Element Monthly - Sharon Wofford

the ELEMENT age Lending in Mortg

2 0 2 1 Q U A R T E R LY E D I T I O N

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Experts share the

KEYS TO A CAREER

YOU LOVE

Screen time: A matter of quality, not quantity

Watch for your

spending triggers

HEALTH in the NEWS

How to care for a COVID patient at home

Spotlight

Sharon Wofford

A DIVISION OF PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE INC

Experts share the KEYS TO A CAREER

YOU LOVE

What do successful leaders see as essential to a fulfilling career—and life? Podcasters Eric Eliasson and Lara Mitra asked 30 top business leaders what they’d learned on their path to success. The MIT Sloane School of Management website presents some of their insights: • Diversify your passions. Don’t limit yourself to just one area of interest.

Look around and seek out new possibilities throughout your career.

The more passions you have, the greater your range as you go through life.

• Be open to changing views of success. “Success” can mean making lots of money, having wide power, or earning the love of a family—or an infinite number of other things. As you learn and grow, your definition of success may shift.

Don’t fight it. You may find that you have very different ideas of what’s valuable at different stages of your life.

• Remember to plan. Being open to change doesn’t mean totally winging it throughout your career.

Set some goals early on and develop a plan for moving forward.

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You may have to adjust your plan as your circumstances and views change, but you’ll be in a better position to pivot if you have a firm foundation to stand on.

• Take action to build confidence.

You may be unsure that you’re doing the right thing, but if you do nothing, you’ll never achieve any of your goals. Taking action, even if you fail, can give you the confidence you need to keep moving forward. You’ll see what you can do, and learn that failure isn’t the end of the world

Element HOME I am fortunate enough to have been granted a front row seat in witnessing the amazing feats that Element Funding has accomplished over the last eleven years. None of which would have been possible without the hard work and commitment of our treasured associates, referral partners, and great customers. I’m proud to relay our biggest accomplishment to date, making the dreams of homeownership a reality with over 8 Billion funded and over 35,000 families.

At Element, we believe in the importance of family. We fully realize that buying a home is the singularly most emotional and greatest financial purchase that a family will ever make. To that extent, we place an incredible amount of emphasis on never missing a closing date. This all leads back to our strong belief in the importance of keeping our promises.

We celebrate our associates, referral partners and customers with gatherings and consistent communication. We promote and embrace the concept of “lender for life” and want our customers and partners to think of Element Funding anytime they, or a family or friend of theirs, has a housing finance need. Element embraces technology that not only helps our valued customers but allows Element loan officers to keep our customers informed on the latest real estate finance trends.

We look forward to continuing this fantastic journey with you.

Larry W. Sutton, Jr. Element Funding Division President

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Watch for your spending triggers We spend money for all sorts of obvious reasons—food, gasoline, entertainment, and so forth. But sometimes our spending is triggered by other factors. Understanding your triggers is a good way to limit unnecessary spending. Check this list of potential triggers from the My Money Coach website: • Time of day. Don’t go shopping when you’re tired. Pay attention to when you have energy to make good decisions and go to the store then. You’ll be able to think more rationally when you’re not fatigued.

• Environment. Certain places and situations can make you feel obligated to spend money whether you need to or not. A coffee shop next to a boutique may entice you into browsing and buying. Try to stay away from environments—outside or online—where you may be tempted.

• Mood. Many people go on buying sprees when they’re depressed.

Others start shopping to celebrate good news. Be aware of your mood when you’re thinking of spending money. Try to replace the urge to shop with a trip to the park or the gym.

• Peer pressure. Do you feel the need to keep up with your friends and neighbors? Comparing yourself to other people isn’t the way to happiness—or financial security.

Figure out what’s really important to you, and don’t get distracted by what other people have.

Wrong answers A police officer pulled a driver over. The nervous motorist asked, “What did I do wrong, officer?”

“Nothing at all.” The police officer smiled. “You’ve just won $1,000 in a safe driving competition. Hey, what do you think you’ll do with the money?”

The man said, “Oh, I guess I’ll go to driving school and get my license.”

His wife, sitting next to him, said, “Don’t listen to him, officer. He lies when he’s drunk.”

Then a man in the back woke up, saw the cop, and said, “Darn it, I told you we wouldn’t get far in a stolen car!”

Just then the officer heard a knock at the trunk. He walked to the back of the car. A voice called, “Are we over the border yet?”

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Recipe:

Pecan Pumpkin Bread This pumpkin Bread recipe makes a simple treat that is perfect for a cozy autumn afternoon.

Ingredients

For the streusel 2/3 cup flour 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans 1/4 cup cold butter For the pumpkin bread 2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 large eggs 1 1/2cups white sugar 15- oz. can pumpkin 1/2 cup melted butter

Directions

Make the streusel: Stir together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and chopped nuts in a medium bowl. Add the butter and crumble it into the dry ingredients with your fingertips until there are no more flecks of dry flour and small crumbs form. Cover and refrigerate.

Make the pumpkin bread: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and line TWO 9×5 inch loaf pans. Stir together flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl and set aside. Whisk eggs, sugar, pumpkin and melted butter together in a measuring jug. Pour the wet into the dry ingredients and fold in just until combined, do not overmix!

Evenly divide the batter between the TWO prepared loaf tins and evenly sprinkle each with the chilled streusel. Bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing.

