BROWARD COUNTY FLORIDA | VOL. 1
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
Destination Vacations
6
Luxury Living
10
Senior Living
12
Local Event Guide
6
22 Travel In Style
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24 Saving For Retirement 28 Investing For The Future 29
Recommended Service Directory
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TRENDING LOCATIONS TO VISIT THIS YEAR
Destination
Vacations
If you are looking for an exciting and affordable travel destination, consider the following locations. 1. Hawaii is a tropical paradise loved by all. It offers a rich marine life, unmatched underwater experiences, gorgeous landscapes, volcanoes, and interesting history. Of the six largest islands, Maui has the state’s most beautiful beaches - some with white sand and others with red or black sand. Oahu has Hawaii’s largest city and capital, Honolulu, which is known for Waikiki Beach and Pearl Harbor’s World War II memorials. The weather is perfect and there are endless opportunities for adventure. 2. Barcelona is both a beautiful city as well as a renowned beach town. It boasts a lively nightlife, lots of activities, and restaurants galore. There are amazing museums and galleries; Including the Picasso and Salvador Dali Museums, La Sagrada Familia, and other buildings by renowned architect Antoni Gaudi. Las Ramblas, the main walking street ends with a monument to Christopher Columbus honoring his discovery of the new world. 3. The Bahamas, which is made up of a series of islands, has the clearest turquoise water on the planet, as well as white sandy beaches.
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Underwater adventures abound dive for Spanish galleons, seek out the caves, or go sailing or fishing. The Bahamas offers a plethora of Ecotourism options, from bird watching to hiking. Nassau offers a few cultural sites like Ardastra Gardens and the Conservation center, in addition to being the capital city, but the Bahamas is great for island hopping as well. Or just pick one of the great resorts and relax at the beach. 4. Tel Aviv, known as the non-stop city, is a vibrant and exciting city on the Mediterranean Sea. It offers beautiful beaches, great cafes and restaurants, exciting night life and a 24 hour a day culture.
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History abounds and there are interesting museums including the Tel Aviv Museum and the Eretz Israel Museum which covers archeology, folklore, crafts and features an onsite excavation of 12th century-BC ruins. Tel Aviv is also the technology and financial center of Israel.
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LUXURY
LIVING IDEAS
Upgrading your home is only limited by your imagination and budget. Is it a luxury bath, fabulous kitchen, incredible master suite or home theatre that you desire?
KITCHEN Your kitchen is probably the heart of your home. This is where memories are made and shared as families love to congregate in the kitchen. The possibilities are endless. White is the most popular color for cabinetry but combining cabinet colors is the latest trend in kitchen design. Blues and greens are also becoming popular. Quartz is the latest for countertops and islands. Commercial-grade appliances, extra sinks and dishwashers all add to the luxury kitchen. Also popular are pizza ovens, appliance garages, warming drawers and under- counter refrigerators for wine and other drinks. If you have space, consider a butler’s pantry which acts like a second kitchen - great for caterers or just an extra space for food prep without disturbing the main kitchen area.
BATH For a luxurious bath, create a spa-worthy retreat. Consider heated floors and towel racks, a steam shower and a large soaking tub. Create a separate water closet for the latest in remote controlled toilets that feature a night light, bidet and self cleaning feature. Turn a great piece of furniture into your double sink vanity for a sophisticated look. And why not have a sofa and television for added ambiance. 6
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MASTER SUITE Add a mini-kitchen which includes a small fridge and coffee bar along with a sitting area so that you can enjoy your wine or coffee first thing in the morning or at the end of the day. Fireplaces are another nice touch for a romantic setting. If your home is equipped with gas, they are an easy addition.
LUXURY
LIVING IDEAS
MOVIE ROOM If you have a spare room, create your own private theatre with a high-definition flat screen tv, surround sound and theatre seating. A popcorn machine and fridge for drinks are nice additions. 8
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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.
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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.
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!
