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F I N A N C I A L S E R V I C E S , L L C
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DECEMBER 2021
A NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE JACKPOT Why It’s Time to Sort Through Your Assets
Recently, as some of you know, my wife has been helping her family dispose of personal assets from inside real estate, garages, and barns. She’s also been hard at work finding a use for all those assets. Some items are things we can readily sell; others are collectible, but it’s difficult to find the right collector. Quite frankly, some are just plain junk. Recently, my client’s children invited me to her home. I knew she was a saver, but I had no idea what was going on behind closed doors. As we sat in the living room, they pulled out a National Geographic magazine, and they asked me to go through it. I turned page by page, and every 3–5 pages, I’d find a $20, $10, or $5 bill. By the time I finished that one magazine, I’d collected over $120 that their mom had stuffed in the binding. It’s not a rare occurrence; I’ve had clients do the same thing with Bibles, sacks of money in the wall or ceiling, and even under “a nostalgic bed mattress.” When my wife cleaned out her aunt’s home, she found silver coins in jars, boxes, dresser drawers, even a watch box. Totaled up, she uncovered several pounds of silver. Now, her aunt had said she didn’t have any money — only the home, which she left to family members. But when we started digging through — and I do mean digging through — it turned out she had a collecting habit left over from the war years. We found magazines, gift cards, a drawer full of plastic bag tags, birthday cards with uncashed checks, and cash in unsent birthday cards. If my wife had proceeded, as family requested, by taking everything, throwing it in the junk, and then moving on, we would have lost about $60,000 to $70,000 worth of assets forever. My wife worked late at night scrubbing, cleaning, and repositioning those assets. We gave some items to the National Geographic Society, our local genealogy society in Lake Odessa, or other charities. We also found private homes for many of the items. We were surprised at how many people wanted antique clothing from the ‘20s, ‘30s, or even ‘60s.
In the end, did my wife make an hourly wage that was sufficient to compensate for that work? No, but it was never the intention. She is a recycler who believes things need to be used if at all possible. She recycled a lot of magazines, papers, and other items, though many things were unusable and thrown out. As you look around your home this holiday season, take note of where any precious items are. Then, share those locations with family members. This time of year is a great opportunity to take stock of what you have and get rid of what you don’t need. First, give to family, then give to others, and finally, recycle what is left. It will help you stay on an even keel and ensure your assets go to whom you want, when you want — with as few tax implications as possible.
–Gary Mattson
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THINK BETTERWITH ADAMGRANT
A
Think about the sting you feel when you are proven wrong. It hurts, doesn’t it?
But what if it didn’t have to? Better yet, what if it shouldn’t?
Regardless of our attempts at humility, humans’ egos have inflated, and we are all conditioned to believe that being wrong somehow equates to being a bad person. However, renowned author and psychologist Adam Grant challenges this notion in his New York Times bestseller, “Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know.” With today’s divisive climate, Grant argues that we hold our beliefs up like a badge, illuminating them so brightly that we become blind to other truths or realities. Far too often, our mindsets focus on what is black and white, rather than understanding the gray nuances found in between. In “Think Again,” Grant’s third book, he argues that as rapidly as we get information in today’s digital world, we cannot be expected to fully know all of it. Being wrong is part of human nature, but as we gain more accessibility to information, we must be willing to do two things: rethink and unlearn.
KEEP YOUR HAIR LUSH IN RETIREMENT 5 Tips for Good Hair Health as You Age
products without parabens, phthalates, sulfates, alcohol, or silicones. (Healthline.com has a great guide for this!) You should also buy products made for your hair type, whether that’s oily or dry, coiled or curled. Finally, avoid dying your hair at home or regularly styling it with heat. Both things will damage your locks! 3. Avoid crash diets. When you lose a lot of weight at once, you can shock your body and either slow your hair’s growth or cause it to fall out! To avoid this, aim for a slow, sustainable weight loss instead. 4. Be gentle with your locks. To keep your hair looking its best, swap your brush for a wide-tooth comb, always be gentle with tangles, and if you have longer locks, avoid styling them in tight buns, braids, or ponytails. High-tension styles can damage your hair. 5. Reduce your stress . It sounds like a cliche, but the healthier you are, the healthier your hair will be! To boost your health, try minimizing the stress in your life with regular exercise, outdoor activities, meditation, and plenty of sleep.
