Eagle & Fein - July/August 2023

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JULY/AUGUST 2023

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24 Ballpark Visits Down — Only 6 to Go! THE LATEST UPDATE ON MY BASEBALL QUEST

When I was a kid, my brother Harlan and I played endless games of baseball in our backyard. More often than not, our dad watched from the deck with a thick stack of legal documents on his lap and the Yankees game playing on the radio beside him. He called that spot his “outdoor office.” If I close my eyes, I can still picture him sitting there, leafing through his paperwork and smiling every time the late, great Phil Rizzuto shouted, “Holy Cow!” as he announced the game on the radio.

game and saw a local historical site. It was — and still is — a wonderful way to see the country!

Here are just a few of the cities and sites we have visited so far:

In Houston, we stopped by the NASA Space Center

In Baltimore, we visited Fort McHenry, the spot that inspired “The Star-Spangled Banner” In Washington, D.C., we explored the National Mall, from the U.S. Supreme Court to the Lincoln Memorial In Kansas City, we walked the stacks at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum In Atlanta, we toured The CNN Center In St. Louis, we rode to the top of the Gateway Arch In New York City, we stood at Ground Zero

“I still have trouble believing that we have kept up this journey for 26 years. When we started the quest, I was 33 — next year, I will turn 60!”

• •

been a wonderful ride full of hop-on-hop-off bus tours and memories made with family and friends. Our cousins, Leon and Fred, joined us on several trips, as did our family friend, Gary. We grabbed dinner with Rick in Cincinnati and caught up with family in Florida and Arizona. This year, Mark — a longtime friend, client, and the retiring CFO of Wood-Mizer — will meet us in California. It has been a great journey and I look forward to finishing our baseball park quest in 2027! – Brian Eagle

We have only missed a few years since 1997, first because of our dad’s illness and then because of COVID-19. This summer, Harlan and I are heading to California to continue the quest — and we are almost finished! We only have six parks left to visit, and we plan to stop at two of them this July: the homes of the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers. I still have trouble believing that we have kept up this journey for 26 years. When we started the quest, I was 33 — next year, I will turn 60! It has

My dad passed away in 2016, but his love of baseball lives on in me and Harlan. Before he passed, the three of us started a quest together: Every summer, we pick a Major League Baseball stadium to visit and plan a trip to that city. The quest began in Baltimore, Maryland (home of the Orioles), in 1997 and took us all over the country. During each city, we caught a baseball

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A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

Create the Perfect Stargazing Experience

Pick the right night. All nighttime skies are not created equal. Would- be stargazers must consider the weather and cloud cover. Further, the light from the moon tends to wash out the dimmer sparkle of distant stars, and it’s best to go during or immediately before or after a new moon phase. It can all be complicated, so make it easier with a stargazing forecasting site like GoodToStargaze.com . It will provide all the technical details and a simple “yes” or “no” verdict about the evening’s stargazing suitability. Find the ideal spot. Those who live in rural areas without much light pollution won’t have to go far to see the stars, but everyone else should do a little planning. Scope out a location away from city lights that has an unobstructed view of the sky, and make sure it’s legal for you to go there. You’ll also

need a place to set up blankets or chairs for a comfortable and relaxed experience.

Bring essential supplies. Don’t ruin the perfect evening by being

unprepared! After so much planning, the last thing you want is to be run off by a chilly breeze or some pesky mosquitoes. The summer night in an open space may be cooler than expected, so bring a sweater or jacket. Ensure your clothing and seating are comfortable, and don’t forget bug spray. It’s also wise to pack some snacks and plenty of water. Further, you can step up your game by bringing binoculars or a star map. But remember to take all your goodies home with you. Leave nothing behind so the next amateur astrologists can enjoy their experience as much as you did.

Many children

are fascinated by the mystery and beauty of outer space, but most tend to lose their

reverence as they get older. That doesn’t have to be the case! A night of stargazing is the perfect way to spend a romantic evening or have a fun time with your family. But creating the ideal experience isn’t always as simple as stepping outside and looking up. Here are some tips to make the most of an astrological adventure.

The Tax-Savvy Way to Afford College

USING A 529 PLAN JUST GOT EASIER!

Save the Date! The Indianapolis Walk to End Alzheimer’s is coming up on Saturday, Sept. 30 — and we’d love to see you there! Scan this QR code to join our team or help us fund a cure.

If you want to help your kids or grandkids pay for college, a savings account is a great place to start — but it is not the best option from a tax perspective. Instead, we recommend considering a CollegeChoice 529 Savings Plan (or 529 Plan for short). It will let you save for your family’s education and save on your income taxes! 529 Plan Basics A 529 Plan is a type of savings account designed to pay for education expenses. You can save funds there and withdraw money for a family member’s tuition, books, supplies, housing costs, and more. These plans work best for college students, but you can use up to $10,000 of your 529 Plan savings per year to pay for K–12 tuition. The Tax Advantages The money you save in a 529 Plan is exempt from federal and state taxes. Even better, here in Indiana, you can get a state income tax credit for contributing to one! According to the Indiana Treasurer of State, “Indiana taxpayers who

contribute to a CollegeChoice 529 account may be eligible for a 20% state income tax credit of up to $1,500 each year ($750 for married filing separately) on their contributions.” That means if you contribute $7,500 or more to your 529 Plan, you will get $1,500 back in income tax savings.

