Check out our August newsletter!
AUGUST 2019
PATRIOTWEALTHNC.COM
PHONE | 919.322.4113
PATRIOT WEALTH
THE INDESCRIBABLE FEELING OF MEETING YOUR BABY FOR THE FIRST TIME: WELCOME TO THE WORLD, BABY NOAH!
If you’ve been following along with our recent newsletters, then you know that my wife, Rachel, and I have spent the last nine months excitedly awaiting the arrival of our son Noah, and I’m happy to share that on June 7 at 6:15 p.m., we got to officially meet him for the first time! After waiting for what feels like a millennium for him to make his arrival — I’m sure it felt even longer for Rachel — getting to hold your baby in your arms the moment after they have been born is an indescribable experience. You get to watch as their mom’s stomach gets bigger and see the baby’s little face on the ultrasound screen. But, when you are cradling the baby in your arms, it’s really difficult to put into words how awe- inspiring the feeling is. The only way I can think to describe it is as an extraordinary privilege. Even though Rachel and I couldn’t stop staring at his beautiful face, we eventually got settled in the recovery room and shared him with all our family and friends who waited patiently at the hospital during the delivery. In fact, the support we’ve received from everyone has been unbelievable. The help we’ve received from our families, our close friends, and my clients has been a huge blessing. We are so grateful. As a new dad, I’m still not sure I’ll ever get over the joy of just sitting there and staring at Noah. When I’m not gawking at his adorable face, I’m in constant disbelief at how quickly and naturally Rachel has taken to motherhood. While I never had a
shred of doubt about her capabilities, seeing her in action was enough to prove how wonderful of a mom she will be. Because Noah is so reliant on Rachel for nutrition during these first few months, we’ve been working to find ways I can contribute and give her time to rest. While I try to help out whenever I can, we decided to officially designate bath time for father/son bonding. It’s been really awesome for me because I’ll be at work thinking about how excited I am to get home and see Noah, and then I’ll get in my car, drive home, have dinner with Rachel while Noah finishes his nap, and then I’ll give him a bath followed by a bottle. Fortunately, he loves the bath! The only time he cries is when I have to take him out of the water. But, Rachel has even found a way to make that transition easier by warming his towels in the dryer! Lucky kid! While I only have a couple months of parenting experience, I can already tell it’s going to be one of the greatest adventures of my life. I’m so thankful to Rachel for bringing our handsome baby into this world and for being such an amazing and thoughtful mother to him, to our parents for setting great examples and helping out with their new grandbaby, to all the people who have shown us love and support, and to Noah for picking me to be his dad. I’m having so much fun already.
–Wes White
Investment Advisory Services is offered through Retirement Wealth Advisors (RWA), a Registered Investment Advisor. Patriot Wealth and RWA are not affiliated. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
PATRIOT WEALTH | 919.322.4113 | P1
RING, RING — IT’S A ROBOT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM PHONE SCAMS AND ROBOCALLS
Two of the most common scams are phone scams and robocalls. These calls are incredibly annoying and can trick you out of valuable information if you’re not careful. While it might seem like these scams are inescapable, there are some precautions you can take to avoid their traps. GIVE THEM THE SILENT TREATMENT. One thing you can do to avoid these fraudulent, time-wasting calls is to simply hang up. If possible, it is best to not answer at all. It’s always good to have a list of numbers you can reference, so you never have to guess who is calling. Think of it as going one step beyond caller ID. In some cases, answering and then hanging up can actually do more harm than good. Answering the phone gives
the scammers confirmation that the number works and that they should try again. Once your number is confirmed as active, it often gets put on an “active number” list that can then be sold to other scammers who market in these types of phone numbers. If you can’t verify who is calling without picking up, don’t answer. Let it go to voicemail. If it’s important, the person will leave a legitimate message and you can respond afterward. PUT UP SOME DETERRENTS. You can even go a step further and block the calls. Many phone service providers ofer call-blocking options, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. You can sign up for this service in-store or on your service provider’s website. Each service costs about $4 per month. There are also a number of call-
blocking apps available on Android and Apple devices, but if you subscribe to a blocking service through your phone provider, these apps are unnecessary. Finally, you can sign up for the Federal Trade Commission’s “Do Not Call” program (DoNotCall.gov). While the Do Not Call program can help cut back on calls, this list is largely ignored by scammers. If you’re getting a ridiculous number of robocalls every day, signing up can ofer you some brief respite. making it harder for scammers to call you. But until they are able to pass tough, efective legislation, it is up to us as consumers to remain vigilant and do what we can to keep our personal and financial data safe and secure. Thankfully, Congress is already attempting to fix this problem by
3 TASKS TO ADD TO YOUR FINANCIAL TO-DO LIST THIS AUGUST PLANNING FOR 2020 STARTS NOW
1. REVISIT YOUR ESTATE PLAN
gatherings at the beach or provide our son or daughter with the wedding of their dreams, but we must plan for these expenditures. Don’t let the summer months derail you from your long-term financial goals. Instead, use the downtime to review significant upcoming expenses to iron out the details. Are you still on track? As always, if you need some help, we are just a phone call away. Now that you’re a little more than halfway through 2019, it is an excellent time to revisit your risk tolerance. In times of prolonged bull-markets, it is easy for us as investors to become complacent with our plan or even feel tempted to become more aggressive with our investment strategy. However, it is imperative we take an objective view and do not fall victim to the “herd-mentality.” Be sure you assess your risk tolerance annually as your retirement plan is not static. Know what level of risk you are willing to take and how much risk you can afford to take. It is just one of the many things we are here to help you discover throughout the planning process. 3. ASSESS YOUR APPETITE FOR RISK
For many folks, estate planning is easy to dismiss or forget about altogether. Our lives become busy with work, family obligations, traveling, and volunteering. Once we retire, we are ready to take a break and enjoy the fruits of our labor. However, without proper estate planning, all of your hard work can be dashed away in one accident or unforeseen death. How are the kids going to receive our assets? Are my assets protected from the probate process? Do I have proper planning in place to pass on the correct type of assets — taxable, tax-deferred, tax-free? Do I have su cient liquidity within my plan to adequately fund my burial expenses without being a burden to my children or grandchildren? All of these are useful questions to revisit during the summer months as you sip your coffee on the front porch!
