APRIL 2017
Don't judge
everyday by the harvest You Reap, But by the Seeds You Plant.— Robert L. Stevenson
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Contents 4 2017 Nominations Calendar 5 Success is a Choice Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMag.com www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com
Guest Contributor Amos Balongo Leadership Guru Rhegie Taylor Leadership Guru
7 Committed to Care: Higher Education Institutions Pledge Dedication to Student Success 9 14-year-old Scientist Aims to Solve the Energy Crisis 13 Smart Ideas for Supporting Your Child’s Education in 2017 and Beyond 14 Five Things You Must Know About This Groundbreaking Treatment for Service-
men and Women 15 Habits of Successful Leaders 16 It’s 2017: Do you know how old your farmer is? 18 Secrets Smart Investors Use Year-Round to Save on Their Taxes 19 Retirement Key Milestones Everyone Should Know About 21 Before You Cruise, Embark on a Fun-Finding Mission in Your Port City
Contact Us Rural Leader Magazine, LLC 400 West Peachtree Street Suite #4-529 Atlanta, Georgia 30308 info@ruralleadermagazine.com 1-866-293-1162
Join Today! Visit GSAACC.org Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent. Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermagazine.com
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Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview. Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at info@ RuralLeaderMagazine.com—
Editor’s Note Dear Readers, Inside this issue, there are a number of great articles about leadership best practices, building positive self-esteem and productivity! We hope you enjoy this issue. As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, and LinkedIn. Thanks again for your continual support! Sincerely,
Photo Courtesy of TieFotos
Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
What you do matters. GetRuralLeaderMag.com | APRIL 2017 3 @RuralLeaderMag
2017 NOMINATIONS CALENDAR Forty under Forty Recognizes young leaders under 40 from AL, FL, and GA March 1st-April 30th (September issue) Fifty under Fifty Recognizes leaders under fifty nationally for outstanding achievement April 30th-May 31st (July issue) Eagle of Elite Club Magazine Recognizes youth ages 5-13 for outstanding scholastic achievement in leadership, art, music, community service, and sports March 1st-April 30th (June Publication) Twenty under Twenty Recognizes youth under 20 for outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and community service March 30th-May 31st (June Stand Alone Issue) Scholars of Collegiate Distinction Magazine Honors individuals of all ages who attain higher education from small communities May 1st-June 30th (August Publication) Best Small Town Restaurant Ongoing Celebrating the Women of Small Town America Recognizes women ages 18 and older for exemplary achievement and service to community April 1-May1st (Virtual Online Only) Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People A national call to recognize exemplary leaders from small communities July 1-Aug. 31st (December issue) For More Information, visit RuralLeaderMag.com.
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by Amos Balongo
Success Is Choice
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Lіfе іѕ a funnу thіng! Wе аll еntеr thе world thе ѕаmе wау; wе аrе аll gіvеn twenty-four (24) hоurѕ еасh dау tо ѕреnd fоr the rest of our life. It is hоw we сhооѕе to spend thоѕе twеntу-fоur (24) hours that mаkеѕ thе difference аbоut whether we wіll bе a ѕuссеѕѕ оr a failure. Whеthеr we еnd uр bеіng ѕuссеѕѕful or a fаіlurе is a сhоісе thаt еасh of uѕ muѕt mаkе. Life is a do it уоurѕеlf аdvеnturе, аlthоugh, уоu will never hеаr a failure аdmіt that! Some реорlе аrе born іntо wealth аnd certainly have an edge оvеr оthеrѕ іn thеіr pursuit оf ѕuссеѕѕ. But being born wеаlthу dоеѕ nоt guarantee thаt a реrѕоn will bе a ѕuссеѕѕ; іt оnlу mеаnѕ thаt they wеrе dеаlt a bеttеr hand аnd hаvе thе means to make thеmѕеlvеѕ ѕuссеѕѕful. Thе mеdіа always has ѕtоrіеѕ оf wеаlthу fаіlurеѕ; thоѕе реорlе thаt made рооr сhоісеѕ. Thе mоѕt inspiring stories аrе those thаt involve реорlе who hаvе оvеrсоmе extreme роvеrtу and оthеr obstacles tо achieve thеіr success. Aѕ ironic аѕ іt ѕоundѕ; mоѕt оf thеѕе реорlе hаvе uѕеd their handicaps аѕ thеіr inspiration to improve thеmѕеlvеѕ аnd thеіr lives. Thеу mаdе a conscious сhоісе; tо сhаngе thеіr lіvеѕ аnd to bесоmе successful! There іѕ a соmmоn thrеаd іn thеіr ѕtоrіеѕ that mоѕt hаvе hit a point іn thеіr lіvеѕ whеrе thеу decided thаt thеу would nоt accept living as a victim. Thеу mаdе a conscious choice to better thеmѕеlvеѕ!