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Health in the News

How to care for a COVID patient at home

Remember these basics to keep the workplace safe

COVID-19 isn’t going away quickly—at least, quickly enough—and that means that even if you don’t fall victim to the coronavirus, you may find yourself taking care of a family member who has. The NDTV website offers these tips for keeping yourself and your loved ones healthy:

The workplace can be full of hazards. Are you paying attention to the fundamentals? The Occupational Health and Safety website spotlights these common safety issues every manager and employee should be aware of:

• Isolate the patient. Put the person is a separate bedroom, preferably with its own bathroom. Keep interaction to a bare minimum; leave meals, dishes, clothing, and laundry outside the door to avoid spreading.

• Get medical advice. Don’t try treating the disease on your own. Talk to your doctor for knowledgeable advice on how to keep your family member healthy during quarantine. The doctor can prescribe appropriate medications for treating symptoms.

• Hands. Hands are vital to almost everything we do at work, from typing on a keyboard to threading electrical wiring throughout a building. Protective gloves are essential for many tasks; proper ergonomics can keep your hands and fingers safe when working with computers or other equipment.

• Head safety. Head injuries are usually the most severe accidents a worker can suffer. Hard hats and helmets are a must for protecting employees in construction settings.

Signage warning employees of low ceilings or other potential hazards are crucial as well.

• Monitor the person’s condition. Keep track of your family member’s temperature, oxygen saturation, pulse rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar if he or she is diabetic. Report any changes to your doctor.

• Noise. Many workers are exposed to dangerous levels of noise on the job, which can not only damage their hearing but also cause irritability, sleep problems, anxiety, and more. Monitor noise levels at your worksite, and provide proper ear protection to limit potential harm.

• Eat healthy meals and get plenty of rest. Make sure the patient has plenty of healthy food to eat and gets sufficient sleep. Do the same for yourself to keep your strength up.

• Eyes. Employees who are exposed to any chemical, environmental, radiological, or mechanical irritants should wear adequate eye protection—safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield.

• Follow safety protocols. Everyone should wear masks and wash hands frequently. Don’t share utensils or common household items. Wipe down surfaces with disinfectant often. Make sure air flow throughout your home is adequate.

• Lifting. Back injuries account for about a fifth of all work-related injuries. Remind employees how to safely lift heavy boxes and other items; provide dollies or carts so employees don’t have to carry heavy loads long distances; advise them to ask for assistance when necessary.

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Here’s how accidents add up Accidents and injuries cost money.

Of course, employees’ physical health and safety is paramount, but damage to the bottom line can have a huge impact on everyone.

The 2021 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, an annual ranking of serious, nonfatal workplace injuries, reports that U.S. employers spend almost $1 billion a week on workplace injuries—some $58 billion annually.

Here are the Top 10: • Overexertion from handling objects $13.3 billion • Falls to the same level $10.6 billion • Falls to a lower level $5.6 billion • Awkward postures $4.7 billion • Vehicle crashes $3.2 billion • Slip/trip (no fall) $2.5 billion • Colliding with equipment or objects $2.5 billion • Caught in machinery or equipment $2 billion • Repetitive motion $1.7 billion

Screen time: A matter of quality, not quantity Parents worry about how much screen time children should have, especially when we’re all still being careful to limit personal contact and avoid the coronavirus. The Smithsonian Magazine points out that there’s no one-size fits all rule.

Trying to set the same limits on every child will only lead to frustration on everyone’s part.

Focus on the quality of the screen time rather than obsessing about quantity. Children under the age of two, for example, really shouldn’t have any screen time at all—except, of course, for visiting with relatives on Zoom for a short time. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that excessive screen time at that age and younger can adversely affect

language development, reading ability, and short-term memory.

On the other hand, older teens will resist limits on screen time, ignoring

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parents or working around their restrictions. Your best bet is to keep communication open and discuss issues before and after they arise.

FALL IN LOVE

Click for our Fall in Love video

Click for the November birthdays!

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TESTIMONIALS

Here’s what you had to say this month...

“

- Katherine Sharon and the whole team worked diligently on our refinance, they were able to bring our interest rate down and lower our monthly payment, all while dealing with issues from our current mortgage providers.

They met with us in office and worked for hours to find a solution with us and got our loan closed as fast as possible. I have watched them advocate for their clients and it really matters to me. I would recommend them for any of your funding needs. First class and very communicative. They even gave us a sweet card and some amazing goodies as an added bonus. So happy with our service!

- Sharon is awesome to work with! She was super helpful giving us all of the knowledge we needed as first time home buyers. To top it off she was able to get us to close early on our home with only THREE days notice!! She’s amazing at what she does!

- Sharon is dynamite at what she does! She was very patient with me through my issues and helped me find my way through tons of paperwork issues. If anybody can do it, it’s Sharon. I am so thankful for being able to work with her.

- She is sharp and flexible! Goes all out for her clients and the love her for it!

- Katherine France was such a tremendous help with our refinance. After a few text messages and emails, she and did all the work and ended up saving us over $300 a month in our payment! Closing was so much fun. You can tell that Katherine really cares about her clients and enjoys helping people.

”

Thank you for your continued trust.

Anyone you know we may be able to help?

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PROUDLY PROVIDED BY Sharon C. Wofford Branch Manager | NMLS 582336 O 706.530.5853 | C 770.893.7097 F 678.809.3172 swofford@elementfunding.com 275 Gilmer Ferry Road, Suite 2&3 Ball Ground, GA 30107 A DIVISION OF PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE INC

A HIGH POWERED MORTGAGE COMPANY

with a hometown feel

www.ElementFunding.com Element Funding is a Division of Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. NMLS 3094. PRMI is an Equal Housing Lender. Some products and services may not be available in all states. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change and are subject to borrower(s) qualification. This is not a commitment to lend. Georgia Department of Banking and Finance 6521. NMLS# 582336