We Make It A Stay to Remember
Nestled in a patch of serene paradise, just a heartbeat away from the hustle of the city, lies the perfect retreat – The Timbrook Guesthouse. Small, friendly, and the perfect location. Experience The Timbrook Guesthouse on Olentangy River Road, your exceptional guest lodging choice in Columbus. Call (614) 634-2166 or visit timbrookguesthouse.com for bespoke booking options.
Welcome to spring - after a rough winter - I’m reveling in the sunshine and the promise of warm weather that hopefully will last until late fall! In this month’s issue of Northwest Columbus City Lifestyle, we delve into the multifaceted world of investments. We’re stretching our concept of investing beyond just financial transactions. Investing is about making choices that enrich our lives, nurture our communities, and foster personal growth.
One of the highlights this month is our feature article, "The Money Date." This piece takes a focused yet light-hearted approach to managing your finances and achieving your goals. Bryan and I rarely argue, (but we’ve only been married 3 years so…) but I do find ourselves talking about our future dreams and goals. What I love about “The Money Date” is that it’s a way to keep your dreams front-and-center so you can make the right choices over the long haul to achieve them.
Of course investments aren’t just about money. They’re about the time and energy we dedicate to ourselves and our communities. A year ago, I made an investment that has changed my life. I invested in our community and it has enriched me in ways I never thought possible. This month, we’ve rounded up local experts to provide you with creative ideas and avenues that you may not know about. From selling your home in this complicated housing market, to investing in quality wardrobe staples, or investing in seeing new things in our community — our local experts were handpicked to offer insights that are both practical and inspiring.
As you immerse yourself in this month’s issue, I hope you find inspiration and practical advice that resonates with you. Remember, the best investments are those that bring joy, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose. Some investments require hard work - but with consistency, that hard work will pay off. Trust me on this, lol. Email me your thoughts and ideas - I’d love to hear your feedback and ideas for future stories in our community.
Sunshine and good vibes to you all,
LISA FEDERICO,
April 2025
PUBLISHER
Lisa Federico | lisa.federico@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Madison Moroi | madison.moroi@citylifestyle.com
COPY EDITOR
Brice Bunner | bunnerb@gmail.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Annette Witherspoon, Ashley Alt, Brice Bunner, Courtney Stone Smith
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Mariia Chystiakova
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
CTO Ajay Krishnan
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford
LAYOUT DESIGNER Amanda Schilling
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle Learn
Top Down: Nick Workman (NFM Lending), Mark Yerke (American Senior Lending), Brian Zaayer (BC Solar), Elena Lubenets (The Life Insurance Empire) and Theresa Mesaros (Realtor Coldwell Banker) photographed at NFM Lending in Columbus.
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: Taylor Bryn strikes a pose on a snowy day in Old Worthington. 2: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral dancers perform during WIFA’s Greek Celebration Dinner at Worthington Presbyterian Church. 3: Juan Carlos Heredia shows his joy with a kick in Worthington. 4: Worthington Chamber Orchestra conductor Antoine T. Clark with guest artists Angela Gage and Korine Fujiwara. 5: 7 Brew Coffee celebrates their new Worthington location on North High Street. 6: Homewatch Caregivers staff commemorate their official opening in Worthington with a ribbon cutting ceremony. 7: Inkline Printing connects with Columbus area businesses at the Worthington Combined Chamber Business Expo.
Want to be seen in the magazine?
J.S. Brown & Co. has been announced as the winner in seven categories of the National Association of Remodeling Industry’s 2025 Remodeler of the Year Awards. NARI presents awards each year to members who demonstrate a commitment to excellence through their work. J.S. Brown & Co. won for projects such as interior kitchen and bath remodels, home additions, and landscape and outdoor design. Congratulations, J.S. Brown & Co.!
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Blue Boat Counseling is currently seeking new therapists to join the team at their Worthington office! Blue Boat, which focuses on a client-centered approach to mental health, offers flexible schedules, 4-day work weeks, benefits and a chance to be part of a team prioritizes their staff and their clients. Applicants can apply at www.BlueboatCounseling.com/join-our-team
The Central Ohio Muttessori School, a local doggy day school and training center, is offering pet parents the opportunity to recycle toys that their pooch no longer plays with. Toys in good, clean condition, may now be traded in for another so that your furry friend can continue to play and keep their minds busy while providing toys to another dog. Tails are sure to be wagging!