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If уоu lооk аt іt objectively; thе оnlу thіng іn оur lіfе thаt wе саnnоt choose іѕ into the whаt family we are bоrn! Thе rеѕt оf оur lіvеѕ are filled wіth choices and wе саn make those thаt аffесt thе course оf our lіvеѕ. Sо hоw аrе you handling thоѕе сhоісеѕ? Arе уоu pushing yourself tо ѕuссееd or аrе you kicking bасk and ассерtіng what оthеrѕ аrе giving уоu? It may bе grеаt today but you may nоt bе happy whеn уоu hіt thе fіnіѕh lіnе! Tо ѕuссееd уоu have to ѕеt a gоаl and lеаrn the оthеr соmроnеntѕ about whаt іt takes tо be a ѕuссеѕѕ. Thіѕ all ѕtаrtѕ with a basic еduсаtіоn, unfortunately, mоѕt people thіnk that lеаrnіng ends upon fіnіѕhіng thеіr basic education. Thіѕ is еntіrеlу false! Yоur rеаl еduсаtіоn bеgіnѕ wіth whаt you сhооѕе tо do аftеr thе formal еduсаtіоn еndѕ. Mаkе a соmmіtmеnt tо yourself; never ѕtор learning! Thе world іѕ fіllеd wіth more орроrtunіtіеѕ than you соuld ever imagine аnd ѕuссеѕѕ is waiting for уоu! Thе mеdіа is always discussing thе оnе реrсеnt (1%) that іѕ thе wеаlthу аnd іѕ оn top. Think about it! There іѕ a lоt of rооm аt thе top. Why bе a part оf thе ninety-nine percent (99%) at thе bottom оf thе ріlе and bе unѕuссеѕѕful? A wіѕе mаn оnсе ѕаіd "іf уоu wаnt to succeed; dо thе opposite оf whаt thе majority оf thе реорlе аrе dоіng with their lives!" Rеmеmbеr that уоu hаvе the роwеr tо сhооѕе уоur destiny! Why nоt сhооѕе the path to ѕuссеѕѕ?—
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Committed to Care: Higher Education Institutions Pledge Dedication to Student Success
The future of higher education is often the subject of debate; what constitutes a valuable education for students continues to shift as student demographics change. Recently, government regulators and other external stakeholders have been questioning the value of for-profit higher education, specifically, citing for-profit colleges and universities that have not upheld their commitment to students. For-profit education organizations like DeVry Education Group contend that their institutions are uniquely positioned to serve the new majority of students - those who juggle full-time jobs, families and other obligations in order to pursue their educational goals, typically years after they complete high school. This new normal is now the largest group of college attendees, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Some schools are working to demonstrate this unique value, and their commitment to students, by providing information to students making the decision to attend college. This includes setting and communicating new standards to help students achieve their educational and career goals, and formalizing their institution’s commitment to students through public proclamations designed to hold them accountable to student and stakeholder interests. Chamberlain College of Nursing has made standards for student support part of the very fabric of its academic offering. Through an educational philosophy called Chamberlain Care, the organization has created a culture that fosters collaboration, cooperation and respect among all through a care-based set of beliefs, values and behaviors. “We believe that if we provide our students with the care and support they need to be success-
ful, they will go on to provide that same level of care as nurses,” says Susan Groenwald, national president of Chamberlain. “That’s why we built the Chamberlain Care model. It naturally extends outwards from each student to their patients and to the communities they serve.” Recently, DeVry Education Group and its institutions, including Chamberlain College of Nursing, announced a set of Student Commitments formed in partnership with students and stakeholders to guide education and service to students. The commitments go above and beyond standard higher education policies and practices to provide a new level of public accountability in hopes of inspiring institutions throughout the industry. They also encourage dialogue about value in education that will ultimately benefit all students, regardless of the institution they attend, and the employers who seek to hire them. The public proclamation outlines the following commitments, which Chamberlain hopes will serve as a model for other educators to consider for strengthening the industry’s commitment to students: 1. Informed student choice. Help students make informed decisions by providing information about program performance and costs, and an orientation around student support services, online learning platforms and academic policies. 2. Responsible recruitment and enrollment. Provide financial and academic advising to prospective students and benchmark and disclose recruiting expenditures against national standards. 3. Responsible participation in the federal loan process. Lower institutional limits on federal funding and provide students with
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a variety of ways to manage tuition costs. 4. Financial literacy and academic transparency. Increase student visibility into program progression, loan balance and financial position throughout their academic journey. 5. Improving student satisfaction. Conduct student surveys to track progress and actively respond to results and feedback. 6. Successful student outcomes and accountability. Identify and proactively engage with students who may be at risk for program completion, and account for student satisfaction and quality outcomes in performance management for executive leadership. “Our role as educators is to lay the foundation for the future generation of leaders. Part of that is providing students with as many resources as possible to successfully complete their studies,” Groenwald says. “By committing to put our students first, we are ensuring that they get the most out of their education and can pay it forward in the workplace.” When leaders in higher education voluntarily invest in transparent practices to strengthen the student experience, all stakeholders benefit. For the new majority of students who face challenges at work and at home, their academic success depends on a school’s commitment to them - not just their commitment to the school. Institutions like Chamberlain that put these students first are redefining the college experience and reinforcing the value of higher education today.—BPT
Caption 1: 14-year-old Maanasa Mendu presents her innovation during the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Mend's innovation works to capture unused wind, solar and rain energy, and turn it into reliable source of energy for developing communities.
14-year-old Scientist Aims to Solve the Energy Crisis The family trip. For most kids it’s a chance to relax, visit a new destination, collect souvenirs, and create stories and memories to share with their friends throughout the year. For 14-year-old Maanasa Mendu, however, the family trip provided her with a vision of how she needed to change the world. Mendu’s spur for innovation came during a family trip to India where she witnessed firsthand the energy scarcity experienced in regions of the world far from her native Ohio. The family makes the visit every summer, and during this particular visit, as she experienced persistent blackouts, Mendu knew she had to do something about it. So she got to work. With an idea in her head, she found her opportunity to grow and develop it through the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. The competition challenges students to create an innovation that solves a real-world problem
affecting their global, national or local communities. Nature inspired Mendu to solve the problem of unreliable power. By harnessing wind, solar and rain energy, she created a device that could provide energy in any rural or urban environment. Her early prototypes used recycled soda bottles hanging from a tree. She then attached solar panels like leaves and while these prototypes looked simple, they actually captured energy - as much as 9 volts with her third prototype. Mendu used this discovery and her work thus far to enter the Young Scientist Challenge by recording a two-minute video describing the science behind her innovation. Judges evaluated her video based on her creativity, scientific knowledge, persuasiveness and overall presentation, and liked what they saw. Mendu was named a competition finalist and paired with a mentor, 3M senior product development engineer Margaux Mitera, to further develop her project. GetRuralLeaderMag.com | APRIL 2017 9
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TWENTY SEVENTEEN Rural Leader Forty under 40 Call for Nominations Honoring Exemplary Young Leaders in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia
Rural Leader Magazine is searching for 40 exemplary individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their communities. So often leaders in smaller communities are not recognized. Rural Leader 40 under 40 was developed with the purpose to recognize exclusively leaders who live and work in small communities. Many are dedicated to making things happen in their churches, businesses, organizations, and communities. They are unsung heroes who contribute much to the vitality and sustainability of their communities. Rural Leader 40 under 40 is an effort to demonstrate the value of those contributions. And so, Rural Leader Magazine needs your help to identify these deserving young leaders in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. The call for nominations opens March 1, 2017. The deadline is April 30, 2017 for all applications. Here’s what we’re looking for: 1. Nominee must be at least 20 and under 40 as of September 1, 2017 AND reside or work in a small rural community with a population of 15,000 or less in AL, FL, or GA. 2. Applications must be completed online or via Email by April 30, 2017. nated by someone else. 4. The selected 40 will be featured in the September 2017 edition of Rural Leader Magazine. The top four nominees will be featured on the magazine cover. The selected Rural Leader 40 under 40 nominees will be honored with a luncheon. The winner will be announced during the luncheon
honors. 5. Selected nominees must attend luncheon honors that will be held Friday, September 1, 2017 at 11:30 AM at Albany Technical College, 1704 South Slappey Boulevard in Georgia. 6. Applications will be reviewed by a panel of judges selected by Rural Leader Magazine. Selected nominees will be notified via email. All decisions final. 7. To apply, visit RuralLeaderMag.com. Or Send the information below via email by the above deadline to editor@ruralleadermagazine.com 8. Information to include: Nominee’s Name, Age, Employer, Title/Position Mailing Address, (County), State, Zip Code Phone (Include Area Code), and Email Address 8A. Send a quality headshot photo of at least 300 dpi of the nominee under separate cover to editor@ruralleadermagazine.com 9. Answer the following questions about your Nominee: 1. What distinguishes your nominee? 2. Tell us about their contributions and involvement in community. 3. Describe your nominee’s professional achievements and activities. 10 Also include: Nominee/Nominator may also attach resume (3 page limit, please). Name of Nominator if different from nominee; How do you know the nominee? Phone and Email (of the nominator).— GetRuralLeaderMag.com | APRIL 2017 11
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For Mendu, the partnership with her 3M mentor ignited myriad new possibilities. “My mentor, Margaux was amazing and I learned so much about the process of innovation working with her. She truly exemplified how collaboration is key to success!” she remembers. Mitera’s sentiments were mutual. “Maanasa is such a bright, enthusiastic young woman. It was really a pleasure to work with her and help her project grow. I can’t wait to see what she will do in the future.” With Mitera’s help, Mendu learned the four C’s of science: collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking. She was also able to meet with Mitera at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, where each of the finalists arrived on October 16, 2016. Mendu and her fellow finalists all had the opportunity to present their projects before a panel of judges, including 3M scientists. When the competition was over, Mendu’s idea to deliver electricity to impoverished regions earned her the title of America’s Top Young Scientist. The victory also awarded her $25,000, but Mendu isn’t looking toward the future just yet. She’s still busy in the present, perfecting her design, so she can help impoverished people around the world as soon as possible. “Along the way I have learned so
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much about the process of innovation,” she says of the project. “Innovation is more than just a lightbulb moment, it’s about being creative, trying new approaches and learning from your mistakes. I’ve began to realize the truth in the saying, “Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” Mendu is dedicated to continuing her process of innovation for those who live every day without energy. Mendu won the 2016 Young Scientist Challenge with an idea and a dream. Nominations for the 2017, challenge are still open. To enter, students in grades 5-8 must submit a one- to two-minute video no later than April 19, 2017, describing the science behind their new innovation or solution to solve an everyday problem. The problem could be one experienced half a world away, as was the case with Mendu’s, or it could be one you encounter every day. The only limit to your scientific solution is your own imagination. To learn more about the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, visit www.youngscientistlab.com/challenge.—BPT
2017 NATIONAL
Call For Nominations Begins March 1-April 30, 2017
Honorees will be featured in the June 2017 Publication of Eagle Elite Club Magazine.
