Take a look at our newsletter this month!
October 2018
Award The
Letter
Send Your Kids to College, Keep Your Money at Home
713.422.2720
www.thecollegemoneyguys.com
A REAL TREAT WHY I STILL DRESS UP FOR HALLOWEEN
Those who know me know I go all out for Halloween. We make it a point at the Lloyd household to have one of the spookiest houses on the block come Oct. 31. This is partly because we live in one of those neighborhoods where they truck in kids from all over to go trick-or- treating, and my wife and I want to pull out all the stops. But I’ll always make that extra effort to make our house look haunted regardless of where we live. More than just candy, I feel it’s important to give trick-or- treaters a magical experience. When I was a kid growing up in Robinvale, there was this couple who lived down the street. I always thought of them as being old, but now that I think about it, they were probably the same age I am now. I’m not sure if they were empty nesters or just never had children, but that didn’t stop them from going all out for Halloween. Trick-or-treating at that couple’s house is still one of my most vivid memories of the holiday. It’s not that they gave out king-size candy bars or had an animatronic jump scare lurking on their porch; they just fully committed to the Halloween experience. One year, for example, the husband came to the door in a full skeleton costume, handing out roasted peanuts he claimed were bones. To this day, I still remember the grave, raspy voice he put on while sifting through the rattling bowl of treats: “Bones … bones for you.”
Looking back as an adult who now has to worry about the logistics of preparing for trick-or-treaters, I really appreciate the craftsmanship that went into making the experience special. Now I get into full costume to greet the ghouls and goblins who come to our porch. One year, I got really elaborate, wearing a lizard mask that I paired with a top hat and cane. Unfortunately, the latex proved far too hot for a Houston evening, and I’ve since taken a cue from my childhood neighbors. This year, you’ll find me in full skeleton regalia greeting trick-or-treaters with my best spooky voice. While we do make an effort to have the best candy bars on the block, the most important thing for my wife and me is capturing the atmosphere of Halloween. The candy will be gone in a week or so, but memories? Those will last a lifetime. Writing this, I can’t help but see a connection between my love of Halloween and my job. Getting candy was great as a kid, but I’ve found I love handing it out even more. That I get to play a role in helping kids go to college could not be a better fit for who I am. I get to help make magical memories year-round, no costume required.
“Getting candy was great as a kid, but I’ve found I love handing it out even more.”
As a kid, I was both scared and entertained. Going to that house felt like the real Halloween experience, and I loved it every year. More importantly, it taught me and the other kids on the block an important lesson: Face your fears and you’ll be rewarded. That, to me, is what the holiday is all about.
To all our families out there, have a safe and happy Halloween!
–Bra nnon Lloyd
Call us! 713.422.2720 • 1
Published byThe Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
Are You Using Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Wrong? COOKING OILS DECLASSIFIED
Not all cooking oils are created equal. Some cooking oils have distinct flavors, while others are suited for high temperatures. Every oil is unique. Here are six common oils and their best uses. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil An often misused oil, extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) should not be used for cooking or frying. It’s simply too delicate and cannot withstand high temperatures, which can damage the flavor, ruining dishes. Instead, use it as a finishing oil — drizzle it over pasta, salad, or bread.
play well with high temperatures. Keep it at 350 degrees or below and use it as a butter substitute.
Canola Oil/Vegetable Oil A good option for high-heat cooking, baking, and frying, these utilitarian oils are completely neutral in flavor, but they’re not heart- healthy. Vegetable oil is a generic mix of oils, including soybean, canola (rapeseed), and palm oils, making it the most inexpensive cooking oil. Peanut Oil Great for high-heat cooking, frying, and deep-frying, peanut oil has a neutral flavor, so you can easily use it in just about any dish that needs a cooking oil. It’s also a more heart-healthy option than canola and vegetable oils. Avocado Oil When you need an oil to withstand high temps, this is your oil. It has a smoke point of 510 degrees, making it perfect for grilling and stir-frying. What makes avocado oil particularly unique is it can also be used as a finishing oil, like EVOO. It’s light yet resilient.
Olive Oil Unlike EVOO, standard olive oil can be used for cooking and frying. It can withstand temps up to about 460 degrees. In many cases, you can use it in place of other cooking oils — just be sure you’re using plain olive oil and not EVOO. Coconut Oil Better for baking than cooking, coconut oil is generally solid at room temperature. It can be used for some cooking, but like EVOO it doesn’t
OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST
“Kurt and the CMG provided exceptional service and advice through every step of the college application process for our family. Thanks to the CMG and the tools and advice they provided, our children received scholarships to schools we never would have considered due to the cost. The schools are a great fit, and their futures are bright! Thanks, CMG!” – Brown Family
2 • www.thecollegemoneyguys.com
Published byThe Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
IS IT REALLY THAT IMPORTANT? YOU BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR IT IS!
