Weldon&Weldon by Advisors Magazine

ADVISORS

MAR 2021

ISSUE 100

magazine

insights with

jeffry weldon a legacy built on

perseverance

Book of Five Rings

Legendary Japanese Advice

Cryptocurrency Goes Mainstream

PayPal provides access for the masses

5 Ways Fintech Help Consumers Use of technology during Covid-19

Erwin E. Kantor Michael Gordon Jude Scinta L. Guerrero

CEO & Publisher Managing Editor Editor-in-Chief Writer-at-Large

Eric Daniels

Billing

Sean Rome

Creative Director

Bobby L. Hickman Amy Armstrong Joe Innace Harold Gonzales Lumi Subasic

Feature Writer Feature Writer Business Reporter Business Reporter Business Reporter

CONTRIBUTORS & GUESTS Steven Selengut IAR, Vitaliy Katsenelson CFA, Judith Bowman, Ron Oertell, Tim Sheehan

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contents mar 2021 on the cover

The Showdown with Robo-Advisors In a recent interview with Advisors Magazine, Weldon Financial Coaching Inc., expressed tremendous concern about the proliferation of robo-advisors, while explaining how their firm helps clients gain peace of mind around their finances.

features

Cryptocurrency Comes out the Shadows Cryptocurrency ownership was once the domain of the ultra-wealthy or patrons who wanted anonymity to prevent tracing of illegal activity – or didn’t want others to know what they were purchasing.

WELDON & WELDON FINANCIAL COACHING THE SHOWDOWN WITH ROBO-ADVISORS

Book of Five Rings Legendary Japanese swordsman’s advice still remains relevant to modern business in the age of big tech

5 Ways Fintech Help Consumers The use of financial technology services – better known as fintech – is increasing during Covid-19

made for you

five ways fintech helps consumers 4 / ADVISORS MAGAZINE

Our picks from around the globe

MAR 2021

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. Do you have questions about managing your money and planning your financial future? At Weldon & Weldon Financial Coaching we educate and coach our clients in the application of academic investing principles. We empower families to discover their true purpose for money by transforming the investing experience so that they are left with peace of mind, confidence, and abundance.

Carolyn Weldon and Jeffry Weldon Cofounders Weldon & Weldon Financial Coaching

COACHWELDON.COM

CALL 315.782.7442

by amy armstrong

Cryptocurrency

Comes Out of the Shadows PayPal provides access for the masses Cryptocurrency ownership was once the domain of the ultra-wealthy or patrons who wanted anonymity to prevent tracing of illegal activity – or didn’t want others to know what they were purchasing.

ot so much anymore, at least not if recent moves by one of the world’s leading electronic payment companies go according to plan. Cryptocurrency is hitting the financial mainstream in 2021 as PayPal moves forward with steps to add the online-based coins to its payment options. Not only is PayPal facilitating the buying and selling of several cryptocurrencies, according to its press releases, but the company is shepherding the inclusion of cryptocurrency into everyday retail transactions by creating an option for its more than 350 million users and 26 million vendors to use and accept as payment for purchase of goods and services. “With over 300 million active users worldwide, this could become a pivotal turning point for an industry that has been previously described as “niche,” “complicated,” and 6 / ADVISORS MAGAZINE

MAR 2021

“inaccessible,” said the “Insider Monkey” in an article posted on Yahoo Finance, concluding that the move is, “allowing anybody from PayPal’s diverse userbase demographic to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency boom.” In other words, it sets the stage for a revolution in how the “not so wealthy” might access cryptocurrency in the future. Being able to purchase cryptocurrency via PayPal significantly increases the convenience factor. Recent moves by cryptocurrency brokers to offer fractional shares of the online currency are beginning to remove the financial obstacles – namely the high price – to being a cryptocurrency owner. However, pricing for a whole coin remains an obstacle for the average investor. Prices for one bitcoin hovered around $12,000 during the summer of 2020. When the