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Recessions, inflations, and general “it’s just not like it used to be” moments are a part of life. But that doesn’t mean you should resign to a paycheck-to-paycheck existence. With the right strategies, you can plan for a future that isn’t “like it used to be” ...but in a good way.
Traditionally, financial gains come from investing in the stock market, purchasing bonds, cashing in on retirement, or buying and profiting from property. But in many of those instances, the volatility can be off-putting. So, let's take a moment to explore alternatives for investing that come without the stomach-turning ups and downs of traditional methods.
First stop, as we reimagine investing, is with Brian Zaayer of BC Solar. As he says, “with solar, you eliminate your electric bill.” This is because payments for the panels should replace your energy costs. And “they should pay off in 6 years,” says Zaayer, “with 30-year panels, that’s 24 years of free electricity.”
Not having to pay for power when the costs keep going up is great, but this strategy really takes off when you consider other factors like the federal rebate you get for adding solar to your home, or the value that solar adds to your home. As Brian says, “As long as they don’t give away free energy, you’ll never have a dip in this “market”.”
Next up for our rapid-fire investment plan is Nick Workman with NFM Lending. Nick’s firm coaches homeowners “on strategies that involve real estate investment, whether it be unlocking the equity in your home, purchasing rental properties, or renovating and flipping homes.”
“Renovation loans, for instance,” Workman explains, “offers a strategic way to finance home repairs or upgrades.” With this kind of loan applied to your property, you can leverage future value or
increase the current value, depending on your goals. This comprehensive financing option can also roll additional purchases or refinancing costs into itself. “It’s an extremely flexible product,” says Nick, “from repairs to major renovation, this allows you to access more funds than more traditional options.”
So, whether leveraging equity, or purchasing a home for the first time, navigating the investment space around your primary property becomes a simple task under Nick’s tutelage.
For our readers who are ready to retire, there’s an equity product available to you that you might not know about. Reverse Mortgages, as Mark Yerke of American Senior Lending explains, “Are just like traditional mortgages except the interest is added to the loan balance instead of having an interest payment added to your monthly payment.”
This allows you to access your equity (providing funds for your other investments) without incurring a huge monthly payment. “Many affluent homeowners,” Mark adds, “use Reverse Mortgage as a wealth-building product.” So, if you haven’t considered this kind of investment before, and you're 62 or older, now might be a good time to contact Mark.
Our final stop on this investor blitz is with Nate Daugherty and Ameriprise. While Nate can easily provide the traditional investment products, such as retirement investments, stocks, and bonds, he also has a few lesser-known opportunities to cash in on.
Structured Products are “a huge part of the investing landscape.” Daugherty says, “with most being tied to banks, but there are some tied to annuities that give you access to the S&P 500 only with protection levels that can keep you from losing on dips in the market.” These funds follow the market, but only add gains (to a cap) from when the market is up to your fund, rather than both the up and downs of traditional investments.
These are typically 6-to-9-year programs that can help differentiate your portfolio. The key to this investment vehicle is that it “provides you with protected exposure to the stock market while maximizing your returns.”
Or, for an investment option that puts you in the realm of 'angels,' you could work with Nate in Private Equity Markets. “This used to be reserved to high-net-worth individuals,” says Nate, “but it’s been democratized and now retail investors can participate rate free with lower entry costs and even quarterly liquidity.” This means you can cash in more frequently than what was traditional for private equity. Ameriprise’s Private Equity team vets businesses that have not gone public, but that still want investors.
Nate makes the point, however, that this kind of investing “does not reduce risk; it’s just not as volatile.” Keep in mind, there is always risk in investing in anything, but if you can’t stomach the highs and lows of the market, then one of these other options might be right for you.
“IF YOU CAN’T STOMACH THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF THE MARKET, THEN ONE OF THESE OTHER OPTIONS MIGHT BE RIGHT FOR YOU.”