For INFO, visit the link below.
What you do matters. RUR ALLEADERMAG.C OM 12 RuralLeaderMag.com | APRIL 2017
Smart Ideas for Supporting Your Child’s Education in 2017 and Beyond The education children receive today will help them throughout their lives. School is the fundamental component of the learning process, but education doesn’t stop when kids arrive back home at the end of the day. “Education and family go hand in hand,” says Ellen Marks, curriculum director of Bricks 4 Kidz, an award-winning summer camp and after-school program. “Parents who take an active role by supporting classroom learning will not only see their kids’ education blossom, but their relationship with them, too.” MThe start of the new year is the ideal time to evaluate what you’re doing right and where you could improve in regards to supporting your child’s education. Marks offers these smart ideas guaranteed to help you keep this resolution in 2017 and beyond: Connections to real life: One of the best ways to help kids understand classroom lessons is to connect the material to everyday experiences. Practice fractions while cooking. Chat about biology as birds fly by the window. Learning moments are all around, you just have to point them out. Daily conversations: With a fun, no-pressure approach, go over what your children learned in school. If they don’t want to talk right after school, wait until later. During or after dinner may allow enough transition time so you’ll find they’ll open up more. Positive attitude: Kids will mirror your attitude to-
ward your work as well as how you view their school, homework and teachers. Stay positive, respectful and model resilience during difficult times; you’ll find they’ll do the same. Enriching activities: Select fun after-school activities that emphasize cognitive development while building self-esteem. For example, Bricks 4 Kidz uses relatable tools like LEGO Bricks to teach science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills. Learn more at www.bricks4kidz.com and sign up for an After School class. The parent-teacher relationship: Sending check-in emails, attending conferences and volunteering are ways to build strong relationships with teachers. Be proactive about asking where your child excels and what areas they may need additional help. Homework help: Good study habits are essential to excelling at school. Create a comfortable homework space with adequate supplies and few distractions. What’s more, be an active partner in your child’s homework and assist when needed with gentle guidance and encouragement. Reading buddies: Reading together can instill a lifelong love of literature. Try reading the same books your child is assigned in school so you can foster a good discussion about characters and storylines. When you both finish the book, rent the film version and plan a movie night. GetRuralLeaderMag.com | APRIL 2017 13
Active learning opportunities: Reading, writing and solving math problems are passive learning activities. At home, encourage active learning where your child builds models, creates art projects and can ask questions. It’s amazing to watch their minds work and see what they create. Health and wellness: A child must first be well before they can effectively learn. Make sure kids stay fueled with a variety of healthy foods. Next, ensure they get a good night’s sleep. Full, well-rested kids are always ready and eager to learn.—BPT
Five Things You Must Know About This Groundbreaking Treatment for Servicemen and Women When the nation’s servicemen and women serve a tour of duty overseas, many don’t return home the same. Nearly 60 percent of servicemen and 50 percent of servicewomen experience at least one traumatic event during their service, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. These events have the potential to cause life-long complications. Research shows the consequences of a traumatic event has the potential to impact a person’s cognitive ability through traumatic brain injury (TBI), or to cause them to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Either of these conditions means that even when the service person’s tour is over, their struggles have just begun. Fortunately for service people dealing with the effects of TBI and PTSD, new treatments are available. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is easing the pain for many servicemen and women through an increase in 14 RuralLeaderMag.com | APRIL 2017
oxygen to combat problems ranging from complex disabilities and chronic infections to pain and neurological impairment. If you’ve never heard of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, here are five things you need to know about this new treatment and how it is helping servicemen and women across the country. * The treatment is built on speed and oxygen. When a patient undergoes hyperbaric oxygen therapy, their body is exposed to a high amount of oxygen, carried through their body at a rapid pace. This alternative medicine therapy not only increases the amount of oxygen the body receives, but the purity of the oxygen as well. The increase of oxygen aides the patient’s body in the creation of new blood cells which supports the healing process. * In addition to supporting the healing process, it also combats stress. Research shows hyperbaric
oxygen therapy has been proven to alleviate stress on the body through cognitive rehabilitation, making it a natural treatment solution for servicemen and women suffering not only from external wounds, but from PTSD, TBI and depression as well. * The treatment process involves several “dives.” Each hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment is called a dive and an individual can receive 20-40 dives in which oxygen is pumped into their specialized, sealed chamber. Each treatment lasts for up to one hour. Servicemen and women pursuing this treatment see the best results when these treatments are scheduled as close together as possible. * The risk of TBI varies depending on conditions. Many veterans of the United States’ campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan suffered TBI because of blast related injuries. Research shows males outnumber females in TBI cases 2:1. Age also plays a roll in a person’s likeliness to suffer TBI, and people ages 0-4, 15-19 and the elderly have a higher rate of suffering TBI than those outside of those age ranges. Substance abusers also stand a greater chance of suffering a TBI
