SOUTH TAMPA
TAMPA BAY NEWS & LIFESTYLES
Publisher / Assistant Editor Matt Selby Email: matt@nnlflorida.com
Creative Director Carla Dubis Email: carla@nnlflorida.com
Editor Carla Dubis
General Manager Jim O'Reilly
Graphic Design Tony Sica
Advertising Sales Matt Selby Jim O'Reilly Mike Bird
Billing Managers
In today’s technological era, having a good looking and user-friendly website is more important than you may think. Moreover, having your website down for any number of days or having any broken pages or links can negatively impact your credibility. For us at Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles, our website mainly served as a backlog for all of our seven magazines’ feature articles and other local stories. Having all that information available online made it easy for both, the advertisers and readers, to be able to share these fantastic community articles with friends, family members and colleagues from their phone, computer or tablet. If you’ve recently checked our Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles website; nnlflorida.com, you may have noticed that; 1) The site is a little outdated, 2) A lot of the links are not working properly,
Doreen Selby Tina O'Reilly
3) The website actually went down for a considerable amount of time and it is still malfunctioning,
Photography by
4) Navigating through it and finding old articles from previous issues is very complicated,
Eric Bunch - NTP2 Photography Mike Bird
Office Mascots Marley, Ziggy, Zeus, Mr.Penelope (c) 2018 Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles. All Rights Reserved. South Tampa News and Lifestyles is published monthly and distributed by the U.S. Postal Service to over 22,000 Homes in New Tampa. Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles is not responsible for errors in advertisements beyond the cost of advertising space. Nothing that appears in this publication may be reproduced in any way without consent of the publisher.
5) Overall, it is not very user friendly... First of all, I want to personally apologize in the name of Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles for any trouble or inconvenience this may have caused you. A few months ago, our web server collapsed causing a lot of technological problems. The site was down for about a week, a lot of links stopped working and it seems we lost some data that was over 5 years old. Sadly, our hosting company was less than helpful in solving these issues. I personally tried to fix all the server and database issues, but it was really complicated and way
beyond my web programming experience. So, I reached out to an old friend who is a very experienced coder/programmer and had him check out the site for us. My friend overwhelmed me with big and confusing programming terms that left my brain hurting, so I won’t do that to you. I will make it easier and give you a short analogy from what I understood during our programming conversation... Our current website can be compared to an old Blackberry phone; it was great when it first came out, everyone was impressed with the technology and the phone did everything it was supposed to do and more. Until Apple and Samsung came out with better, smarter, sexier looking phones completely dominating the market, and the once amazing Blackberry devices became outdated. Sure, you can still find people that use a Blackberry phone (I don’t know anyone though, do you?), but if you could have a device with brand new technology, that’s way more efficient and delivered better results, wouldn’t you want it? Obviously yes, right? Pretty much, my friend told me that our nnlflorida.com website was just like the good ol’ Blackberry; obsolete and pretty much dead technology. So at this point it was best to “get rid of it” and “get on with the times and upgrade” and that is exactly what we did, and continue doing. We’re getting rid of the old, and coming hot with the new! Our current domain; nnlflorida.com will soon be re-directed to our brand new, user-friendly, modern looking website:
some of our newest 2018 stories. We do have a section labeled “Digital Issues,” in which you’ll be able to find most, if not all, of our past digital volumes of our seven publications, and you can actually read all articles and stories from there. I included an online Calendar of Events where you’ll be able to find some fun and familyfriendly events happening in the greater Tampa Bay area. We will also feature delicious recipes, sports news and so much more! (But as of today, it is still a work in progress... so keep checking it regularly, as I am uploading fresh content on a daily basis!) All I can say is that I am pretty excited about this project, as I had been looking to give our old website a “facelift,” for quite some time, so everything happened for a reason. I love our new look and I truly hope you do too, and hope you’ll find it userfriendly and easy to navigate. In the meantime, please email me directly at carla@nnlflorida. com with any website concerns you may have, or if you have any local community stories that you want to share with us and our readers. Also, if you work or volunteer at a charity or non-profit organization, or if you’re a local advertiser planning a fun local event that would benefit the community and want help spreading the word, email me the information and I’ll gladly publish it on our brand new website so thousands of our local readers will have access to it. As always, thank you for your support and readership. I sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we work hard to finalize this big website project.
tbnewsandlifestyles.com I am still working on transfering some of the data and articles from our old website to this new one, so as of now, you’ll only be able to access
Carla Selby.
