AUSTIN TEXAS | VOL. 2
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: FEATURED ARTICLES
RETIREMENT • INVESTING • VACATION
RECOMMENDED SERVICE DIRECTORY
TRAVEL • LIVING • HEALTH • DINING
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CO NTE NT S FEATURES 2
Luxury Living
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Senior Living
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Local Event Guide
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22 Destination Vacations 24 Investing For The Future
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25 Saving For Retirement 28
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AUSTIN | TEX AS | VOL . 2
OPEN FLOOR PLANS
A Luxurious home is not just well appointed, it is one where the amenities allow you to feel spoiled. Pools, saunas, in-home gyms, backyard tennis courts, game rooms, and wine cellars are a few things that come to mind.
An open floor plan is one of the most sought-after criteria when deciding on a new home purchase or a new renovation idea. An open and airy floor plan allows the homeowner to elaborate on their design aesthetic and showcase the home’s individual, luxurious features, like a grand entryway or a beautifully designed staircase.
OUTDOOR KITCHENS If opulence and luxury are key, then a standard, fully-stocked kitchen is simply no longer enough. One may consider adding a cozy outdoor living area complete with outdoor kitchen, featuring built-in gas grills and refrigerated food and drink storage. Some other top amenities include expansive outdoor pools with water features such as waterfalls, hot tubs, changing cabanas, and saunas.
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WINE CELLARS Exquisite wine storage is another amenity that most affluent homes contain. Private wine cellars built using materials such as glass and wood and are often thought to be works of art themselves. When considering one of these beauties, many factors come into play. One will want to consider the placement, temperature, humidity control, and of course bottle size accommodations.
LOCATION IS EVERYTHING When it comes to luxury home ownership, nothing beats a great location. Everyone desires their own slice of blissful paradise. One of the most important aspects to consider are privacy features such as bushes, hedges, trees or walls. The right landscape design features provide a concealed oasis, where one can relax and wind down. Picture yourself in a secluded ranch or gated beachfront enclave!
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GAME ROOMS Game rooms or entertainment rooms are an old idea, but still on top of the list of luxury living ideas. Some would argue a luxury home is not complete without an in-home theatre or game room. The boundaries continue to be expanded with extra amenities such as indoor basketball courts, lavish sports bar set-ups, exquisite billiard areas, additional televisions and beverage storage.
IN-HOME TECHNOLOGY This newer trend has taken over the luxury market by storm, and these technological innovations have garnered the new term of “Smart Homes,� and along with it, smart devices. When it comes to technology, most
luxury builders cater to this tech-trend and offer amenities to help with just about all facets of home management. Some things you can do at the touch of a button or smartphone are control indoor climate, window and door security, and lighting. Additionally, an integrated smart home provides the owner with remote access cameras and security systems.
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DRESSING ROOMS A dressing room is simply an extension of the master bedroom. This feature is commonly a top priority for the wealthy, as it functions as a place to both store and display lavish items such as purses, shoes, hats, and jewelry. There is an increasing demand among the jet-set crowd for larger and more lavish closet designs. Typical setups include cedar shelving, storage chests, ample lighting, and mirrors for cosmetics or modeling outfits.