incident. * You can support treatment for servicemen and women. Veterans across the country need your help. The Purple Heart Foundation strives to make the transition home as smooth as possible for all veterans, which includes providing them the treatment they need for the challenges they face after being discharged. The Purple Heart Foundation is a nonprofit, Veteran Service Organization whose mission is to honor the sacrifice of military veterans and create a smooth transition for them from the battlefield to the home front. Nearly 90 percent of each cash donation made to the Purple Heart Foundation goes to support aspects of this mission statement including: hyperbaric oxygen treatment, the National Service Officer Program, the scholarship program, service dog programs and other rehabilitation or recreational programs aimed at improving the lives of veterans. To learn more about how you can support veterans returning from overseas, visit purpleheartfoundation. org.—BPT
Habits of Successful Leaders by Rhegie Taylor
Through the years, there have been so many attempts to analyze leaders to discover their secrets. This is so that other people who aspire to be leaders can learn what it takes to live up to their potential. One of the difficulties that this research has pointed out is that everyone in leadership positions is different and is successful for different reasons. However, most people of all different backgrounds share a number of recognizable characteristics like leadership. Leaders are meant to have effective communication skills when engaged in inspirational speaking, motivational speaking or happen to find themselves motivational speaking opportunities. The following are 10 habits of a successful leader: A winning leader always thinks in a positive way, no matter what happens. Because of the way you think will have a big influence on your behavior. The message must always be positive thinking towards success and not dwell on failure. Winners tend to avoid negative environments and negative people because they know the damage it can do to their positive attitude. A successful leader decides on their dreams and goals. Always writes and has a plan to achieve them. Follow these plans with single-minded purposefulness. - Successful leaders do not procrastinate they take action because they know that the goals are
useless without action. They are not afraid to start to work no matter what the obstacles. Another feature is that they never stop learning. They are like sponges, they are willing to read books, and they are ready to return to school if necessary and recognize the value of good training. They are relentless when acquiring skills. For instance, equip themselves when it comes to being a professional speaker. A successful leader has the element of being persistent. They work hard because they know that success is a long-distance race and there is no shortcut. They will never give up. A successful leader gets the facts, analyzes the details and learns from their mistakes. A lot of them always share their mistakes because they realize they are learners and they are always proud to call themselves learners. In addition to being persistent, successful leaders focus on their goals and will not let other people or events distract them. Successful leaders are never afraid to innovate or be different. They realize that success does not come from walking in the footsteps of others. They figure out their own direction to avoid the mediocrity of the crowd in general. Continued on page 22 GetRuralLeaderMag.com | APRIL 2017 15
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It’s 2017: Do you know how old your farmer is?
Millennial grower Nathan Miller helps manage his family’s 13,000-acre farm in Washington Court House, Ohio.
Smartphone? Check. GPS? Check. Seed, fertilizer and tractor? Check. Welcome to the world of modern agriculture, where high-tech is the rule and savvy millennials are in demand as U.S. agriculture embraces the many challenges of feeding a growing world. From planters guided by GPS to corn and soybeans with built-in resistance to insects, today’s agriculture is a far cry from Old McDonald’s farm or the pitch-fork-wielding couple of American Gothic. Many of the technological advances in modern agriculture rival the smartest smartphones and the most intuitive interfaces. Imagine drones that scout for pests, farm machinery that decides where fertilizer is needed or harvest equipment that steers itself. Then there are plants that “sense” when weeds get too close, “turn a switch” when they need to conserve water, and produce their own “pheromones” to ward off insects and diseases. It’s the kind of high-tech stuff that’s the perfect match for millennials, often defined as people born between 1982 and 2004. Getting to know them Currently, more than half of our nation’s farmers are at least 55 years old. However, as these farmers retire over the next few years, millennials - America’s largest demographic and arguably our most tech savvy - will likely be taking their place. Many companies that hope to supply this new generation of farmers with goods and services are getting ready for the transition. Syngenta has already launched a training initiative designed to help its employees build trust, improve service and strengthen partnerships with younger customers and coworkers. The training gives participants a better understanding of who millennials are and what’s important to them. “Millennials are one of the most talked about but least understood generations,” says Gil Strader, head of field force excellence and training at Syngenta. “We’re finding fascinating insights that can help bridge this generation knowledge gap.”
