Wealth From Wisdom's online newsletter for January 2019
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RADIO ABright 2018 and an Even Brighter 2019 January 2019
2018 was an amazing year for all of us at Cornerstone Wealth Group. We took a hard look at the client experience and worked backward to deliver new
We decided to work with someone because we wanted to make a few changes in our lifestyle. Having a coach is a great way to work toward that goal. We are eating and exercising better, so we feel better all around! On top of that, Angie and I took up guitar lessons and art lessons. We were looking for something fun for the two of us to do together and so far, we’re loving it! But these updates don’t compare to what our 2019 is going to look like. Angie and I recently learned we’re going to be grandparents for the first time — twice! Both of our kids, Lakin and Jacob, have little ones on the way!
We had the opportunity to spend a long weekend in Durham, South Carolina; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and even New York City for soccer this past year. The NYC trip coincided with the U.S. Open, so we were able to hop over to Flushing Meadows and catch a few tennis matches. The kids are growing up so fast. It seems the older they get, the faster time flies. Ian turned 16, and Lauren will be 13 in early January. Stacey and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary in early September. Things are busy but fun. I hope all of you have had a nice 2018 too. Thank you for your continued trust and confidence in myself and our firm. Looking forward to what 2019 will bring. Cheers! Today, I can let out a big exhale, but when I was in the midst of 2018, my mantra was, “Just keep swimming.” Here’s the overview: In January, Stephanne and I adapted to being empty nesters with both sons in college. In February, I started traveling to Tennessee to assist with another financial firm. Through the spring, I followed Logan as he played baseball for Alvernia University, where he is pursuing his degree in occupational therapy. In May, we welcomed the celebration of Nathan’s graduation from Mount St. Mary’s University (a year early!) with his bachelor’s degree in computer science. In May, we also put our Maryland home of 19 years on the market. In June, Nathan began his career working for DRS Leonardo as a software engineer. By the end of August, we purchased a house in Piney Flats, Tennessee, where I will be also working at a firm that Cornerstone acquired. • • • • • • • John Saunders, Wealth Advisor
and exciting things — some of which will be making their debut in the new year! We looked at what we could do better. This resulted in the implementation of new investment strategies to our base platform. We also added fresh, new technologies to enhance your overall experience as a client. More than that, we’re developing an innovative way to track the “return on relationship” we have with you. This will allow us to really see the progress we’ve made together. Look for this to debut early in the new year. On the team, Kelly Effland obtained her Certified Financial Planner certification. As a CFP, she will be working with more clients and bringing even more planning capability to the team. Many of you have already worked with Kelly in some capacity in the past, but if you haven’t yet, chances are you will as we go forward. Now, the biggest news of 2018 was that Cornerstone purchased a financial planning firm in Kingsport, Tennessee, a town just a few minutes south of the Tennessee and Virginia border. We closed out the deal at the end of September and have been bringing new team members into the fold. They bring the Cornerstone family up to 21 members! To help with the transition, John Saunders moved to Tennessee. However, he won’t be out there full time. He’ll still have a presence up here as well as work remotely for us. I know John and his family are excited about this new opportunity, too. We’ll be sharing much more on this new branch in the coming months. On a personal note, I have exciting updates from the Ford family. My wife, Angie, and I have been working with a holistic lifestyle coach from California. We flew out to meet with the coach earlier in the year.
–Scott Ford
As all of us at Cornerstone Wealth Management ring in the new year, here are a few messages of reflection and well- wishes from the team!
Scott Toms, Wealth Advisor Happy New Year! Another year in the books — how they pass so fast! I hope 2018 was good to you and
yours. As usual, the Toms family kept busy. We tried something different this year for our annual summer vacation and headed to Destin Beach in Florida for a week. The beach was beautiful, and it was our first time beaching it on the gulf coast of Florida. Lauren’s soccer keeps us moving throughout the year. She plays for the Washington Spirit in the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy, so we travel quite a bit. It’s fun, because we all load up in the family SUV and head out early on Saturdays. Grandparents attend many of the games with us, so it proves to be nice family time together too. I challenged myself many weekends and tried to find a nice and unique place for us to eat after the soccer game. I looked for small, cozy, family-owned restaurants, different from the big franchises or chains.
