Retirement Planning Strategies August 2018

Grab a Sword! WANT TO IMPROVE BRAIN HEALTH?

Did you know fencing is making a comeback? No longer just for heartsick gentlemen of the Regency era, fencing is increasingly being taught in public schools, displayed in the pages of popular indie comics, and practiced among seniors. Plenty of baby boomers are picking up swords, or “sabers” — and it’s not because they’re preparing to fight dragons. Exercise is important no matter your age, but some activities are more beneficial than others. Research published in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise (PSE) suggests activities defined as “open-skill sports,” like fencing, can do more to improve brain health than “closed-skill sports.” OPEN OR CLOSED? The difference between an open-skill sport and a closed-skill sport lies in the dynamic We’ll let you in on a little secret: We’ve always had big plans for Carol Tresco. Since joining Retirement Planning Strategies in 2014, Carol has contributed a great deal to our firm. She spent 36 years working for the federal government as an HR specialist, so she intimately understands the needs and challenges of our clients. For most of her career with us, Carol has helped out in a part-time capacity, but we finally convinced her to expand her role into a full-time position in client services. “Since going full-time, my life has become a heck of a lot more active,” Carol says. “I love being able to continue to provide the one-on-one service I did in human resources. Sometimes, clients I meet here are people I’ve crossed paths with during my time in government. It means a lot to be able to help them plan for their futures.” Since moving into her new role, Carol has taken on more administrative duties in addition to her

nature of the activity. Going for a jog is great for your heart health, but your body is doing the same thing during the entire workout. This makes it a closed-skill sport. The same goes for swimming; you might have different strokes to choose from when you jump in the pool, but your brain is focused on repeating the action while doing your laps. Open-skill sports require players to respond to unpredictable circumstances in unpredictable ways. Fencing is a great open- skill sport because, while you have to learn the right way to hold the saber and move your body, you also have to think on your feet and react quickly to your opponent’s attacks. Researchers from the Foro Italico University of Rome believe that it’s the required adaptability that makes open-skill sports previous role. “The new responsibilities add diversity to my workload and keep me on my toes,” she notes. Even though she’s clocking 40 hours a week now, Carol still has time to spend keeping up with her two dogs, a schnauzer named Libby and a dachshund named TJ. One of Carol’s favorite hobbies is crocheting. “I have done some coverlets and tons of pillows,” she says. “My house is full of pillows that I’ve crocheted.” She’s also an avid reader and enjoys taking weekend trips up to Blackhawk. From the first moment we had a full-time opening, we knew we wanted Carol to step into it. We’re so grateful that she’s accepted an expanded role with Retirement Planning Strategies. We can’t wait to see what she does over the coming months.

so good for your brain. You challenge your body with complex motor movements and your mind with fast decisions. In the study from PSE, the researchers reported that “the open-skill athletes used less brainpower to do the same thing than the closed-skill exercisers did.” OTHER OPEN-SKILL SPORTS? If fencing isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other great open-skill sports, including tennis, badminton, basketball, and racquetball. What are you waiting for? Swing by your local rec center and find out what

open-skill sport will be your new favorite pastime!

Congratulations Carol Tresco

ON YOUR NEW, EXPANDED ROLE

Congratulations, Carol! You deserve it.

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