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July 2018
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An Affordable Diet Program That Actually Works! by Editor Carla Selby First of all, I want to start by saying that this is not another advertorial or a paid business story... This is my own personal testimonial of a diet program that I started about a month ago, and it’s been working so well for me, that I decided to write this short blurb without letting the nutritionists know I was going to write this about their plan. Why? Because I saw quick results and I know that there are hundreds of women just like me out there, that have tried multiple diet programs or have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on products and procedures trying to achieve that “hot summer body” without any success. By working at Tampa Bay News and Lifestyles I have the pleasure of meeting great people and many fantastic small business owners. Over a year ago I had the pleasure of meeting some of the wonderful staff at A+ Plus Family Urgent Care, they were all kind and compassionate, so I made A+ my “go-to” Urgent Care facility. I’ve visited A+ a few times in the past. Recently I went over because
I had a bad cold that would not get better with over the counter medication so I figured I needed antibiotics. When I stopped by, I saw our old friend Jamie, who works at A+, and I quickly noticed how much weight he had lost since the last time I saw him. Jamie told me he had lost over 40lbs with the “Doctor’s Diet Program” which is actually a program they offer at their facility. I have to admit, at first I was a little skeptical about a diet program being held inside an urgent care facility, but after seeing Jamie’s impressive results, I figured... What do I have to lose, except all this weight? And after he told me it was only $59 a month with an office consultation and a full month supply of medicine, I thought it was a no-brainer. In all honesty, I think I was spending more on my daily cappuccinos and banana nut bread slices at starbucks every month. I have personally spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on many different weight loss programs and treatments without seeing the promised results, so I was truly not expecting to see any significant weight loss with this program... and boy, was I pleasantly surprised! I have managed to lose about 12lbs in a short month, and even though that may not seem like
a lot to some of you, it is to me. Especially considering my weight was stagnant for so long, and I had tried many other diets and super expensive programs without any luck, until I tried the Doctor’s Diet Program. Every week I see the scale go down and it has helped me stay motivated and focused. I do admit I have cheated a couple of times... which I DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU DOING, but I had a couple of birthday parties and a wedding with delicious food and not a lot of will power. But, even though I cheated (Which again, don’t suggest) I still lost a significant amount of weight and my clothes are fitting much better these days. The diet plan is extremely easy to follow... even for someone like me, who eats out at least once a day! Any diet plan that allows me to eat chicken wings, bacon and cheese, is a diet that will not be too hard to
Before (168 lbs)
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stick to. Trust me! The photos below are my own personal, unfiltered, unedited stomach shots straight from my crappy cell phone. These may not be very “impressive” before and after results, but they are REAL, they are MINE, and I can definitely tell a difference and I wanted to share it with all of you. So if you’re tired of all the “get six pack abs and that hot summer body in 30 days or less” and you’re ready for REAL results, a program that is easy to follow and more of a “lifestyle change” than a “diet trend,” then try the Doctor’s Diet Program. The info and contact info is below... and if you have any questions and want to follow my weight loss journey please follow me on instagram @livetampabay. If you have any other questions for me email me directly at carla@nnfllorida. com. Good luck!
After (156 lbs)
July 2018
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Tr ust Your C lothe s to A l Capote’s C lea ner s Over 50 Years Caring For Your Most Precious Items
Story by Marcy Sanford.
