Brybeck Financial October 2018

F INANCIAL F O R U M

Logo here

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8

OCTOBER 2018

973.335.9444 WWW.BRYBECK.COM

How My Job Fosters Personal Relationships With Clients GETTING TO KNOW YOU

I n my profession as a financial expert, I’m privy to some of the most intimate details of a person’s life. I watch them save for retirement, increase their equity, possibly struggle through hurdles, make family additions, and eventually settle into their golden years. Contrary to how it may seem, my business is about more than money, numbers, and well- drafted spreadsheets; it’s about the people behind those numbers. They’re why I do what I do everyday. I’ve had a dentist who developed lupus, retired early, and received millions of dollars in disability benefits. I’ve had parents who were preparing for their children to leave home and figuring out their next steps with their own parents as they aged. I’ve had clients who had to abruptly change their policies or plans because of unexpected deaths or changes. I appreciate the long-standing relationships I have with clients who have become friends, and I’m grateful that they continue to trust me. I’ve recently broadened my services to offer more holistic options, including a variety of routes for financial planning, social security, and tax planning. I did this because, in getting to know my clients, I saw how unique everyone and their situation can be. “I appreciate the long- standing relationships I have with clients who have become friends, and I’m grateful that they continue to trust me.”

I’ve been there through all of it, making friends with people, sympathizing with them, and celebrating with them. Sure, I could just run the numbers and make our relationship purely business, but I value them as individuals, and I understand the personal background behind their retirement, home, and life plans. My business is personal, starting with the name.

When my wife, Becky, and I were first engaged, I began Brybeck Financial. She and I decided to combine our names to create the business’ name, and we came up with Bribeck. We changed the “i” to a “y,” and here we are many years later. For the past 20 years, I’ve also been lucky enough to share most of Brybeck Financial’s successes with my diligent and kind assistant, Tina Rogers. Throughout her 20 years at Brybeck, Tina has also developed her own relationships with our clients. Becky and I have also been lucky enough to raise a family together, and our children, Tim and Julie, are some of our greatest accomplishments. Just like my clients, I love watching them grow. This fall Julie will get married, while Tim will give us our first grandchild in December. (By the way, I won’t be “Grandpa.” I’ll affectionately be called “Boompa” instead.) Besides my family, traveling, boating, volunteering with my church, and cheering on my New York Jets and Mets are some of my passions. If I went to my own financial advisor, these are all aspects they would learn about me. Maybe we’d talk about Broadway Joe Namath and the Jets’ glory days, swap boat stories, or talk about crazy things that happened on the golf course. In order to help my clients, I have to know them. I have to know if they value experiences or if they are more concerned with security, and in order to do that, we have to know each other. So, if we haven’t chatted in a while, I’d love to catch up.

—Brian Irving

WWW.BRYBECK.COM

We are dedicated to your financial success. • 1

GOING BEYOND ‘GET WELL SOON’

3 Meaningful Ways to Support Recovery

As the weather cools down, finding ways to spend quality time as a family can become challenging. It’s too cold to camp or barbecue, and money may be tight with the holidays coming up. So why not turn learning a new skill into a bonding experience this fall? You can do it inside, it’s free, and it will open doors around the world for the rest of your children’s lives. Why learn a new language? Speaking multiple languages creates opportunities for your child. Being bilingual makes you more qualified for a variety of exciting careers and can improve your competitiveness in the job market. Knowing a second language can also allow you to travel with greater ease and become more culturally well-rounded. There are some studies that claim learning languages is even good for your health. Research shows that our language acquisition skills peak in childhood or adolescence, so starting young is the best way to become fluent. If your child is in school, they probably already know classmates who speak another language. Which language should you learn? Did you know that 40 million Americans currently speak Spanish at home? The U.S. is the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world, and we border the largest, so learning this language is a great way for children to communicate with more people in their community, and they’ll be more hirable as adults. Bonus: It’s commonly considered one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn. Mandarin is the most-spoken language on the planet, and China’s growth as an economic powerhouse has made this language even more useful around the world. German, Arabic, and Japanese speakers are also highly sought-after in the job market. Of course, you can always let your wanderlust or passions decide for you! Is your child obsessed with K-Pop? Have them learn Korean. Want to take them to Paris someday? Enroll in French classes. The languages of the world are at your fingertips. Learning a new skill has never been easier! While there’s no substitute for a full-time class or moving to another country, there are countless ways to teach yourself a new language right at home, usually for free. YouTube tutorials, podcasts, and audiobooks let you rewind and listen to the lessons as many times as needed to master pronunciations. Can’t tear your child away from their cellphone? Download Duolingo, rated by PCMag.com as the best free language-learning app of 2018. Learn a New Language as a Family LET YOUR CHILDREN SPEAK TO THE WORLD

If you’ve ever had a friend or loved one suffer a debilitating injury, you know how powerless you can feel to help. You want to make a difference, but in the face of severe medical challenges, it can be hard to know how. It’s important to remember that, while you may not be able to have a direct impact on your loved one’s physical recovery, there are concrete actions you can take to support them in ways doctors can’t.

Support their everyday life.

Traumatic injuries can make many aspects of day-to-day life difficult or impossible. Simply making dinner or taking their kids to school may now be herculean tasks for your loved one. Offering to be a volunteer driver or preparing a home-cooked meal can give that person a much-needed breather. Taking the time to help your friend with everyday tasks is more than just a practical gesture — it lets them know they don’t have to bear the burden of their injury alone.

Support their emotional recovery.

