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FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC
616-514-3831
www.MattsonFinancial.com
AUGUST 2023
On the Mend
MY NEW PATH TOWARD HEALTH
I closed out our last edition of the newsletter with a bit of a cliffhanger. When I left you, I had a heart attack following back surgery and underwent a quadruple bypass. Fortunately, I can report the happy ending we always root for in the movies. I have recovered well with a new strong heart and back and 20 fewer pounds on my frame. I’m glad to say I’ve returned to work and am enjoying the company of our wonderful clients and team. Of course, the ordeal was incredibly frightening. No one is fully prepared for a heart attack, but I had no family history of heart disease and no symptoms before my back surgery. While on vacation just six months earlier, I climbed mountain trails in South America with my wife and never realized I had a problem coming my way. Having a heart attack after back surgery is practically unheard of, but it likely saved my life. Nancy assisted me greatly in my recovery. But it worried me to have my wife take on this role because she has her own health concerns. Seasons.com reports that caregivers with medical conditions don’t generally fare well over a long period. Such caregivers often help others at the expense of their mental and physical well-being. In fact, 63% of these caregivers will die while providing care; family caregivers die an average of two years before the Alzheimer’s patient for whom they provide support.
I know we are getting older, and we all worry about the health we will enjoy in our golden years. Aging brings many ailments, including an increased risk of dementia, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and cancer. I received treatments for cancer two years ago and thought that would be my big battle. I didn’t know my heart was working overtime because of my previous eating and diet indiscretions. But I ended up in the ICU for five days and the heightened care unit (HCU) for another two. After surgery, I remember thinking it was time to get my body in better shape and make the most of the treatment I’d just received. Hopefully, the result will be a longer life. No Mattson male has lived past 67 — my current age. I’m looking forward to besting that record, though I doubt I’ll beat my mom, whose 100th birthday is approaching. She still lives independently with my stepfather, but SeniorLiving.com reports an almost 70% chance of a 65-year-old today needing long- term care services in their remaining years. Women typically need care longer (3.7 years) than men (2.2 years). We all make daily decisions about our health while hardly thinking about them. It’s easy to reward ourselves and choose things that taste good today — but stacked up over time, they cause bad results. I don’t smoke or drink, but I
do love sweets! That seems to be my downfall, and I’m working on eating healthier.
Remember, it doesn’t matter how many retirement assets you have if you’re not
physically able to enjoy them. I hope you’ll take my wake-up call as one of your own. Join me in exercising, eating healthy, and caring for your body. It will pay higher dividends in the long run, more than any other investment you may have. –Gary Mattson
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WHAT IS ETHICAL IN USE YOUR VALUES TO MAKE FINANCIAL DECISIONS
Do you want to start investing but are wary of funding large corporations with questionable ethics? Ethical investing is when people make investment decisions that align with their morals. When investing ethically, you support sustainable companies committed to widespread positive social change. Of course, “ethical” is subjective and means various things to different people. Ethical investors often research companies before investing to discover how the business impacts the world around them. These can concern human rights, environmental sustainability, and more. What is the difference between ethical and ESG investing? Ethical investing is similar to ESG investing, which evaluates a company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. The difference? Ethical investing takes it a few steps further. For example, ESG investing looks at issues that can include:
• • •
Climate change
• •
Employee safety
Waste management
Accounting practices
Gender/racial discrimination
However, ethical investing follows a more comprehensive approach and considers ethical matters that may not be discovered when assessing a company’s ESG standards. Some ethical concerns may include:
• • •
Fossil fuel usage
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Child labor violations
Weapons production
Human rights
It’s entirely up to the investor to decide which causes they want to invest in or eliminate from their investment portfolio through the companies they research and choose.
DON’T HIT THAT SNOOZE BUTTON! GET YOUR KIDS BACK ON A SCHOOL ROUTINE
During the summer months, your child isn’t thinking about school. They’re focused on relaxing, staying up late, and sleeping in! So, naturally, it can be challenging for you and your kids to get back into a routine as the start of the school year approaches. If you don’t prepare for a school routine now, your children will spend the first couple of weeks (or even months) trying to adapt to the change, which can be detrimental to their learning.
for bed earlier at night. You could also start cooking dinner at the same time each day so your kids can begin forming a routine around dinnertime. This will help their minds and bodies acclimate to their new school nighttime routine. Incorporate education into their activities. School mode and vacation mode are drastically different — the last thing most kids want to do during summer break is learn. To help with this, have your child play educational games or watch a show, movie, or documentary that might expand their
Here are three strategies to try when helping your child get back into a school routine.
Practice morning habits. About two weeks before school starts, wake your kids up a little earlier than they are used to. Then, outline specific tasks they must complete before heading out the door. This could be making their bed, brushing their teeth, getting dressed, and eating breakfast. Doing this will instill good, responsible habits in your child and help them practice time management when school does begin again. Wind down earlier at night. During the summer, kids may be used to staying up a little later than usual. To mitigate this, have your children prepare
horizons. You don’t have to do anything grand for this; even reading for at least 10 minutes a day can help!