Research reveals that younger growers in the agricultural industry are: High-tech and high-touch Young growers take more innovative risks than their older counterparts, but personal relationships are just as important to them as the latest technology. Many prefer phone calls and in-person meetings over the digital dialogue so dominant today. Educated While only 33 percent of American 35- to 44-yearolds have a bachelor’s degree, 57 percent of young growers do. Eleven percent of them even have a master’s degree or higher. It’s the highest level of education among U.S. farmers to date. Decisive Due to increasing farming complexity, millennials are making significant decisions at younger ages than their predecessors - decisions worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. In fact, two-thirds are the primary decision makers for their operations, from seeds to marketing. Inquisitive To no one’s surprise, millennials use the Internet to gather information from diverse sources. Young farmers are hungry for information - information to help them make smart business decisions. It’s not enough to simply know how to do something: They want to know why. Purpose-driven Millennials view farming as a business and a lifestyle. They are very serious about what they’re trying to accomplish on the job, but they also want to have a high quality of life outside work. These findings debunk the myth that the millennial generation is self-absorbed, indecisive and addicted to social media. As a group, young farmers are serious decision makers who crave connection, communication and a sense of purpose. To learn more about millennials and other agricultural trends, go to www.syngentathrive.com.—BPT
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Secrets Smart Investors Use Year-Round to Save on Their Taxes
Come tax time, many people work to locate tax breaks. While this is always a smart financial move, a little-known way to help build your net worth is to keep taxes top of mind throughout the entire year. Reducing taxes means you keep more of what you earn, according to Nick Holeman, a financial planning expert at Betterment.com. “You can’t control the stock market, but you can control some of your taxes,” Holeman said. “Knowing how your investments affect your tax bill can help you save money not just on April 15th, but for years to come.” Check to see whether your long-term investment strategy is running efficiently with these tips from Holeman. Invest your tax refund: One smart place to invest your tax refund is in an IRA. Normally, investors might divert a portion of the refund into this account as part of a well-rounded investment strategy and claim the deductions for next year’s tax time. Invest your refund, and you may get a portion of that back in tax savings. Stay in the habit of investing that refund if you can and watch those small returns add up over time. Think several moves ahead: Investing is complex and from time to time you will have to sell some of your investments; everybody does. It might be to rebalance your portfolio or maybe your goals have changed and your investments no longer match their intended purpose. Still, smart investors need to think ahead before blindly selling parts of their portfolio. This is because selling could potentially lead to taxes. By carefully choosing which investments to sell, you can help minimize that hefty tax consequence. One way to do this is to partner with an invest18 RuralLeaderMag.com | APRIL 2017
ment company that has the tools to make this information easy to access and understand. Betterment. com, for example, offers Tax Impact Preview, which lets investors see estimated potential tax on a sale before making the trade. If you don’t think the pros outweigh the cons, don’t do it. Reorganize your investments: Another way to potentially leverage even small tax advantages into long-term growth is to build your portfolio like an energy-efficient engine, built to run for more miles with less need to refuel. You can help accomplish this by reorganizing your portfolio. Move inefficient investments like international stocks and other assets that are taxed more often into a tax-deferred account, such as an IRA or a Roth IRA. That way, you can enjoy the high growth for less tax. Then, move lesstaxed assets, such as municipal bonds, into taxable accounts. Benefit from losses: Help keep your portfolio in balance by selling off the laggards and replacing them with a similar investment. You can receive a tax deduction from your losses that can help cancel out the taxes you owe on assets that have gains. This is done automatically for investors at many automated services through a strategy called tax loss harvesting. Smart investors should always remember that investments involve risk and may result in loss. Give to a worthy cause: While it’s important to secure your future, many investors see community support as an important goal. Consider donating a to a nonprofit organization in your community. Not only are you helping to improve the quality of life in your locale, you can potentially claim a deduction from your income tax. It can pay to do the right thing.—BPT
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Key Milestones Ever yone Should Know About
