Check out our June newsletter!
JUNE 2025
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Why Camping Still Captures My Heart Tents Over Tech
Camping has always been one of my favorite things to do — the peace in nature, a well-needed break from technology, and a special chance to connect with family and the outdoors. From my happy childhood memories in the Colorado Rockies to the big family trips we take today, some of my most beloved memories involve setting up tents and sitting around campfires. June is National Camping Month, and though I never need an excuse to go out in nature, I’m always ready to share what makes this special type of vacation so wonderful for me.
were few and far between; it would be just my parents, brother, sister, and me catching fish for dinner, hiking a 14,000- foot mountain, and enjoying camping. To this day, camping is one of my favorite ways to de-stress. No technology, few man-made sounds and the peace and quiet of being in the woods and listening for ... quiet. There’s nothing like the smell of the trees, or a crackling campfire or looking at a sky full of stars at night that feel so close you could almost touch them. Even though one can never really totally escape others, it’s still a great way to separate from the bustle of everyday life if even for a while. One of my favorite camping trips of all time was when my family and those of my sister and brother all joined up for five days in the mountains. We found an off- grid campsite big enough for us all and the kids and adults just enjoyed hanging out and enjoying nature in all its wonder. My children have inherited my joy of camping, though my older kids are more likely to book a cabin where they can experience the woods from a cozy home base. But when they were younger, they would sit on the tailgate of my pickup, bouncing around and laughing as we rode up the mountain. Last year, my
27-year-old daughter and I took a day off work just to go ATVing in the woods and have a picnic. There’s no right or wrong way to camp; we stick to tents and aren’t big on “glamping.” These days, we sleep on cots instead of outside under the stars and have learned some valuable tricks to keep comfy and toasty. We’ll warm up with a little propane heater and select a site that won’t flood if it rains. Been there, done that, and a flooded tent, even once, teaches you that lesson really fast. Sometimes, we get so busy with work, activities, and our list that our minds run nonstop. In the mountains, we find a sense of peace, slowing down, and the ability to breathe a little deeper, helping to calm the pace of life, if even for a little while. I like to notice what I can let go of, and what the world looks like when I can just be still, watching the beauty around us. It’s a true act of gratitude that connects us to the land and the people we love most of all. –Jeremy Rafferty
It’s a true act of gratitude that connects us to the land and the people we love most of all.
Growing up, we weren’t wealthy, so most of our vacations were camping trips in the mountains of western Colorado. We never realized we had no money; we were just happy to be camping together for a whole week. Even then, I loved the serenity of nature and how every day was a new experience. You didn’t know what to expect on trails or really what you would end up doing on any particular day. People
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Your Perfect Summer Soiree Formula SIP, SIP, HOORAY! Ready to shake things up this summer? Grab your martini glasses because there’s nothing like a summertime soiree. Whether mixing it up with a tropical tiki night, pouring classy spritzers in the garden, or sipping something cool at a poolside bash, hosting a summer cocktail party is the perfect way to serve up flavor and fun. Get ready to be the host or hostess with the mostest with these delicious tips (and sips) for the ultimate party this summer! Perfect Party Formula Do you want to keep things casual with familiar beers and classic finger foods, or do you want to see your friends in their best “Great Gatsby” attire sipping on a sidecar for a roaring ’20s-themed party? Plan your theme and the perfect menu of drinks, appetizers, and entrees to match. Next, pick out your summer guest squad and invite them at least a month in advance to give them ample notice. Ideally, you’ll want to keep the guest list to about 15 people, mixing in longtime friends and new acquaintances to keep the conversations lively and the party manageable. Mix, Mingle, Move Around Set up an inviting scene with cute cocktail glasses, festive decorations, and different seating options that encourage guests to mingle and have fun. Clear space for a makeshift dance floor, and provide snacks
at little groupings of comfy chairs to entice guests to nosh while they chat. Having an attractive and central bar area can set the party’s mood. You can go all out and hire someone to handle a full bar, create a drink station in the kitchen, or set up a DIY bar cart with recipes and all the ingredients for your friends to be their own bartenders. Shake Up Conversations No celebration is complete without engaging conversation and entertainment. Help your guests get to know each other by putting out fun icebreaker questions on the tables or serving each drink with one. This will get people to open up, laugh, and make new friends (the ultimate party favor). You could also come up with some fun games that encourage a little goofiness, like charades, a board game, or your very own talent show.
