Mixology

TIPSY TEMPTATIONS

DEATH IN THE AFTERNOON

Glassware:

Chilled Champagne Flute

Method:

In a chilled champagne flute add first the absinthe and then the chilled champagne. Serve and enjoy!

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Pernod Ricard Absinth Superior 4.5 oz. Chilled GH Mumm Grand Cordon

The myth, the legend, the classic – this historic libation was invented by the one and only Ernest Hemmingway. No stranger to cocktails, Hemmingway is the namesake and the creator of many a classic cocktail. However, this one stands out. The champagne is crisp and refreshing, a feathery pairing against the indisputably robust absinthe. The scintillating taste of the anise spirit adds a devilish and playful tone of black liquorice. Yet, the champagne itself is decadent and addictive. The cocktail is a perfect spring drink for 2021. In his own words, Hemmingway states, “Pour one jigger of absinthe into a champagne flute. Add iced champagne until it attains the proper opalescent milkiness. Drink three to five of these slowly.” Unlike the famous author, do drink responsibly. However, make sure to have a little fun in 2021. When ready, order a Death in the Afternoon and enjoy.

BOLD PATH

Glassware:

Highball Glass

Method:

Build over ice in a highball glass. Use a long spoon to stir until the ingredients are integrated and the glass begins to frost. Garnish, serve, and enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 oz. Malfy Rossa Gin 1 oz. Capitoline Tiber .5 oz. Pomegranate Juice 3.5 oz. Mumm Napa Brut Garnish: Mint Sprig and ¼ Grapefruit Slice

Champagne is fun and it is bold, which is what makes it a perfect cocktail companion in 2021. The brighter days beckon for a compatriot of comradery that can only be made with a quintessential pick-me-up beverage. Hence, the need for a “Bold Path.” Starting out the springtime special is gin. Light in body and full in flavor, gin has been a tipple of choice for generation upon generation. This particular one is Italian in origin, and flavored with the famous regional taste of Pink Grapefruit. The gin is partnered with Capitoline Tiber, made locally in Washington, DC. The two combine bitter, sweet, floral, and citrus notes to set a foundation made to sparkle. A touch of pomegranate juice adds pure refreshment, as only the warmer weather can call for. Finally, a luxurious California sparkling wine. The historic, yet amazingly affordable Mumm Napa is bright and elegant. Light yet bold, full yet refreshing, boozy yet way too easy to drink…dangerous definitions that make it easy to drink away yesterday. Enjoy the season, enjoy the day, and raise a glass to a Bold Path, and you will surely get where you want to be.

ROYAL DIAMOND

Glassware:

Chilled Martini Glass

Method:

Combine all ingredients, except champagne, into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. After a vigorous shake, strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Top with champagne, garnish, serve, and enjoy!

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Jefferson Very Small Batch 1.5 oz. Pineapple Juice .5 oz. Yellow Chartreuse .25 oz. Vanilla Syrup* .25 oz. Lemon Juice 1 oz. Perrier Jouet Grand Brut Garnish: Grilled Pineapple and Skewered Cherry

If you want to seize the moment, do it like you mean it and mean it like you are royalty. Taking its name from two classic families of champagne cocktails (the word royal was often used to denote champagne drinks, and the word diamond often referred to a Collins style beverage that used champagne instead of club soda) this beautiful beverage combines the best of both worlds. Starting out with bourbon, the American royalty of spirits, the concoction goes a little crazy, in a good way. Pineapple juice, while a jarring thought at first, is a phenomenal pairing for bourbon. The vanilla, caramel and baking spice from the whiskey make for an incredible accompaniment to the fruit forward pineapple juice. Vanilla syrup adds a little naughty, while the hard citrus in the lemon helps to cut back the confectionary tones. The Chartreuse is the wild card. Dozens upon dozens of herbaceous botanicals jump forward creating a vivacious cocktail. The Perrier Jouet brings everything in harmony. The champagne combines and chills the beverage, accenting and elevating every other flavor in the cocktail. Not every day is going to be perfect, yet some might be. Either which one, live like Your Majesty with a Royal Diamond. *Note: While there are many great recipes on the internet for homemade vanilla syrup, it can also be easily picked up from most grocery stores or online.