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• In the midst of all of this action, we “showed” our house so many times (not so fun) and FINALLY got a contract! At the end of October, the packing, moving, and unpacking peaked when our home eventually sold. As I inhale again, I am looking forward to celebrating the end of this year with family and friends. May you reflect over this year, and, despite the feeling of having to “just keep swimming,” be sure to celebrate how far you actually swam! Erica Shaw, Director of First Impressions 2018 was an especially exciting year for the Shaw family. My husband, Brian, and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary in June. We were able to spend a long weekend in the beautiful mountains of Canaan Valley, West Virginia. Our daughter, Ragan, completed her graduate studies in August at Shenandoah University, earning her doctorate of Physical Therapy. She recently accepted a position as a practicing physical therapist. Many family and friends were able to join us in celebration of Ragan’s graduation and robing ceremony. Her path was often difficult, but to see her dedication finally pay off is an experience that I will never forget, as this career plan was chosen in her junior year of high school. We could not be prouder! My little man, Rocky the yorkie, is doing well and is now 17 years old. His health is fairly good, although his spunk has diminished a bit. Many of you know that I must always mention my beloved Washington Redskins. As I write this, they are currently tied for first place in their division. Is it too soon to start believing? A Super Bowl victory would just be the cherry on top of an already glorious year. As I start my 17th year of employment with the Cornerstone family, I wish you nothing but peace, love, and happiness in 2019! Please stop by soon for a cookie, beverage, and long visit. The time spent with our clients is the best part of my job. As always, I look forward to seeing each and every one of you in the new year! •
professionally. Cornerstone has grown on many different levels, and I am so glad to be a part of that. I enjoy being on a team that is always striving to improve and look for more ways to serve our clients and the community. Some highlights of my year on a more personal note include celebrating my 14th anniversary with my husband, watching my son and daughter turn 13 and 10 years old, spending time with friends, and adopting a new pup! Since my husband and I never went on a honeymoon, we decided to spend our 14th on a lovely trip to Ireland. What an amazing experience! As far as the new pup goes, she quickly became a member of the family as well as my little hiking buddy. She loves running, but I think her favorites are the two kids who adore her and shower her with attention. Hope 2019 is just as awesome as 2018, with maybe a little less rain! Happy New Year! personally. As I wrap up my first year with Cornerstone, I can truly say how grateful I am to be a part of such a wonderful team. I have really enjoyed getting to know our clients. They are a big part of why I enjoy my career so much. On a personal note, I took several mini- vacations this year with friends and family. They were great opportunities to relax, refresh, and be reminded of how blessed I am by the people in my life, particularly by my daughter, Lexy. She was married this fall, so now I add one more blessing to my crew in the form of my son-in-law, Chris. I also recently became an aunt and have more nieces and nephews on the way soon. I am thrilled to be able to spend time with and spoil them. It looks like 2019 will be filled with lots more fun and family. Jess Holler, Operations Associate Happy New Year! 2018 was an exciting and busy year for me both professionally and
leaving the nest. Our son, Levi, is currently working and looking forward to returning to Shepherd University this spring. As I sit down to write this, I am becoming very aware of how blessed we are. I am truly grateful to work with this amazing team and thankful that we get to serve you. I believe 2019 is going to bring great things for my family, and I wish each of you the same. Happy New Year!
Amy Constable, Client Service Manager
Happy New Year, and bring on 2019! This past year was a year of change and growth
for me. I spent a lot of time focusing on living each day with purpose. I have taken the initiative to get out of my comfort zone and try some new things! I went zip lining in Las Vegas, took a few cooking classes — I survived with only one injury! — and took a pottery class. I learned that while I love the great outdoors, I prefer “glamping” over camping, at least for an extended period of time. Over the summer, I took a week to fully engage in “cool aunt” activities with my niece and nephew who were in town for a visit. I moved back to Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, earlier in the year and am in the process of building a new house that is expected to be completed in February! I am very much looking forward to being settled in my new home and take on all that 2019 has to offer. of positive change and introspective reflection. I continue to be amazed at the level of integrity and dedication of our staff. One of my focuses this year has been on figuring out a work-life balance. With my daughter, Eleanor, turning two in January, the hustle and bustle around the house has been a constant joy. I am truly taking time to celebrate each new milestone. My husband and I also celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary this year and are looking forward to a family vacation in Turkey next summer. May this new year bring you joy and smiles as we optimistically look forward to the future! From all of us at Cornerstone Wealth, and from our families to yours, have a wonderful new year! Reina Sandler, Transformation Manager Wow! 2018 has been a year
Bonnie Bailey, Associate Wealth Advisor 2018 has been a year of growth for me and my family. My husband, Tim,
switched to a new position this year. He loves to help in the community and is very happy with this change. Our daughter, Kaylee, is going to finish high school this year and has applied to the WVU School of Journalism. We are both excited for her future and a little saddened that she will be
