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DECEMBER 2018
Garry F. Liday Corporation FINANCIAL COACH
RETIREMENT ASSET MANAGERS, INC. A Registered Investment Advisory Firm (RIA)
MORE THAN PRESENTS OR PARTIES, The Holidays Are About Memories
When I think back to the holidays of my childhood, it’s hard for me to recall exactly what gifts I received. I’m sure at the time, presents were my chief concern, but that’s fallen away as I’ve grown older. Don’t get me wrong, I still look back on those memories with overwhelming fondness, but the focus is different than when I was in the moment. Now, I cherish the experiences of those holidays and the emotions they evoke in me. As I’ve mentioned before, both of my parents grew up during the Great Depression and lived through World War II. Events that seismic can’t help but affect the way you view the world, and my parents were no different. They were stern, no-nonsense folks who valued hard work and keeping your head down. Nevertheless, they did the best with what they had and made every effort to make the holidays special for us. Looking back on it, they went above and beyond what anyone could’ve expected. Our Christmas Eves were always spent at our grandparents’ house with our extended family. In addition to all of the cousins, aunts, and uncles, there was a guest of honor: Santa Claus. Well, it wasn’t really Santa, just a neighbor dressed in full red and white regalia. You couldn’t have told us kids that, though. We spent large portions of those afternoons wondering how Santa could spend so much time with us only to have to travel the entire world after our party was done. We were also allowed to open one present per year on Christmas Eve. Allowing us one gift at the party was a clever tactic, because it temporarily sated our hunger for presents. We would present each other with a gift. But
even that wasn’t enough to quell my sense of anticipation. By the time we were home, I was anxious for Christmas morning. I used every ounce of energy I had to stay up and catch Santa making his rounds. It never worked. At some point during the night, my eyes would close. When I opened them, the gifts were waiting under the tree, the cookies were gone, and I’d have to wait another year to catch the big guy in action. Our gifts always took the form of one larger present and a bunch of small doodads. Some years, like the one when I received a bike, the main gift got all the attention. In others, we had just as much fun with the trinkets as we did with the big-ticket items. Whatever item was most prized, the experience of Christmas was always a magical one. We would even receive a visit from my mom’s father on Christmas Day, which was usually the only time of year we’d see him. He was something of a recluse, and I’d be lying if I said we were super close, but his visits were always cause for excitement. They were, after all, another sign that the holidays were a special and unique time of year. That bike I was so excited about is doubtless gathering rust somewhere, and I’ve long outgrown the sweaters I received over the course of my youth. But the memories, the sense that my parents really cared about making Christmas incredible for us, will be with me forever. When you look back on your childhood, I hope you can say the same. And I hope you’ve passed on the tradition of making the holidays the most wonderful time of the year for the little ones in your life. – Garry Li day
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INTEGRITY, RELIABILITY, & COMMITMENT
How to Spot Fraud This Holiday Season STOP DONATING TO SCAMMERS
During the season of giving, charities receive a much-needed rush of donations as people open their hearts to others. Unfortunately, criminals are all too willing to abuse this goodwill. According to a report from the Justice Department, Americans over the age of 60 lose over $3 billion a year to scams and fraudsters. As charity scams reach their peak, here’s what you need to do to ensure your donations aren’t lining the pockets of criminals. NEVER GIVE BY PHONE OR EMAIL. Charities regularly reach out to past and potential donors through traditional mail, email, phone calls, or text messages. This means fraudsters will mimic their approach with less noble intentions. Because it’s impossible to determine who is on the other end of a call or email, you should never hand over your credit card information to strangers. If you really are speaking to a representative from a legitimate charity, they will direct you to a secure avenue where you can give without worry. FEELING PRESSURED? WALK AWAY. A lot of charities set goals they want to reach before the new year, but even groups that are hoping to raise a certain amount of money
know better than to pressure donors into giving. Donations should always come from the heart, and it’s a bad sign if someone insists there’s a deadline for giving. As the Better Business Bureau says, “Responsible organizations will welcome your gift tomorrow as much as they do today.” ONLY GIVE TO REPUTABLE CHARITIES. Do some research before donating to charities. Look up any prospective charity on Charity Navigator at CharityNavigator.org. This service flags “high concern” organizations suspected of fraud and ranks how reliable established charities are. Even legitimate organizations can be misleading about how they spend their donations. A good rule of thumb is to avoid organizations that spend more than 25 percent of donations on salaries or administrative costs. There are many amazing charities and organizations that do good work. Stay vigilant to make sure you are bringing joy to the world and not falling for a criminal looking to make a quick buck.
