Campbell Wealth Management - November 2018

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CampbellWealth.com • (703) 535-5300 • 330 John Carlyle St., Suite 600, Alexandria, Virginia 22314

C ontinuing all that talk about change from last month, I can report that things have started to settle down just a bit at Campbell Wealth Management. At the end of September, we completed our office migration into a brand-new space — and when I say "new," I really mean it. The office was so new that it wasn’t even finished yet. As a result, we had to move into an interim space while our final office space is finished up. I expect that we’ll move into that office by the end of December. Thankfully, it’s all a short shuffle away from our interim space. Why did we decide to make the move into a new office? After eight years at our last location, we felt a change was needed. Our lease was up, and we looked at our options. We had outgrown our previous office and knew we would need space to grow even more. Eventually, we plan to bring on new staff in order to offer more to you, our clients. We’re all very excited for the new space. If you haven’t been in to take a look, you are welcome to stop by when you’re in the area — 330 John Carlyle St. in Alexandria. In early October, after our move, we made another big change: We switched broker-dealers. We really wanted to upgrade our services, and our old broker-dealer relationship no longer fit our vision going forward. We’re now working with Madison Avenue Securities. The broker-dealer relationship represents a small part of our overall business. Even so, our previous broker-dealer was somewhat inhibiting in terms of what we could offer to clients. Madison Avenue Securities, on the other hand, is more in line with our business model and the people we serve. Change Is in the Autumn Air

In the coming months, many of you will likely notice lower expenses on some accounts. And soon, you’ll have the ability to see all of your accounts in one place, as I mentioned in previous newsletters. Through all of these changes, I want to extend a big thank-you to Betsy Hanson, Senior Operations Manager. She helped spearhead these changes and provided a lot of the oversight needed for the transition. Of course, I also want to thank our entire team for all of their help along the way and for their patience as we get ready for a new chapter. And to our clients, thank you, as well! You helped us grow to the point where we needed more space and upgraded services. Without you, we wouldn’t have come nearly this far. Thank you, again!

Kelly Campbell

P.S. Are you looking for even more money and retirement insight? Be sure to tune into “Right on Retirement Radio” every Sunday at 1 p.m. (or Saturday at 5 p.m., if there is a Redskins game) on WMAL 105.9 FM or AM 630. Every weekend, I chat about a number of retirement topics our clients and others face every day. Give it a listen, and be sure to tell your friends!

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An Attitude of Gratitude Should Last BeyondThanksgiving

Taking the time to acknowledge who and what you’re grateful for is a Thanksgiving tradition far more important than turkey or football. It’s the cornerstone of the holiday and the reason we feast together in the first place. But when you really think about it, should expressing our gratitude and appreciation for others be limited to one day every year? Of course not! Why Gratitude Matters Recognizing and acknowledging gratitude will help you take stock of the positive aspects of your life and dwell less on unhappy thoughts. Being grateful has also been linked to significant health benefits. According to gratitude expert and author Dr. Robert A. Emmons, “Preliminary findings suggest that those who regularly practice grateful thinking do reap emotional, physical, and interpersonal benefits. Adults who keep gratitude journals on a regular basis exercise more regularly, report fewer illness symptoms, feel better about their lives as a whole, and are more optimistic about the future.” How to Practice Gratitude In the above quotation from Dr. Emmons, he mentions the practice of keeping a gratitude journal. This activity is a great way to start seeing the world with a more positive, appreciative eye. As often as

you can, take a few minutes to write down the acts, people, and moments that you’re grateful

for. Some will be big, others small — but all will have an impact on your mood and bring a smile to your face. Before you know it, you’ll have an entire book full of good memories and warm feelings. While keeping a journal is great, there are other ways to go about cultivating and expressing gratitude. The easiest one is simply to say “Thanks” whenever you can. It may seem insignificant, but you’d be surprised what a difference it makes. When you approach the world with the perspective that every day is Thanksgiving, it’s only natural to be grateful. We all have moments when we want to curse the world, especially as we get older, and those experiences are perfectly normal. Just as frequently, though, we have moments that are worth celebrating, often with people who are worth appreciating. Which will you think about more? Foundation™ (COSF) has advanced from the simple idea of signing a pledge to a full-service organization that provides essential and critical one-on-one assistance to struggling service members, veterans, and their families (SMVF) who have the most complex needs. The Foundation is dedicated to leveraging the nation’s full spectrum of resources to ensure all members of these groups receive the support services they need and, through their collective sacrifice, have earned. Their Veteran and Caregiver Peer Navigators provide holistic and in-depth case coordination services to these deserving patriots regardless of geographic location or discharge status. COSF makes it easy to take that first step and demonstrate support for the millions of our service members, veterans, and their families, including those who have spent the past 17 years fighting two wars. Please visit the website to learn more and sign the Code of Support: www.codeofsupport.org –Karen & Bill Spracher

CODEOF SUPPORT FOUNDATION They Stood For Us; We Stand WithThem.