2. REVIEW YOUR UPCOMING LARGE EXPENDITURES
The summer season is one of the most comfortable times to spend big and spend often. We all love to host family
P2 | PATRIOTWEALTHNC.COM
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, upward of 40% of people aged 55 and older are continuing to work past the normal retirement age. There are a number of reasons why people are choosing to stay employed, with one of the biggest being a lack of retirement funds, but some are also using work to keep their minds and skills sharp. In fact, most of the jobs that the 55-plus crowd goes after keep them engaged with the community and help them lead more active lives. WHY MORE ADULTS OVER 55 CONTINUE TO WORK FINDING FULFILLMENT IN YOUR GOLDEN YEARS • Real estate appraisers/assessors • Property/real estate/community association managers • Technical writers • Tax preparers • Construction/building inspectors • Crossing guards • Clergy These seven jobs are projected to grow between 8–14% over the next six years according to BLS data. They often pay well and don’t always require a full-time commitment. Many even ofer flexible schedules, which can help older workers spend more time with peers or loved ones. This balance is exactly what many older workers are looking for, especially those who are “part-time retired.” More importantly, however, most older workers find these jobs fulfilling. They allow older folks to interact with the community and stay active, both of which, research suggests, are essential to healthy living as people age. For many, working past retirement, or not leaving the workforce entirely, can be a win-win-win: It’s a win for your bank account, a win for your health, and a win for the community. The BLS categorized the jobs many older workers are currently pursuing:
SUMMERTIME GAZPACHO
INGREDIENTS
Inspired by CookieAndKate.com
• 2 1/2 lbs ripe tomatoes; cored, seeded, and cut into 1-inch chunks • 1 small cucumber; peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch chunks • 1 red bell pepper; cored, seeded, and sliced into ribbons • 1 small Vidalia onion, peeled and cubed
• 1/4 cup basil leaves • 1 clove garlic, peeled • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 2 tbsp sherry vinegar • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1. Place a blender and medium mixing bowl on your workstation. 2. Divide the tomato chunks, cucumber pieces, and bell pepper slices evenly between blender and bowl. Place entire onion in blender. 3. Add basil, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper to blender. Blend on low, gradually raising speed to high until smooth, about 2 minutes. 4. Add blender contents to bowl and mix until just broken up, about 10–20 seconds. 5. Let mixture sit in fridge for a minimum of 2 hours. Transfer to bowls and serve. DIRECTIONS
PATRIOT WEALTH | 919.322.4113 | P3
PATRIOT WEALTH 4350 Lassiter at North Hills Ave. #330 Raleigh, NC 27609
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
PATRIOTWEALTHNC.COM PHONE | 919.322.4113
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Welcome to the World, Baby Noah! PAGE 1
How to Best Protect Yourself From Scam Calls PAGE 2
Your Financial To-Do List PAGE 2
Summertime Gazpacho PAGE 3
Why Are So Many People Deciding Not to Retire? PAGE 3
Not Your Average Vacation Lodgings PAGE 4
AMERICA’S WEIRDEST AIRBNBS
THIS AIN’T MOTEL 6!
MANCAVE APARTMENT/AIRPLANE HANGAR Geneva, Florida
When Airbnb was founded a little over a decade ago, the developers hoped to provide an alternative to traditional travel accommodations. Today, with annual revenue in the billions, the service is an industry unto itself. While most people use Airbnb to “live like a local” while traveling, you can find some truly wacky lodging options if you spend some time searching the platform. Here are just a few of the many contenders for the title of “Weirdest Airbnb in the U.S.” For ease of searching, the listings here have the same titles as they do on Airbnb.
Airbnb super hosts Dan and Deborah have no shortage of quirky properties for rent — including yurts and treehouses — but their apartment fashioned out of an airplane hangar surely takes the cake. You’d be forgiven for thinking it was a theme restaurant featuring eclectic aviation. Memorabilia lines the walls with a bar front and center, and the bed is in a loft high above the ground.
BRAND NEW STUDIO EARTHSHIP Taos, New Mexico
DOG BARK PARK INN B&B Cottonwood, Idaho
Earthships, houses run by clean energy and featuring reused materials, are a fixture of the Taos area. This one, which looks almost like a crashing wave with a living space in its undertow, combines the rustic charm of truly getting away
As you approach the Dog Bark Park Inn, you won’t have to guess if you’re in the right place. After all, how many buildings are shaped like beagles? When describing the space on Airbnb, the hosts make no bones about who this rental is aimed for. “Stay in a giant dog!” they say. In addition to being inside a massive wooden dog, you’ll find canine-themed games, books, and more. Talk about ruffing it.
from it all with modern amenities like Wi-Fi and in-home laundry. It’s a truly unique living space surrounded by pristine nature and not far from the historic Taos Pueblo.
P4 | PATRIOTWEALTHNC.COM
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs