2016 Active Living Fall Edition by Skagit Publishing

Fall 2016

Active Living:

The Retirement Years

In This Issue : “SNOWBIRDS” - Escape the winter - Before flying south - Protect your home

A Supplement to the Skagit Valley Herald AndActive theLiving: Anacortes American The Retirement Years goskagit.com

Table of Contents SNOWBIRDS: You too can escape winter this year

SNOWBIRDS: Snowbirds should think “health” before leaving home

SNOWBIRDS: What to do before flying south for the winter

SNOWBIRDS: Five housing options for those looking to flee the cold winter

FINANCE: Face your financial fears

SNOWBIRDS: How to protect your home while you’re away

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Active Living: The Retirement Years

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Active Living | SNOWBIRDS

You too can escape winter this year Did you know that according to the National Centers for Environmental Infor mation only ten states get less than five inches of snow each winter? That makes for a lot of very cold, very fed up Americans once February rolls in. If you’re one of them, you may be tempted to join the flocks of snowbirds who migrate to warmer parts of the world for a few weeks every year. Think it’s impractical? Think again.

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See the Sun Belt on a budget. The warmer southern states are just a day’s drive from most wintery cities, so fill up the car’s gas tank, hitch up your travel trailer and say goodbye to the snow. Another budget-wise option is to rent a large apartment or condo unit with another couple so you can share the driving, lodging and food costs.

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Spend winter in the Old World. A furnished two-bedroom apartment on the Spanish Andalusian coast in winter can be found for as little as $600 a month. Greece and Portugal are affordable these days too. Buy your air tickets well ahead of time, and if you stay a few months, you’re likely to live more cheaply than you could stateside.

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Mexico and beyond. Do your research to make sure you’re heading to a safe area of the country, and then relax into a slower pace. Seasonal rentals are relatively easy to find on the internet, or even after you arrive. Just make sure your health insurance is up-to-date, and you’ll have the best winter ever. Join the flocks of snowbirds heading to the Sun Belt and elsewhere.

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Active Living | SNOWBIRDS

Snowbirds should think “health” before leaving home Heading south this winter? When it comes to your health, a little planning before you leave can save you a lot of trouble during your trip. Book any necessary appointments well in advance, and keep potential unexpected health care costs in

mind while drawing up your budget. Here are a few other things to consider for happy, healthy travels.

Medical exams Visit your doctor, dentist and even your optometrist for complete checkups at least 90 days before departure. Also ask about any necessary vaccines (hepatitis A and B, tetanus, influenza, etc.) and specific instructions concerning any new prescriptions. Ask the relevant professionals all your medical questions so that you can go on vacation with peace of mind.

Medications and prescriptions Have all your prescriptions renewed and bring the original containers for your medications with you. Never empty the contents of several bottles of different medications into one to save space. The labels are important. During your trip, always carry a copy of your prescription for glasses or contact lenses, as well as a letter from your doctor explaining your medical prescriptions. You never know when it might come in handy. You should also keep a list of your allergies and medical conditions with you in case of an emergency.

Travel medical insurance Consult your health-care professionals before leaving to make sure that you’re in tip-top shape.

Buy travel medical insurance that’ll cover you outside the country, if necessary, and make sure it’s fully paid for before departure. Read your insurance policy carefully, paying particular attention to the restrictions and exclusions. This will help you avoid any unpleasant surprises.

What to do before flying south for the winter For many retirees, the arrival of autumn means making travel arrangements to destinations with a milder climate. For a worry-free departure, here are five important things to remember.

dates and make any necessary updates. Before you leave, be sure to make photocopies of them. If the originals are stolen or lost it will be much easier to replace them if you have a recent photocopy with you.

1. Essential documents

2. Contact information

Passport, driver’s license and registration: make sure that none of these documents will expire during your absence. Check the expiration

Inform your family of your destination and the length of your stay. Give them the number where they can reach you in case of an emergency or update your

cellphone plan to avoid exorbitant roaming charges.

3. Bills Are your electricity, gas and cable bills paid by direct debit? Make sure you have enough money in your account to cover them before leaving. If not, ask about payment methods available to you, including how to pay online.

Active Living: The Retirement Years

4. Forwarding mail Check with the post office to see if you can have your mail held while you’re away. Alternatively, you could ask a trusted person to pick it up for you.

5. Animals If you can’t bring your pet with you on your travels, ask a friend or relative to take care of it for you. If not, lots of kennels offer a boarding service for short or long-term stays. goskagit.com

Active Living | SNOWBIRDS

Five housing options for those looking to flee the cold winter Whether your goal is to buy or rent a home for your stay down south, there are many options available. House, condo, apartment, RV or mobile home — there’s something for everyone.

1. Single-family home Buying a second property in another country (or another region) has many advantages: it provides rental revenue, a place of your own to stay, and an asset to be passed down to future generations. However, beware of unexpected costs including mortgages, income taxes, additional taxes and insurance. Be sure to ask lots of questions.

2. Condominium Buying a condo can also be a good investment. Easy to sell and low maintenance, condominiums are very popular with snowbirds. This pied-àterre in the sun can quickly become a peaceful haven far from the hubbub of everyday life.

3. Apartment Renting an apartment in a high-rise is a good option for travellers. If the idea of returning every year to the same location doesn’t appeal to you, an apartment is the perfect choice for temporary stays in warmer climes.

4. RV For those who can’t sit still and love to see as much as possible, an RV is the ideal solution. More luxurious than a tent, an RV allows you to save on flight and hotel costs and invest a little more in fun activities.