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g n i v i L r o i n e S
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RETIRE WITHOUT CHANGING YOUR LIFESTYLE
Today’s upscale senior communities offer “resort style living” which is hospitality-oriented and resembles a 4-star hotel or cruise ship rather than a hospital or retirement home. Amenities Some of the more luxurious communities at the deluxe level even feature lively bars with chandeliers and overstuffed pillows. More standard amenities include:
Activities: Education and Entertainment, Fashion shows, Lectures from retired professors and various social and cultural events which are all examples of regularly planned activities for residents at higher-end facilities. In urban settings, planned outings to the city for museums, art galleries or theater visits are frequent occurrences as well. Grounds-keeping: Luxury communities are beautifully designed on the outside as well, from gardens to ponds to putting greens and walkways. Many include well-appointed courtyards for residents to socialize, relax, or enjoy a meal. Concierge Service: Offering ‘Concierge Service’ is what makes a Senior Living community a Luxury one. Similar to a hotel concierge, a resident can use the Concierge to arrange hotel flights or tickets to events, a service that makes these luxury communities clearly more desirable to prospective residents and their families. 10
Modern Therapies: Assisted living communities offer personal care to their residents, and the best communities often offer top notch therapy on top of standard care. In addition to specialized pet and physical therapy, upscale communities often also provide top notch occupational therapy, and music therapy, and always from trained and certified professionals. Residences: The kitchen is the focal point of any home and it’s no different when looking at the residence at an Assisted Living community. A standard assisted living apartment has a kitchenette, traditionally including a mini-fridge, a microwave, and a small amount of cabinet and counter space. The luxury assisted living residences feature full kitchens and appliances plus top of the line finishes, like granite counter tops for instance. (. . .continued on page 12)
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Dining: An upscale senior living community will most likely retain a registered dietitian on staff and employ experienced chefs who serve gourmet meals. Choice and variety are crucial for the success of a kitchen at a luxurious community and most have more than two restaurants within the community, each with their own menus. Personal Fitness Trainers and Recreational Facilities: Recreation rooms are always available to use at the residents’ convenience, with computer labs, fitness rooms and cinemas. Fitness programs supervised by physical therapists and personal trainers are also kept on staff by any upscale community. High-end assisted living communities also provide full service spa treatments, beauty salons for the women and barbershops for the men. Additionally, no luxury assisted living community would be complete without a heated pool and spa, which are always popular with residents. Pet Friendly: Studies have shown that pet ownership has been shown to be beneficial to seniors, and more and more luxury communities are open to 12
allowing residents to have their pets on site. There can sometimes be limitations regarding the size and number of pets. They frequently provide pet care such as dog walking, nail clipping, grooming and litter-box changes as well as formal, certified pet therapy. Spacious Apartments: One can expect about 20% more square footage at a Luxury community (approx 600 sf versus 500 sf at a standard community). A Two bedroom apartment at an upscale community can be more than 1200 square feet. Clearly, senior living is not what it was years ago. And for the retiree with means, it can be a lively, active, and rewarding lifestyle full of growth and fun!
LOCAL EVENTS GUIDE
AUSTIN PLEASE NOTE: WE’RE AWARE THAT THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES ARE LIMITING MANY ASPECTS OF LIFE AS WE ALL PRACTICE SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING. DUE TO THE CURRENT OUTBREAK, MANY EVENTS HAVE EITHER BEEN CANCELLED, RESCHEDULED, OR CHANGED TO VIRTUAL EVENTS. PLEASE VERIFY ALL EVENTS PRIOR TO ATTENDING. THANK YOU.
JULY
JULY 16 - 19 | CINE LAS AMERICAS Cine Las Americas is amulti-cultural event, offering theatrical screenings of films made by and/or about Latinos or Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Films from Spain and Portugal are also included, enhancing a truly Pan-American cinematic experience. For more info visit: cinelasamericas.org
AUGUST
AUG 7 - 9 | ART FROM THE STREETS SHOW & SALE Visit the Annual Art From the Streets Show & Sale to shop original works and help continue the efforts of AFTS to provide a safe, creative space for homeless and formerly homeless local artists. For more info visit: artfromthestreets.org AUG 30 | HOT SAUCE FESTIVAL The sauce must go on! The 30th annual pepper-filled event is throwing a virtual event, featuring winner announcements for restaurants and commercial bottler categories, mu14
sic, videos and much more! To experience the virtual event at home, participants can purchase their very own Hot Sauce Tasting Kits, which include samplings from a variety of local bottlers, all-new Hot Sauce merch, and more! For more info visit: https://bit.ly/2F1Qwmh
SEPTEMBER
SEPT 5 | WEIRD HOMES TOUR Austin Weird Homes Tour is doing something a little different this year – we are producing a 100% Virtual tour. Now you can come along with the Weird Homes Crew and visit these wonderfully weird homes from the comfort and safety of your home! And anyone in the world can tune in to enjoy! For more info visit: https://bit.ly/33MbRKM SEPT 19 - 20 | PECAN STREET FEST The Pecan Street Festival is one of the largest, and longest-running, arts & crafts and music festivals in the nation. Moving to an all-virtual platform will give us the opportunity to expand our event from just a weekend to a much longer stretch
LOCAL EVENTS GUIDE
AUSTIN PLEASE NOTE: WE’RE AWARE THAT THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES ARE LIMITING MANY ASPECTS OF LIFE AS WE ALL PRACTICE SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING. DUE TO THE CURRENT OUTBREAK, MANY EVENTS HAVE EITHER BEEN CANCELLED, RESCHEDULED, OR CHANGED TO VIRTUAL EVENTS. PLEASE VERIFY ALL EVENTS PRIOR TO ATTENDING. THANK YOU.