PayPal announcement broke in late fall, the price jumped to $13,200 per coin the following day. By midJanuary 2021, the price soared to $40,000; and at the time of this publication one bitcoin was valued at $48,390 In its announcement, PayPal said it would initially support four types of cryptocurrency: Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Etherium, and Litecoin. Bitcoin is perhaps the most familiar to Americans. It was created in 2009 by an individual or group of persons using the name Satoshi Nakamoto. It was the first of the cryptocurrencies and it uses a peer-to-peer platform to receive and send payments between users, thus, bypassing the additional fees of banks or other brokers. Bitcoin Cash evolved from

Bitcoin. It is fairly the same concept but differs in that its maximum block size online is 32 MB and Bitcoin is still limited to 2 MB. Ethereum began in 2015 after Vitalik Buterin, a RussianCanadian and co-founder of Bitcoin Magazine, became frustrated when changes he suggested to Bitcoin were not acted upon. Three years prior, his father had given him some Bitcoin. Buterin was fascinated. He wrote a white paper describing what he wanted to create: a "decentralized mining network and software development platform rolled into one" that “facilitates the creation of new cryptocurrencies and programs that share a single blockchain (a cryptographic transaction ledger),” instead of the numerous blockchains required by Bitcoin. On March,1 2021, one ether was

valued at $1,519.98. It differs from Bitcoin in that it is a platform upon which users can build their own contracts. Technically, it is classified as an “altcoin” because it has different features than does Bitcoin. Litecoin in comparison is more accessible to a wider group of investors with its March starting price of $171.21 for one coin. It is often likened to the relationship between silver and gold with Litecoin being the silver and Bitcoin being the gold. Litecoin’s processing speed is much faster than Bitcoin. What takes Bitcoin ten minutes to process, Litecoin does in 2.5 minutes. It is a split from Bitcoin, or what the industry calls a “fork.” Litecoin is dubbed such as it is intended for smaller value transactions. It also is an “altcoin.” One caveat for purchasing

Litecoin via PayPal: according to PayPal’s guide to Litecoin, users must first purchase Bitcoin and then exchange it for Litecoin. The ability to purchase, sell, and use cryptocurrency on PayPal will be limited to the United States at first, company representatives said in recent press releases. Cryptocurrency used to make purchases on PayPal will be exchanged into dollars by PayPal for merchants. As the platform expands the use of cryptocurrency to other countries, a similar process will occur with each nation’s currency. There are more than 700 different types of cryptocurrency available. The four currencies referenced above are currently the most popular, and while PayPal intends to begin integrating them into its expansive online purchasing platform, company officials did tell “Review Geek,” a website for techies, that it intends to expand its support of other cryptocurrencies. PayPal has put itself in a position of commanding the use of cryptocurrency for the masses, no longer will crypto just be found in the electronic wallets of the ultra-wealthy. “With PayPal accepting payments in cryptocurrency and paying out conventional money, not to mention its position as one of the most widely accepted forms of payment on the planet, the company could quickly become one of the most powerful players in the stillvolatile cryptocurrency market,’ concluded “Review Geek” writer Michael Crider.

ADVISORS MAGAZINE / 7

BOOK REVIEW by matthew d. edward

Book of Five Rings Legendary Japanese swordsman’s advice still remains relevant to modern business in the age of big tech

Miyamoto Musashi’s “Book of Five” Rings might not be Sun Tzu, but it still deserves a place on every entrepreneur’s shelf.