For more than 50 years the Capote family has been taking care of people’s most precious items – a beloved wedding dress, the suit you wore on your first day on the job, luxurious linens your grandmother gave you or your favorite rug. Al Capote’s has been serving the South Tampa community for almost 30 years, just ask your neighbors who they trust with their dry cleaning, and chances are they’ll say Al Capote’s
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Cleaners. Conveniently located at 3020 W. Kennedy Blvd. Al Capote’s Cleaners offers drive thru service, same day service and free residential pick-up service with next day delivery.
sure that your clothes are returned in pristine condition. If they notice a missing button, they’ll sew a new one on. If they find a small tear or hole, they’ll stitch it back up.
Family Owned & Operated
Expert Alterations
Stop by Al Capote’s Cleaners and you’re likely to run into David, Frank or their mother, Mirta. The family prides themselves on knowing their regular customers and their preferences and greeting everyone like they are part of the family. “Everyone here cares about our customers,” said David. “We’re family owned, and owner operated.” Because the Capotes are on site, they can take the time to make
If you need alterations or more extensive repairs, Al Capote Cleaners can handle those as well. Mirta is an expert tailor who can alter anything. With her capable hands your clothes will fit like they were made just for you. Wedding Dress Care Frank and David say the dirtiest part of a wedding dress tends to be the bottom but with some TLC and expert cleaning, they can
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have it looking as good as new. After they’ve cleaned it, they will put it in a light-tight box made of acid-free paper to preserve it for your daughter, niece or even grand-daughter. Chemical Free Cleaning Al Capote’s Cleaners use state-of-the art equipment that is 100% green with no harmful or harsh chemicals. In addition to shirts, suits, dresses, and pants, they are experts at dry cleaning all different types of items including: Rugs, Leather & Suede , Fine Linens & Tablecloths, Bed Spreads & Blankets, Sweaters, Coats and more. If you can stain it, they can clean it. Military and First Responders Discount Al Capote’s Cleaners have cleaned thousands of uniforms for men and women in the military and for our city’s first responders; they offer a 20% discount. So you can count on them to keep your uniform, inspection ready. David and Frank Capote grew up working alongside their father at the family’s dry-cleaning business and they are proud to continue his tradition of friendly
customer-oriented service. “We are part of the neighborhood,” said David. “We love our customers and love seeing our regulars.” “Great service from drop off to pick up,” said customer Alberto H. “Thank you, for the excellent, professional and courteous attention you give your customers each time.” Take your dry cleaning to Al Capote’s Cleaners and you’ll understand why they are a neighborhood favorite. You can just pull up to the drive thru and they’ll come get your clothes from you. Drop them off by 10 a.m. and they’ll be ready after 5 p.m. Or sign up for their free residential pick-up service. They’ll come by in the morning on your scheduled day pick up your cleaning and return it to you cleaned and pressed by the next day. Al Capote’s Cleaners is located at 3020 W. Kennedy Blvd. They are open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information or to sign up for free residential pick-up service visit, www.alcapotes.com or call 813-876-0660. You can also like them on Facebook. com/alcapoteskennedy to get the latest information on special offers.
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July 2018
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July 2018
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Insurance is a necessity, not an option Most Insurance Agency recognizes that you want the right insurance coverage at a reasonable price. That’s why their friendly Florida licensed agents will walk you through the insurance shopping process, explaining every detail along the way. Their #1 goal is to provide you with a comprehensive policy that gives you confidence and peace of mind. Most Insurance agents are committed to service excellence and meeting your insurance needs in a timely fashion. Because Most Insurance is an independent insurance agency, they can search out the best deals from a plethora of nationwide insurance carriers. That’s how they are able to provide you with
more options than other agencies and online sources. For example, they’ll find you the best FL auto insurance deal from over 10 major carriers. Their access to more insurance partners ensures that you’ll get the quality coverage you need at an excellent rate. They’ve been serving Florida since 1973, and they aren’t going anywhere. And as Florida locals, that means when you need them, they are only only a quick call, email or visit away! Please give Most Insurance the privilege of protecting what matters most to you. To start the process, please call us at (813) 347-5555 or log on to www.mostins.com Most requests are answered within 1 business Day.