ANTIQUING IN THE AGE OF EBAY How to Score the Best Deals
Antique stores are not as common as they used to be. Thanks to online shopping and websites like eBay, it has gotten slightly harder to find quality antique items and good deals. All too often, it seems like sellers rely on eBay and similar websites as a point of reference to price their items, even if eBay isn’t the best avenue to gauge the market. For those of us who love antiques, this can be discouraging, but don’t fret! In the era of mass-produced, low-quality home goods, antiquing is very much alive, and it is still possible to find the unique items you’re searching for. The styles of yesteryear can still be found tucked away in dusty little shops — if you’re willing to put in the work to find them! Here are a few tips for finding those treasures in the age of eBay. INSPECT THE ITEM Good, old-fashioned antiquing comes with one major perk you won’t get on eBay: You get to inspect the item personally before making a purchase. You can investigate the condition of the piece and ask questions about its authenticity. If you notice certain flaws in the item, you can bring that up when it comes time to haggle.
HAGGLE! Don’t forget to bargain with the seller! Being able to negotiate the price of an item is another huge benefit of visiting an antique store in person. While some sellers can ask for a “best offer” on their online listings, many don’t, giving buyers next to no flexibility. A lot of people may be too intimidated to haggle, but when you take the time to do it, you will almost always save a little money. DO YOUR RESEARCH As a buyer, you want to have reference points regarding authenticity, condition, and price. If you find an item you’re interested in, take some time to research it further. It’s great to have your smartphone on you so that you can do some digging before extending an offer or making the purchase. The more informed you are, the greater the chance you’ll get a good deal. HAVE FUN Antiquing is about discovering hidden gems and having fun along the way. When you’re traveling or exploring an area you’ve never been to, visiting antique shops can be a wonderful experience chock-full of history and one-of-a-kind items you wouldn’t otherwise come across. When you go in with an open mind, that’s when you find the greatest treasures!
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How One Man Rescued Hundreds of Animals HURRICANE HERO TONY ALSUP In the wake of destruction, it’s easy to focus on self-preservation. After all, fight- or-flight instincts are hard-wired into our brains so that we can survive dangerous situations. But while fear drives the actions of many in times of chaos, there are a few who find greater strength in compassion. Tony Alsup considered the potential devastation of Hurricane Florence as he sat comfortably in his home in Greeneville, Tennessee. Rather than sit back and watch, the truck driver by trade packed up an out-of-commission school bus he’d bought and set off to South Carolina with one goal in mind: to save as many animals as possible. Stopping by every shelter he found along the coast, Alsup rescued over 60 cats and dogs in both North and South Carolina and took them to Foley, Alabama. The heroic efforts of Alsup saved the lives of many animals, but it wasn’t the first time he’d rushed into danger for a good cause. He’d originally purchased the school bus, which he turned into Noah’s Ark last year, to save animals in Texas and Florida as Hurricane Harvey pounded the Gulf Coast. When he finished there, his mission shifted to helping animals in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria ravaged the island. It’s said that character is defined by the way someone acts when no one is watching. Many people heard of Alsup’s bravery after the devastation of Florence, but as news stories turned to sports, politics, and business, America slowly moved on. Victims of the hurricane who lacked supplies received less national attention, but more than a month later, Alsup’s commitment to the cause was as strong as ever. Living out of the back of the bus for weeks, he drove pets out of the persistent flooding and convoyed shipments of desperately needed supplies to the coastal Carolina towns. You can follow Tony’s commitment on Facebook. He’s not asking for money or fame; he’s just a person with heart to serve, using social media to promote awareness about those who desperately need our help. If you’re wondering what drives such a person, you can find it written at the bottom of every update he posts: “Love y’all, mean it.”