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 11
LOCAL EVENTS GUIDE
BROWARD COUNTY NOVEMBER
NOV 2 | Dia De Los Muertos Consistently ranked as one of the top Day of the Dead events in the U.S., the 10th Annual Florida Day of the Day Celebration features festivities and entertainment starting at 2 p.m. leading up to the procession at 6 p.m. Watch as thousands of skeletons walk in memory of loved ones and giant puppets tower over the crowds during this local observance of the traditional Mexican holiday. For more info visit: www.dayofthedeadflorida.com NOV 7 | Andrea Bocelli Throughout the month of November, the live performance spaces of Greater Fort Lauderdale are chock full of the biggest names in entertainment. Hard Rock Live, the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood’s event venue, is bringing in legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli for a one-nightonly performance on November 7. For more information visit: http://bit.ly/brow-nov7 NOV 9 | Diwali Festival of Lights Attracting more than 10,000 revelers each year to the Broward County Convention Center, the 9th Annual Diwali Festival of Lights will feature performances, dancing, light displays, a wide array of Indian cuisine, and an exhibition hall filled 12
with Indian clothes, gifts, and art for purchase. For more info visit: irccflorida.com/diwali/
DECEMBER
DEC 3 | Xmas on Las Olas Celebrating its 57th anniversary, Las Olas is once again transformed into a pedestrian-only winter wonderland filled with holiday treats, entertainment, and local vendors. The free event will even feature a two-story snow slope for sledding! For more information please visit: http://bit.ly/brow-dec3 DEC 7 | Brews at the Beach Hit the beach for this inaugural beer event that kicks off with a pig roast at seaside eatery Park & Ocean and ends with a Sunday brunch at Wild Thyme. On Saturday, from 12 to 4 p.m., a slew of more than 40 local and national breweries are setting up shop on Fort Lauderdale’s beach. Look out for Funky Buddha, Gulf Stream Brewing Company, Hollywood Brewing Company, and LauderAle, to name a few. For more info visit: https://brewfestivals.com DEC 14 | Winterfest Boat Parade While other cities may decorate their homes with holiday lights, here in Greater Fort Lauderdale we dress up our boats and glide down the Intracoastal during the 48th (. . .continued on page 14)
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annual floating holiday boat parade. For more information please visit: http://bit.ly/brow-dec14
JANUARY
JAN 8-19 Aladdin Broadway Musical You’ve seen the original and the remake, now see it live on the stage. The Broadway musical brings all the sights, songs, and characters to life with its enchanting story of survival, love, and friendship. For more info visit: https://www.browardcenter. org/events/detail/disneys-aladdin JAN 10 | Billy Joel Concert The piano man himself will play at the newly unveiled Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s live music venue. With hits like “Uptown Girl” and “We Didn’t Start The Fire,” this will be an unforgettable legendary concert. For more info visit: https:// www.seminolehardrockhollywood. com/events/billy-joel JAN 23-26 | Art Ft. Lauderdale A 4-day curated art fair that transports attendees on a journey along the famed Intracoastal Waterway via water taxi and private yacht with stops at vacant multi-million dollar waterfront properties that feature emerging artists exhibiting various styles and methods of art that reflect the past, the present and the future. www.artftlauderdale.com 14
FEBRUARY
FEB 8 | South FL Folk Fest Since its inception in 1990, the Festival has been a combination of a music fest, family reunion, community gathering, and weekend musical retreat. For more info visit: www.southfloridafolkfest.net FEB 19 South Beach Wine & Food Fest Presenting a perfect occasion to indulge in masterpieces created by celebrity chefs. Every year, this fiveday February event attracts many of the big names in the food and beverage industry, from celebrity sommeliers to chefs and culinary personalities. Since it has started, the fest has grown into a world of tastings, seminars, brunches, dinners, lunches, and parties.. For more info visit: http://bit.ly/brow-feb19 FEB 29 | Coconut Creek Craft Fest The Coconut Creek Craft Festival will line the Promenade with local and national crafters displaying their one-of-a-kind arts and crafts. The Promenade at Coconut Creek is North Broward County’s premier open air shopping and dining experience. The inaugural event is free to the public and pet-friendly. For more information please visit: http://bit.ly/brow-feb29
LOCAL EVENTS GUIDE
BROWARD COUNTY MARCH
MAR 1 | Food & Wine Benefit Flamingo Gardens celebrates its 93rd Anniversary with its 8 th Annual Food and Wine Benefit on Sunday, March 1, 2020, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Flamingo Gardens in Davie, FL. This year’s theme is “The Masquerade.” Masks or costumes are optional for this mystical, magical evening. For more information visit: http://bit.ly/brow-mar1 MAR 21 | Grand Tasting Release your inner foodie at The Grand Tasting at ArtsPark Hollywood. Celebrate the culinary revolution sweeping throughout the Greater Fort Lauderdale region. Taking place in a unique downtown setting featuring food & beverage tastings, cooking demonstrations and live music, the Grand Tasting at ArtsPark Hollywood solidifies itself as Broward County’s signature food & wine event. For more info visit: https://www.gflfoodwine.com/ grand-tasting MAR 21-22 | Festival of the Arts An outdoor event celebrating art and culture with a fine art show, contemporary craft festival, theatrical performance and full line-up of live music. Bringing together over 250 of the nation’s best artists and crafters. For more information visit: http://bit.ly/brow-mar21