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July 2018
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Infinity Nail Bar is Making Quite a Positive Impact With It’s Clientele! In a short time, Infinity Nail Bar located at 3314 W Kennedy Blvd, has been getting a lot of 5 star reviews on google and yelp Yelp Reviewer Kayla H. rates from happy and satisfied clients. Infinity Nail Bar 5 stars and in her review she states to have We will be running a full finally found her new “go-to” story on them soon, so stay nail salon. tuned! But I just wanted to share with you some of these amazing “I think I found my new favorite reviews. nail salon! I live nearby and It truly makes me happy that they are getting such great feedback from the community. The only thing I am sad about is the fact I moved 1.5 hours away from South Tampa and I cannot get my mani and pedis with them... I mean... I could... I think I’ll just take a trip down there this week to see what the fuss is all about, and you should too! :) I mean... just read some of these...
10 July 2018
saw their ‘now open’ sign and decided to stop in today after work! I was greeted immediately by Tom, who then did my Acrylic set. He was very nice, and did an AMAZING job on my nails. Kim helped paint my nails and did a great job too! The decor is beautiful and the prices are very affordableespecially for the quality and area! I will definitely be back! :)
Local guide Denise W. rates Infinity Nail Bar 5 stars on google and says;
Recent customer Roxanne H. also gives them a 5 star review and says;
“I was treated so kindly and given an excellent pedicure and manicure - Tom and Kim are sweethearts! They have the best Massage chairs in town too! Plus affordable! My experience was absolutely wonderful! Thank you. I was calm and peaceful too- which is so refreshing. I like the relaxation aspect when indulging in these services! The music was so “spa like” and I cannot accolade more - go ahead and check them out. Tell them I sent you! Finally good service!!!”
“Lovely experience at this new salon. Tasteful, beautiful new decor, soothing music and best of all... excellent nails. The owner did my nails and was 100% focused on his work. It was so refreshing to be treated like a valued customer. Also, he has 20+ years of experience, and it shows. After 8 days my nails still look as good as they did when I walked out the door. Prices are great, especially for south Tampa - $25 for a full set.”
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Ichicoro Takes Over the Bricks: Ramen Pop-up When:
July 28th Time:
6pm to 3am Where:
The Bricks Cost:
FREE MetroCon 2018 When:
July 19-22 Time:
Noon to 11pm Where:
Tampa Convention Center Cost:
$35 - $300
Riverwalk Dine & Wine
Emo Night Brooklyn: Tampa
When:
When:
July 19th, 26th & Aug 9th Time:
5pm to 8pm Where:
Oxford Exhange Cost:
$72
BeerFest: Hop Gun
Margarita Wars 2018
When:
When:
July 21
July 27th
Time:
Time:
7pm to 9pm Where:
Tampa Theatre Cost:
$40
7pm to 10pm Where:
TPepin’s Hospitality Centre Cost:
$40
Aug 4th Time:
10pm to Midnight Where:
The Orpheum Cost:
$10 Kevin Hart The Irresponsible Tour When:
Aug 4th Time:
7pm to 9pm Where:
Amalie Arena
Tampa Bay Comic Con When:
Aug 3-5 Time:
Friday: Noon to Midnight Saturday: 8am to Midnight Sunday: 9am to 5pm Where:
Tampa Convention Center Cost:
$30 - $60 To view these events and more, visit UNATION.com or download our mobile App
Cost:
$35
* All events subject to change
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July 2018 11
TWO YOUNG ARTISTS MAKING TAMPA BAY LOOK GOOD By Carla Selby
Multi-instrumentalist, singer / songwriter, Johnny Maio, wrote an original and catchy song titled “Hometown”and it’s award winning video depicts some of Tampa’s most beautiful scenery!