Kelly Effland, Associate Wealth Advisor 2018 was a fun-filled year with a lot to be thankful for, both personally and
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5 Common Regrets of Retired Business Owners Insights From the Cornerstone Blog Get Your Questions About Social Security Benefits Answered Insights From the Cornerstone Blog
For most Americans, Social Security is a significant retirement asset. Born out of the Great Depression as a retirement safety net, it has grown to cover 96 percent of workers in the U.S. These days, a record high of around 173 million people are working and paying into the system that provides benefits for over 62 million people. In fact, the majority of retirees get more than half of their income from Social Security. Despite its importance, many people make incorrect assumptions or find themselves intimidated by the details. However, not understanding the system and how your benefits work could be financially devastating. If you’ve ever tried to navigate the Social Security system on your own and found yourself confused, you are the perfect candidate for a Social Security review. The Importance of Understanding Your Benefits The Social Security Administration has 567 ways to claim benefits and the Social Security Handbook has 2,728 separate rules
that explain the benefits. There are several factors that play a role in the amount of benefits you receive and the ideal date to start claiming those benefits, including health status, life expectancy, need for income, whether or not you plan to continue working, and how concerned you are about running out of money. While having a strategy for when to begin Social Security benefits is important, it’s also critical to analyze your benefits in conjunction with all of your retirement assets. Incorporating your benefits into an overall retirement income plan may make a world of difference in the amount of income available to you in retirement. What a Social Security Review Can Do for You Have questions and want to make sure you receive every penny that’s rightfully yours? We offer a Social Security review meeting. It’s one way we can help you navigate and most effectively use your benefits before and during your retirement as well as help you
wade through the overwhelming number of Social Security options. This meeting covers questions, including: • How do I decide when to start collecting? Is it worth it to wait to collect benefits until I reach Full Retirement Age (FRA)? • Should I delay claiming past FRA to get a larger payment? • How are my benefits calculated? • How should I plan to maximize my total lifetime benefits? • Should my spouse and I coordinate to maximize our total benefits? • Can I work while collecting Social Security? If so, what are the limitations? If you have questions or want to set up your Social Security review, simply call 301-739- 8505 to get started. For more from the Cornerstone Wealth Management Group blog, visit CornerstoneWealthGroup.com/insights/blog .
Sudoku
Vegan Roasted Red Cabbage
INGREDIENTS • 1 medium red cabbage, loose outer leaves removed 1 1/2 tablespoons extra- virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon Baharat or other spice blend DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 400 F. 2. Cut cabbage into 8 wedges, leaving core intact. 3. On a lightly oiled baking sheet, evenly space wedges. Season with salt and spice blend. • •
• • • •
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Roasted almonds,
to garnish
2 scallions, chopped, to garnish
•
Salt, to taste
4. Roast cabbage until softened and slightly browned, about 20 minutes. 5. Garnish with almonds and scallions, drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil, and serve.
Answer on page 4
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Sudoku Answer
INSIDE
• Looking Back on the Year and Looking Forward to the Next PAGE 1 • Do You Have Specific Questions About Your Social Security Benefits? PAGE 3
• Vegan Roasted Red Cabbage PAGE 3
• The Best Skiing Destinations in the World PAGE 4
Who’s Ready for Some Powder? 3 of the World’s Greatest Winter Sport Destinations
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
St. Anton, Austria
The sound of the first carve through fresh powder is the anthem of all winter sports enthusiasts. Here are three of the world’s best places to experience that powder you’ve been craving all year.
A destination that looks like a cross between a Nordic paradise and Olympic-level runs, Whistler is filled with true magic, winter activities, and a town that captivates the senses. When you see the mountains of British Columbia, you’ll understand why they hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics. The location’s beauty is only part of your stimulating
If you want a great location for next year’s Christmas card photo,
Breckenridge, Colorado John Denver’s anthem “Rocky
there’s no better place than the Tyrolean Alps. Nestled in a valley between perfectly molded mountains, the Austrian landscape provides a beautiful backdrop for your winter excursions. The densely wooded areas and the bright reflection of the snow
Mountain high” is about the freedom he felt here. Where there are great mountains, there’s even better snow. The ski resort boasts five
experience, because every curve of fresh powder makes your pupils dilate. Once you’re done
frame the vibrant town that’s just waiting to be explored. When you’re ready for
peaks, 187 trails, 34 lifts, four terrain parks, and a renowned cross-country trail. After a day on the slopes, head into
world-class runs, hop in one of the 11 gondolas and zip down the hills that hosted the 2001 Alpine World Ski Championships.
flying down the hill where Bode Miller took the bronze, head over to the winter wonderland of the old Olympic Village for a cozy night in a picturesque town.
the town of Breckenridge for dining and activities that ditch the glitz and glamour of Vail or Aspen and take you straight to the heart of fun.
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