Take a look at our newsletter this month.
NOVEMBER 2020
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‘2020 HAS BEEN MY YEAR’ Through the Pandemic, Chelsea Focused on Continuous Improvement and a Bigger Future!
Hey there! My name is Chelsea Wampler, and I’m the new business coordinator here at Financial Architects. That’s a fancy way of saying that I coordinate the underwriting of all of our clients’ fixed annuities, life insurance, and disability insurance applications. This month, I’m stepping in to write the cover story because Thanksgiving is coming up, and I have a lot to be thankful for this year. Amazingly, despite the pandemic, I’ve been able to reach a lot of my personal goals in 2020. I thought I could share a bit of my experience with you and offer some advice for anyone who’s struggling. Of course, I need to preface this by saying that I’ve been very lucky. I know many people have lost a lot this year, and hard work can’t always help reverse things like foreclosure or losing a job. But if you’ve been fortunate enough to keep working through this time, I hope my story can be useful. If nothing else, maybe these pictures of my 12-month-old husky, Stella Rose, will make you smile! My journey started when I joined Financial Architects two years ago. I was hired on as insurance serving coordinator, but I had big ambitions of moving up in the company. I didn’t just want to make more money for myself. As a single mom, my big goal was to be able to move out of my parents’
house and buy a home for my two little boys, Liam and Conner.
For years, I’d been scrimping and saving to build up our house fund, and my job with FAI gave me the stability and peace of mind I needed to really buckle down. After a year working at FAI, I was finally able to buy our first home! I felt so blessed, and the boys were incredibly excited. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my coworkers and family. Then, earlier this year, Pat Smith retired and I was offered the new business coordinator job. Even though I saw it coming, it still felt like a dream! More than once, I’ve been tempted to ask someone to pinch me. I’ve absolutely loved working with our clients and advisors to help them achieve their life enjoyment goals. On top of all that, my boys finally talked me into getting them a puppy. I’d promised them a dog once we had the space, and they held me to it! This year, we brought Stella Rose into the family, and she’s been amazing. She loves having her picture taken and really adores the boys. She sleeps outside of their bedroom doors every night to protect them. I think persistence has been the key to everything I’ve achieved this year. Life is like a roller coaster. You have your highs and your lows, and you just have to stay strong, positive, and focused to reach your goals.
Professionally, I gave it my all every day at Financial Architects in the hopes my hard work would be rewarded, and eventually it was! Personally, I tried really hard to stay positive about my future. I kept imagining the perfect house, and that helped motivate me to save every penny. Even when things were tough, I’d remind myself that I had my boys, a loving family, and great coworkers, and that kept me going forward. I feel blessed to be able to work for such an amazing company that truly cares about their employees and clients. Thanks in large part to Financial Architects, Liam, Conner, and I are getting ready to celebrate our first Thanksgiving in our new home! Our family tradition is making horseradish and perogies (dumplings stuffed with potato, sauerkraut, cheese, and plum) for Thanksgiving, and I can’t wait to try it out in our new kitchen. Liam is really excited to be my assistant taste tester. I hope that whatever your circumstances, you have an amazing Thanksgiving. 2020 has been my year, but if it hasn’t been yours, there’s always 2021!
– Chelsea Wampler
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INSIDE FINANCIAL ARCHITECTS
One Year in and It's Been Fun
THE 11TH HOUR OF THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH
Hey, everybody. What a fun ride it has been joining the team at Financial Architects, Inc. and being put in charge of our messaging. In this new age of digital communication, we have tried to bring more content to the table for our clients and staff. It is a balance, yes, because messaging and marketing are certainly important. But FAI always has been about you. We want you to know that we empower your financial freedom, and we continue to be a reliable and important relationship for you when it comes to your money decisions. It is all about relationships at FAI, and that is why I have greatly enjoyed my year-plus here running marketing and business development. The pandemic has meant that I have spent less time in the office with some of my amazing coworkers, but we still have a job to do and now communicate online more than ever. With the push from our president, Chris Cousins, we have been working on new inside systems and online workspaces that have improved our communication and have just made things easier for our advisors and support team. I love the fact that I have been able to bring my broadcasting background to the FAI workspace and have helped to develop podcasts, web-based communication tools, and videos/webinars that have highlighted some of our clients and "centers of influence." Furthermore, just putting together a Loom video to show our crew how to use Notion or Trello is so satisfying for me because I like to talk (can you tell?) and it is a great fit. Content is king! It has been a lot of fun, and we intend to do more of it. The conversations at my dinner table every night now have a new tone. Since starting at FAI, it has been fun to share with my wife and kids the stories of my day — the chats that I may have had that morning with a coworker or even a client, a GoToMeeting with a fellow marketing director, and even a brainstorming session with our friends at The LifeMethod or Q5. Yes, I also still record my daily "Locked on Lions" podcast, and certainly we all can tell those stories (they haven't changed since 1957), but knowing that I'm on a great 8–to-4 daily work team is a fun share every night. I get asked a lot about returning to radio and if I would ever go back. No way! I have a great home now at FAI. Why would I leave?
Veterans Day comes every Nov. 11. It’s a national holiday that recognizes veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces and honors those both living and deceased. Historically, the day marks Armistice Day and the end of the Great War: World War I. But what is the significance of the number 11? The armistice was signed at 5:45 a.m. in France, but it took effect at 11 a.m. that same morning — which happened to be Nov. 11, 1918. The armistice originally lasted 36 days but was extended month after month. This led to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, when peace was officially declared. Later that year, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed that Nov. 11 would be known as Armistice Day to honor those who fought in the Great War. This lasted until 1954, when President Dwight Eisenhower signed a proclamation turning Armistice Day into Veterans Day. The change was made in order to recognize all veterans who had honorably served their country. By 1954, the U.S. had fought in more wars — specifically World War II and the Korean War — and hundreds of thousands more Americans had served. Unsurprisingly, there was some political drama surrounding the day. In 1968, Congress made Veterans Day a federal holiday under the Uniform Holiday Bill. The idea was to increase the number of three- day weekends in the year. Veterans Day became a holiday that would fall on the fourth Monday of October, a far cry from Nov. 11.