What do you get when you combine a couple of extremely talented, young artists and some of Tampa Bay’s most beautiful scenery? An award-winning music video with an exceptional catchy beat that is exposing the entire world to the beauty of our city! Musician Johnny Maio and Videographer Caleb Oosterling, both 22, joined forces and produced an exceptional music video titled “Hometown” which showcases many of the sites and scenes of Tampa, all to an upbeat, infectious original song, written by Maio himself. The collaborative effort recently awarded these two artists the title of “Best Music Video” at the “Intendence Film Festival” in Denver, on June 10, 2018. Johnny Maio, a multi-instrumentalist singer/ songwriter, moved to Tampa from Chicago with his musically-inclined family in 1997, when he was only 2 years old. Johnny’s love for music and dance developed early in his life and can be partially attributed to his parents’ support. “I started taking Suzuki piano lessons at age 3. My parents always encouraged me and helped me find the right piano teacher, so I didn’t get bored and learned the styles that inspired me,” said Jonny. At only 6 years old,
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little Johnny admittedly fell madly in love with the “Riverdance” video and decided to take Irish Dance lessons, which proudly awarded him 5th place on a national Irish dance competition.
since working at Busch Gardens I’ve also learned to play and perform on guitar, bass, and drums… and I also get to sing there!” Wow, I don’t think there’s anything this talented musician cannot do!
Johnny’s passion for the arts continued to grow through the years, and the same musical passion seems to run in the Maio Family. “My dad plays classical flute, bagpipes and Irish tin whistle. My mom was a traveling folksinger when she met my dad on Mackinac Island, Michigan. He was the fifer at the fort, and she was singing in a hotel,” Johnny said. His sisters also share the Maio musical gene; his older sister plays the cello and Johnny’s twin sister plays the harp. “We play Irish music together as a family around St. Patrick’s day,” added Johnny. I will try to stay in touch with Johnny and find out where they’ll be playing next year so I can personally witness the Irish musical magic of the Maio family. I’ll make sure to keep you posted as well!
Caleb Oosterling, a Tampa native, began his award-winning videography career while a student at Wiregrass Ranch High School. He and wife, Gabrielle, proudly own and operate Oosterling Videography, where they also offer professional photography services. “Caleb and I started producing music videos to my original songs last year,” said Johnny, who in the manner of Owl City’s Adam Young, played all the instruments and recorded the Hometown song in his Carrollwood bedroom on his Mac computer. After a few bedroom recording sessions, Johnny contacted Caleb and decided to hit the road together to capture some of the beauty of our beloved city of Tampa Bay. Next, the Oosterlings worked their production and editing magic in their local home studio.
Johnny Maio, who admires early jazz guys like Fats Waller and James P. Johnson, and other musicians like Vince Guaraldi and Harry Connick Jr. graduated from the USF School of Music in 2017 and has worked as a Busch Gardens musician for the past three years. When asked which instruments he played, Johnny said “I play piano and keyboards, and
The resulting music video is reaping widespread praise and attention, most recently in the form of film festival accolades. Less than one month since its release, Hometown has been named “Film of the Month” for May 2018 at New York’s Oasis Short Film Festival and like previously stated, was featured at
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“Intendence Film Festival” where it won “Best Music Video.” Hometown has also been accepted by international festivals, so worldwide audiences will see the beautiful lights of Curtis Hixon Park, the Bull Fountain of USF, The Florida Aquarium, the gigantic Bucs flag, the Lightning bolts, the lovely Hillsborough Bay, the Kumba roller coaster at Busch Gardens, and many other unique local treasures. Maio and Oosterling are happy the video is bringing attention to the Tampa area, as the guys are both proud of their city. “One of the festivals asked us what our budget was for the music video. Their lowest category was $5000.00. All it really cost was a tank of gas and about $35.00 in Chick-Fil-A drive through,” said Maio. Truly a labor love from two very talented young artists, dedicated to their Hometown, Tampa. Oosterling and Maio are currently working on two new videos. “One’s an original jazz tune called ‘I’ve Been Thinking About You’ where I’ll be playing all the instruments and tap dancing with my friend, Ashlyn Bolton, who runs a tap company called Rhythm and Sole,” said Maio. “The other video is for an Irish original
song. I’ll be Irish Dancing in that one,” he added. Oosterling and Maio are already scouting different local spots and coming up with original ideas to showcase our beautiful city again in these two upcoming videos.