People faced with injuries, disabilities, and illnesses can feel emotionally isolated from their friends and loved ones. They may feel that others won’t understand their pain or that they should put on a brave face and not complain. You can’t force your friend to talk about their issues,

but simply being there to listen to what your friend is going through makes a world of difference. Having someone who is willing to listen without judgment can provide a salve for emotional hardship.

Support their rights.

Sometimes an injury can leave your loved one tangled up in disputes with opportunistic insurance companies or individuals they feel are responsible for their injuries. While you may not be able to represent your friend’s legal interests

in these situations, you can introduce them to someone who can. Referring your friend to a personal injury firm you trust can help them chart a path toward just compensation for their injuries.

We are dedicated to your financial success. 2 •

973.335.9444

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES Do You or Someone You Love Need to Schedule a Mammogram?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Organized, in the words of the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), to “honor those at every step of the breast cancer journey,” the annual observance has also served to educate the public and raise funds for research. Learn more about this deadly but survivable disease, and find out how you can help. Breast cancer is extremely common. According to the NBCF, 1 in 8 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. It is the second-leading cause of death in women (behind heart disease). A breast cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence, however. Thanks to research and ongoing education, there are over 3.3 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. today. What causes breast cancer? Breast cancer is caused by damage to cells’ DNA. It’s most common in women over the age of 40, though approximately 2,500 men in the U.S. are diagnosed each year as well. The risk of breast cancer increases with age. Most risk factors, such as age, gender, and family history, cannot be changed. However, research shows that exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy diet and weight, and minimizing alcohol consumption may reduce your chance of being diagnosed with the disease. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may also place you at higher risk.

Contrary to popular myths, breast cancer is not caused by milk, microwave ovens, cellphones, caffeine, plastic cutlery, or deodorants.

Annual mammograms are free. Early detection is the biggest factor in breast cancer survival. There’s some debate among

researchers and insurance companies over the “right” age to begin screening, but most sources agree that women should begin to get regular mammograms in their 40s (and earlier if they have a family history of the disease). The Affordable Care Act (ADA) requires all health insurance plans to cover the cost of annual mammograms for women age 40 and older , and there are many organizations devoted to providing free mammograms to uninsured individuals. You can make a difference. Visit Donate.nationalbreastcancer.org to learn how to help. The NBCF funds cancer research, works to provide free mammograms to low-income women, and serves as a resource for patients and their families. Many cities also have local organizations in need of donations and volunteers. SPICED PUMPKIN SEED CRUNCH

TAKE A BREAK

Inspired by Bon Appétit magazine

Ingredients

• • •

1 large egg white

• • • • •

1/4 cup shelled pumpkin seeds 1/4 cup shelled sunflower seeds

1 teaspoon light agave syrup 1/2 teaspoon garam masala or curry powder

1/4 cup raw cashews, coarsely chopped

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper Nonstick vegetable oil spray

•

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

1.

Heat oven to 300 F.

4.

Using a slotted spoon, strain spoonfuls of mixture over bowl and transfer to baking sheet. Discard excess egg white mixture.

2.

Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

3.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together egg white, agave, salt, and spices. Add nuts and seeds and toss until evenly coated.

Solution on page 4

5.

Bake 20–25 minutes, tossing once.

6.

Let cool and serve.

WWW.BRYBECK.COM

We are dedicated to your financial success. • 3

601 JEFFERSON ROAD, STE 207 PARSIPPANY, NJ 07054 973.335.9444 WWW.BRYBECK.COM Securities and advisory services offered through Triad Advisors, LLC Member FINRA / SIPC Brybeck Financial and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

INSIDE

1

Getting to Know My Clients

2

Learn a New Language as a Family

Ways to Support a Recovering Loved One

3

October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month Spiced Pumpkin Seed Crunch

4

The Surprising Origins of Trick- or-Treating

The History of Trick-or-Treating As Halloween looms and you load up your grocery cart with candy, you may ask yourself, “Why do I provide these spooky gremlins men donned flowing white costumes and black masks — a great disguise when ghosts were about. Why There Are Kids on Your Porch Asking for Candy

with a sugar high every Oct. 31, anyway?”Well, when your doorbell starts ringing around 6 p.m. this All Hallows’ Eve, you can thank the Celts for this tradition of candy and costumes.

The Catholic Church was never a big fan of these pagan traditions, so they renamed it “All Saints’ Day” and gussied it up in religious garb. By the 11th century, people were dressing up as saints, angels, and the occasional demon instead of spirits. Eventually, costumed children started tearing through town begging for food and money and singing a song or prayer in return — a practice called “souling.” But when did they start dressing up as Minions? Starting in the 19th century, souling turned to “guising,”which gave way to trick-or-treating in mid-20th- century America, and the costumes diversified. So put on some clown makeup and a big smile, scoop up a handful of sweets, and scare the living daylights out of ‘em— ‘tis the season!

Halloween itself is a kind of mishmash of four different cultural festivals of old: two Roman fêtes, which commemorated the dead and the goddess of fruit and trees (not at the same time); the Celtic Samuin or Samhain, a new year’s party thrown at the end of our summer; and the Catholic All Saint’s Day, designed to replace Samuin and divorce it from its pagan origins.

Long before there were young’uns on your porch dressed as Thanos with candy-filled pillowcases in hand, the Celts believed that Samuin marked an overlapping of the realms of the living and the dead. To trick the spirits leaking into our world, young

We are dedicated to your financial success. 4 •

973.335.9444