Other Benefits The Indiana state income tax credit just

increased on Jan. 1, 2023. It could change again, so this is a great time to start or contribute to a 529 Plan. The federal government also made 529 Plans more attractive this year through the Secure Act 2.0. In the past, if your chosen child or grandchild did not use all of the money you saved in their 529 Plan, you had to use the funds for someone else’s education expenses. Starting in 2024, though, you can roll up to $35,000 of leftover funds into a Roth IRA for your child/ grandchild or yourself, depending on how long you had the 529 Plan.

To learn more about Indiana 529 Plans, visit CollegeChoiceDirect.com .

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Word Search

Let Your Creativity Flourish!

BARBECUE CONCERT

FISHING FOURTH INDEPENDENCE LARKSPUR

PARK POOL SHADE STARGAZING TRAVEL VACATION

We’ve all heard of journaling, scrapbooking, and creating collages, but have you ever thought about making a zine? A zine (pronounced “zeen”) is a self-published and noncommercial book you can create and showcase your talents to the world. Many businesses, such as Aesop and Supreme, have used zines to connect with readers and share their stories. And now, you can do the same! What makes a zine unique? Zines are quickly rising in popularity because they can be anything you want! If you want to highlight your artwork, showcase your writing, display your academic research, or let your creativity blossom, then a zine is for you. There are no rules, guidelines, or processes to follow — everything is up to you! These creations were used initially to highlight minority and underground interests. For example, mainstream magazines may highlight news and other events happening in pop culture and mainstream media. But what about niche topics such as music genres, outsider art, or small-town activists? Zines have filled this gap and provided an outlet to share their voices. Additionally, most people think the only way to be published is to submit their work to many different publications and hope for acceptance, get an agent, or work for a magazine or newspaper. But that’s not the case anymore! Anyone can create a zine — even if they don’t have any experience or training. How do you create a zine? Making your own zine is easy! All you need is paper, glue, scissors, pens, and photos from magazines or the internet. First, you want to take your paper (as many pieces as you wish) and fold each in half to make a book. Then, let your creativity take over! You can cut out newspaper or magazine clippings, print designs off the internet, or draw your own creations. Once you finish your zine, you can keep it to yourself or print and sell several copies. You can publish your zine on social media, reach out to different zine publishers such as Kiosk, Ditto, or Colpa Press, or contact your local, independent bookstore to see if they are willing to showcase your work. WITH A ZINE, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

This summer salad is both hearty and healthy!

INGREDIENTS

• • • • • •

1 lb skirt steak, fat trimmed 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tbsp light brown sugar

• • • • • •

Black pepper

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 large lemon, juiced 6 cups baby arugula

1 tbsp vegetable oil

2 ripe peaches, thinly sliced 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese or feta

Kosher salt

1. In a large resealable plastic bag or baking dish, combine steak, vinegar, garlic, and brown sugar. Marinate 20 minutes at room temperature. 2. Remove steak from marinade, coat with vegetable oil, and season generously with salt and pepper. 3. On a grill or pan set to high heat, cook steak until desired doneness. Rest 5–10 minutes, then thinly slice against the grain. 4. In a small bowl, whisk olive oil and lemon juice to make dressing. Season with salt and pepper. 5. In a large serving bowl, add arugula, peaches, blue cheese or feta, and steak. Drizzle with dressing and gently toss. DIRECTIONS

So, in honor of July being International Zine Month, let your creativity flourish and create your own!

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8500 Keystone Crossing, Suite 555 Indianapolis, IN 46240 317-726-1714 EagleAndFein.com

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1.

An Update on Brian’s Epic Baseball Quest

2.

How to Stargaze Like a Pro

Have You Started a 529 Plan Yet?

3.

You Can Become a Published Author!

Grilled Steak Salad With Peaches

4.

An Easy Way to Broach a Tough Topic

The topic of estate planning has probably never come up at your family’s Fourth of July barbecue — it is not exactly small talk! But just because something is difficult to discuss does not mean we should avoid talking about it. In fact, one of the best things you can do for the people you care about is lean into these tough subjects. Why raise the topic? If you have an insight about death, illness, money, or another “taboo” topic that could make someone else’s life easier, sharing it is simply the right thing to do. The more wisdom we pass on to our friends, family, and clients, the better off we are collectively. As the saying goes, “Alone we are smart; together we are brilliant.” This is particularly true when it comes to estate planning! By connecting your friend, family member, or client with our team of estate planners, you can reduce their stress about the future and help them secure a legacy for their kids and grandkids. How to start the discussion. If you feel inspired to introduce Eagle & Fein to your family and friends, the best way to bring up the topic is by sharing your estate planning experience or your experience working with us as an industry partner. Did you recently get an email from us, read something fascinating in our newsletter, or sit down with us for a beneficiary designation checkup? Open the conversation with that story. Next, share what you have learned from our team, what you find most valuable about our service (our purposefully designed plans and our client portal are popular choices), and how we can help your friend, family member, or client. Here are next steps for your friends. When you finish sharing your wisdom, encourage your friend to move forward with their estate planning by calling us at 317-726-1714. We will schedule a complimentary initial meeting with them to answer their questions, learn their goals, and begin changing their life for the better!

TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT ESTATE PLANNING

IT’S EASIER THAN YOU THINK!

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