So would Johnny ever move away?
“Tampa has a lot to offer and it’s a great place to grow up. I love this city and can’t imagine ever leaving for a long time,” said Jonny. “However, I am curious about Ireland because of our musical heritage. I believe I’d enjoy spending time there.” To conclude this uplifting story, I’ll leave you with Johnny’s own words of wisdom to other young aspiring musicians: “It’s ok to be inspired by other people, but be sure to find your own style and be true to your own inspiration. If you try to copy other musicians’ fads and trends you won’t be saying anything new and you won’t be true to your own passions.” Please make sure to check out the video “Hometown” on youtube whenever you get a chance, subscribe to Johnny’s channel and show some support for our local talent.
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July 2018 13
14 July 2018
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July 2018 15
Will Social Security Run Dry Soon? By Tom Bostock
Imagine a pleasant summer day. You are having a barbeque with some of your neighbors. Between bites of hotdogs, hamburgers and grandma’s secret-recipe potato salad, the conversation is lively and animated. Your neighbors are a cross section of the population: baby boomers, millennials, retirees and kids just out of college. After commiserating about the Lightning not making the finals and the Rays losing streak, conversation turns to more serious subjects. Someone says that they heard that Social Security is going to be bankrupt within a decade. Another one says that Medicare is in trouble too. One of the younger ones suggests that it isn’t fair they are paying into a broken system that won’t even be there when they retire. That can’t be true. It’s just an unsubstantiated rumor … or is it? According to ssa.gov: “The Social Security trust funds are financial accounts in the U.S. Treasury. There are two separate Social Security trust funds, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance
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(OASI) Trust Fund pays retirement and survivors benefits, and the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund pays disability benefits. Social Security taxes and other income are deposited in these accounts, and Social Security benefits are paid from them. The only purposes for which these trust funds can be used are to pay benefits and program administrative costs. The Social Security trust funds hold money not needed in the current year to pay benefits and administrative costs and, by law, invest it in special Treasury bonds that are guaranteed by the U.S. Government. A market rate of interest is paid to the trust funds on the bonds they hold, and when those bonds reach maturity or are needed to pay benefits, the Treasury redeems them.” They started out with almost a 3 trillion-dollar trust fund. So, what happened? For the first time in multiple decades, Social Security is dipping into its trust funds, and will most likely continue to do so for the next 16 years. The reason is that workers have been retiring at a relatively rapid pace, and
we’re not getting enough replacement workers to allow the program to take in as much money as it needs to pay out. However, once those trust funds are depleted, Social Security will continue to have access to its primary income stream, which means that in a worst-case scenario, future benefits will have to be cut, not eliminated. How much of a reduction are we talking about? Based on the latest projections, come 2034, recipients might lose an outstanding 21% of their benefits if Congress doesn’t step in with a fix. And obviously, that’s a pretty harsh blow for those who depend on those benefits to provide the majority of their income. But if you’re years away from retirement, you can take steps to compensate for the potential benefits cut you might face, thereby ensuring that you don’t end up struggling financially. YOU NEED SAVINGS OF YOUR OWN In all honesty, seniors cannot live off their benefits alone. Even if benefits
aren’t cut in the future, those payments will only replace about 40% of the typical worker’s pre-retirement income. Most seniors, however, need more like 80% of their former earnings to pay the bills in retirement. Therefore, if you’re still working, you should be taking savings matters into your own hands regardless of what happens to Social Security down the line. The sooner you start establishing your nest egg, the greater your chances of covering your expenses as a senior, regardless of what your benefits ultimately look like. If your employer offers a 401(k), that’s certainly a good place to start. At present, you can contribute up to $18,500 annually to a 401(k) if you’re under 50, or $24,500 if you’re 50 or older. This means that if you’re 50 years old and don’t have a dime at present, maxing out your 401(k) until age 67 will leave you with roughly $755,000 in retirement savings provided your investments generate an average annual 7% return during that time (which is more than doable with a stockfocused strategy). And that, combined
