Check out our Q4 newsletter!
THE SILVER LINING To Your Life & Health
770-744-1855
IT CAN BE TOUGH TO ESCAPE WORK
Even When We’re on Vacation
In today’s
when I return to the office. Something new always shows up though! One thing that’s helped me over the years is ensuring that I don’t have any appointments scheduled during my first day back in the office after a vacation. I like to use that day to call back all of my clients who reached out while I was away. I see the phone calls coming in while I’m on vacation and feel blessed to have so many people requesting my services. Every client is important to me, and I count on each and every one to help me support my family — so I make a dedicated effort to reach back out as soon as I possibly can. When it comes to vacation guilt, I have to look at it from a different perspective. I like to think of it as being similar to the mask speech the cabin crew gives when you first get on an airplane. In case of an emergency, put your mask on first before helping others. I can’t help my clients to the best of my ability if I’m not properly taking care of myself. The last few months have been crazy for me, and I’ve had to put in extra effort to ensure that I’m fully taking care of myself. I recently broke both my left wrist and ankle, which required emergency surgery earlier this summer. Over time, a bone shifted in my wrist that required two additional surgeries. I was still having surgeries well into late September! Since then, I’ve been going through physical and occupational therapy to heal from my injuries. Even when we’re not on vacation, we have to
society, it seems like it’s increasingly difficult to enjoy our vacations. As prices continue to rise, people are taking fewer vacations and when they do go, they’re having a harder time relaxing and enjoying themselves. Vacation guilt is a real thing. Many of us have a hard time putting away our work. We want to be there for our teams and clients, and since we live in the digital age, we always have our phones on us to stay connected with what’s happening at work instead of relaxing on vacation. It’s something that has the potential to affect everyone, regardless of position within their business. I recently took a short trip to Durham, North Carolina, to drop my daughter off at Duke University for her first semester of college. I felt surprised by how difficult it was to leave work for a handful of days as I didn’t want to return to an overwhelming workload. Whenever I go on vacation, I try to adjust something that agitated me from my last vacation so that I can relax more and things are easier
perform certain self-care tasks to ensure that our physical and mental well-being is in good form. When someone is at their busiest, sometimes it’s essential to take breaks to catch their breath. There are some days when there’s still a pile of work on my desk when I leave for the day. It can be frustrating, but I have to leave enough in the tank to make it home safely. It’s truly a balancing act. My dad told me a while ago that it’s okay to take a break, but it’s not okay to quit. We have to realize that there’s a distinction between taking a break and quitting so we can continue putting our best foot forward. If you’re going on vacation at some point during the holiday season, try to put your phone away and enjoy the experience. Work will always be
there when you return, but you’ll only get one shot at making each vacation memorable.
“I can’t help my clients to the best of my ability if I’m not properly taking care of myself.”
–Duane Hamilton
1 770-744-1855
3 Ways to Overcome Savings Interruptions
Catch Up on Your Retirement Fund
Feel like your retirement savings have been falling behind? Now that the market is down, this is actually the best time to start building your retirement savings to “catch up.” The market will help build greater gains as it grows again (which it always does!). Here are three ways to take advantage. Reduce discretionary expenses or expand income. When restarting your savings, unless your income expands, something’s gotta give. Take a close look at where you’re spending your money — if it sounds like an overwhelming task, trustworthy budgeting sites like Mint can help organize your finances and make sense of your purchases. If your budget is too tight to cut, then consider side hustles. Even a few extra hours a week can add up fast.
contribution limit and can invest and make withdrawals without penalty. Either way, never putting “all your eggs in one basket” is a good guiding principle. This is why tax diversification, or owning a combination of funds with various tax statuses, is so useful for retirement planning. Depending on the tax implications, you’ll have flexibility and freedom in retirement — whenever you’re ready to begin withdrawing. If you’re still worried, you can always change your retirement timeline. Whether it means keeping your job longer or finding different work, you’re still in control of your future. We hope these tips help you feel even more confident preparing for the exciting journey ahead!
Take advantage of catch-up contributions. In 2022, you can contribute as much as $20,500 to your 401(k) or 403(b) retirement fund — but starting at age 50, you can put in an additional $6,500. This is the best time to start saving extra money! You can also add more money to your individual Roth IRA and Traditional IRA account. The contribution limit is $6,000 per year, with an extra $1,000 allowed for those age 50 and over. Diversify your retirement plan. Sometimes, investing into non-retirement accounts can be a powerful tool to save for retirement. If you’ve maxed out your contributions and have money left over, consider investing in a taxable brokerage account. Although you’ll get fewer tax benefits, you have no
Rain, Ice, or Snow Driving Safe in Adverse Weather Conditions
The winter season is almost upon us. Once Thanksgiving arrives, we will notice a drop in temperatures that is oftentimes accompanied by rain, ice, and even a slight chance of snow. If you’re planning to visit family and friends in the Atlanta area, or if you’re heading up north for the holidays, it’s important to know how to drive in adverse conditions. A car accident can turn a fun and enjoyable trip into a nightmare. Here are a few tips to help you drive in adverse weather this holiday season. Rain We’ve all had a bit more practice driving in the rain than in ice or snow but that doesn’t mean we can lose focus when we’re behind the wheel in the rain. Make sure you turn your
headlights and windshield wipers on as soon as you start driving. Drive at a slower speed and keep a safe distance from the cars around you. Avoid driving through puddles since this can make your car begin to slide uncontrollably. If this happens, take your foot off the brake and gas pedal and focus on steering where you want the car to go. Ice Driving in icy conditions is incredibly dangerous, and we get our fair share of ice during winter in Atlanta and the surrounding suburbs. It’s best to avoid driving if the roads are icy, but if you need to go somewhere, you should take it slow and be cautious. Avoid driving in the dark and watch out for black ice (this can often look like standing water).