APRIL
APR 11 | Pirate Festival Fort Lauderdale Pirate Festival be a sprin’ signature event in downtown Fort Lauderdale. It has somethin’ fer everyone includin’ drinks, grub, live chanties, entertainment, raft/ ship races, games fer wee ones, vendors, live cannons, ‘n more! Be a part o’ th’ only Pirate Festival in Dade ‘n Broward counties, as we host our Third Annual Pirate Festival ! Th’ best part... ‘tis FREE admission! https://www.ftlpiratefest.com APR 24-26 | Pompano Beach Seafood Festival Sea creatures big and small will be swimming in your stomach at the Pompano Beach Seafood Festival. They’re fresh from the water and boy are they tasty. While you’re enjoying crustaceans, fish and whatever else got hooked, there will be live music, loads of children’s activities and colorful arts and crafts to keep you entertained. For more info visit: http://www.pompanobeachseafoodfestival.com
MAY
MAY 5-17 | Bandstand Musical From Andy Blankenbuehler, winner of the 2017 Tony Award® for Best Choreography and the 2016 Tony Award for HAMILTON, comes BANDSTAND the new musical that (. . .continued on page 16)
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explodes with the most high-octane, heart-stopping and best dancing on stage today. For more info visit: http://bit.ly/brow-may5 MAY 16 Bahamian Goombay Festival This Signature Festival and Parade is Celebrating 39 Years! . The Parade starts near McDonald Street then leads down Grand Avenue to Hibiscus Street then to The Festival Park. This extremely amazing cultural event is a celebration of the legacy of a Bahamian-rooted community known as Coconut Grove. This is also the perfect time to not forget that the Bahamas still needs our help after Hurricane Dorian’s devastation. For more info visit: http://bit.ly/brow-may16
JUNE
JUN 5-6 | Footloose the Musical Get ready to kick of your Sunday shows and cut loose as Footloose, one of the most explosive movie musicals of all time, bursts onto the live stage. Revel in this throwback to teen romance, angst and, of course, the desire to dance! Rock out to the rhythm of the Oscar and Tony-nominated top 40 score elevated with dynamic new songs for the stage musical. Footloose celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people, guiding them with a warm 16
heart and an open mind. For more info visit: http://bit.ly/brow-jun5 JUN (TBA) | Taste of the Caribbean At Taste of the Caribbean, you can savor the best in Caribbean cuisine at tasting meals, workshops and seminars with leading chefs who will provide insider secrets on enhancing your dining experience. It’s a competition-style event that showcases the region’s best chefs, pastry chefs, junior chefs and bartenders. For more info visit: chtataste.com
JULY
JUL (TBA) International Mango Festival A variety of mango-related activities will be offered, including yummy tastings, recipes, food demonstrations, refreshing mango smoothies, mango trees for sale, pie-eating contests, island-flavored music and children’s activities.. For more info visit: www.fairchildgarden.org JUL 22-26 | Miami Salsa Congress Five days. Five hundred performers. Five thousand fans. Miami Salsa Congress presents non-stop salsa action, showcasing world-renowned international dancers strutting their stuff and showing others how they do it. Highlights include dance workshops, concerts, all-star DJs, (. . .continued on page 18)
This is how you say it’s going to be okay. Every 8 minutes the American Red Cross responds to a disaster and makes this promise. You can help us keep it.
Donate today at redcross.org
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parties and exhibition dances. For more info and tickets please visit: miamisalsacongress.com
AUGUST
AUG (TBA) | Downtown Delray Restaurant Week The week-long event provided locals and visitors an opportunity to sample Downtown restaurants, cafes and juice bars at special prices, all while raising awareness and proceeds for Living Hungry in support of their Not One Hungry Homeless Student in Delray Beach initiative. http://bit.ly/brow-rest-week AUG (TBA) Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse Tours This historic beauty has been operational since 1907 and here’s your chance to see it up close and personal. It’s called “The Big Diamond” because each piece of glass on the outside of the lantern room is in the shape of a diamond. Make sure to climb the tower for a spectacular view of the area where Boats depart Sands Harbor dock in Pompano Beach. www.hillsborolighthouse.org
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AUG 22 | Butterfly Walk See some extremely rare species as you walk through various habitats with a naturalist guide. If you’re lucky you’ll see a Dina Yellow, a Dingy Purplewing, a Fiery Skipper or an Atala, as well as some of the other 40 rare species at the Deering Estate. http://bit.ly/brow-aug22
SEPTEMBER
SEPT (TBA) | Riverwalk Fall Fest Fall is just around the corner! The Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, September 21st, 2019 at Esplanade Park. This event is FREE and open to the public of all ages as well as well-behaved dogs on leashes. Attendees and those passing by will enjoy fall themed games and activities, live entertainment, fall themed foods and cold drinks. Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale creates a Florida style take on this Fall themed event. www.goriverwalk.com SEPT (TBA) | American Indian Day Festival Step into a world of tradition and heritage at this annual free event. Happenings include Native American music and dance and food, a Miccosukee fashion show, airboat rides, tribal arts and crafts and, of (. . .continued on page 20)