of programming – providing more opportunity for public engagement with vendors, artists, musicians and other special guests. For more info visit: pecanstreetfestival.org
OCTOBER
OCT 8 - 10 | AUSTIN CITY LIMITS MUSIC FESTIVAL ACL Fest has always been rooted in tradition, our common love of live music, and our community. ACL Festival is a two-weekend event that brings together more than 130 acts from all over the world to play rock, indie, country, folk, electronic and more on eight stages. For more info visit: Aclfestival.com OCT 17 | TEXAS TRUCKLANDIA It’s a 1-Day Taste-a-Thon & Food Truck Festival at the Austin American Statesman Property, rain or shine. Come join for the wide variety of different food trucks! For more info visit: trucklandia.com
OCT 22 - 29 | FILM FESTIVAL Austin Film Festival has announced that its 27th annual Film Festival and Writers Conference will be a completely virtual event including panels and film screenings that will feature leading industry creatives. Viewers will have the opportunity to tune in live to experience the exciting atmosphere of film premieres or alternatively to enjoy films on demand and on their own schedule. For more info visit: austinfilmfestival.com
NOVEMBER
NOV 7 - 8 | CELTIC FESTIVAL This annual festival is also the largest gathering of Celts in Central Texas. The event is home to four stages of Irish, Scottish and Breton music, dance, sports, storytelling, workshops and more. It is one of the few remaining festivals dedicated to authentic Celtic traditions. A friendly family event, fun for all ages and opened to all! For more info visit: austincelticfestival.com
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LOCAL EVENTS GUIDE
AUSTIN PLEASE NOTE: WE’RE AWARE THAT THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES ARE LIMITING MANY ASPECTS OF LIFE AS WE ALL PRACTICE SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING. DUE TO THE CURRENT OUTBREAK, MANY EVENTS HAVE EITHER BEEN CANCELLED, RESCHEDULED, OR CHANGED TO VIRTUAL EVENTS. PLEASE VERIFY ALL EVENTS PRIOR TO ATTENDING. THANK YOU.
(. . .continued from 15) NOV 12 - 15 | FOOD & WINE FEST Pamper your palate in one of the hippest cities in the country at the Austin Food & Wine Festival. Join top chef talent, sommeliers and winemakers from across the nation and Austin’s own acclaimed gourmet scene for an indulgent, threeday epicurean adventure unlike any other, topped off with live musical performances. For more info visit: austinfoodandwinefestival.com NOV 29 - 30 | JAZZ FESTIVAL Join the Austin Area Jazz Fest for a celebration of music, culture, diversity and the arts. Enjoy entertainment from top-tier local and national jazz musicians. For more info visit: austinareajazzfestival.com
DECEMBER
DEC TBA | TRAIL OF LIGHTS The Annual Trail of Lights is part of the essential Austin experience, lighting up the season with a celebration of community, memories and fun. For more info visit: austintrailoflights.org
DEC 1 - 24 | BLUE GENIE ART BAZAAR The Blue Genie Art Bazaar is a fixture of the Austin holiday season. Shoppers can browse thousands of original works ranging from serious art to fun and kitschy items. A great way to buy hassle-free holiday gifts and support local artists.For more info visit: bluegenieartbazaar.com DEC 10 - 14 | MUSIC VIDEO FEST The Austin Music Video Fest celebrates Austin’s long standing music video heritage with screenings, awards, parties, panels and workshops around town! For more info visit: amvfest.com
JANUARY
JAN 1 - 8 | FREE WEEK Hundreds of local bands participate in this week of free live music that encompasses venues all over downtown Austin. For more info visit: https://bit.ly/3kuBhlZ
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LOCAL EVENTS GUIDE
AUSTIN PLEASE NOTE: WE’RE AWARE THAT THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES ARE LIMITING MANY ASPECTS OF LIFE AS WE ALL PRACTICE SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING. DUE TO THE CURRENT OUTBREAK, MANY EVENTS HAVE EITHER BEEN CANCELLED, RESCHEDULED, OR CHANGED TO VIRTUAL EVENTS. PLEASE VERIFY ALL EVENTS PRIOR TO ATTENDING. THANK YOU.
(. . .continued from 16) JAN 18 | MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. MARCH The Annual Community March celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy while uplifting diversity and multiculturalism in our city. At the conclusion of the program at the MLK Statue, we will march to the south steps of the Capitol for a rally.After the Capitol program, the march will proceed to the historic Huston-Tillotson University, where exciting activities are planned. For more info visit: mlkcelebration.com
FEBRUARY
FEB TBA | OYSTER FESTIVAL This is one tasty festival you don’t want to miss! The Oyster Festival is an annual hit among locals and visitors alike. Not sure which kind of oyster you prefer? Try ‘em all while enjoying a little live Cajun and “newgrass” music on the lawn! For more info visit: austinoysterfestival.com FEB TBA | NO IDEA FESTIVAL The annual No Idea Festival brings together musicians and sound 18
artists from across the US, Japan, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and Norway to Austin, Texas to collaborate for 3 nights and 2 afternoons in the fields of free improvisation, composition, free jazz, installation, noise, and sonic interventions. For more info visit: noideafestival.com
MARCH
MARCH 15 - 21 | SXSW Noted filmmakers, musicians and multimedia artists from around the world converge to showcase music, film and interactive media during this internationally-recognized event. For more info visit: sxsw.com MARCH 13 - 27 | RODEO AUSTIN Staying true to the official sport of Texas, Austin hosts one of America’s top ProRodeos every March. The top ranked athletes in each event compete in Rodeo Austin for the title of Champion. Fans enjoy extreme competition, bull fighting entertainment and the fan-favorite Mutton Bustin’. For more info visit: rodeoaustin.com
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LOCAL EVENTS GUIDE
AUSTIN PLEASE NOTE: WE’RE AWARE THAT THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES ARE LIMITING MANY ASPECTS OF LIFE AS WE ALL PRACTICE SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING. DUE TO THE CURRENT OUTBREAK, MANY EVENTS HAVE EITHER BEEN CANCELLED, RESCHEDULED, OR CHANGED TO VIRTUAL EVENTS. PLEASE VERIFY ALL EVENTS PRIOR TO ATTENDING. THANK YOU.
(. . .continued from 18) MARCH 28 | ABC KITE FEST ABC Kite Fest is one of Austin’s bestknown annual events. Held on the first Sunday of March, it is the kickoff to the hundreds of springtime activities in Austin. Most folks come out to see the spectacular sight of hundreds of kites in the sky and to enjoy a spring day in the park. For more info visit: abckitefest.org
APRIL
APRIL TBA | ART CITY AUSTIN Come together and celebrate Austin’s diverse art scene at Art City Austin. Enjoy this unique, weekend event in Austin, at Republic Square featuring the art of local musicians, performance artists, live food demonstrations by local chefs, food trucks, boozy bevies, kid activities and interactive experiences. For more info visit: artcityaustin.org APRIL 21 | TASTE OF MEXICO Mexic-Arte Museum’s Taste of Mexico has become one of the leading Mexican-inspired culinary events of the year. This culturally conscious event invites guests to generously 20
sample creative cuisines from over 50 of Austin’s most eclectic and exciting restaurants, food trucks, and beverage purveyors providing fine tequilas and mezcales. There will be music by DJ ULoveI, food demos & lots more! For more info visit: https://bit.ly/3gDfarg
MAY
MAY 1 - 31 | RENAISSANCE FEST Scarborough Renaissance Festival is interactive fun for everyone, 16th Century Style. Enjoy full combat armored jousts, Birds of Prey exhibitions, the Mermaid Lagoon and Renaissance entertainment on 25+ stages. Discover exquisite crafts in 200 village shoppes and marvel at the artisan demonstrations. For more info visit: srfestival.com MAY 29 - 31 | HOT LUCK FESTIVAL Hot Luck: Live Food & Music festival honors the soul, sweat and DIY diversity of the food and music world. Come hungry, thirsty, and bring your dancin’ boots! For more info visit: hotluckfest.com
LOCAL EVENTS GUIDE
AUSTIN PLEASE NOTE: WE’RE AWARE THAT THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES ARE LIMITING MANY ASPECTS OF LIFE AS WE ALL PRACTICE SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING. DUE TO THE CURRENT OUTBREAK, MANY EVENTS HAVE EITHER BEEN CANCELLED, RESCHEDULED, OR CHANGED TO VIRTUAL EVENTS. PLEASE VERIFY ALL EVENTS PRIOR TO ATTENDING. THANK YOU.