Snow We don’t get too much snow in our area, but it’s still important to know how to drive in snowy conditions. Like driving in the rain, keep a slower speed and be aware of the cars around you. Plan out your route beforehand, and be ready to slow down when you make turns. If you need to go out when it’s cold and rainy/snowy, make sure you bring an emergency kit with you. Flashlights, bottled water, and blankets are essential pieces of your emergency kit — and you should not leave home without them.
2
D o I R eally N eed L ife I nsurance ? How Life Insurance Helps Families
According to Statista, only 52% of Americans possessed life insurance in 2021. That number has steadily been on the decline for over 10 years. Half of those surveyed by Statista who did not own a life insurance policy said that it was too expensive while one-fifth of respondents stated that they had no need for it. Life insurance is designed to help provide financial support to your loved ones after you pass away. When you buy into a life insurance policy, you pay premiums every month so that the insurer will give money to the beneficiaries of your choice if you are to pass away while still paying for this service. Many people have wondered if they really need life insurance — and there are a few factors you can look at to help you decide. Does your household rely on dual income between you and your significant other to make ends meet? If so, you should consider getting life insurance. Without your income, your significant other may struggle to pay the mortgage/rent and other expenses. Additionally, end-
of-life costs can be quite expensive. Paying for a funeral and burial or cremation can be more than many people can afford. Life insurance will help pay for those fees. If you want to leave an inheritance for your heirs, life insurance is a good way to do so. It can also help pay your employees if you own a business. There’s also the question of how much life insurance one would need to ensure that their loved ones are taken care of. To figure this out, look at the DIME method. This accounts for the debt you have from car payments, student loans, and credit cards. Think about how many years of income your family or significant other would need to continue living the same lifestyle. Evaluate how much is left on your mortgage or home equity loan. And have enough money to cover costs for your children’s education . Add all of these numbers together and you should have a good idea for how much life insurance coverage you need. If you have questions about life insurance or are interested in starting or updating your policy, give us a call today.
OBAMACARE INFORMATION
MEDICARE INFORMATION
Open enrollment for Marketplace/ Affordable Care Act/Obamacare coverage opens up on Nov. 1 and continues until Jan. 15. This is a crucial opportunity if you don’t get health insurance through your employer. Just remember, in order to receive benefits for the beginning of 2023, you’ll need to enroll before Dec. 15, 2022.
Additionally, the Annual Election Period for Medicare begins on Oct. 15 and closes on Dec. 7. If you need to join, switch, or drop a plan, now is the time to do so. As long as you enroll before Dec. 7, you will have coverage starting on Jan. 1. If you like your current plan you do not need to do anything. It will automatically roll over for 2023. There is NO NEED TO RE-ENROLL!
3 770-744-1855
1201 Peachtree Street NE Building 400, Suite 100 Atlanta, GA 30361
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
770-744-1855
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2
Avoiding Vacation Guilt
Were Your Retirement Savings Interrupted?
2
Drive Safely in Rain, Ice, and Snow
3 3
Is Life Insurance Necessary? Medicare and Marketplace Open Enrollment Benefits of Volunteering for Older Adults
4
Build the Community Through Giving DOING GOOD DOES YOU GOOD
Volunteering not only strengthens the community but also benefits the person who serves. For those who enjoy spending their time giving back, check out how volunteering opportunities can benefit you! Improves Mental and Physical Health When you do good, you feel good. Those positive emotions lead to emotional resilience, which helps you in the face of crisis or stress. They also decrease stress while increasing positive, relaxed feelings. Volunteering gives you a sense of meaning and appreciation, which can reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Volunteer activities also keep people moving. Whether it is carrying donation boxes, walking around the neighborhood, planting a community
garden, or even cleaning litter from the roads, this moderate physical activity can help strengthen muscles, reduce blood pressure, and even alleviate symptoms of chronic pain. Prevents Isolation and Promotes Socialization Many older adults face social isolation, and it can have negative impacts on their overall health. Volunteering is a
you have common interests with other volunteers. You can even invite your family or friends to help, and then catch up while doing something good for the community. Gives a Feeling of Purpose Sometimes as life changes and you grow older, your sense of purpose may begin to fade. Volunteering can
help recharge a zest for life and may even motivate you to set and accomplish new goals. You should volunteer for many reasons, whether it’s to give back to the community, help the environment,
great way to network with members of the community and meet new people.
Likewise, after moving to a new neighborhood or leaving a career, it is difficult to find a new social group. But when you work with people toward the same goal, you may find
or satisfy your own personal needs. No matter why, it’s a great way to get out there and do some good.
4
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator