Clubs: Not Just for High School
The Best Way to Stay Active in Retirement homeowners association. There are plenty of ways to engage with like- minded people while making a difference. Try Something New Don’t know where to start when looking for a group to join? Start online! Try searching “groups for retirees” and see what comes up. You might discover a travel group and start planning your trip to Asia. Or maybe you’ll have more fun mentoring young people in your professional field. Don’t be afraid to spend your retirement doing something new! There’s nothing wrong with enjoying your alone time, but don’t let your alone time turn into a lonely retirement. Joining a group can help you broaden your social circle, stay active, and maybe even learn something new about yourself.
Despite warnings and increased awareness, many phone scams are still going strong. One of the most well-known scams is the IRS scam. You get a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, and they tell you that you owe money and if you don’t pay, they will have you arrested. These scammers use fear and uncertainty to coerce their victims. This is just one scenario that may play out, but the end goal is the same for every call:The scammer wants you to give them money. Sometimes they ask for a wire transfer or gift cards; iTunes gift cards, for example, are a popular choice among scammers. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers fell for phone scams to the tune of $488 million during 2018. So, the scammers’ tactics clearly seem to be paying off. The FTC also reports that people in their 60s are among those who have lost the most money to phone scams. In 2018, this age group lost $184 million. People ages 50–59 ranked second, with losses totaling $168 million. While it’s great not having your nose to the grindstone nine-to-five, leaving work also means leaving behind a lot of daily activities and social interaction. Eventually, having nothing but free time goes from relaxing to isolating, and that can be dangerous to your physical and mental health. When planning for retirement, it’s important to plan ways to stay active and engaged. Joining a new organization or club can be a huge benefit. Here are a few suggestions to help you stay active in retirement. Enjoy Your Hobbies Did you spend years dreaming about hitting the golf course every day? While it can be nice to spend some time alone on the green, consider joining a golfers club if you want to mix things up. Enjoy scrapbooking? Check for get-togethers at the craft shop. If you’ve always wanted to try pottery, look for a class at the rec center. It’s easy to find groups dedicated to just about any activity. Get Involved Think of the causes you’re passionate about and get involved! Animal shelters and soup kitchens are always looking for volunteer help. Book lovers of all ages can join their local Friends of Libraries chapter. To make a difference through politics, help with fundraisers or join an active campaign. If you want to stay closer to home, check out your local
PROTECT YOURSELF WHEN SCAMMERS CALL
Here are four tips to protect yourself if you get one of these fraudulent calls: 1. If you get a call from anyone claiming to be from the IRS, you can hang up right there. The IRS will never call you at home. Should the IRS legitimately need to contact you, they will do so throughmail. 2. If someone calls claiming to be from any government agency, such as the Social Security Administration, and asks for your Social Security number or other sensitive information, hang up. The SSA is another agency that will not cold-call you. They will reach out via mail first. 3. Any time you’re asked to send money via wire transfer or gift card, you know it’s fraudulent. No legitimate source, whether it’s a government agency or a business, will call you asking for money out of the blue. Scammers love gift cards because they are largely untraceable, and once the money is gone, it’s gone for good. 4. Finally, stay rational over the phone. Scare tactics are remarkably effective, and scammers prey on this fact. The second anyone attempts to use scare tactics —such as threats of jail time or lawsuits—hang up.
2 • CampbellWealth.com
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