ntrepreneurs with experience in Asia know that reading clients, competitors, and even their own local business partners can be difficult, at best. Information remains more precious than dollars in the East – China, especially, comes to mind, although Thailand, Vietnam, and everywhere else in the region runs on essentially the same principle – and sharing is not the norm. Just as Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” found itself repurposed as a howto for business deals, Miyamoto Musashi’s “Book of Five Rings,” written as a guide for swordsmen, offers insight to modern entrepreneurs on how to see into a competitor’s mind – and better understand their own. “In strategy your spiritual bearing must not be any different from normal. Both in

fighting and in everyday life you should be determined though calm,” Mushashi writes, one message of many recommending resilience, mental calm, and to understand the right time and place for action. The warrior wisdom still applies today. One can see, for example, President Donald J. Trump following Mushashi’s dictums on unsettling the enemy – media outlets recently reported that China, internally, admitted to miscalculating the U.S. president’s willingness to engage in a “trade war.” That Trump has read Mushashi is unlikely at best, but common wisdom often finds its way into the larger culture. So too, can one see the common attitude in Asia toward negotiating contracts, with frequent feints, renegotiations, and last-minute additions,

as having a home within the swordsman’s worldview. But where “Art of War” looked at the marco of warfare, from large battles to siege warfare, “Book of Five Rings” takes readers to the micro level of mano-a-mano combat. The advice in this book is personal, focusing instead on how warriors should keep their minds, and swords, sharp. “Your attitude should be large or small according to the situation. Upper, Lower and Middle attitudes are decisive,” he writes. “Left Side and Right Side attitudes are fluid … The decision to use Left or Right depends on the place.” Mushashi’s five books parallel the ancient Japanese elements of earth, wind, fire, water, and void. Each book follows a theme – for example, the fire book covers

combat, in line with its element. Mystical in places, philosophical throughout, but also containing a wealth of practical thought on knowing others, “Book of Five Rings” is worth the read for entrepreneurs and executives either bound for Asia, or just looking for a new take on negotiation.

The Book of Five Rings By Miyamoto Mushashi, published 1645

ADVISORS MAGAZINE / 9

by ron oertell

5 Ways Fintech Can Help Consumers During COVID-19 And Beyond While COVID-19 is having a devastating effect on the global economy and consumers, the use of financial technology services – better known as fintech – is increasing.

onsumers, through computers and smartphones, rely on fintech to improve the delivery and use of financial services. In unprecedented times like these, fintech provides a lifeline for some, and convenience for others, says Ron Oertell, Chief Financial Officer at LendingUSA, LLC. “Further embracing by the public and private sector of products and services offered by fintech can help lessen the effect of the downturn in the economy, now and in the future,” Oertell says. “Fintech allows for faster, smarter, and less expensive products and services.” Oertell provides examples of how the fintech industry is responding to COVID-driven consumer needs: Quicker access to money. The Paycheck Protection Program loans are an example of fintech’s ability to get money directly to people quickly, Oertell says. Fintech company Kabbage became the third-largest lender by volume of the PPP, following two traditional banks – Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase. “In prior downturns when the federal government has given money to banks, it’s been a little bit of a bottleneck as lenders tightened lending requirements – notwithstanding the government’s intention with the additional liquidity,” Oertell says. “It was harder to actually get money out to individuals and companies. By leveraging the fintech networks and infrastructure, the government was able to send money directly to companies 10 / ADVISORS MAGAZINE

MAR 2021

and, in turn, individuals, which helped save more than 35 million jobs.” More knowledge leading to better financial decisions. The pandemic has also caused individuals to use personal finance/budget apps for the first time as the need to watch spending has increased. “Fintech tools are more nimble, provide more information and deliver such information better than traditional methods,” Oertell says. “They provide immediate feedback on loan applications and how taking such a loan would impact a person’s credit score. Shopping apps that instantly find the lowest price for goods have proven especially critical in these times. Fintech companies process massive amounts of data and allow people to access financial help in real-time. It’s been instrumental in the boom in point-of-sale financing, when the merchant offers customers a financial solution to assist them in buying the product or service.” Lower fees. “Fintech platforms and the increase of consumers using them have spurred lower user fees, Oertell says. “Because of that, retail stock trading is one area where the cost of products and services has been significantly reduced, and to zero in many cases. By hyper-focusing on the products their consumers demand, removing barriers to broad adoption by a large number of consumers, and improving the user experience, the cost to the consumer can be slashed.” Alternative investment opportunities. The pandemic has caused more interest in alternative assets – those not

