Take a look at this month's newsletter from Patriot Wealth!
SEPTEMBER 2020
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LIFE LESSONS FROM ‘GEET’
THE GRANDPARENT FIGURE WHO MOLDED ME INTO THE PERSON I AM TODAY
Noah is one spoiled little boy. He’s the first grandchild on my wife’s side of the family and my parents’ third grandchild — and the advent of Amazon and the ability for grandparents to send gifts directly to our house has not been wasted on Noah! But beyond gifts and toys, I believe Noah is very lucky for another reason. He’s fortunate enough to have all his grandparents on both sides of the family. As we approach National Grandparents Day on Sept. 13, I’ve been thinking about the value our grandparent relationships give us. They teach us in ways our parents can’t, and through that relationship, we learn to value familial bonds and belonging to something larger than ourselves. They pass down invaluable wisdom. It makes me happy to know Noah has all four of his grandparents in his life because that’s not something I was fortunate enough to have. By the time I was born, my maternal and paternal grandparents had passed away. Thankfully, I had someone in my life who filled that role for me. My great aunt Marguerite Baker — whom we all affectionately called Aunt Geet because “Margurerite” was too difficult for us kids to pronounce — was born June 17, 1914, and had that grit and work ethic of someone who had survived the Great Depression, world wars, and turmoil over her long life. She was a strong Christian woman who never spent a penny over what she needed to in order to survive. She was resilient, sweet, and the most prolific grandmother figure in my life.
Geet was my babysitter when I was little, and I imagine it felt just like spending time with a grandma. I still have vivid memories of pretending to hold church in her house. I would stand behind her couch, my papers and notes sitting on the back of the couch like it was my podium, and lead Geet through hymns and my sermons. I’m sure it was heartwarming for her to listen to my services. But Geet gave me more than memories of childhood imagination. She reinforced in me a love of family and the value of her faith. She had that old school approach to life, where she treated everyone with respect. We learned from Geet to honor our elders, the value of a dollar, and just how important family was. Sure, our parents teach us these lessons, too, but there’s something about a grandparent’s influence and wisdom that sticks with all of us. Geet’s lessons are ingrained in everything I do. That’s why it’s so comforting to know that Noah has four grandparents to pass on these lessons. (He even spends three days each week with his Granny, my wife’s mom!) Becoming a grandparent is an opportunity to share your wisdom and stories with another generation. I know Noah is going to have memories of learning how to fish or smoke meat from his grandparents, along with the valuable wisdom that comes from them, and that warms my heart. The beauty of being a grandchild is that we soak up everything our grandparents — or great aunts — say to us. This Grandparents Day, don’t waste that opportunity. Aunt Geet didn’t, and I’m better for it.
–Wes White
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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2 SURPRISING WAYS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PROTECTS YOUR MONEY AND FUTURE
Most people who hear about artificial intelligence (AI) conjure up an image of a robot acting and thinking on its own. However, it’s far more than that. AI systems are used by businesses to identify human behavior patterns and tailor marketing messages. They’re also used by health care professionals to provide diagnoses and monitor trends. And now, AI is being used for financial security. RISK MANAGEMENT Many are concerned about the risk of someone hacking into their bank accounts and cleaning them out. While that can happen at any moment, individuals often have a number of safeguards in place to protect their finances and mitigate this risk. The same is true for businesses, such as banks, credit card companies, or online retailers, though the risks are often far higher for these companies than they are for individuals. How does AI help? It works with data faster and more accurately than a human ever could. By using AI to monitor financial transactions, a company can keep track of the real-
time activity of its customers and verify its authenticity. For example, someone who makes a large withdrawal from their bank account might get an AI-generated call, text, or email seconds afterward to verify the transaction. FRAUD DETECTION AI can also predict and flag unusual activity associated with fraud. By combining two of its processes — data management and pattern identification — AI can pinpoint oddities within a person’s finances. For example, if a card is used for a purchase in America then used a few hours later for a purchase in another country across the world, AI can detect this suspicious activity almost immediately and send an alert to the cardholder. Additionally, AI is created to learn , which means that over time, it will become more attuned to what is or is not fraudulent activity. Artificial Intelligence is a powerful and beneficial tool for business owners and individuals alike. Read more about what AI is doing in the financial world at MarutiTech.com/ways-ai- transforming-finance .
YOU MAY BE FINANCIALLY READY TO RETIRE BUT ARE YOU MENTALLY PREPARED FOR THE SECOND ACT?
In the years leading up to retirement, your anticipation will grow. You’ll notice your peers retiring, and you may begin fantasizing about sleeping in on a Tuesday morning, with no responsibilities or deadlines looming over you. (Or maybe that terrifies you.) This is the perfect time to start planning for what you’ll do once you retire — and we don’t mean financially. You’re already working on that strategy by partnering with Patriot Wealth. What we want you to think about is much more complex: Are you emotionally and mentally ready to retire? You may not be as settled as you think — and that’s okay! Gerontologist Ken Dychtwald reminds pre-retirees in a 2019 MarketWatch article that the pattern of going to work has been ingrained in them for decades. Unlearning that takes time, Dychtwald explains, but retirees can prepare for this massive change in the years leading up to retirement. Make a list of your goals, start creating plans, and seek advice from those who have already done it. You don’t have to reinvent the retirement wheel. As you transition into retirement, you’re going to feel exhilaration and possibly even a little anxiety. The next few weeks and months will feel like a vacation, where you can golf
when you want, sleep in, and sip coffee on the patio in your robe until 10 a.m. But that feeling will end. Like the monotony that gets to all of us at some point in our careers, your honeymoon phase in retirement will start to take on a new shape if you don’t prepare. Be flexible in these moments. That’s the advice of Chip Conley, author of “Wisdom @ Work: The Making of a Modern Elder,” in that same MarketWatch article. As you age, shift your thinking away from work being what defines you and find what passions redefine you. Conley encourages retirees to consider retirement as a chance to grow into someone new. Adapt to this period, and you’ll grow into a new pattern. Dychtwald also recommends staying connected with your loved ones and finding a social circle that encourages you to be active. Our goal at Patriot Wealth is to help you prepare financially for retirement, but we also understand that money isn’t the only focus of retirement. We want to help you prepare for this next phase of your life. If you have questions about how your portfolio is helping your goals, call our team today.