Retirement can seem like a very distant destination in your early working years. However, as you age, that once distant destination starts to become more real. As you enter your 50s you can really start to think about how much you have saved and how that will translate into retirement income. You can also start to better understand the idea of allocating part of your retirement nest egg to guaranteed income based on your calculation of how much pension income and Social Security you will receive. Also critical during this final phase of working is understanding the key retirement milestones and how they will impact your ability to retire. The following are the critical retirement milestone ages: Age 55 If you are fortunate enough to consider the possibility of an early retirement, attaining age 55 is a critical date since you can start withdrawing from your 401(k) without the application of the 10 percent penalty tax applicable to premature plan distributions. This exception from the general applicability of the penalty tax, however, depends on you retiring from the company sponsoring your 401(k) plan during or after the year you reach age 55. You cannot continue to work at the company and decide you want to start using your 401(k) assets at age 55. In that circumstance the 10% penalty tax will still apply. Age 59 1/2 At age 59 1/2 you are no longer subject to the 10 percent penalty tax for premature withdrawals on all of your retirement assets, such as your IRAs, 401(k) or annuities. Therefore, for many this is really the earliest that one can consider retirement as a possibility. Of course, retirement at age 59 1/2 will increase the length of your retirement and the risk that you will outlive your assets. Age 62 At age 62 you become eligible for a reduced Social Security benefit. In terms of managing your guaranteed income for retirement, in general you will be better served to not start taking Social Security at such a young age since the benefit will continue to grow. Only those with a shortened life expectancy should consider starting Social Security benefits at this age. And even someone with a shortened life expectancy might consider delaying benefits if married, since turning on benefits early will reduce a surviving lower earning spouse’s benefit. Unfortunately, the reality is many individuals do turn on their benefits at age 62, either because they have not saved enough for retirement or because they want to start getting money back from the system they have contributed 20 RuralLeaderMag.com | APRIL 2017
to over the years. Age 65 Age 65 is a critical year for considering retirement since you will become eligible for Medicare. Prior to age 65, retirement requires you to consider the cost of paying for your own health care insurance, which can be a very costly proposition. This health care analysis gets more complicated if you have a spouse who is not working and has not attained age 65 when you do, since you will need to consider the cost of health insurance for that spouse until he or she attains age 65. While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has helped ensure that you can obtain health insurance regardless of your medical condition, the cost of such health insurance remains a significant deterrent to those considering retiring before Medicare eligibility. Also, as this is written, Congress is planning to repeal and replace the ACA, and you will need to understand the replacement plan and how that impacts health care planning for those who are not Medicare eligible. Age 66-67 At this age you will become eligible for full Social Security benefit payments, and not the reduced payment you can take at age 62. The full retirement age has been raised over time and varies depending on your year of birth. For those born from 1943 through 1954, age 66 is the full retirement age. For those born in 1955 through 1959, the full retirement age is 62 plus 2 months for each year. For example, someone born in 1955 has a full retirement age of 62 and 2 months, and someone born in 1958 has a full retirement age of 66 and 8 months. For those born in 1960 or later, the full retirement age is 67. Bear in mind that while attaining the full retirement age allows you to take an unreduced Social Security benefit, it does not maximize the benefit payment. Age 70 Age 70 is the delayed Social Security benefit age, or when you must start taking your Social Security payments. By delaying to age 70 you can increase your full retirement age benefit by 8 percent a year from your full retirement age. Given that Social Security is an annuity that pays you for your lifetime, and the benefit itself is increased by inflation costs each year, the increase in benefit payments from the full retirement age to age 70 can have a material impact on your benefit payment in future years. Maximizing Social Security should be your first consideration when thinking about how to ensure that your assets last as long as you do. Unfortunately, many nearing retirement do not understand the importance of Continued on page 23
Before You Cruise, Embark on a Fun-Finding Mission in Your Port City
When booking a sea cruise vacation, it may seem like a good idea to schedule your flight to the port of departure for the same morning your ship sets sail. A same-day flight might appear to save you time and money, but travel experts warn this could turn into an expensive mistake. Should airline delays keep you from getting to the port on time, you could end up shelling out hundreds more dollars to book another flight, just so you can catch up to your ship at the next port of call. In addition, the panic and worry that set in from even the smallest hiccup in your tight travel schedule can defeat the idea of a vacation. To start your relaxing ocean getaway in the right frame of mind, give yourself and your family an extra pre-cruise day in your cruise line’s port city. If everything goes as planned and you arrive the day before your ship casts off, your vacation can start early, too. Use the extra time to explore and kick back. You’ll find the home ports for these cruise ships are set up to accommodate and welcome cruise travelers. For example, if your ship happens to launch from Florida’s Port Canaveral, the world’s second-busiest cruise port, you’ll discover many area hotels have cruise package deals that include free parking, special nightly rates and even free shuttle transportation to and from the port and to and from the airport. You’ll also find plenty to see and do locally. Cape Canaveral, near the Kennedy Space Center, is part of