categorized as stocks, bonds, or certificates. Fintech platforms remove barriers and enable users to access these opportunities. “In a global recession, investors are looking for safe-haven assets, which has spurred more involvement in cryptocurrencies,” Oertell says. “With fintech solutions growing, companies like Bitcoin IRA have enabled individuals to easily invest in alternative assets. In turn, assets such as Bitcoin are at their highest points in several years.” Contactless payments. Social distancing measures due to the coronavirus have conditioned many people to limit faceto-face interactions. With fintech, people can access their money or make payments without leaving home or exchanging cash. “The pandemic has created a need for robust contactless solutions,” Oertell says. “There is fear with paper money changing hands over and over, and the same goes for pin pad systems. More people prefer not to touch anything outside their homes, and the World Health Organization is encouraging the use of contactless payments.” “Rapid, immense changes bring problems for which some forms of technology bring solutions,” Oertell says. “Fintech is well-positioned to help people who are looking for immediate help and long-term solutions as well.” About Ron Oertell Ron Oertell is Chief Financial Officer at LendingUSA, LLC, a consumer lending company focused on physical point-of-sale locations. He has more than 25 years of experience as an attorney, investment banker, investment fund manager and CFO, and has completed over $9 billion in capital transactions.

by joe innace

FINANCIAL COACHING

THE SHOWDOWN WITH ROBO-ADVISORS 12 / ADVISORS MAGAZINE

MAR 2021

n late July, entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary of TV’s Shark Tank fame unveiled the latest of many mobile apps for automated saving and investing. “100 million Americans have almost no savings for retirement and I want to change that,” O’Leary said in a launch statement. The Beanstox Seriously Simple Investing app, as it’s called, joins the burgeoning field of online trading platforms and 24-hour, at-your-fingertips investing apps widely referred to as robo-advisors,

which are disrupting the financial services industry. But Jeffry Weldon, J.D., CLTC®, and Carolyn Weldon – the founders and husband/wife team at Weldon and Weldon Financial Coaching Inc., in northern New York – are on the side of peace rather than disruption. In a recent interview with Advisors Magazine, both expressed tremendous concern about the proliferation of robo-advisors, while explaining how their firm helps clients gain peace of mind around their finances. “So you come in from the cocktail party at 1 a.m. after a few drinks and overhearing some hot tip,” Carolyn said. “You go online, and in 30 seconds you might make some ADVISORS MAGAZINE / 13

devastating investing mistake that will affect your financial future – and there’s nobody at a robo-advisor that can coach you or maybe advise that it isn’t the best move.” From the Weldons’ viewpoint, robo-advisors are incapable of caring about a person’s financial or personal life, and not interested in an individual’s own goals, hopes and dreams. Jeff told the story of a client who was active on a robo-advisor platform. The client was being deluged with emails about trading options. “Do you realize how complicated options are?” Jeff asked. “There are certain options where the amount you can lose is infinity. People don’t understand this.” As financial coaches, the couple ultimately works to see their clients live their lives, rather than obsess about their assets. Jeff likes to say it’s all about freedom, fulfillment and love – the subtext being that those are things robo-advisors can never provide. “With robo-investing, people are being told they can drive the Maserati,” Jeff added. “But their financial life is being put on the line by being tempted to race ahead with decisions on things that could totally mess up their financial future.” A financial coach, on the other hand, helps clients avoid such potential wrecks by getting them to focus on what’s really vital.