Most families are procrastinators, which is why few people are financially prepared for weddings, homes, retirement, or college education. Our focus is college funding, and we know how important it is to start saving for your child’s college education early. Let’s discuss three little-known reasons why you and your child are better off planning a college education in early high school. Reason 1 When you save money in the wrong places, it can count as much as seven times more heavily than money collected in the right places. It’s important that you determine which assets you have accumulated in the wrong places so you can gift, transfer, or reposition them before applying for financial aid. If you wait until the last minute to do this, it’ll be far too late to change the mix of your financial picture. You’ll end up losing thousands of
dollars in financial aid that your child would’ve been eligible for otherwise.
never have to be repaid. You can only get these scholarships if you apply for them, and you can only do that if you start looking for them in your child’s early years of high school. By knowing these reasons, you are now armed with knowledge that can save you thousands of dollars.
Reason 2 No matter which schools your child ends up applying to, the government will expect you to pay your fair share toward the cost. This is known as an “expected family contribution,” and it’s the minimum amount of money colleges will expect you to pay. Knowing how much you’re going to spend sooner rather than later can help you in the long run. Waiting until your child is in their senior year of high school will leave you with little to no wiggle room. Reason 3 Although private scholarships only make up 1 percent of all the money that exists for college funding, it’s still worth looking for them. Private scholarships are sources of free money that
HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS
HAVE A LAUGH
Inspired by foodnetwork.com
INGREDIENTS • 3 packages unflavored gelatin • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar • 1 cup light corn syrup DIRECTIONS 1. In a mixing bowl, combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water. Let sit while you make the syrup. 2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water until the sugar dissolves. 3. Raise heat to high and bring syrup up to 240 F, using a candy thermometer to check for temperature. 4. With an electric whisk on low speed, slowly whisk syrup into gelatin mixture. Switch speed to high and whip for 15 minutes, until very thick. Fold in vanilla after whipping. 5. Dust a nonmetal baking dish with powdered sugar and spoon mixture into dish. Smooth mixture, top with more powdered sugar, and let stand uncovered overnight. 6. Cut into squares, decorate, and serve. • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract • Powdered sugar, to coat
Call us! 713.422.2720 • 3
Published byThe Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
2000 North Loop West Suite 200 Houston, TX 77018 713.422.2720
INSIDE
1 2 2 3 3 4
Why I Still Dress Up for Halloween
Understanding Cooking Oils andTheir Uses
Testimonial
Early Planning for College
Homemade Marshmallows
3 of the Weirdest Cryptids in Pseudoscientific History
BONUS MONEY-SAVING CONTENT INSIDE!
THE MONSTERS SOME BELIEVE ARE REAL 3 OF THE WEIRDEST CRYPTIDS IN PSEUDOSCIENTIFIC HISTORY
There are people who would have you believe that monsters live among us all year long. These individuals, referred to as cryptozoologists (or just “wishful thinkers” by their skeptics), believe a hidden animal kingdom exists just beyond the edge of mainstream biological science. Here are three of the weirdest, almost-certainly imaginary “cryptids” to ever capture the human imagination. According to legend, the 1.1 million-acre Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey are home to more than just birds and deer. The story goes that when one Jane Leeds gave birth to her 13th child, she was dismayed to add yet another kid to her responsibilities. She cried out, “Oh, let this one be the devil!” Shortly after the child was born, the boy was transmogrified into The Jersey Devil
a twisted creature with the malformed head of a goat, leathery wings, and a thrashing, forked tail. After slicing the midwife with its ragged claws, the beast flew up the chimney and fled into the trees. Hundreds of years later, the beast is still said to creep the backwoods on its cloven hooves, glowering from the blackness with shining, red eyes. When European settlers began edging into the territory of Aboriginal Australians, they heard whispered, frightened tales of a man-eating “water spirit” that lived in the lakes and rivers of the area. Descriptions of the creature varied wildly. The monster was alternately described as an enormous starfish, an alligator-like creature with the head of an emu, or a massive bulldog-faced beast. But accounts held one thing The Bunyip
in common: The monster claimed the lives of any who dared camp near its watery domain.
The Loveland Frog
One night, near Loveland, Ohio, a man reportedly beheld a trio of bipedal frog-people slapping their webbed feet along the side of the road. If that wasn’t enough, one even had a magic wand, which shot sparks as the man ran off. Apparently, not all mythical beasts are bloodthirsty monsters; some are a little more Kermit than Cthulhu.
4 • www.thecollegemoneyguys.com
Published byThe Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online