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JUNE
JUNE 10 - 13 | ATX TELEVISION FESTIVAL ATX Television Festival celebrates the television medium: looking back at its history, where it is now, and where it is headed. A weekend where attendees can hear from actors, writers, directors, creators, showrunners, music supervisors, casting directors and studio executives involved in all stages of bringing their favorite series to life. For more info visit: atxfestival.com
standing. Have a fun day watching these boats glide across the water. For more info visit: texasdragonboat.com
JULY
JULY 4 | FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS & SYMPHONY The Austin Symphony hosts an annual concert of patriotic music, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display over Lady Bird Lake. For more info visit: austinsymphony.org
JUNE 14 | DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL Promoting the tradition of dragon boating, increase awareness of Asian and Asian-American culture, and enhance cross-cultural under-
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TRENDING LOCATIONS FOR A GREAT VACATION
EXCITING TRAVEL
Destinations If you are looking for some exciting and awe inspiring travel destinations, consider the following destinations.
1. Sweden, a Scandinavian nation in Europe, offers some wonderful natural experiences and places to visit. Enjoy hiking in vast boreal forests and witness an all-white wild moose. Most principal cities, including Stockholm, are all coastal and offer breathtaking views of the towns and waterfront areas. There are historic medieval towns, an abundance of bridges, royal palaces, and museums to visit. Another sight you will not want to miss are the Northern Lights in Lapland. 2. Tenerife, Spain is the largest of the Canary Islands, which is dominated by Spain’s tallest peak, and dormant volcano, Mt. Teide. Enjoy parades, music, dancing, and a variety of colorful costumes at the Carnaval de Santa Cruz. The island hosts many beaches, some featuring black sand, resort areas to enjoy your stay, high-end restaurants, night clubs, golf courses, and water based sports.
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3. Greece, a southeastern European country with thousands of islands to explore and enjoy. There are a vast amount of sites to visit and places to see that tickle any particular interest. With a plethora of archaeological sites, museums, and historical tours, there is a lot to see and do. To name a few notable sites, The Acropolis is a must see as it is home to some of the most marvelous architectural feats known to exist by this advanced civilization, including the Parthenon and Erecthion. The Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens is the world’s only stadium built in its entirety of marble. This site is home to the first modern
Olympics in 1896, where it held a whopping 80,000 people. Aside from the numerous archeologic areas, Greece also has wonderful beaches, hotels, bars, restaurants, tours, ferries, and charters. 4. France, known for its exquisite cuisine, is also home to famous fashion houses, many classical art museums including the Louvre, and monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, the Seine, Notre-Dame cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, and the Palace of Versailles. There are also magnificent parks, great music, ancient cave drawings, and renowned wine tasting sites.
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INVESTING FOR THE FUTURE Not many people stumble into financial security through sheer luck: a lottery win, big inheritance, or huge stock winnings. For most of us the only way to financial security is a long term plan of saving and investing. Consistency is key to reaching long term goals no matter your income. The sooner you start saving and investing, the longer your money has to compound and grow. Set goals for how much of your income you will invest monthly and stick to it. Keep investment money and cash reserves separate so you won’t dip into your investment account when the market is down. Keep expenses low and spend on what is really important to you whether it is experiences or material things. Try to avoid the big mistakes, like buying a home that is more than you really need or creating a heavy debt load. If your employer offers a matching 401(k) contribution, be sure to take advantage of that option and contribute at least enough to receive it. It is essentially 24
extra income that will grow and compound and is not taxed until you withdraw it. You can do it yourself but it probably makes more sense to work with a financial advisor who is more knowledgeable about financial markets. An advisor will help analyze short term vs long term needs, separate emotions from objectives as well as help with devising a portfolio and strategy suitable for your needs. Investing consistently over the long term is the best way to grow your wealth as there is no way to time the market.
AUSTIN | TEX AS | VOL . 2
10 Year Countdown
To Retirement
Money See Where You Stand - It’s time to assess how prepared, or unprepared, you are financially for retirement. •
Take a quick test: Assuming your retirement is about 10 years away, you want to have roughly seven times your current salary in savings, according to research from Fidelity. That puts you on the road to having about 10 times your final salary saved by retirement and maintaining your present standard of living. Retire before hitting 67 and you’ll need more saved; after, you’ll need less.