The important thing is to get folks together, have fun and enjoy!
TIPS TO KEEP YOUR RETIREMENT ON TRACK Will Your TSP Last as Long as You Do?
Life Expectancy Employees need to make informed choices regarding health, well-being and longevity estimates before determining if there is enough money in their TSP to cover living expenses each month. You want to ensure you will not run out of money. Tax Strategy When strategizing your investments, you need to make sure you have the right tax plan. Are you using tax-free assets like a Roth TSP, Roth IRA, or the Roth portion of your TSP while working, or is the majority of your savings in the traditional, taxable portion? Before you begin taking withdrawals, it’s essential to think about whether to pull that money from taxable or tax-free accounts, or what a mix of the two might look like. Flexibility One limitation of the TSP is that when you withdraw money, it has to come out
proportionally from all your investment funds — G, C, and S. You can’t choose to withdraw money solely from your more conservative G fund. If you need more control over how you withdraw and access different portions of your savings, you may want to roll part of your TSP into your IRA to give you more flexibility to meet short- term and long-term goals. Market Volatility Market volatility, especially in early retirement, can significantly impact whether you will have enough money for the rest of your life or outlive your assets. If you would like to meet with a financial advisor who can help you incorporate these considerations into a plan to help you achieve your retirement goals, contact us at Federal Benefits Made Simple for a free consultation.
When it comes time for a federal employee to retire, either on time or early, choosing how to withdraw money from a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) can significantly impact retirement. It comes down to the question, “Will I have enough money to last a lifetime?” There is no one-size-fits- all answer, but here are several important considerations to keep in mind. Income Needs The first thing to think about is income needs. What will be your monthly expenses and how much money will you need from your TSP to complement your pension and Social Security to ensure you have enough for these expenses?
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Savoring the Off-Season Joys of New Zealand Winter Down Under
Few cultural celebrations capture a crowd’s attention faster than an explosive rendition of a Mãori war dance by a New Zealand sports team. The world’s growing fascination with Mãori culture is one reason travel to New Zealand is soaring, boosting annual tourism spending by nearly 15% last year. While it’s winter there now, the island nation still offers many off-season attractions for the savvy traveler — including the June 19–22 celebration of Matariki, the Mãori New Year. Here are a few others. Skiing and Snowboarding June through October is peak season on New Zealand’s world-class skiing and snowboarding hills. Book accommodations in popular winter sports areas on the South Island, such as Queenstown and Wanaka.
Hundreds of the nation’s diverse brews will be on offer at Beervana, a popular two-day festival on Aug. 22–23 in Wellington. Exploring Coastal Trails Hiking through New Zealand’s stunning coastline and ancient forests — or tramping, as the locals call it — is a major attraction. Many of New Zealand’s Great Walks are on alpine or subalpine tracks and are impassable in winter. But the country’s most popular Great Walk, the Abel Tasman Coast Track, extends 37 miles one way across warmer terrain, past golden beaches and lush native vegetation. This trek offers ample opportunity to enjoy some of the many exotic birds of New Zealand, home to more avian species than any other country in the world. Nature Shows Nearly half of the world’s whale species are in New Zealand’s vast marine territory. Giant sperm whales can be seen year- round, and humpback and southern right
whales are visible from shore between May and September.
If you’re a fan of nighttime lights, stargazing at such celebrated dark-sky sites as Great Barrier Island and the Mackenzie Region on the South Island will amaze you. And for a different kind of evening light, try touring New Zealand’s caves or grottos for a glimpse of exotic glow worms, a native insect that glows blue-green in the dark!
