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The Campbell Family Is Off and Running
for the book. At this point, I don’t know who is more excited for the book —Kim to have it completed or me to read it! I had knee surgery in November, which is proving to be a great decision. It turned out that a surgery I had 30 years ago, following a dislocation caused by a sports injury, led to calcification of the ligaments around my knee joints. During the November surgery, doctors removed the calcification. Since then, my knee has been greatly improved. Because my knee felt better, I was able to go skiing in December, and it felt fantastic. Now, I’m getting back into shape after taking some time off from my routine following the surgery. I’m also excited to try my hand at polo. Kim gave me polo lessons for Christmas, and I can’t wait to start. As you can see, we’re only into the second month of the year, but the Campbell household is already off to a running start. I imagine we will be consistently busy until the kids are out of the house in about five years. I hope your 2018 is off to an exciting start, as well. At Campbell Wealth Management, the year is quickly shaping up to be another great one. If you have any questions regarding retirement and investing, or if you have friends who may need some help, give us a call. If it’s important to you, it’s important to us! Kelly Campbell
The time is quickly approaching for our oldest son, Connor, to leave for the University of Maryland. And he may be off sooner rather than later. His coach, Rob Vaughn, advised the incoming freshman baseball players to sign up for summer classes. He wants them to be ready for the fall. Coach Vaughn also had Connor read a book called “Extreme Ownership,” which was written by two Navy SEALs, JockoWillink and Leif Babin. It’s a great read that discusses topics of leadership and teamwork. It’s also a book I happened to have on my bookshelf already, so we didn’t need to track down a copy. Carter, our second oldest, has gotten into a weekly routine. He joined his high school’s swim team and has been going to practice at 6 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday. So, I’ve also been going to swim practice at 6 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday — but just as the driver. Coupled with those practices, Carter is weightlifting six to seven days a week. He’s been following in the footsteps of his older
brother and working hard to get in shape. He’s been much more difficult to wrestle around because he’s seriously putting on the muscle. Codie, our youngest, has been focusing her attention on drama club. She’s been doing a great job in her school’s theater department and drama class. She even started taking singing lessons and has developed quite a lovely singing voice. Maybe that is part of the reason why Codie has fallen in love with American Idol. She has been watching it for a couple of years, but now she’s thinking about trying out after she turns 15. Kim, meanwhile, is preparing for Connor’s departure. It’s going to be a big change in her life and in all of our lives. To help keep her mind off of that prospect, Kim is committing herself to starting her third book. This work will mark the conclusion of her Triple Crown Trilogy. As Kim gets started, she and I will be heading down to Kentucky to do a little research. She’s planning on meeting with some folks in the horse industry to get additional insight
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Be Social Media Savvy AND STAY CONNECTED
Check a Source Before Sharing Just because something is online, that doesn’t make it true. It’s just as easy for someone to post a lie about a celebrity or politician as it is for Judy to post about her dog. If you read a news story that gets a rise out of you, double check the facts before you hit share. Googling the article’s claims and main points will bring up similar articles — if those claims are true. This will help you determine if it’s breaking news or a big hoax. Just 10 years ago, snail mail and expensive long-distance calls were the only way to keep in touch with the people we couldn’t see every day. Thanks to social media, we can
Are you ready to set out on a grand adventure? It’s time to break the bad news to your grandkids: Social media isn’t just for them. A study from the Pew Research Center found that 47 percent of baby boomers are using social media. Facebook in particular proves to be an excellent resource for adults moving through the later stages of life. This social media platform helps keep you in touch with friends, family members who live far away, and workplace acquaintances who you don’t see during retirement. Social media can help you gather the people you want to keep in contact with in one centralized location. Here are a few things to remember for keeping your digital friendships enjoyable. Social Media Isn’t a Diary No one wants to see a feed clogged with posts from the same person. Your friends might like reading about exciting vacations or days with the grandkids, but they don’t need updates about your wait in line at the grocery store. Sharing TMI (too much information) will put you
stay connected to our loved ones around the world. Now that’s something that deserves a like.
on the fast track to losing friends. It’s Okay to Hit Unfriend
Likewise, if you find yourself sick of Judy’s moment-by-moment updates of her dog’s kidney stone, feel free to cut ties. That might entail unfollowing (you remain friends, but no longer see their posts in your feed), unfriending, or blocking a person entirely.
Do YouWant toWork Post-retirement? Facing the Challenges of Working After 65
A lot of retirees like to work part time after retirement. It’s a great way to stay active, mentally, physically, and within the community. Plus, it brings in supplemental income a lot of retirees use for discretionary spending, rather than dipping into their retirement or investment accounts. In the recent Transamerica Retirement Survey of workers, 56 percent of current workers intend to pursue part-time work post-retirement. However, the survey noted issues with the strategy. While 56 percent of workers intend to work part time in the future, fewer are actually accomplishing that goal. One of the biggest reasons post-retirement work doesn’t happen is a skill mismatch. Industries change and businesses change. As we age, we have to be extra proactive to keep our skills up-to-date. Fall behind, and you give employers a legitimate reason to skip over your résumé. Another challenge retirees — and the workforce at large — face is simply a reduced number of jobs due to automation. The survey also showed that 72 percent of workers have the support of their current employer to continue working after age 65.