MONEY & FINANCE

MONEY SENSE

HOW TO DEAL WITH THE New Normal

FINANCIALLY

We are now starting to come out of the lockdown that has caused many businesses to downsize or even close. The economy is starting up again. Restaurants, bars, movie theaters, sporting events, travel, and life as we used to know it, are reopening. After being cooped up for over a year, people are starting to go out again, finally. It truly is a great feeling, but we still need to be cautious as the virus is still looms. Hopefully, with enough people being vaccinated, herd immunity will kick in.

Over the last year many people worked remotely from home. This helped fuel the use of technology that was not utilized by most in the past. Zoom meetings and Google Meet meetings have become very common in order to create the face-to-face meetings everyone is so used to. This phenomenon caused the telecommunications and technology stocks to go way up in value to stratospheric valuations. We are not sure if companies like this can continue their pace of growth as people go back to working in offices. If even some continue to work remotely, there may still be some upside growth. But, if the majority return to work at their offices, we could see the use of technology needed for remote work decline and potential growth may not be as favorable. Time will tell over the next year.

Where will the next big growth opportunities be? We feel that companies that are in travel and leisure will do very well. Many of the hotel, airline, cruise lines, restaurants and entertainment companies had a very hard time over the last year. Some hotels closed. Others either went bankrupt or are looking for new owners, while others reinvented themselves and became apartment buildings or got out of the hotel industry all together.

Over the last year I have watched the airline ticket prices for flights from DC to Ft Lauderdale go from $50 to $250-$500 each way. When the ticket prices were low, the flights had very few passengers and now they are mostly full. As demand increases so do the prices. Hotels are experiencing the same phenomenon. We are seeing the wave in the entire industry.

As wealth managers, we recommend that people review their investment portfolio at least every year. Depending on the size of your portfolio and where you are in life, sometimes a quarterly review is more appropriate. Your portfolio may have been very well allocated for the last year with the way the market has gone. With changes in the wings, it may be necessary to change your sector allocation. Based on the way the economy is going, it may be time to reduce exposure to sectors that may not do as well as in the past, and to increase your exposure to sectors that should do well going forward. Your investment portfolio should change with the economy, while staying in tune with your risk tolerance. If you are younger and have a long time until you need the money you can be riskier or, if you are close to or in retirement, you most likely will need to be more conservative.

Bonds, one tool that has been used to minimize risk in the past, may actually be creating more risk now in this rising interest rate environment. Therefore, you may want to reduce your bond exposure. Bond values drop as interest rates rise and bond values increase as interest rates fall. Since we are in a falling interest rate environment, having bonds may be adding extra risk to your portfolio.

If you have not reviewed your investment portfolio recently, I would advise that you meet with your investment professional or wealth manager as soon as possible. If you do not have a wealth manager or want a second opinion on your portfolio, please feel free to email me at marcs@ equityplanning.com and I would be happy to discuss your current portfolio with you and also discuss potential recommendations and strategies with you.

Equity Planning Inc. 7910 Woodmont Ave. , Suite 900, Bethesda, MD 20814

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For a comprehensive review of your personal situation, always consult with a tax or legal advisor. Neither Cetera Advisor Networks LLC nor any of its representatives may give legal or tax advice. A diversified portfolio does not assure a profit or protect against loss in a declining market.

The views stated in this letter are not necessarily the opinion of Cetera Advisor Networks LLC and should not be construed directly or indirectly as an offer to buy or sell any securities mentioned herein. Due to volatility within the markets mentioned, opinions are subject to change without notice. Information is based on sources believed to be reliable; however, their accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. Past performance does not guarantee future results.