Campbell Wealth Management - November 2021

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Giving Thanks This Holiday Season Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed

The season of thanks and giving has arrived along with cool, crisp temperatures, pumpkin spice, and seasonal cheer. Thanksgiving commemorates the autumn harvest feast in 1621 between the Plymouth colonists and the Native Americans. Every year, Thanksgiving offers a time for us to get together and celebrate with family, friends, and loved ones while sharing our gratitude for life’s blessings. Looking back, before I got married, I celebrated Thanksgiving at my cousin’s house. After getting married, we would go back and forth between my parents’ house and my wife’s parents’ house, or alternate year after year. No matter what we did, whether it was having great conversation over dinner, watching football together, or taking a nap because we ate too much turkey, it was always a memorable time. Everyone contributes to the meal in my family. Even as a kid, I wanted to get involved, and I was always known for my sweet potato recipe or my dirt cake. Dirt cake didn’t taste like dirt; it tasted delicious. Comprised of Oreos, sour cream, and tons of sugar, the cake literally looked like dirt; I even put a fake plastic flower in it. This year, I’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving in Tucson, Arizona, where my mother, Erica, and stepfather, Adolph, live. My brother, Dan; his wife, Lisa; and their children will also be joining, along with my sister, Carmen. My wife, Kim, and kids, Connor, Carter, and Cody are excited for another great celebration.

This month, we also pay tribute to the men and women of the armed forces who made so many sacrifices for our freedoms. Veterans Day originally commemorated the end of World War I in 1918. It was celebrated on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month and was originally called Armistice Day. However, in 1954, Eisenhower renamed it as Veterans Day and celebrated veterans of all of America’s wars. It’s interesting to note that Great Britain, Australia, France, and Canada also celebrate it on or near Nov. 11, and Europe, Great Britain, and the Commonwealth countries observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11. Each year, Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place of more than 400,000 heroes, holds a memorial service. Without their fight, we wouldn’t have the freedoms and luxuries we have today. Not only did they fight for us, but many of them also made the ultimate sacrifice, and I am forever grateful for their service. It has been said that the more gratitude you have, the better experiences you have in life. There are so many ways to express appreciation. Some may use a gratitude journal that they complete each day to start their day out with a positive thought, others may meditate, and some may pray on it. In light of that, I want to share with you some of the things that I am grateful for.

acquaintances who have helped me in many ways throughout my years, and the talent that was handed down to me from my parents. My father taught me that I am able to fix anything, and I can say that he was not wrong. My mother taught me that anything you put your mind to is possible, which led to our vision of Campbell Wealth Management — helping people realize their many possibilities. I’m also thankful for our fabulous team at Campbell Wealth Management and the service we provide to our clients. Teamwork makes the dream work. Lastly, I am especially thankful for you, our incredible clients, and the amount of trust you place in us to help you realize your possibilities in retirement. From the Campbell Wealth Management family to yours, happy Thanksgiving!

Kelly Campbell

I’m grateful for my family, good health, good fortune, and the friends and

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Can Vitamins Be Customized?

Everyone knows it’s important to get their vitamins. But do people need the same amount of certain vitamins, or does it vary? Some researchers say it varies, so vitamin supplement companies, like monthly vitamin subscription service Care/of, customize their pill offers based on your personal health and/or goals. But do these services actually work? Since supplements aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, how do we know whether their packages contain the vitamins and minerals promised? Vitamins may not help as much as you think. Johns Hopkins researchers found that for many illnesses (especially heart-related), taking supplements didn’t make a big difference. One study involving 450,000 people found that

multivitamins did not reduce risk for heart disease or cancer. Another study tracking the mental functioning and multivitamin use of 5,947 men for 12 years found that multivitamins didn’t reduce risk for mental decline such as memory loss or slowed-down thinking, either. The only exception? Young women. Larry Appel, M.D., director of Johns Hopkins Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, says that supplemental folic acid for women of reproductive age may be helpful. “Folic acid prevents neural tube defects in babies when women take it before and during early pregnancy. That’s why multivitamins are recommended for young women.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends women of reproductive age to intake 400 micrograms of

folic acid daily, and the amount of iron in a multivitamin may be also beneficial.

But can customized vitamins make a difference? If you’re a young woman, or you have a

doctor’s orders to get a multivitamin for certain conditions or treatments, the bad news is that right now, hardly any customizable vitamins have a third-party certification for quality and accuracy. If the vitamin or brand doesn’t have ConsumerLab.com, NSF International, or U.S. Pharmacopeia certification, you simply can’t know what you’re getting. So, the best multivitamin is the one designed for your age group with third-party certification. Even if it’s a $10 bottle fromTarget, it’s likely more effective than what’s trending online.

Planning for a Bright, Tax- Responsible Retirement Taxes in Retirement

After retirement, financial security comes first and taxes play a huge role in the finances of your golden years. Your retirement savings are usually all “tax-advantaged” or pre-tax accounts, meaning that you will not pay taxes on the cash until you begin withdrawing it.

is setting aside. It is important to take advantage of this perk!

Set up a health savings account. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are similar to a personal savings account, but the funds can only be applied to health-related expenses. Funds left over in the account at the end of the year roll over, so they are never lost! HSAs have some great tax options to help optimize your tax planning. Maximize tax-advantaged savings. Based on your tax bracket, taxes will be different. Those in a lower tax bracket may want to focus on maxing out their Roth accounts while individuals in a higher tax bracket may wish to consider splitting their retirement savings between Roth and tax- deferred accounts to avoid the uncertainty of future tax rates.