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with whatever Social Security ends up paying you, could make for a pretty decent retirement. Of course, not everyone has the ability to max out a 401(k), nor do all workers have access to one. But even if you’re only working with an IRA, whose current annual contribution limits are $5,500 for workers under 50 and $6,500 for those 50 and over, or a lower savings threshold due to personal circumstances, you can still amass a sizable sum if you save consistently for many years. In fact, contributing $400 a month over 17 years will leave you with $148,000, assuming that same 7% average annual return. Now, that’s not a ton of money, but it could be enough to help fill the gap where Social Security leaves off. In a recent impromptu interview in a local mall, several shoppers, a millennial, a businesswoman and a grandma offered their own views on Social Security: David S. is an intelligent, disillusioned millennial, a local college graduate with a degree in economics who lives at home with his parents and has two part-time jobs since he can’t find work in his field. He is saddled with massive college loan debt and didn’t mince words about Social Security. “It’s a joke! It’s whack! It’s broken! A bunch of greedy politicians who funded their own pet projects with other peoples’ money from an almost 3 trillion- dollar Social Security Trust Fund piggy bank that was supposed to be inviolate, with relative impunity. These are the same whiney politicians who complain that they can’t live on their measly $174k-plus-perks salaries but won’t have to try to survive on social security like everybody else since they just vote themselves raises and ‘golden parachutes’! I won’t see the first dollar from social security!” Ms. Mary M. is a very successful business woman who had just stopped by the food court for a quick bite between appointments said, “You have to consider the logic of it,” she said, putting down her hamburger. “I understand that there used to be at least 4 people contributing to social security for each person receiving benefits from it. I recently read that that number is more like 2 people now and it wasn’t designed for the disabled originally either. People are healthier and live longer. Something has to give!” Mrs. Sylvia R. is a pleasant, matronly grandmother who was watching her granddaughters playing in the mall playground area. “What really ticks me off about social security is the politicians
calling it an entitlement. My late husband paid into it for more than 40 years. He retired early at 62 and died only 3 years later from a massive heart attack. If he had invested our social security deductions in some safe stocks and bonds, I would be sitting pretty, now! He did have some insurance but don’t get me started on Social Security!” Wow! Apparently ‘them’s fightin words’. Three different generations with somewhat similarly disgruntled views. Politicians Seem to be Procrastinating If lawmakers do nothing until 2034, they’ll have to boost payroll taxes to a total of 16.27%, split in even 8.135% parts between employees and employers. Alternatively, all benefits would need to be cut by 23%. Neither of those solutions is particularly attractive or feasible for current and future retirees, but some combination of them will be inevitable if Washington refuses to act before then. Not even a Miracle can Save Social Security Without Action Some people are inherently suspicious about the statistics that the Social Security Trustees use in their annual report. Yet the trustees themselves incorporate confidence-interval testing to support their projections, and as time goes by, experts are getting more confident in their predictions. Specifically, the report says that there’s 95% confidence that the trust funds will be depleted between 2030 and 2043. Those are the same dates as predicted last year, but the confidence interval has narrowed over the past several years. As years go by, you can expect even greater confidence in a narrowing range of likely dates for final trust fund depletion. Demand action As the day of reckoning grows nearer, it’ll be increasingly incumbent on us to put pressure on Washington to address the Social Security issue head-on and find a reasonable solution sooner rather than later. It’s time to down that last bit of hamburger, scarf down one last cold one and grab a cell phone. Call your local representatives and senators and demand an accounting. If somebody has had their fingers in the cookie jar isn’t it about time that we found out while we still have a cookie jar?” Just a thought.
For Advertising Info 813-928-6124 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com
July 2018 17
18 July 2018
For Advertising Info 813-928-6124 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com
For Advertising Info 813-928-6124 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com
July 2018 19