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One of the most selfless things we can do for your loved ones is care for them through an illness or old age. However, this commitment doesn’t come without its challenges. Caregivers can often feel the strain of constant care, neglect themselves, and struggle with feelings of anger, sadness, or loneliness. At Patriot Wealth, we believe caregivers deserve support. In honor of that, we want to provide you with three tips for giving yourself the care you deserve if you are a caregiver. FIND A SUPPORT GROUP For caregivers, a support group can mean a shoulder to lean on from someone who just gets it. This form of empathy along with the advice you can find in these groups can be valuable. It reminds you that you’re not alone and allows you to have a safe place where you can share your frustrations, fears, and other emotions. Find a caregiver support group on Facebook or other social media channels. These groups can even be specialized to an ailment, like cancer or Alzheimer’s. Local senior centers and hospitals likely have local groups you can join as well. SCHEDULE TIME WITH YOURSELF Much like you would place boundaries between work and your personal life, schedule time for yourself where you are not a caregiver. Maybe every Wednesday is a happy hour with your friends, or maybe you go to church on Sundays without the person you’re caring for. Whatever it is, be religious in sticking to this time to yourself. It’s important that you honor your needs and wants, so you don’t feel stifled by your new role. (If you’re worried about leaving a loved one alone, seek help from family or professional organizations.) SEEK HELP You are still not alone when you are the sole caregiver of your loved one. Look to professional care groups that can supplement your care. Adult centers offer special programs dedicated to particular ailments — like music sessions for dementia patients — while at-home nursing programs can provide you with a respite at least once each week. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your family for continued support, too. YOU DESERVE CARE, TOO SUPPORTING YOURSELF IN YOUR CAREGIVER ROLE
TAKE A BREAK
EASY STUFFED SWEET POTATOES
INGREDIENTS
• 4 medium sweet potatoes • 1 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed • 2 medium tomatoes, diced • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp coriander • 3/4 tsp salt • 1/4 cup sour cream • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
DIRECTIONS
1. With a fork, prick each sweet potato a few times. Microwave the potatoes on high 12–15 minutes, or until cooked through. 2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the beans, tomatoes, olive oil, cumin, coriander, and salt. When the potatoes are done, microwave the mixture on high for 2–3 minutes. 3. Cool potatoes slightly, then cut each potato open lengthwise. Pull the halves apart to create space to spoon the warm bean salsa inside. 4. Add a scoop of sour cream to each potato, garnish with cilantro, and serve!
Inspired by EatingWell.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
For Geet PAGE 1
What Can AI Do for Your Finances? PAGE 2
Are You Really Ready to Retire? (And We’re Not Talking Money) PAGE 2
Easy Stuffed Sweet Potatoes PAGE 3
Are You a Caregiver? You Deserve Support, Too. PAGE 3
3 Fun Family Activities for Fall PAGE 4
GARDENING, GOLD, AND PHOTO SHOOTS 3 FUN FAMILY ACTIVITIES FOR FALL
GET GARDENING. Fall is the time for harvest, but if you want to enjoy flowers in the spring, it’s also a time for planting. The cooler autumn air is easier on plants, but the soil is still warm enough for roots to grow before the ground freezes for winter. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are all spring bulbs that need to be planted in the fall. Do a little research with your family to determine the best time to start planting in your area. PAN FOR GOLD. Here’s one that’s really off the beaten path: Take your family on an adventure panning for gold! Start by planning a road trip out to an old ghost town. Many of them have great tourist attractions that include gold panning. You probably won’t get rich, but it will still be a fun story. If you’re not able to make the trip,
you can always create a gold panning operation at home! Visit MessForLess. net/panning-for-gold-activity for a great step-by-step guide on how to go panning for gold in your own backyard. PLAN A FALL PHOTO SHOOT. It’s time to freshen up those family pictures hanging around the house. The changing leaves provide a beautiful background for any family portrait. Better yet, the cooler temperatures mean that an outdoor photo shoot won’t be nearly as uncomfortable as it would be in the summer. You can take your pictures by the trees in the front yard or make a daytrip of it. What about pictures at the corn maze or pumpkin patch? It’s never too soon to start planning this year’s holiday card. Spend this fall outdoors and create great new memories with your family!
It’s fall, which means social media will soon be saturated with pictures of your friends enjoying “classic” fall activities. Photos of leaf peeping, apple picking, and the occasional scarecrow run rampant. But rather than following the herd, you can make your family the trendsetter of unique fall activities! Here are a few outdoor endeavors your family will love.
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