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Achieve your Financial Goals with this Innovative Weekly Rendezvous
Money. Depending how you grew up and how you are currently managing your wallet, this word can feel triggering or inspiring. Like most things in life, it’s all about perspective, and money simply isn’t something you can gloss over and hope that it takes care of itself. We all need money to live—and life is much more enjoyable when we are the ones controlling our finances—not the other way around.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the topic of money didn’t feel so heavy? The good news? It doesn’t have to. In fact, it can actually be fun if you just get a little creative with how you view your financial standing.
Introducing the Money Date: a weekly date held by yourself or with your partner to ensure financial success in a way that feels freeing, not restrictive.
The Money Date idea (a brilliant one) comes from financial coaches Cindy Locker and Carol Van Fossen of Next Chapter Finances, a platform providing financial clarity and support to women facing tough financial terrain due to divorce, loss of a partner, or simply starting a new life chapter.
“Recall your most memorable date,” Cindy and Carol state. “The ambiance, the connection, the joy. Now, imagine channeling that same energy into your financial life [with] the Money Date, a dedicated time to engage with your finances in a fun and meaningful way.”
The financial experts gave us a clear-cut outline for what a successful Money Date looks like, so all you have to do is apply this to your own life.
ARTICLE BY ASHLEY ALT
• Choose the perfect spot: Opt for a comfortable setting that brings you joy. This could be a cozy nook at home or a charming cafè that offers a serene atmosphere.
• Personalize the experience: Incorporate elements that make the date special. Light candles or play your favorite music. The goal is to make the environment inviting and enjoyable.
• Eliminate distractions: Turn off your phone, set chores aside and focus entirely on the experience.
• Celebrate financial wins: Begin by acknowledging achievements, no matter how small. “Did you save more than expected this week? Pay off a debt? Recognizing these successes sets a positive tone,” Cindy and Carol say.
• Review spending habits: Look over your expenditures from the past week to see how much you spent on what. Pro tip: Use
colorful charts to visualize where your money went as this makes the process more engaging.
• Set exciting goals: Discuss and plan future aspirations. This can be saving for a dream vacation or a fun investment opportunity. Setting clear and motivating goals adds purpose to your financial journey, making these meetings something to look forward to.
• Plan for the week ahead: Outline upcoming expenses and adjust your budget accordingly. This proactive approach ensures you are prepared, which prevents unnecessary stress.
• Consistency is key: “Schedule your Money Date at the same time each week,” Cindy and Carol say. “This builds a habit and ensures continuous engagement with your finances.”
• Keep it light and fun: Avoid making the session overly serious. The aim is to foster a positive relationship with money, so infuse humor and lightheartedness into your discussions.
• Reflect and adjust: After a few Money Dates, reflect on what’s working and what isn’t. Adjust your approach if necessary to ensure the experience remains enjoyable and beneficial. While these strategies will certainly aid in making conversations around money easier to have, it boils down to having open and honest communication with yourself and your partner.
Invest in These Timeless Trends
ARTICLE BY COURTNEY STONE SMITH
1. THE BUTTON-DOWN
Play with prints when it comes to a basic blouse to add more interest to a classic style.
2. STAND-OUT FOOTWEAR
Unique footwear is the perfect way to stand out subtly and it always fits.
3. MAKE A STATEMENT
Let a colorful necklace take the stage to your ensemble.
4. DENIM
Curved leg denim is becoming a staple and offers a unique silhouette for your look.
NAVIGATING LIFE CHALLENGES WITH CONFIDENCE
ARTICLE BY ANNETTE WITHERSPOON
“You have a choice. Do you want to leave your family with a burden or a legacy?” - Elena Lubenets, The Life Insurance Empire
Life is unpredictable. Just ask Elena Lubenets, a life insurance benefits broker and owner of The Life Insurance Empire. For the last eight years, she has heard first-hand accounts from clients whose lives changed after getting a cancer diagnosis, suffering a fall while vacationing in Germany or twisting an ankle after jumping out of an airplane. Although these unpredictable events landed her clients in a medical facility, not one of them landed in debt. That’s because Elena’s clients had life insurance policies that helped with medical expenses while they were still alive.
Most people think of life insurance as financial protection for loved ones after the policy holder's death. But some types of insurance, known as living benefits, allow you to access part of your policy if you’re experiencing certain medical conditions.
“You can use the money on anything” Elena explains. “It’s cash directly to you.”