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Do a deeper dive: Plug your current numbers (such as earnings, savings and future pensions) into an online calculator to estimate your retirement income. Experts say you’ll need 75 to 80 percent of preretirement income to live well — debatable but a good starting point.
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Don’t despair: You have 10 years to act, by earning more, trimming expenses or delaying retirement. “Whatever you can do can only help,” says George Papadopoulos, a financial planner in Novi, Mich.
Save the easy way If you’re among the 82 percent of workers paid via direct deposit, save more by splitting your pay across accounts. Have your payroll department put part of each check into an online savings account, where it’s out of sight and out of mind. The direct-deposit users who split their deposits save up to $90 more per month than those who use another method to save, according to a recent study.
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Pad your nest egg If you already have significant savings in a 401(k), 403(b) or IRA, open a Roth IRA (in 2019 you can contribute up to $7,000 if you’re 50 or older), or put money into a regular taxable account. •
Why do it? You’re laying the groundwork for lower taxes later. Say you need a new roof on your house in retirement; If you take money from a 401(k) or traditional IRA, it is taxable as ordinary income, and you may end up in a higher tax bracket, explains Carolyn McClanahan, founder of Life Planning Partners. But you can pull your contributions from a Roth IRA tax free (earnings, too, if you’re at least 59½ and have had the Roth at least five years). You can also invest via a basic taxable brokerage account; when you sell securities, you’ll pay only (usually lower) capital gains taxes on the profits.
Pay down the mortgage The problem with a mortgage in retirement is that you may have to sell investments to cover payments. And sometimes that will be when the markets are down - the worst possible time to sell, says Shelley Giordano, chair of the Funding Longevity Task Force at the American College of Financial Services. Her advice: 1. In place of your monthly payments, make half payments every two weeks. Those 26 payments per year are the equivalent of 13 monthly payments, resulting in a faster payoff and lower total interest costs. 2. Got a tax refund? A bonus? A side job? Apply that to your principal. 3. Avoid refinancing your mortgage, since a new loan with a later payoff date means more of your monthly payment goes to interest expense, not an increase in your home equity. 4. Don’t use a home equity loan or line of credit for purchases. The new tax law makes that less attractive, says Giordano. And this is the wrong time to be growing your mortgage debt. 26
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Put new retirement savings to work Not sure where to invest additional money? Aim for growth, somewhere between a trip to Vegas and stuffing cash into your mattress. The sweet spot • Balanced mutual funds: Seek a mix of stocks and bonds;
a 50/50 or 60/40 ratio of stocks to bonds is reasonable. • Target-date mutual funds: These balanced funds automatically adjust investments to lower risk as you age.
Conservative but sound • High-grade corporate bond funds • Money market accounts • U.S. government bond funds • Certificates of deposit and online savings accounts (See bankrate.com for Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.–insured banks offering higher rates.) • Series I inflation-protected savings bonds (sold at treasurydirect.gov)
Work Prepare Your Plan B - Ask yourself these questions, and be honest. 1. Do I work in a stable and growing industry? 2. Do I work for a stable and growing company? 3. Is my heart still in it? Have you answered no to any? It’s time to update your LinkedIn profile and see what else is out there.
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Why do it: Only about half of workers cruise their way to a planned, voluntary retirement; the rest of us exit prematurely, often as a result of job loss or burnout. You still have time to regroup. “With 10 years to go, there is still enough runway to make a mark,” says career and retirement expert Nancy Collamer.
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How to do it: You know the routine. Tell people who can help you. Sign up for job alerts on the go-to site in your industry. Browse the postings that interest you, and note the skills that employers are seeking.
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Want to stay put? Get busy anyway. “Whether you drive a bus or work in a store or in a professional occupation, maximize your opportunities by building your capital,” Collamer advises. “Give talks or write articles to boost your profile, or take advantage of short-term training programs.” One option: Go to linkedin. com/learning and get online access to thousands of business, creative and technology courses for $30 per month. Miller, Mark and Powell, Robert, AARP (2019, Feb 6). Countdown to Retirement: 10 Years [Web log post]. Retrieved from https://www.aarp.org/retirement/planning-for-retirement/info-2019/10-year-countdown.html
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RECOMMENDED SERVICE DIRECTORY
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