Returning to a school routine will be difficult for the entire family, so show yourself and your kids grace during this time. Slowly implementing these steps into your end-of- summer routine will help you and your family be ready for the coming school year. To everyone going back to school, good luck with your future endeavors!
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NVESTING?
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Do ethical investments have high returns? While not all investments can guarantee a high return, one 2019 study by Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing found the return on investments focused on ethical choices was not noticeably different from traditional investments. It doesn’t hurt to care!
No In-Person September Event Sept. 8, 2023 12 p.m.
In lieu of an in-person event on Friday, Sept. 1, we’ll be sending out a market update via email the following Friday. Sign up via email at info@mattsonfinancial.com to ensure you are on our mailing list!
Ethical investors actively work to support moral values in businesses and encourage sustainable practices. As more and more investors choose to support these companies, other businesses are pressured to clean up their acts and work harder to make a difference. Our ethical values, applied to investment choices, can make a huge impact! No one needs to throw away their values to start investing.
October Grand Re-Opening Event Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 12 p.m.–3 p.m.
Join us as we invite you to see our newly renovated office on this October First Friday! Mingle with your team, take care of any servicing needs and stay for the live market update at 2 p.m.
November Holiday Market Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 12 p.m.–3 p.m.
TAKE A SUDOKU BREAK! Get a jump start on shopping for loved ones at our indoor holiday market! Shop craft vendors, enjoy complimentary beverages, snacks, and great company. Interested in being a vendor? Call us at 616-514-3831 to learn more.
Taylor’s
HOISIN-GLAZED PORK CHOPS
Inspired by TheModernProper.com
Ingredients
• • • • •
2 garlic cloves, minced 2 tsp minced ginger 1/3 cup hoisin sauce 2 tbsp rice vinegar
•
4 boneless pork chops (about 2 lbs)
• • •
3/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp sesame oil Cilantro (optional)
2 tbsp water
Directions
1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, simmer garlic, ginger, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and water. Whisk occasionally until mixture is fully incorporated (about 4 minutes). Set aside. 2. Lightly salt pork chops. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add sesame oil and wait until smoking. Place pork in skillet and cook until browned (3-4 minutes on each side, depending on thickness of pork chops). 3. Remove pork chops from skillet and transfer to a cutting board. Let rest for 5 minutes. 4. Drizzle hoisin mixture over pork chops and top with cilantro if desired.
Solution on Pg. 4
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FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC
3226 28th Street SE Kentwood, MI 49512
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2
How Gary’s Recovery Is Going
Ethical Investing Explained
Get Your Child Back-to-School Ready
3
Hoisin-Glazed Pork Chops
Upcoming Events
4
Travel Like a Pro With TSA PreCheck
**Reminder: If you have any changes to your financial situation, please notify us as soon as possible.
Investment advisory services offered through Mattson Financial Services, LLC, an SEC-Registered Investment Advisor. Insurance and annuities offered through Lakeview Financial Group, LLC. Mattson Financial Services, LLC and Lakeview Financial Group, LLC are affiliated companies.
Reduce Pre-Flight Wait With TSA PreCheck DON’T REMOVE YOUR SHOES
A TSA PreCheck registration, however, won’t let you waltz straight from the parking lot to your plane. Members must still walk through a metal detector and allow the TSA to X-ray carry- on items. But people with TSA PreCheck can bypass the full body scan or pat down. They also keep their shoes and belts on while leaving laptops and appropriately sized liquids in their carry-on bags. Finally, PreCheck passengers have a designated security line where, in March 2021, TSA reported the average wait was only 5 minutes. The vast majority of airlines and airports operating in the U.S. accept TSA PreCheck, and you can apply with an online application. You must finish registration and submit fingerprints at an in-person enrollment center, but most appointments take about 10 minutes. Five years of enrollment costs $78. At that price, even those who only book one round-trip flight a year might decide to avoid the typical security hassle. Further, many credit cards will reimburse the cost. TSA PreCheck isn’t the only method on the market. Nexus is another domestic security program, and Global Entry allows expedited processing through customs and immigration when returning to the U.S. on international flights. Which service best meets your needs depends on your travel habits. But if you fly regularly, these programs are almost certainly worth your time and money. Don’t get left behind — consider enrolling before your next trip!
When you arrive at the airport, you likely feel resigned to the hassle of waiting in a long security line and taking off your shoes. But did you know there’s an elite flight club full of people who don’t need to go through that routine? They have that privilege because TSA PreCheck has confirmed they aren’t a security threat. Best of all, the program is inexpensive and easy to join. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began the TSA PreCheck program in 2013 to improve frequent flyers’ experience. TSA performs an enhanced security screening on applicants and issues those who pass muster a Known Traveler Number (KTN) that entitles them to fewer security checks at the airport.
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