1. Chronic Illness Benefit – offers access to part of your life insurance payout if you can’t perform basic daily activities like eating, bathing or dressing because of a chronic illness.
2. Critical Illness Benefit – may allow you to withdraw money to help with medical bills, treatments and lifestyle adjustments If you're diagnosed with a serious illness such as cancer, heart attack or stroke.
3. Terminal Illness Benefit – may entitle you to an advance life insurance payment if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness with a limited life expectancy of usually 12 to 24 months.
4. Long-Term Care Benefit – is a long-term care rider that lets you use part of the death benefit to pay for assisted living, home care or nursing home expenses.
5. Cash Value Access – is a permanent life insurance policy that builds cash value over time. You can borrow or withdraw from its cash value for emergencies, retirement or educational costs while you're alive.
“My colleague wrote a life insurance policy for a 35-year-old female for $350,000 just 10 months ago,” shares Elena. “She was just diagnosed with breast cancer. My colleague just delivered a check to her for $135,000. She doesn’t have to worry about not being able to work. It took the burden off of her so she can focus on her cancer treatment.”
Living benefits aren’t the only unique insurance policies available. Policies like Hospital Indemnity and Travel Indemnity can also help ease financial burdens.
Hospital Indemnity Insurance is used to supplement health insurance and can cover expenses like deductibles, copays and additional expenses that aren’t paid for by health insurance.
Medical travel insurance can protect you if you become ill or injured while traveling outside of the country. It covers emergency medical visits, prescriptions or doctor’s visits.
Elena, who serves as president of the central Ohio chapter of National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), offers the following tips: 1. Be honest. Insurance companies have access to a database that collects medical records that help
insurance agencies assess risk and liability. If the medical information you provided isn’t consistent with your health records in the database, your beneficiary may not get the benefit amount. Instead, they will receive a refund of all the premiums paid toward the policy plus 10 percent to cover interest. According to Elena, it could be the difference between half a million dollars to only a couple thousand dollars.
2. Purchase the policy before getting a medical diagnosis. The cost of a life insurance policy is locked in at the time of purchase. If you purchase a policy after a diagnosis, your risk increases, causing your premiums to rise.
3. Life events like marriage, divorce, birth, death and retirement are all good reasons to change your
beneficiary. Elena recommends reviewing your policy after major life events.
4. Review all your policies twice a year when you change your clocks. Daylight Savings can serve as a reminder to also look over your policies and make any changes.
5. Store your policies in a safe place and let your beneficiary know how to access them.
Everyone needs life insurance, says Elena. Healthy people often think they don’t need it, but they could get into an accident at any moment. Life insurance relieves the burden on the family to help with medical or burial expenses.
“You have a choice,” she says, “do you want to leave your family with a burden or a legacy?”
ARTICLE BY ASHLEY ALT
Bale Kenyon Family Farms: A family-owned farm with fresh produce, cut flowers, baked goods and more; this century-old farm even offers classes on beekeeping, coffee roasting, and syrup-making. balekenyonfamilyfarms.com
LuxeWell Life: LuxeWell Life brings wellness into your home or business through sauna, cold plunge, massage chairs, red-light therapy and more. Their Powell showroom is open Wednesday-Sunday, and by appointment Mondays and Tuesdays. luxewelllife.com
Evans Farm: over in Lewis Center there's plenty to do. The style and social house, Collective (acollectiveexperience. com), is the lap of luxury. It’s a salon by day, social house at night. Salon services with coffee and cocktails in a chic, Soho House setting—sign me up! Host your bachelorette or birthday party, charity event, you name it, here. Or go to Peyton & Peppy Boutique (IG @peytonandpeppyboutique) for a delightful women and girls’ boutique offering trendy, easy-to-wear apparel and accessories for mom, grandma, and little ladies.
Columbus Aeronauts: Now’s your chance to ride in a hot air balloon if you haven’t! Choose from hot air balloon flights, private exclusive flights, corporate advertising flights and more, all while experiencing Ohio’s many scenic countryside views from up above. columbusaeronauts.com
Spring is underway and man does it feel GOOD. Now that we are out and about more, we thought we’d share some fun places worth exploring that might not be on the tip of the nose. Here are some spots worth checking out with your family and friends this month, from outdoor excursions to indoor pleasures.