Although pre-tax accounts are most common, there are other savings options. In the case of after-tax retirement accounts, the account owner pays taxes on any contributions made in that same tax year; thus, taxes aren’t due at the time of withdrawal. When preparing for your financial future, there are five steps one must take to ensure proper tax management. Plan ahead. Your retirement nest egg is greatly impacted by the time in which you begin saving. Early on, even if you are only saving in small amounts, your savings are still important. If you are still young, investing in risky areas such as stocks may be beneficial. Having returns that surpass inflation maintains purchasing power in

retirement. It is ideal to begin saving in your 20s, but it is NEVER too late.

Calculate your future spending needs. Evaluate your current spending habits and the changes that you expect to take place as you enter retirement. Take into account rent, mortgage, utilities, medical expenses, entertainment, and food. Depending on the taxes that will be incurred at retirement, your spending may require some adjustments. Try employee matching. Sometimes, employers offer either a full or partial match to aid in saving for retirement. Employer matching of 401(k) contributions means that the employer will contribute a certain amount toward a retirement savings account, based on how much the employee

For all of your retirement tax needs, we are here to help! Contact us today!

This is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as tax advice. Consult your tax advisor regarding your situation.

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Comparison Shop Like a Champ During the Holiday Season

The holiday season can be expensive. Sure, you might describe this time of year with less cynical words like “magical” or “warm,” but unfortunately, most stores don’t accept magic or warmth as legal tender. Whether it be for gifts or for holiday meals and treats, most people want to get the most for their money while saving their time and energy. That’s what makes comparison shopping in the age of technology so worthwhile. In case you didn’t already guess its meaning, “comparison shopping” is simply when you compare prices of the same or similar products at different stores or online retailers. You’ve probably done comparison shopping without knowing you were doing it. However, once you truly embrace the concept, you can increase your savings. Plus, by using the bevy of online price comparison

tools, you can do so without scrambling around to every store in town.

If you want to comparison shop like a champ this holiday season, here are a few general tips.

Be wary of markups. Black Friday can leave you feeling frenzied, and that’s not always when stores have their best deals. In fact, many of them mark up their prices (sometimes “discounting” them back to their regular price) in preparation for that day. It’s a good rule of thumb to be wary of massive “sales” at big retail locations. If you want to know where you can compare prices, take a look at any one of these apps: Google Shopping, PriceGrabber, Shopping. com, Idealo, Shopzilla, BuyVia, NowDiscount, ScanLife, or ShopSavvy.

The best deal isn’t always the lowest price. If you’re buying gifts online, be sure to take shipping costs into account. They might end up making the cheaper option more expensive in the end. You should also take a look at the return fees, in case these could drive the price up significantly. Look at the per unit price for food. If you’re buying groceries for Thanksgiving dinner, sometimes the item that’s more expensive at face value is actually cheaper per unit. That can mean you’ll save money overall by buying in bulk.

Wellness & Wisdom Series

Normal Aging vs. Dementia with Lindsey Vajpeyi Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 3 p.m.

To register, email us at [email protected]

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700 S. Washington St. Suite 220 Alexandria, Virginia 22314 (703) 535-5300 CampbellWealth.com

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CampbellWealth.com (703) 535-5300 330 John Carlyle St., Suite 400 Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Inside

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Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed

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Can Vitamins Be Customized?

Retirement Taxes

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Comparison Shop Like a Champ This Holiday Season

Upcoming Events

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Why You Should Visit New England for Thanksgiving

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.

Why You Should Visit New England During Your Thanksgiving Weekend

Last year, travel restrictions kept many families from gathering together in their homes for Thanksgiving dinner. This year, it appears that people will be able to travel freely to most locations. While a “destination Thanksgiving” might not be something you’ve ever considered, for some families, it can mean the perfect blend of quality fun and family time in an exciting new city. So, why not take advantage and bring your family to visit New England, the part of the country where Thanksgiving began? If you need more reasons than just the origin of a famous holiday, consider the scenery. If you’ve never visited New England in the fall, it’s something that every person should do at least once in their lives. The variety of colors on display in the trees throughout the quaint

downtowns and nearby forests is completely unique to that part of the country. There’s a reason that “visiting Boston in the fall” has become not only a popular vacation but also part of the American lexicon as well. As for what you could do when you’re in New England for your Thanksgiving weekend, there are a few popular destinations you just have to see for yourself. First and foremost among these are the Plimoth Patuxet Museums. When you visit, you’ll be transported back in time to one of the earliest settlements in the United States, where the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people shared the first Thanksgiving dinner.

downtowns of Ipswich, Sturbridge, or several other colonial era towns. You can also find tons

of fun shopping destinations in Beverly, Massachusetts. If you want your experience to be a little more rural, you can travel out to Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, or Woodstock, Vermont, to experience a true traditional Thanksgiving celebration at Billings Farm and Museum. Even though your family might not be used to traveling for Thanksgiving, how many opportunities will you have to visit Thanksgiving’s birthplace during the season? It’s the kind of vacation you don’t want to miss!

Other fun destinations in that immediate area also include wandering the quaint historic

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