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JANUARY 2022
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LIVING LIKE GRANDPA Lessons Learned From a Man Who Spent Life Outside
In just a few weeks, Wes and I will join some friends for a snowmobiling trip in the Adirondacks of New York. I was really honored that Wes invited me, as it has become an annual tradition amongst him and his friends. We’ll likely clear north of 400–500 miles total on the trip, snowmobiling for 10–12 hours on average per day. Perhaps one thing I am looking forward to the most is a chance to recharge and connect with nature. Given the remote terrain, cell phone access is very limited, so it is a perfect opportunity to leave it behind for a few days! But there’s another reason I’m looking forward to this adventure, and it’s much more personal. Four years ago, on Feb. 19, my grandfather passed away at 86 years old. He was the first person I thought of when Wes invited me on this trip. I can’t think of a better way to commemorate a Minnesotan and a man who truly did enjoy the cold just about more than anything else. If there was anyone who knew how to live life to the fullest in 3 feet of snow at 4 degrees F, it was him! Grandpa’s love of the cold began in Oakdale, Minnesota, where he was born in November 1931. When my dad was 14 years old, Grandpa and Grandma moved the family to Philadelphia, where they stayed until all of their children moved out. (That’s why I’m an East Coaster and not a Minnesotan.) At the beginning of retirement, my grandparents moved back to Minnesota, where Grandpa stayed until he passed in 2018.
I will always remember my grandfather for his love of the outdoors. I admire the way he enjoyed the simple things in life like picking the vegetables out of his garden or ice fishing in his 1-man shack he built for himself. I let it serve as a reminder that the “little” things in life sometimes may bring us the greatest fulfillment. As I trek to New York this winter, I like to think Grandpa would be proud. He was happiest when he was outdoors, and I know he would want me to spend as much time as I could outside — snow and all — enjoying as much of it as I can. I think there’s a lesson to be learned from how my grandpa lived his life. “Snowstorms” happen in life, literally and figuratively. I never knew Grandpa as one to shy away from a snowstorm. In fact, he was the opposite, a man who embraced the “snowstorms” in life and continued to push forward regardless. To me, there’s a lot of value to that as a young man just beginning my own journey. Fortunately, we can all have a built-in “snow day” to help us recharge and refocus for the “snowstorms” ahead! Heck, Grandpa wouldn’t be too happy if I didn’t mix in a little fun! By the time you hear from us next month, Wes and I will hopefully have a few fun stories to tell from the snowmobile trails! I can’t wait to get up there, hit the trails, and live a few days like Grandpa did.
–Austin Kobilka
These articles are designed to provide general information on the subjects covered. They are not, however, intended to provide specific legal or tax advice and cannot be used to avoid tax penalties or to promote, market, or recommend any tax plan or arrangement. Please note that Patriot Wealth and its affiliates do not give legal or tax advice. You are encouraged to consult your tax advisor or attorney. 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.
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5 WAYS TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS IN RETIREMENT Don’t Spend Another Year Lonely!
3. Volunteer. Volunteering has similar benefits to joining a hobby group with the added benefit of giving back to
Friendship just might be the fourth secret to longevity, right behind eating well, exercising, and getting plenty of sleep. According to the Mayo Clinic, making friends can reduce stress, improve your self-confidence, and give you purpose in life! People with good friends are also more likely to exercise and less likely to drink to excess. But making friends is tough, especially in your golden years. To finally kick loneliness to the curb in 2022, try these five tips. 1. Get a dog. Adopting a dog (assuming you truly want one) will incentivize you to leave the house for walks, vet visits, and more. You’ll likely attract new friends in the neighborhood when they stop to pet your pup, and you can also meet people at the dog park or obedience classes. If nothing else, you’ll have your dogs in common! 2. Join a hobby group. The easiest way to find friends with similar interests is to pursue those interests. If you like to quilt, join a quilting group, and if you kayak, look for an outdoors club near you. Facebook is a great resource for finding online hobby groups, too! Just type your interest into the search bar and select “Groups” on the left-hand side of the screen.
the community! There’s likely a cause for whatever you’re interested in, whether that’s food, animals, or sports. Visit VolunteerMatch.org to find opportunities in your area sorted by organization type. 4. Move to a 55-plus community. Also called retirement communities or active adult communities, these neighborhoods
are known for their low-maintenance housing, amenities, and group activity options — and they’re all over the U.S. If you want to find friends in your age group to swim and play tennis with, a local real estate agent can help you find them. 5. Become a mentor. Mentorship is a valuable way to form friendships across generations. You can sign up for an existing program in the field you retired from or reach out to a local college or high school career center and offer your services. They’ll likely have graduates who’d love to meet you!
PRICES GOING UP IN 2022?
Let’s talk infrastructure, inflation, and taxes.
Bottom line, analysts project long- term benefits to the economy in lower business costs, increased labor force participation, and improved competitiveness. Inflation might not be as temporary as the Federal Reserve would like it to be.
President Biden recently signed his much-debated bipartisan infrastructure deal.
What does that mean for the economy?
In the short term, some of the infrastructure funding will go immediately toward clearing port and transportation bottlenecks, so that might help improve supply chain issues. Fingers crossed. Though it could be years before you or I drive across a new bridge or highway funded by the bill, some of the maintenance funds could be used in spring construction blitzes. Since the job market is already tight, the economy isn’t likely to see an immediate surge in hiring due to infrastructure spending; however, multiple reports suggest upward of 800,000 new jobs could be added by 2030, though many of them will be temporary rather than long-term jobs. Economists don’t think inflation is likely to increase due to the slow pace of spending, though the deal is projected to add $256 billion to the federal budget deficit over the next 10 years.