ARTICLE BY BRICE BUNNER
Unlocking your home’s value with Theresa Mesaros
If you're looking to unlock the full potential of a house sale, we have the inside scoop for you. Inventory is still low but with rates high sellers need to get creative to sell quick.
Coldwell Banker's Theresa Mesaros is a realtor with her finger on the pulse of the Northwest Columbus market. When we asked how to get the most 'bang for your buck' when selling a home, she had a few gems that you’ll want to mine for yourself.
“The name of the game,” Mesaros said, “is trying to set your home apart from the others.” To this point, she recommends professional staging as a must-have. “Buyers can see the space better—” she says, “be aspirational to give them an idea of what could be.”
After that, you want to make the home as “neat as pin”; have all necessary updates made and deep clean—even power-wash, as Mesaros says,
CONTINUED >
“you want to present the best product you can.” Her explanation is that, since Covid, buyers are far more picky.
Leveraging holidays and technology is another trick Theresa suggests. “String lights do wonders for an exterior.” She stated. “And drone footage is becoming increasingly popular.” Theresa also makes sure to leverage social media for every client with professional photos of the space.
Finally, when it comes time to go to market, if you’ve done everything to make sure the house is as perfect as it can be, employ alternate showing methods like previews. “Sneak
peeks for your realtor’s partners before it goes on the market,” Theresa says, “can help boost the views.” And Twilight showings (later times than traditional), open it up to buyers after work.
And any concessions you can make for the buyer will help “sweeten the deal” if it needs a little push. “Be creative with it,” says Mesaros, “offer to mow the lawn for a year, or pay the HOAs for a year—whatever it takes.”
Tap Theresa for more ways to maximize your home sale ROI. www.therealt614.com
APRIL 2025
APRIL 5TH
Coffee and Canvas
Northwest Library | 10:30 AM
Grab your brushes and your favorite coffee mug and make your way to Northwest Library for free coffeehouse vibes. You'll enjoy music and coffee provided by Stauf's Coffee Roasters while crafting your own beautiful creation. Some art supplies will be provided, but attendees are welcome to bring their own. Ages 12 and up are welcome!
APRIL 9TH
Vibe Venue (10 Dilmont Dr.) | 11:30 AM
It's time to mix, mingle, and strengthen valuable connections with other ambitious women in business! This networking event offers opportunities for you to build bridges with your peers and learn from the experiences of some amazing speakers while enjoying a delicious lunch. Registration is $40 at business.worthingtonchamber.org.
APRIL 13TH
7227 North High Street | 3:00 PM
You don’t have to sail the sea to meet Moana – she’s coming to you courtesy of Paulette’s Princess Parties! Moana and her friends, including the mischievous Maui, are ready to mingle with your family, perform songs from both Moana movies, and take lots of photos. Bring chairs and blankets for your comfort! Tickets $45 at paulettesprincessparties.com.
APRIL 23RD
Candles & Corks
Worthington Candle Works | 5:00 PM
Can you think of a more classic combination than wine and candlelight? At Candles & Corks, you'll be able to create your own custom scented candle with the help of Worthington Candle Works' team of candle connoisseurs and sip on a selection of wine provided by House Wines. Tickets $40 on Eventbrite.com.
APRIL 26TH
Southeast Village Green | 12:00 PM
If you think trees are a treat, join fellow members of your community to celebrate Arbor Day, and the value that trees bring to our lives! Following the ceremony, saplings will be provided to all attendees to plant and help beautify our neighborhood.
APRIL 30TH
Old Worthington Library | 6:00 PM
Come down to Old Worthington Library for this free class and create your own one-of-a-kind stained glass vase! Use alcohol paints to craft a unique design fit to hold your spring bouquet. Vases provided. Ages 6 and up welcome!
A home isn’t just where life happens; it’s an investment in your future. This award-winning remodel blends modern elegance with lasting value, creating a space as refined as it is functional. From sleek lines and luxurious finishes to a seamless experience, we make sure every detail is worth it today and for years to come. From concept to completion, we handle everything—except convincing your guests to leave.
Featured is the winner of the 2025 NARI RotY for Residential Kitchen. One of seven award-winning projects that earned J. S. Brown Company, Inc. recognition this year.