Warm up après-ski with a pint of one of New Zealand’s famous craft beers.
Train Your Brain!
TERIYAKI BEEF SKEWERS
This light, flavorful dish of tender, marinated beef slices can serve as a protein- rich appetizer or a tasty entree for a summer evening.
INGREDIENTS
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
• 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar • 1 cup soy sauce • 1/2 cup pineapple juice (optional) • 1/2 cup water • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large garlic cloves, chopped • 4 lbs boneless round steak, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices • Bamboo skewers soaked in water
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, whisk brown sugar, soy sauce, pineapple juice, water, vegetable oil, and garlic together. Drop beef slices into the mixture and stir to coat. 2. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for 24 hours. 3. Remove beef from marinade, shaking to remove excess liquid. 4. Thread beef slices on skewers in a zig-zag pattern. 5. Preheat grill to medium heat and lightly oil the grate. 6. Cook beef skewers for about 3 minutes per side until the meat is cooked through.
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Insurance products are offered through the insurance businesses Federal Benefits Made Simple and E.A. Buck Financial Services. Federal Benefits Made Simple is an Investment Advisory practice that offers products and services through AE Wealth Management, LLC (AEWM), a Registered Investment Advisor and Buck Wealth Strategies, a Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered only by duly registered individuals through Madison Avenue Securities, LLC (MAS), member FINRA/SIPC. AEWM does not offer insurance products. The insurance products offered by Federal Benefits Made Simple and E.A. Buck Financial Services are not subject to Investment Advisor requirements. AEWM is not affiliated with Federal Benefits Made Simple, E.A. Buck Financial Services, or Buck Wealth Strategies. In California, we are known only as E.A. Buck Insurance Services in all solicitations of insurance. Federal Benefits Made Simple, an E.A. Buck Company is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. E. A. Buck Financial Services, Buck Wealth Strategies, Federal Benefits Made Simple, An E.A. Buck Company are affiliated by common ownership. CMP-50496- 5/25
INSIDE THIS ISSUE page 1 Finding Peace in the Great Outdoors
page 2 Pop the Bubbly, It’s Party Time! TSP Withdrawal Wisdom
page 3 Mãori Culture and More: Discover the
Magic of New Zealand Teriyaki Beef Skewers
page 4 How Burnout Can Signal Depression
The Hidden Health Risks of Burnout CANARY IN THE COAL MINE?
Does your job or housework leave you feeling burnt out? If so, you aren’t alone.
on the inventory include, “I feel emotionally drained by my work.”
Burnout is a common affliction in our technological age. An estimated 48% of employees and 53% of managers claim they’re burned out, according to a 2022 Microsoft survey of 20,000 workers. And stress levels have only worsened since then. Career-driven people, overworked employees, and working people from all walks of life can experience alienation, extreme exhaustion, loss of meaning, and reduced performance, all hallmarks of burnout. The term was coined in the 1970s to denote the exhaustion often experienced by people in the helping professions. Burnout is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, (the professionals’ guide to diagnostic standards). However, the World Health Organization recognizes it as a factor of people’s health. Some doctors use the Maslach Burnout Inventory, a scale measuring a person’s level of exhaustion, cynicism, and professional efficacy, to diagnose burnout. Items
The symptoms of burnout can serve as the proverbial canary in the coal mine — an early warning that overload, overwork, or stress may be on the verge of harming your health. If your
ennui or languor deepens into low self-esteem, guilt, hopelessness, or thoughts of suicide, a vacation or long weekend isn’t likely to help. Clinical depression or anxiety requires different treatments by a therapist or mental health professional. An extended break from work might help to ease the strain but there’s much more involved. The bottom line: If you’re feeling burned out, it’s time to put on the brakes and tune in more closely to your overall well-being!
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