. You could also sell off two cars and use the money they generate to buy one, which will cut down on other car-related expenses as well. The last question is, what are the hidden costs? Maintenance and repairs are just part for the course, but they don’t tell you that as you age, your insurance premiums could go up, especially after that texting teenager T-boned you. Your retirement planner should have a big-picture idea of what you should plan and watch out for when you buy a car.
What have you checked off your BUCKET LIST?
Thank you to the wonderful clients who introduced us to their family and friends we were able to help this month, and to all of our clients for continuing to let us care for you. Special thanks to: George and Janet Menassa, and Holly Hidalgo If you know someone you would like to recommend to Campbell Wealth, contact us at 703-535-5300.
Are you accomplishing your bucket list goals? Let’s celebrate your accomplishments together! Send us your photos and stories from your bucket list adventures and we may feature them on our True Wealth wall in our office and/or feature them in a feature edition of the newsletter. Not only will you have the chance to inspire others, you may be inspired yourself. We look forward to your submissions!
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Raise High the Black and Gold Can You Prevent Dementia Before It Starts? Why Is Identity Theft on the Decline? Buying a Car During Retirement Thank You! The Acropolis of Athens: Tips for Your Trip Back in Time
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Tips for Your Trip Back in Time The Acropolis of Athens: W hen people think of a vacation to Greece, the first images that come to mind are often the picturesque beaches of Mykonos Island or plates of delicately layered moussaka. But no trip to the cradle of Western civilization would be complete without a visit to one of the most incredible historical sites in the world: the ancient Acropolis of Athens.
once per pass. Due to the scorching heat that hits the area in the summer, you may want to visit during late winter or early spring.
To absorb the incredible history of this ancient monument, it’s a good idea to either pay for the audio guide as you enter or go to the “Watch, Read, Listen” section of ricksteves.com and download his audio guide for free. You can also get a full tour from a local guide. Head to toursbylocals.com/Athens-Tours to find the perfect guide for your trip.
Around 468 B.C., while Athens was enjoying its status as the greatest cultural hub of the era, Pericles initiated a robust reconstruction of the Acropolis. Almost half of the population was on the public payroll during the project, generating what would become many of the most memorable structures in history, including the famous Parthenon. Today, the ruins of the Acropolis still stand, a testament to the ingenuity of one of the most advanced civilizations of the classical age. If you plan on exploring the breathtaking ruins and the Acropolis Museum, which houses over 4,000 artifacts from the site, it’s a good idea to avoid the Mediterranean cruise hordes and get there early, as close to 8 a.m. as possible. A four-day pass to peruse the Parthenon, the temples of Athena and Zeus, and many other world-famous sites costs around 12 euros, but keep in mind you can visit each site only
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