... COVER CONTINUED
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. Dogs can teach humans so much about love, relationships, and caring for someone else without conditions. Regardless of how often my mood wavered, Hailey approached, treated, and loved me exactly the same. As humans, we struggle with this feat, but if we could all eradicate the conditions we place on our relationships with our friends and family, I honestly believe the world would be a better place. ACCEPTANCE. Dogs don’t hold grudges. If there was a day where I was particularly busy and forgot to give Hailey a treat at the time that I usually do, she didn’t hold it against me. She might have sensed something was missing, but she was just as excited to accept the gift the next time around. Hailey was always quick to forgive, and she never held grudges. And as I sit and
relationships that dogs like Hailey share with their owners. Sad day or happy day, sunny day or cloudy day, dogs will always be there for you, and they will forever be excited to see you the minute you walk in the door.
think about all her great qualities, I can’t help but wonder how great life would be if all us humans could take a page out of her book. Any pet owner knows that the sad reality of bringing an animal into your world is that they will eventually pass away, but that doesn’t make the relationship and adventure you share any less meaningful. Spending the last 11 years with Hailey taught me to never take a close friendship, a sunny day, or a comfy bed for granted and to love the ones you’re with for as long as you can. Thanks for everything, Hailey. You really were man’s best friend.
–Wes White
RALEIGH TOPS THE CHARTS AS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO RETIRE WHERE SHOULD YOU BUY YOUR NEXT HOME
According to a SmartAsset analysis of U.S. government data, Florida, Arizona, and our very own North Carolina topped the list when it comes to the states where retirees are moving after years of working elsewhere. This information comes as no surprise, considering the senior- friendly reputations, warm weather, and comparatively low taxes. Florida took the lead because it ranked first in affordability and seventh in quality of life. It was followed by Arizona, though North Carolina came in at a close third place. This study also determined which cities took in the most retirees. Raleigh ranked No. 8 on the list! In fact, in 2016, a reported 2,015 seniors made themselves a new home in Raleigh. While statistics like these can be helpful, ultimately your choice of where to
retire will be a personal one. Friendly weather, quality health care, and affordable housing are concerns that impact everyone, but you might also want to think about a few other factors. For example, the proximity of your new home to your friends and family, its pet- friendliness, the abundance of resources that suit your hobbies and interests, and how far you would have to move from your current home to get there are all important variables to consider. Dreams you’ve been storing up for decades are important, too. For example, if you’ve always pictured yourself strolling down the beach in your golden years, states like South Dakota with their long, frigid winters probably aren’t for you. Given its popularity among older populations, you might even consider sticking in Raleigh for the long haul.
Tools like Bestplacestoretire.com’s “Where Should I Retire?” quiz and MarketWatch’s retirement calculator, which picks your top city based on how much certain factors matter to you, are good places to start your process of elimination. Of course, if you have any questions about the financial side of retirement, don’t hesitate to give Patriot Wealth a call.
P2 | PATRIOTWEALTHNC.COM
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online