If your hair stylist has a quote on the wall, odds are good it’s this one: “Invest in your hair. It’s the crown you never take off.” No one knows for sure who came up with that saying, but the older we get the more truth there is to it. It takes time and energy to prevent a lush head of hair from turning into a sparse one. Everyone’s hair thins, lightens, and gets brittle with age. It’s a sign of a long-lived life and nothing to be ashamed of. That said, there’s no reason to lose your hair before your time! Here are five strategies to keep your crown shining as long as genetics allow. 1. Never skip the protein. According to the Cleveland Clinic, your hair is made almost entirely of protein, and it will suffer when you don’t eat enough! Dermatologist Wilma Bergfeld recommends eating low-fat red meat a few times a week for hair health, but you can also get protein from plant-based sources like tofu, lentils, and chickpeas. 2. Choose natural products that are tailored to your hair type. When you’re shopping for shampoo and conditioner, look for
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T’S ‘THINK AGAIN’ Better Mindset for Growth Grant challenges readers to stand in the discomfort of being wrong, celebrate that there is something new to learn, and challenge themselves to interact with those who propose a new way of thinking. By doing so, Grant asserts that we can speak and argue with conviction while actually engaging and listening to arguments as if we are wrong. This allows us to learn, engage, and grow. In “Think Again,” Grant asks readers to consider better ways to approach their steadfast beliefs. Readers will find amusement in Grant’s real-world examples of turning skeptics into believers within a variety of topics. And, through these examples, readers will discover new ways to listen so they can gain a greater understanding of the world around them.
Upcoming Events Stay tuned for the return of our First Friday events in 2022 and many other opportunities to see your Mattson team! Visit MattsonFinancial.com/events to stay up to date! TAKE A BREAK!
You can pick up your copy of “Think Again” and other books by Grant from an independent book retailer or by visiting Amazon.com.
LAUREL’S
DIY HOLIDAY EGGNOG
Inspired by TastesBetterFromScratch.com
Ingredients
• • • • •
6 egg yolks
• • •
1 pinch salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract Cinnamon and whipped cream, for garnish
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 cups milk
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Directions
1. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until light and creamy. Set aside. 2. In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the cream, milk, nutmeg, and salt. Bring to a simmer. 3. Add a spoonful of the milk mixture to the egg mixture. Whisk vigorously and repeat, one spoonful at a time. 4. When most of the milk is whisked in, add the egg mixture to the saucepan. 5. Whisk until the liquid thickens slightly or reaches 160 F. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract. 6. Pour the eggnog into a glass container and cover. Refrigerate. 7. When the eggnog has thickened, pour it into glasses, garnish, and enjoy!
Solution
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1
Why It’s Time to Sort Through Your Assets
Embrace Being Wrong With Adam Grant’s Help
2
5 Ways to Keep Your Hair Lush in Retirement
DIY Holiday Eggnog
3
Mark Your Calendar!
Worried About Your Gut Health While Traveling?
4
**Reminder: If you have any changes to your financial situation, please notify us as soon as possible.
Investment advisory services offered through Mattson Financial Services, LLC, an SEC-Registered Investment Advisor. Insurance and annuities offered through Lakeview Financial Group, LLC. Mattson Financial Services, LLC and Lakeview Financial Group, LLC are affiliated companies.
Why Does Your Stomach Hurt While Traveling? Quick Gut Health Tips for Travelers
Picture this: You’re flying for a holiday reunion with your family. By the time you leave the airport after arriving at your destination, your stomach is already doing flips, and you haven’t even dug into your favorite family dishes yet.
Also, even if you wake up at 4 a.m. for your first flight, don’t gulp down coffee all morning. Overconsumption of beverages with lots of sugar, caffeine, or alcohol can irritate your gastrointestinal system, especially if you already have a sensitive stomach. Instead, drink plenty of water, which can also help alleviate the risk of constipation. If that’s your main concern, keep in mind that Dr. Ravella says a lack of fiber is the main reason for constipation while traveling. An easy way to avoid this is to eat whole-plant foods, even at restaurants. Follow these tips when you need help fast. Dr. Ravella says that over-the-counter medications, such as antacids, can help your heartburn. If you struggle with mild traveler’s diarrhea, try to keep bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto- Bismol) and loperamide (Imodium) in your carry-on, ready at all times. If your symptoms worsen into fever, bloody diarrhea, bloody vomiting, or severe abdominal pain, see a health care provider right away. Lastly, if you really want to be comfortable while traveling, it might be worth trying a magnesium (magnesium bisglycinate chelate) supplement, which has been shown to improve jet lag and promote relaxation and sleep while traveling. Best of luck!
If this situation sounds familiar, here’s how you can keep your gut healthy, no matter where you are this winter.
Traveling is stressful — even for your gut. Dr. Shilpa Ravella, a gastroenterologist at NewYork- Presbyterian and Columbia University Medical Center, told Healthline, “Travel can be a hectic time … You may be eating out more and eating new foods in new locations, including more processed foods, and it’s easy to overeat in this setting, placing more stress on your digestive system than at home.”
The best solution is to take things slow to avoid overeating. Not only does overeating stretch your stomach, but
also “research has found that people who overeat are 10 times more likely to need emergency medical attention for food obstruction,” Dr. Ravella says.
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