“Our true purpose is to empower our clients to create freedom in their lives by transforming their investment experience, so even after we’re gone, these people will still be having great - lives,” Jeff emphasized. “And through our coaching, we don’t only teach them how to focus on their financial behavior, but we

teach them to focus on what’s important to them.” The firm’s mission is to empower families in discovering their true purpose for money by transforming their investing and planning experience. Clients at Weldon and Weldon start with an investigative review of where they stand now and what is meaningful to them now and in

"Our true purpose is bringing value to the clients that we have, so even after we’re gone, these people will still be having great financial lives." -- JEFF WELDON 14 / ADVISORS MAGAZINE

MAR 2021

the future. In fact, if that client’s deep-drill review sometimes feels like a legal deposition, it’s probably because Jeff has a law degree and was once on the editorial board of Journal of Contemporary Health Law and Policy, (Columbus School of Law at Catholic University, 1985) Among the 20-odd questions he’ll ask a client: • Do you have a true purpose for your money? (Meaning something that’s more important than the money itself.) • Have you defined your investment philosophy? • Do you have an academic understanding of how markets work? • Do you have an academic method for measuring your risk tolerance and do you know what the number is? • Have you measured the total amount of commissions and costs in your portfolio? • When it comes to building an investment portfolio do you know exactly what you are doing and why? • Is the person you are working with a coach or a planner? • Do you have a customized lifelong game plan to guide all your spending decisions? “One of Jeff’s favorite phrases is ‘whoever God puts in front of me gets all of Jeff,’” Carolyn said. “We’re not going to turn anyone away. We have people who don’t make a whole lot of money and we have people who are very wealthy and we have a lot in between. And it doesn’t matter if you make $50,000 or $500,000 or $5 million a year,” Carolyn, who is also an Investment Advisor, continued. “Interestingly enough, I observe that those who make more money are often the most stressed about money.”

“When the pandemic occurred, we made a commitment to call every single one of our clients” -- CAROLYN WELDON Such stress can lead to fear and behaviors — and subsequent action or inaction — which may prove harmful without the steady guidance of a financial coach. “People may have a financial plan, but they also have fears,” Jeff explained. “Some have a scarcity mindset around money; something happened in their life, and they constantly revisit that experience keeping alive a fear about money,” he added. ““I have a client with over $5 million of assets and they are so fearful that they are going to run out of money. I don’t see any possibility of it from the facts, but they are very fearful about their future.” Educating clients is beneficial and Weldon and Weldon do a lot of teaching as well as coaching. But because of each client’s own fears and individual biases, Jeff contends that the important thing to keep in mind is that knowledge does not always dictate action. He maintains that education is tremendously important and that clients must have a basic understanding of how markets work, and then be coached on their behavior around money. “There is no dumb question,” Carolyn said. “If you are wondering about something, chances are good your spouse or other ADVISORS MAGAZINE / 15

people on a call have the same question. If you are wondering about it, bring it up and let’s address it.” Worry, stress and fear were all in play during the height of the pandemic. The Dow Jones Industrial Average index plunged some 8,000 points in the four weeks from February 12 to March 11, 2020. Those stock market losses threw many investors into panic mode, leading them to forget why they invested the way they did, and looking to flee into cash. “All that stuff goes out the window when fear takes over,” Carolyn noted. “And that’s why regular contact and coaching are so important. Because, when those fear instincts come along, 16 / ADVISORS MAGAZINE

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one of jeff’s favorite phrases is whoever god puts in front of me gets all of jeff

coaching can bring them back to what they were doing and why they were doing it—and talk them through those moments.” That’s exactly what the firm did during the pandemic and is continuing to practice currently: Outreach. Listening. Feedback. Before the pandemic, Jeff and Carolyn were traveling at least once a month, sometimes more, seeing out of state clients and continuing their own training. “But when the Pandemic occurred, we made a commitment to call every single one of our clients,” Carolyn said. “That took some time. Some of those conversations were on the tough side. People were suffering and they just needed someone to listen to what they were dealing