However, in 1978, Veterans Day was restored to its original Nov. 11 date. But why?
The answer is simple. It’s a number that sticks with you. When the clock strikes 11:11, you always take notice. By that same notion, we all remember the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Because of this, we’ll never forget the end of the Great War, nor will we forget those who served.
– Matt Dery
The information contained in this newsletter is derived from sources believed to be accurate. You should discuss any legal, tax, or financial matters with the appropriate professional. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Registered Representatives offer Securities through The O.N. Equity Sales Company, Member FINRA/SIPC (www.FINRA.org/ and www.SIPC.org). Investment Advisory Services offered through O.N. Investment Management Company and FAI Advisors, Inc., Financial Architects, Inc., FAI Advisors, Inc., and The LifeMethod are not subsidiaries or affiliates of The O.N. Equity Sales Company or O.N. Investment Management Company. We have representatives currently registered in the following states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, VA, WA, and WI.
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A Chat With a Client Dyanna Schnell
Open Enrollment Season is Here
If you were considering making changes to your health insurance or Medicare plans, now is the time. The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period opened Oct. 15 and will continue until Dec. 7. For those not on Medicare, the Open Enrollment Period is from Nov. 1‑Dec. 15. Changes made during these dates will take effect Jan. 1, 2021. If you would like to review your options, feel free to contact me directly. For the quickest response I recommend scheduling a time for me to call you by accessing my calendar at https://calendly.com/ chrisbesonen/phone-call.
Chris Besonen 248-482-3619 christopher@financialarch.com
HOW DID YOU BECOME A CLIENT AT FAI?
My brother-in-law, Mike Kucera, is a financial advisor for FAI. Both Mike and Ken have been instrumental in advising us on our financial goals, including retirement planning, life insurance, and estate planning. They have made the entire process easy to navigate, guiding us every step of the way.
LUXURIOUS VEGAN CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
WHAT DO YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND SCOTT DO FOR A LIVING, AND HOW HAVE YOUR BUSINESSES COPED WITH THE EVENTS OF 2020?
I work for MacKellar Associates selling promotional marketing products and corporate apparel. I help customers find unique ways to promote their business by building their brand. Scott is in sales at Hanes Industries; they specialize in packaging and material handling solutions for the automotive industry. We both felt the initial effects of COVID-19 as businesses slowed their purchases, but we have been getting busier in the last couple months.
INGREDIENTS
• 4 oz vegan dark chocolate, chopped • 2 large avocados, pitted and skinned
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder • 1/4 cup almond milk • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1–3 tsp maple syrup (to taste) • Fresh berries (for garnish)
WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF SUMMER FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY?
Summers are our favorite time of the year. We live on a lake and enjoy spending time on the boat with our three kids: Hal (17), Kate (12), and Leigh (12). We both also love to play golf and try to get out as much as possible. Our favorite memory from this summer was our trip up north — it was so nice to get away!
DIRECTIONS
1. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the dark chocolate. Heat in 15-second intervals, then stir and repeat until melted. Set aside to cool. 2. In a food processor or blender, combine the cooled chocolate and other ingredients. Blend until smooth and creamy, adding additional sweetener as desired.
3. Scoop into glasses and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Top with berries and serve!
Inspired by WellPlated.com
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Inside This Issue 1 | Hard Work Pays Off: How Chelsea Crushed Her 2020 Goals
2 | A Number of Importance
2 | Inside Financial Architects
3 | A Chat With a Client
3 | Luxurious Vegan Chocolate Mousse
4 | Is ‘Glamping’ the Perfect Winter Getaway?
Is ‘Glamping’ the Perfect Winter Getaway? Cabin Fever Has Never Been so Stylish
STEP 1: DECIDE WHICH KIND OF LODGING YOU WANT.
When COVID-19 struck the U.S., travel restrictions had people canceling their vacation plans left and right. This meant that many would-be vacationers had to find some getaways a little closer to home — namely, camping trips and their fancier cousin, glamping trips. If you haven’t heard of “glamping” before, it’s essentially glamorous camping. You have access to the beautiful, rugged outdoors as well as all the comforts of home. While traditional winter camping certainly wouldn’t be a relaxing getaway for most people, glamping during the winter months can give you access to the peace of the outdoors like you’ve never experienced before without so much as a shiver or sniffle. If you’ve decided to make glamping your go-to method of escape from the cabin fever that besets us all during the cold, dark winter days, you might be thinking: How can I make sure I have the best glamping experience possible? Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks you can apply to any glamping location to ensure that your time away from home is just as relaxing as that Caribbean cruise would have been.
Glamping shelters come in all shapes and sizes depending on the level of comfort you desire on your trip. The most rugged glamping lodgings usually still include a wood-burning stove and a nice comfy bed, whether you opt for a log cabin or a specialized glamping tent (sometimes called a yurt). However, some of the more posh options include amenities like fresh linens, private bathrooms and showers, fully stocked kitchenettes, and even TVs.
STEP 2: DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO SPEND YOUR TIME.
Obviously, the point of glamping is to spend time in the great outdoors with winter activities, such as snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and other fun snow activities. However, glamping really shines during the frigid evenings. You can retreat indoors, throw some logs in the stove, prepare some hot cocoa or cider, and just watch the snowfall from your window. There’s no right or wrong way to glamp. All that matters is spending time in the wilderness with all the comforts of home — all while feeling refreshed and at peace.
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