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course, alligator wrestling shows. This daylong event is FREE and open to the public and features entertainment and culturally-significant programming for the whole family that highlights Native American and Miccosukee culture. http://www.miccosukee.com SEPT 26 | FATVillage Art Walk Culturally enriching the greater community since early 2000’s, attracting a truly diverse crowd of people (adults, children, even pets) to experience art, crafts, music, food and fun. “Rain or shine” - Art Walks go on! For more info visit: www.fatvillage.com/artwalk
OCTOBER
OCT 28 - NOV 1 | TITLEHERE At the end of October, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), will drop anchor in Greater Fort Lauderdale with more than 1,500 boats and 1,200 exhibitors. Expect to see larger-than-life yachts, worldwide yacht debuts, luxury and culinary experiences, and plenty of yacht toys for the nautical lifestyle. www.flibs.com/en/home.html
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OCT (TBA) | South Beach Seafood Week Help kick off the annual Stone Crab season and enjoy a myriad of other seafood celebrations prepared by Miami’s top chefs and restaurants. Also: live bands, culinary and mixology demonstrations, a kids’ zone, health village and VIP hospitality benefits. An added bonus: a sports bar on the sand showing the best college football matchups. For more info visit: sobeseafoodfest.com OCT (TBA) | Fairchild Annual Bird Festival Birders of all ages will be all a-peep over this event. The festival kicks off with two days of tours at the best SoFla bird habitats. Then it’s back to Fairchild for bird walks, an amateur bird photo contest and exhibit, and a sale of bird-attracting plants. www.fairchildgarden.org
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Travel in Style – by Bonnie Roseman
If there’s anything I’ve learned in my 35 years as a stylist, it’s to “carry on,” and by that of course, I mean take a carry-on bag! In order to make travel easier for my busy clients, I’ve spent years developing techniques to make traveling simple and fun. A carry-on bag is key to making your journey more enjoyable; no more hauling multiple bags, or worrying about losing your luggage, which can ruin your trip before you even begin! In my most recent trip abroad, I traveled to the Scandinavian countries before flying to Greece for a little sun in the Cycladic Islands. After that, it was off to Italy and over the Alps. All the while, I had just one bag with me. 22
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To make the most of your luggage space, I suggest you wear your jeans and sneakers, and carry your leather jacket while you travel, to save space in your bag. Roll all items tightly! It saves space, and keeps everything from wrinkling. I usually prefer to stuff my undies and socks in my shoes. Select pieces with fabrics that can wash and hang to dry without needing to be pressed – it’s easier to keep things fresh and avoid using foreign cleaners that can be very expensive. Here are the basics for 6 weeks of traveling abroad across different climates. This short, gender-neutral list includes the basics for a great travel wardrobe. I recommend that your main wardrobe color for travel be black. It looks slimming on everyone, and doesn’t show dirt as easily. A few colorful tee tops can be added to give a little zip to your ensemble. All of these items will fit into your carry-on luggage and provide options for mixing and matching stylish looks while you see the world. You can then personalize your list by adding your toiletries, gloves, hat, or other essential accessories as needed.
TRAVEL WARDROBE Underwear 6 undergarments 6 pairs of socks Pajamas (your choice) Outerwear 2 tee shirts 2 button down shirts (one dressy, one casual) 2 pairs of pants (one jean, one black trouser) 1 pair of shorts 2 jackets (one leather, one raincoat) 1 cashmere sweater (pullover or cardigan) 1 bathing suit 1 basic black blazer (can be worn day or night) Accessories Scarves (colorful, lightweight) Belts (at least one black) Jewelry (a few pop pieces) 1 tie (traditional or bow tie) Shoes One heel or dress shoe One pair of flats (for day or night) One pair of sandals
Feel good, and look even better! Please contact me personally if you have any questions or would like to see my unique travel collection which can be dressed up or down. Bonnie@bonnieroseman.com | www.bonnieroseman.com | 917-209-0516 Bonnie Roseman Bio Fashion Designer. Style Consultant. Wardrobe Architect. The press has designated Bonnie Roseman as the ultimate fashion expert over the years. Featured on the NBC Today Show, People Magazine, and more, Roseman furthered her B-L-T brand by presenting her collection through the Home Shopping Network and Home Shopping Europe. Bonnie Roseman’s BLT has evolved into a full service boutique for women of all body types and lifestyles, featuring wrinkle-free fabrics and unique accessories that pack well and travel lightly wherever you go. Schedule with Bonnie and she’ll tell you all the secrets she’s been telling her clients for over 30 years. 23
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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. • D . o 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. • D . on’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. (. . .continued on page 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.
• 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.
• .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.
• .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.
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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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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 28
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.
RECOMMENDED SERVICE DIRECTORY
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ESTATE SALES
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