with.” She’s quick to acknowledge that there is no magic bullet or perfect solution, no cookie-cutter approach that applies to all. “So we made sure to be in contact with our clients to let them know that we are here, we are available. We can talk on the phone, we can set up a Zoom meeting,” Carolyn said. They both still prefer in-person meetings, but they’ve also learned a lot can be accomplished via Zoom or with an earnest phone call. “We’ve even had groups of clients together on Zoom and those meetings have been very powerful,” Carolyn added. “People who might not necessarily know each other are connected through us and share their experiences and we have developed some great community in Zoom meetings with multiple

clients – that’s not something I had really considered prior to March.” Jeff pointed out that life insurance companies quickly responded to the needs of people during the pandemic. Emailed or faxed death certificates, with some companies, are now acceptable whereas a raised-seal certificate was previously required. Some underwriting guidelines have changed also. “One of the underwriting questions was always: ‘When have you last seen the client?’ Now the question is phrased: ‘When have you last seen the client, or been on a Zoom with a client?’” Jeff said. Most clients are now very comfortable with Zoom. The Weldon’s find millennials, especially, love it. Clients in their 50s and 60s have adapted and are frequent users, and even

most of Weldon and Weldon’s older, retired clients could now be considered boomer Zoomers. “The pandemic experience reminded us of the importance of regular communication with our clients” Jeff said. “We even added additional staff to help us with that because we discovered how vital communication is and how we wanted to continue that outreach even when the pandemic ends.” The Weldons called to listen to what was happening in the lives of their clients. Paying attention was prioritized over offering advice. In the process, Carolyn and Jeff say they learned so much that had absolutely nothing to do with the pandemic, in addition to information directly linked to COVID-19. “See, no robo-advisor is going to call you and discover you’re now working from home, or your daughter’s wedding had to be canceled, or you lost a loved one,” Carolyn said. In fact, Weldon and Weldon plans on countering the rise of the robo-advisors with even more meetings, increased communications and – get this – more human beings. “We learned so many things from listening to clients that need to be addressed,” Jeff emphasized. “And through this pandemic, we have added staff and believe we’ll have to add even more.” Encouraged by the outlook at their own firm, the Weldons are not without their frustrations with the industry in general. “In investing, there needs to be a change in how investing is offered to clients because clients are basically put in a situation where an opportunity is presented that is really no different from Vegas,” Jeff said, not mincing ADVISORS MAGAZINE / 17

Saving Rates

U.S. Personal Saving Rates in 2020

Months

Note: Saving rates based on Federal Reserve data from 2020

words. “It’s ding-ding-ding and the bells are ringing and it’s like hey put your money in here, you can win big.” In his view, the big problem is rampant gambling and speculation. People profit once from a stock tip and think they can time the market and make a bundle on their life savings, falling prey to the best investing intentions. “They’re picking stocks and it’s been proven over and over again that you can’t pick stocks,” Jeff insisted. “It can’t be done. That’s been academically proven over and over again. Market timing doesn’t work.” What may likely have a better outcome is being a better saver and working with a financial coach around your investing behaviors. In fact, the personal saving rate in the United States, as calculated by the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis, jumped during the pandemic to 32.2% in April, surging from the March rate of 12.6%, only to slide to 23.2% in May. And Jeff relishes 18 / ADVISORS MAGAZINE

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the chance to have a coachable moment with a client around the practice of saving money. Strong savings will trump taking riskier return every time, he contends. “If you’re someone who saves 5 percent of your income for 30 years, and you made 12 percent in returns, and your neighbor had the same income, but he saved 20 percent of his income and made 6 percent, guess who had more money?” Jeff asked. “You have to have the worldclass saver conversation. We have people in law firms, and accounting firms and it’s like a new world to them. No one has ever talked to them about it before.” Other sources of frustration for both is the industry’s jargon, extensive legalese language contained in prospectuses and disclosures, and the blurring of lines between fiduciaries and brokers/dealers. “Such documents need to be provided in plain and simple terms that people can easily understand,” Carolyn said. “It

needs to be in summary form so that it’s not in 50-page packets. And it’s difficult for the average Joe, because of state and federal regulations, to understand the differences between a fiduciary and a broker/dealer.” In the end, the Weldon and Weldon takeaway messages are indeed plain and simple: People need to find a coach who can really help them see their behaviors are the problem in their whole financial picture; clients must be empowered to discover their true purpose so they can focus on what’s important to them, and the ultimate objective is having peace of mind around their money. And one more thing: it’s best to avoid the financial sharks and robots.