However, President Catherine Collinson of Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies (TCRS) says reality is very different. “Look at the labor-force participation rate and you see a very steep decline after age 65.” Employers may be supportive, but many retirees are not sticking around. The problem is, there aren’t many employers that have the ability to shift full-time workers into part-time positions. All too often, it causes productivity and workflow issues within the business. Many businesses need full-time workers to make up the difference, and it doesn’t make logistical sense to keep part-time workers only for the sake of it. If you want to work post-retirement, Collinson gives this piece of advice: “It’s important to have a plan, but also to be mindful that things can happen along the way. You should have a Plan B and maybe even a Plan C. That way, if one pathway doesn’t work out, you’ll have others to follow.”
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Invest in Your Grandchild’s Education Are 529 Plans Right for You?
There are many strategies out there for folks who want to invest in their grandchildren’s education. Different options may be more attractive than others depending on your income bracket and the needs of your family. Traditional strategies, like life insurance policies or paying for your grandchild’s schooling directly, only work if you have the capital. Furthermore, those methods can often negatively affect how much financial aid your grandchild qualifies for. Before you commit yourself to one of these paths, it’s worth exploring a third option: 529 saving plans. 529 plans are income tax-free savings plans specifically designed to help you invest in a child’s higher education. In general, these are treated favorably by financial aid assessors, meaning you won’t hurt your grandchild’s chances of receiving government grants. There are two broad types of 529 plans: college savings plans and prepaid tuition plans. Savings Plans College savings plans use one or more investment portfolios to grow your grandchild’s tuition fund. Each portfolio contains a diversified mix of investments curated by the plan’s money manager. Most plans allow you to select from a menu of portfolio options that best fit your
goals and risk tolerance. Many college savings plans start aggressive and then become more conservative as your beneficiary approaches college age. The downside with these sorts of plans is that there will always be risk involved; there’s no guarantee on investment returns. Prepaid Tuition Plans States and some private institutions have 529 plans available that let you pay for your grandchild’s tuition up front, well before they are ready to head off to college. Some plans guarantee to cover a set amount of future tuition expenses in exchange for a lump sum or payment plan. Other plans allow you to buy “units” or “credits,” which translate to a fixed percentage of an institution’s tuition. Essentially, you pay the cost of tuition today rather than what it will cost by the time your grandchild goes to college. Prepaid plans are far less risky than savings plans, but they aren’t as flexible. They often limit options to state schools or select institutions, though most plans offer some form of reimbursement option if your beneficiary decides to attend another school. College just isn’t as affordable as it used to be. Knowing your options and finding a savings strategy early in your grandchild’s life can help ensure the avenues of higher education stay open for them.
Sweet and Zesty DETOX SALAD
WORD SEARCH
Ingredients For the Salad: • 3 cups chopped kale leaves • 2 cups chopped broccoli florets • 2 cups chopped red cabbage • 1 cup matchstick carrots • 1 cup chopped cilantro • 1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds • 1/3 cup sliced green onions • 1 diced avocado
(Recipe inspired by GimmeSomeOven.com.)
For the Dressing: • 1 large carrot, roughly chopped • 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger • 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon white miso • 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil • Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions 1. To make the salad, add all ingredients to a large bowl; toss to combine. 2. To make the dressing, add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Pulse until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper or add extra honey for a sweeter taste. 3. Drizzle dressing over salad and serve immediately.
ARROW BE MINE CANDLES CANDY CHOCOLATE CUPID FLOWERS
FRIENDSHIP HEART HONEY
RIBBONS ROMANCE ROSES SWEETHEART SWEETIE SWEETS VALENTINE
LACE LOVE PINK RED
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Inside
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A Busy Year Ahead for the Campbell Family Are You Committing a Facebook Faux Pas? The Challenges of Working After Retirement Protect Your Grandchild’s Future Whip Up This Winter Salad in a Flash! Getaways to Fantasize About
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The Best February Getaways to Fantasize About Do you pine for a bygone era? Do you long for an escape from the ordinary? If so, these three destinations are for you. Step out of your fast-paced world and step into a world of leisure and romance. Live as an artist, a wanderer, and step into one of these real-world paintings. Udaipur, India The Maldives From a water villa in the midst of the glassy, ultra-blue Indian Ocean, relish in utter seclusion. Sip champagne in the shade of a palm overlooking an otherworldly sunset or get a little more adventurous, strap on a mask, and check out the abundant aquatic wildlife. Many hotels in the area even include access to an array of boats, perfect for your own private excursion along the mild waves. Of course, you could also always just stare, dumbfounded, into the horizon, wondering how such a place could actually exist on Earth.
These days, meandering through the cobblestone streets of Paris with a loved one is très passé . All the real high-rolling romantics are migrating southeast to the famous Oberoi Udaivilas hotel in western India. Set in a traditional Mewari palace, visitors will feel like royalty as they stroll around the labyrinthine gardens that surround the elaborate cream-colored structure. Travelers can relax beside one of the many glassy pools sprinkled throughout the estate, all of which are enthusiastically attended by an unparalleled service staff. Positano, Italy More than perhaps anywhere in the world, this place looks like it was lifted straight from a sappy romance novelist’s imagination. Kick back on a balcony overlooking the entirety of this seaside town, taking in the century-old multicolored Italian architecture perched precariously on the verdant mountainside. Too small to accommodate swarms of tourists, it’s the perfect place to while away the hours ambling from shop to shop, sampling the delicious local cuisine, and maybe taking a dip along the 300-meter beach.
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