In 2010, retired Army Major General Alan B. Salisbury began working with a dedicated team of leaders to develop the “Code of Support” for our troops as a parallel document to the Military “Code of Conduct,”

in which service members pledge they are prepared to give their lives in defense of the

nation. The Code of Support is a set of six heartfelt commitments all Americans can make to give meaning to the words “support our troops.” MG Salisbury is also president of the West Point Alumni Glee Club. Bill Spracher (class of 1970 and a second tenor in the Club) and his wife, Karen, have been thrilled to watch as the Code of Support

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Why You Need an Estate Plan IT’S TIME TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FUTURE

C onstructing an estate plan is a crucial part of preparing for the future. But it’s not just your future; it’s the future of your family, your legacy, and beyond. Unfortunately for many families, estate planning is often something that gets sidelined. People don’t want to have frank discussions about the future, including conversations about money and death. While you may have an idea of how you want to pass your wealth and assets on to the next generation, it needs to be in writing and legally verified. When the future of your estate isn’t clearly defined, it can lead to serious legal complications —not to mention heartbreak and stress for family members.

You can appoint a trusted executor. You know who you trust and who is capable of handling your wealth when you cannot. When you appoint an executor, you know your wishes will be carried out to the letter. If you do not have an estate plan, and no executor is named, a judge will appoint someone to handle the process, and it may be someone you do not want handling your estate. Your heirs avoid probate. When a written will or plan is not in place or is not verifiable, it may enter probate. This process can cause all kinds of headaches for your heirs, including fees, extra paperwork, and possible court appearances. Having a legally sound plan in place does not guarantee probate will be completely avoided, but it does make the process significantly easier. Your heirs avoid a tax bomb. While your heirs may still have to deal with some taxes on an inheritance, the right planning can help them avoid paying excessive taxes. This includes estate taxes or income tax. When it comes down to it, it’s vital to have the estate-planning conversation with a wealth advisor or estate-planning professional. Get the details in writing, and set yourself and your heirs up for future financial success.

When you have an estate plan, you ensure the following:

You’re in control. Even when you’re gone, your wishes live on. You can choose heirs, as well as charities, and direct exactly where your wealth and assets go. This often includes setting up trusts to ease educational expenses for future generations.

Upcoming Events

SOCIAL SECURITY OPTIMIZATION Little Falls Library, Bethesda, MD Thursday, November 8 at 6:30 PM 5 PILLARS OF RETIREMENT DINNER SEMINAR (Invite a Friend Event)

2941 Restaurant, Falls Church, VA Tuesday, November 13 at 6:30 PM

ENDOF YEAR PLANNING Crowne Plaza, Alexandria, VA Wednesday, November 28 at 11:00 AM or Tuesday, December 4 at 6:30 PM To register for any of the upcoming events, please email us at [email protected] or call Carol at (571) 800-6373. Make sure to check out our website to learn about upcoming events: CampbellWealth.com/educational-resources/upcoming-events

Wreaths Across America

Alexandria National Cemetery Saturday, December 15th

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Change Is in the Autumn Air How to Give Thanks Year-Round Code of Support Foundation Do You Have an Estate Plan? Upcoming Events Save the Date! HowThanksgiving Became an Official Holiday!

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How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday SARAH HALE Securities offered only by duly registered individuals through Madison Avenue Securities, LLC (MAS), member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered only by duly registered individuals through Campbell Wealth Management, LLC (CWM), a Registered Investment Advisor. MAS and CWM are not affiliated entities.

Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays celebrated

editor, prolific writer of novels and poems, and author of the famous nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” which was first published in her 1830 collection entitled “Poems for Our Children.” In 1827, Hale began a campaign to makeThanksgiving a national holiday. For the next 36 years, she wrote numerous editorials and countless letters to state and federal officials expressing her desire that it gain official status. In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln finally declared it a national holiday, hoping that it would help heal the wounds of the country. Lincoln decided that the holiday would take place on the last Thursday of November. It was celebrated on that day until 1939, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt movedThanksgiving a week earlier in the hopes of increasing retail sales during the Great Depression. However, this plan was very unpopular, and in 1941, the president reluctantly signed a bill makingThanksgiving the fourthThursday in November. Without the efforts of Sarah Hale, we might not have the pleasure of theThanksgiving feast we know and love to this day. This year, give thanks for family, good food, and the resolve of one woman who recognized the importance of Thanksgiving as a national holiday.

throughout the United States. One of the first documentedThanksgiving celebrations took place in 1621 when Plymouth colonists andWampanoag Indians shared a feast together. But the banquet,

which celebrated the colonists’ first successful harvest, wasn’t just one large meal, nor did it last for only one day; in fact, the feast lasted for three days. In later years, Thanksgiving also lasted for longer than a single meal. During the time of the American Revolution, the Continental Congress chose several days throughout the year to celebrate giving thanks. Then, in 1789, George Washington made the U.S. national government’s first Thanksgiving proclamation. He used this to speak to his fellow American citizens about the Revolution’s satisfactory conclusion and encouraged them to show their thanks for the freedoms they gained. Thanksgiving became a national holiday more than 200 years after its first celebration. It gained this status largely due to the persistence of a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale. Hale was a successful magazine

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