Looking for an easy holiday roast that still feels elegant enough for the occasion? Look no further than this delicious prime rib flavored with garlic, thyme, and red wine. HOLIDAY ROAST PRIME RIB
Inspired by Food Network
INGREDIENTS
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1 bone-in prime rib (6–7 pounds)
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1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
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8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
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2 cups red wine
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4 cups beef stock
INSTRUCTIONS
1. 30 minutes before cooking, remove roast from fridge and let sit until it reaches room temperature. 2. Heat oven to 350 F. 3. Make small slits in prime rib and stuff with slices of garlic. Liberally season with salt and pepper. 4. Place a rack inside a roasting pan and roast prime rib for 2 hours, until medium-rare. 5. To make au jus, place roasting pan with drippings from roast over 2 burners on high. Add wine and scrape pan as liquid reduces. Add beef stock and cook until reduced by half. Finally, sprinkle in thyme. 6. Slice roast and serve topped with au jus.
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Garry F. Liday Corp. Retirement Asset Managers, Inc. A Registered Investment Advisory Firm (RIA) 15405 SW 116th Ave., Suite 103A King City, OR 97224
Call Us: (503) 620-3531 www.garryliday.com
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Inside This Issue Cherished Holiday Memories page 1 Scammed for the Holidays page 2 Antiquing in the Age of eBay page 2 Hurricane Pet Hero page 3 Holiday Roast Prime Rib page 3 The History of the 3 Wise Men page 4
THE HISTORY OF THE MAGI Wise Men or Sorcerers?
The story of the three wise men visiting Jesus is a focal point in the Judeo- Christian telling of the birth of the Christ. Their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh demonstrate reverence for the child through symbolism: Gold symbolized kingship; frankincense was commonly burned in temples and represented the spiritual stature that Jesus would hold; and myrrh was used in preparing bodies for burial, foreshadowing his eventual crucifixion. While the Magi’s role in the birth of Jesus is well-known, not much is understood about the men themselves and their connection to the baby in the manger. Historically known as Magi, the three “wise men” are known for their study of the stars. The Magi were some of the earliest astrologers. Until the 17th century, astrology and astronomy weren’t separate fields of study. Astrology included both the study of how the stars and planets affect human life and the position and motion of the cosmic bodies. In the Persian Empire, Magi were known as astrologer-priests, delineating the fate of men they saw written in the stars. But while they are known for interpreting the significance of planetary movements for human life, many historians suggest there could have been more to their jobs than astrology.
“Magi” comes from the Greek word “magos,” which means magic. Early interpretations of magos included alchemy and sorcery along with astronomy. Speculations swirl among many biblical scholars about the true nature of the Magi, as some tellings portray them as illusionists or fortune-tellers. In a cultural context, the Magi were revered across the Middle East. Along with their knowledge, they had stature and wealth that allowed them to bestow gifts upon those they deemed important. The act of giving presents to a child wasn’t a regular practice for the Magi, and thus the event was significant for the time. While only three Magi are portrayed in the familiar nativity story, the real event would have included many servants. As a matter of fact, the Bible never mentions the number of Magi who visited Jesus, leaving interpretations open as to how many Magi traveled to Bethlehem. In the early seventh century, the Magi were pushed to the outer rims of Africa and India due to the rising popularity of Islam. Since someone could only be considered Magi by birth, it is widely accepted that the line of succession eventually ended, and the Magi faded into history.
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