Prices are up all over, and folks are understandably upset at paying more at the grocery store, gas station, and most everywhere else. Many analysts hoped that data blips, supply chain clogs, and other pandemic-related disruptions were creating a temporary spike in inflation that would resolve soon.
However, inflation has remained stubbornly high.
In the U.S., prices have increased 6.2% over the last 12 months — the biggest spike since November 1990. Some categories measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), such as used cars and trucks and energy, have soared by much more.
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EMBRACE NATURE 4 Walking Trails to Keep You Active This Winter
One of the best ways to see the winter scenery is by exploring a walking trail. Walking is one of the best exercises you can do for your body to stay physically active, too. Luckily for you, there are several local walking trails in Raleigh you can visit.
PULLEN PARK 520 Ashe Ave. | Hours: Dawn to dusk every day
Pullen Park was open to the public on March 22, 1887. It was the first public park in North Carolina and the fifth-oldest amusement park in the U.S. It’s a 66-acre public park located near the Main and Centennial campuses of North Carolina State University. There are walking trails around the park and a community center, aquatic center, playgrounds, tennis courts, athletic fields, an arts center, and much more. Bring the grandchildren for fun at the playground or visit the arts center!
TAKE A BREAK
MEREDITH GREENWAY 404 Gorman St. | Hours: 7 a.m to 9 p.m.
This trail allows you to walk through some beautiful greenery. Located near Meredith College, Meredith Greenway provides connections between neighborhoods, other parks, and even the North Carolina Museum of Art. There are paved and unpaved trails that go through primarily natural areas. You can use this trail to get to the Reedy Creek Trail, Gorman Street Connector, Rocky Branch Trail, and the Centennial Bikeway Connector. Parking is available at Trailhead Lane.
Since the Fed’s goal is to keep long-term inflation around 2% (and that’s what we’ve experienced this century), folks are concerned that “temporary” inflation is lingering longer than we want.
LAKE JOHNSON PARK 4601 Avent Ferry Rd. | Hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
So, are prices going to continue to rise in 2022?
That’s likely, but how much, how fast, and for how long depend on a lot of global factors, including whether the Fed raises interest rates or takes other actions.
This recreation area has more than 5 miles of trails around a lake, boat rentals, and picnic and fishing areas. Lake Johnson Park opened to the public in 1952 and consists of 500 acres. There are both paved and unpaved trails, along with two parking lots for your convenience. One is located at 132 Lake Dam Road, and the other is located at 5041 Avent Ferry Rd.
We’re keeping an eye on it.
BROOKHAVEN NATURE PARK 5125 Berkeley St. | Hours: Dawn to dusk every day
Will your taxes go up in 2022?
That’s the question of the month on Capitol Hill as lawmakers debate the Build Back Better deal that could come with tax law changes. We don’t know when (or if) the bill will be passed, but we’re watching closely, and I’ll update you when we know what’s likely to happen.
Opened in 1973, this 26-acre park features forest trails with a footbridge over a stream and picnic tables. The park is an excellent location for viewing birds and other wildlife. Woods on this trail will surround you, and it will make you feel one with nature. This quiet park is great for walking with pets or friends, and a parking lot is located near the trail access.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Learning to Live Like Grandpa PAGE 1
How to Make 2021 Your Last Lonely Year PAGE 2
Prices Going Up in 2022? PAGE 2
Take a Break PAGE 3
Nature Parks You Can Visit This Season PAGE 3
Stick to Your Resolutions — For Real, This Time PAGE 4
New Year’s Eve has come and gone, and now that the champagne is finished and the decorations are put away, it’s time to buckle down and work on those New Year’s resolutions. The only problem is ... your resolutions for this year and last year are the same. Change is tough, so you’re not alone in being unable to stick to your resolutions. This year can be different if you want it to be. Here are some tips to keep you on track. Have a specific goal. Many resolutions are vague — along the lines of “exercise more” or “eat healthier.” That’s too ambiguous to inspire motivation, and vagueness leaves room for excuses. Make your goal more concrete, so you can measure your success. Specific goals could include going to the gym three times a week, being able to bench a certain number of pounds, or only indulging in fast food once a month. Make your goal realistic — if it’s too drastic or difficult, it’s easier to give up. HOW TO KEEP NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR REAL, THIS TIME
structure your day around your resolution and what obstacles you might face. When will you go to the gym, and what will you do if that time gets interrupted? How will you plan meals to avoid spontaneous drive-thru visits? Write down what you want to accomplish and all the things that might stand in your way. Then, figure out how you’ll deal with them before they happen. Start small. On Jan. 1, you’re probably enthusiastic about your resolution and ready to hit the ground running. Not so fast — doing too much too soon is a classic mistake. It’s okay to be excited, but working out until you’re sore all over or constantly eating salads you hate will turn your resolution into a chore you’ll want to avoid. Start with light workouts or replacing some of your carbs with veggies. Once you get the hang of that, you’ll be ready to scale up slowly. Using these guidelines, you’ll make lasting changes that extend beyond February. Get 2022 started off on the right foot, and next year you’ll be ready to make a whole new resolution — and keep it.
Have a plan. Bad habits are hard to break, so change won’t come about naturally. It’s important to consider how you’ll
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