5. Mobile Home This type of accommodation is great for snowbirds who love lively surroundings and talking to new people. Mobile home parks are full of different sized accommodations, grouped close together for a friendly and dynamic atmosphere. goskagit.com

Active Living: The Retirement Years

Active Living | FINANCE

Face Your Financial Fears

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Take action to save for retirement Family Features

etirement is supposed to be a reward for decades of hard work, but if you haven’t planned well, the milestone may be a dark cloud on your horizon. In fact, new data shows that nearly 50 percent of Americans are most afraid of outliving their income or the inability to 6

maintain their current lifestyle, and nearly 20 percent are worried about having enough money to cover health care expenses. The research, released by the Indexed Annuity Leadership Council (IALC), also found that despite these very real fears, Americans are failing to take action to address them. For

example, a quarter of Baby Boomers, the age group closest to retirement, have less than $5,000 saved for retirement and nearly one in five Americans have no idea how much they’ve saved. The findings indicate that Americans are afraid of the unknown when it comes to managing their money

and retirement. While you can budget for leisure and travel, health care expenses and life expectancy are unpredictable. “Americans are living longer than ever, so it’s no surprise that the No. 1 retirement fear is that they’ll run out of money in their final years,” said Jim Poolman, executive

Active Living: The Retirement Years

director of the IALC. “Thankfully, there are strategies and products out there that can help you create sufficient retirement income to last throughout your lifetime, which can help with this crippling fear.” To take control of the uncertainty and create peace of mind when it comes to retirement, here are some simple

steps you can follow:

Make a budget. Those who plan for retirement are estimated to save three times more than those who don’t. Take into account that your expenses may increase during retirement, specifically for items such as health care and travel. Also, be sure to revisit your goskagit.com

Active Living | FINANCE budget periodically to make adjustments for new circumstances that affect how much you need to support the retirement lifestyle you desire.

Balance is key. Investing in a 401(k) is a great way to start a retirement portfolio, but putting all your eggs in one basket is a common mistake. One method to provide balance to your retirement portfolio is to add some more conservative, low-risk products, such as Fixed Indexed Annuities (FIAs), which protect your principal regardless of market ups and downs. According to the survey, FIAs are an attractive choice for consumers, with 45 percent of Americans surveyed interested in this type of retirement product.

like market volatility, changes in your career or personal life, can impact the amount you’re able to save and how much you anticipate needing when you reach retirement age.

Monitor the balance. While it’s not as critical to track the ups and downs of your portfolio in your younger years, the closer you are to

retirement, the more important it becomes to be aware of your account values. Your level of risk should reflect your age and your retirement goals. Generally, the younger you are, the greater risk you may be able to tolerate because market cycles generally rebound losses over time. When the window of time before retirement is

tighter, you may not be able to recover from a dip as easily.

Understanding Fixed Indexed Annuities In today’s economy, experts recommend ensuring you have a diversified retirement plan and balanced financial portfolio that includes conservative, low-risk products that are less impacted by stock market volatility. According to the Indexed Annuity Leadership Council’s research, 45 percent of Americans are interested in retirement products, such as Fixed Indexed Annuities, that offer steady lifetime income and protect your principal even if the stock market goes down.

Small changes count. Even seemingly little adjustments can have a noticeable impact on your finances over time. For example, packing your own lunch and giving up an evening out with friends once weekly or monthly will allow you to direct that money to a retirement account instead. Also, be sure to pay your credit card bills on time to avoid fees that not only affect your credit rating but deplete funds that could be directed to retirement savings.

Make it automatic. Set up scheduled transfers so you don’t forget or aren’t tempted to spend the money you planned to save. Treat your retirement account as a debt you owe and be sure to pay yourself every month. If necessary, meet with a financial advisor who can help you determine a strategy to pay down debt without sacrificing your retirement planning. Find more tips and tools to guide your retirement planning at FIAinsights. org. Source: Indexed Annuity Leadership Council

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Active Living | SNOWBIRDS

How to protect your home while you’re away

lights with motion detectors in less visible areas of your property—after all, there’s nothing like being able to surprise intruders.

Are you going away for a few weeks or months? In the rush to organize all their travel arrangements, many people forget the importance of protecting their home during their absence. Here are some tips to follow to deter burglars and make it look like your home is occupied.

A few weeks before departure Ask a friend or family member to visit your home regularly during your absence and make a list of the jobs that you would like this person to do (water plants, for example). You should also install outdoor

Seven days before departure Make arrangements for someone to look after the yard as well as dispose of flyers and newspapers while you’re away. You could also ask a trustworthy neighbor to park his vehicle in your driveway to give the impression that the house is occupied. In addition, be sure to put timers on some of the interior lights; lights that are turned on all the time will attract attention for all the wrong reasons.

The day before departure Unplug electrical appliances inside your home and

move any plants away from windows so they will not dry out as quickly. Ensure that all garbage cans are empty and that the windows and doors are locked.

The day of departure Set the air conditioner or heating system to economy mode and activate the timers on the lights. Turn off the water supply to such appliances as the washing machine and dishwasher and check that everything is locked, including the garage door. After locking the main door, be discrete about putting your luggage into the car in order not to draw attention to the fact that you’re going away.

GETTING THE SLEEP YOU NEED? Robert Reyna MD

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EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts and Sciences, Biology and Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA Doctor of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA Pediatric Residency, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Medical Director, Spring Valley Hospital Sleep Lab, Las Vegas Medical Director, Steljes Healthy Heart Sleep Facility, Henderson, NV

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