made for you

In a world of fast food and one-size-fits-all sensibilities, how often does something feel made especially for you? The "Made for You" section celebrates those items that are created with such high quality of hand workmanship and degree of customization that they become individual to you. In each issue, our editors will endeavor to bring you special things from anywhere on the globe, choosing them solely on the basis of outstanding quality. Our goal is to give you guidance on the best of everything. 1 MONTBLANC — POLYCARBONATE SUITCASE As well as being able to slip through the tightest of airport queues and squeeze into the overhead cabin lockers, a stylish travel bag should add serious verve to your jet-setting outfit. How you emerge from an arrivals lounge says a lot about you, so a suitcase is worth dedicating some budget to. And, with air travel to an increasing number of destinations having now been given the OK (for the most part), some quality luggage is a particularly timely investment, too. mrporter.com.com

4 DIPLOMATICO — RUM RESERVA EXCLUSIVA A household name, it’s hard to go wrong with a bottle of Diplomatico. The brand originates from Venezuela and is one of the biggest rum producers in the country. Diplomatico aims to support its home country through its rum production by providing sustainable jobs and keeping the health of the environment at its core. The brand uses an ecological treatment process to transform residual water into fertiliser for its sugarcane. This bottle is aged for up to 12 years and combines mostly sweet flavours like fruit cake, rum and raisin ice cream, cocoa, dried ginger, cinnamon and clove. drizly.com

2 SALVATORE FERRAGAMO — OXFORD LACE UP A classic shoe with modern touches: slim line Oxford lace up with a fitted instep for an impeccable fit. The upper in soft calf leather is hand buffed to achieve a delicate chromatic nuance on the toe and heel, enriched by a broguing with a British flavor. Leather sole with double stitching and welt that narrows towards the heel for greater flexibility. The “Tramezza” construction, synonymous with the highest quality craftsmanship is used to create this shoe. The technique involves 160 distinct phases and over 6 hours of manual work by an expert shoemaker to combine strength and resistance with flexibility and absolute comfort. ferragamo.com

5 WOODEN WONDERLAND — THE WOODS IN MAINE Sitting 15 feet above the forest floor, The Woods Maine is elevating treetop living to new heights. Proving once and for all that, sleeping in the woods can be both an exciting adventure and luxurious experience. The two-bedroom two-bathroom refuge blends quintessentially New England style with a homey atmosphere. The two-story treehouse invites the outside in — from the expansive window views to the fresh moss touches and the strategic cutouts that let trees grow right up through the deck. Two night minimum. Up to 4 guests. thewoodsmaine.com

3 IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN — PORTUGIESER PERPETUAL IWC was founded in 1868 by a Bostonian: Florentine Ariosto Jones. The company created a name for itself by bringing together innovative new American production techniques with the traditional skills of master Swiss watchmakers. The result? World-class watches that stand out both aesthetically and in terms of reliability. An IWC watch is that dream combination of sophistication and durability. Effortless elegance alongside peerless quality and precision make an IWC watch one of the best on the market. mrporter.com.com

6 2021 CORVETTE — MID-ENGINE MASTERPIECE The mid-engine marvel continues to carve its legacy with every push of the ignition. Get behind the wheel and experience the balance of design and performance that puts Corvette, and whoever is driving it, out in front. For 2021, the head-turning presence and performance of Corvette is pushed even further with new available design options, FE2 suspension, Driver Mode Selector Visualization and Wireless Phone Projection. chevrolet.com

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