the east-central section of Florida popularly known as the Space Coast. Here, there are numerous attractions and other entertaining diversions that can help create the perfect countdown to your cruise to paradise. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex For visitors, the eye-opening facility that has propelled countless rockets and scores of shuttles out of our atmosphere also provides a full day’s worth of exhibits and hands-on learning about space exploration. Eyeball a 3-D image produced by one of NASA’s powerful space telescopes, inspect the Space Shuttle Atlantis up close, and “experience” life on Mars through an interactive display. Of course, there are plenty of space memorabilia to examine and fascinating astronaut stories to absorb, all of which will round out your appreciation of what NASA has accomplished so far - and what is yet to come. Rocket watching While planning your overnight along the Space Coast, be sure to check Spacecoastlaunches.com for schedules of rocket launches, public viewing sites, and special hotel packages. If you’re lucky, you might have an opportunity to witness the sights, sounds and ground-shaking vibrations of a rocket launch. Cape Canaveral and the greater Space Coast area have numerous parks and observation points that make it easy to sit back and watch these rockets streak into the sky. GetRuralLeaderMag.com | APRIL 2017 21
Shopping, arts and entertainment The Space Coast features many historic shopping districts to help you leisurely pass the time morning, afternoon and evening. You can dine al fresco at one of the trendy independent restaurants or pick out a catchy new cruise outfit at a local boutique. The area also has a lively arts scene to help inspire you for your trip. Take in a pre-cruise musical performance or theater production at the Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, or wander the assorted art galleries that dot the Eau Gallie Arts District. Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier A historic landmark along a beautiful stretch of beachfront, the Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier was established in 1962. Its festival-like setting is the perfect backdrop for any traveler’s early escape from reality: beachside restaurants and bars with live entertainment, an 800-foot fishing pier, spectacular views of the majestic cruise ships coming and going, rolling waves breaking and beautiful bodies surfing, the sparkling beach and the glorious sunshine. What could be better? Coastal escapades You also can elude the crowds and pilot your own
escapade along the area’s beautiful waterways. It’s easy to rent a boat and navigate the rivers and canals. You can look for dolphins and manatees or drop anchor at an island for a family barbecue and swim. Cast your line into the Banana River, pull into Sebastian Inlet State Park for snorkeling and scuba diving, or simply enjoy the journey and tie up at a waterside restaurant when hunger sets in. For planning some Space Coast fun and relaxation before you set off to sea on your cruise ship, you can peruse an extensive collection of local tourism ideas and resources at www.visitspacecoast.com.—BPT
Successful Leaders, continued from page 15 Successful leaders are still effective communicators because most of them are professional speakers. They have learnt to understand and use the psychology of human behavior. A successful leader has a good understanding of motivation, not only of themselves but also others. 22 RuralLeaderMag.com | APRIL 2017
Effective leaders are accountable, they are responsible. People trust them because they are honest and reliable. Standards established by successful leaders are difficult. The development of these characteristics and use of each of them is a challenge. However, now that the challenge is known, are you game?—
Retirement, continued from page 20 maximizing this benefit, from an insurance perspective, and take the reduced payout at age 62 or at the full retirement age. Age 70 1/2 At age 70 1/2 you must start taking Required Minimum Distributions, or RMDs, from your retirement assets such as your 401(k) or IRA. Your RMD amount is determined by an IRS table, which effectively requires you to take an increasing percentage of your assets. The idea is that you will be forced to liquidate your account gradually over your lifetime. For example, at age 71 the table requires you to take out around 3.77 percent of your account value, determined on Dec. 31 of the year prior to the RMD withdrawal. At age 80 you must take out around 5.35 percent. At age 90 you must take out around 8.77 percent. You have a choice for the year in which you attain 70 1/2 to take your first RMD amount in that year or defer the distribution to before April 15 of the following year. Keep in mind that if you do defer this first RMD amount you will have to take two RMD amounts in the following year. You may want to consider carefully whether this makes sense since you could be increasing your overall tax liability. RMDs are not required from a Roth IRA but are required from any funds you have in a Roth account
in an employer plan. You may want to consider rolling funds, for example, from a Roth 401(k) to a Roth IRA, if you want to eliminate RMD requirements on these funds. You should know, however, that the time you have invested in the Roth 401(k) does not carryover to the 5-tax-year period for income tax free withdrawals from a Roth IRA. So if that is part of your future strategy, you may want to open a Roth IRA ahead of time to start the 5-tax-year clock running, which could include making a Roth IRA contribution or converting some traditional account assets to a Roth IRA. Once the 5-year-clock has run it applies to all future contributions, even if a particular contribution has not been in the account for 5 years. MThe above analysis of retirement milestone ages highlights the importance of delaying your retirement as long as you can. Delaying your retirement ensures that you will not be subject to the 10 percent penalty tax on premature distributions from retirement plans and IRAs, that you will have affordable health care coverage under Medicare, and that you will maximize the Social Security lifetime benefit payment. Importantly, it also reduces the length of your retirement which, of course, increases the likelihood that you will be able to make your retirement assets last as long as you live.—BPT
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