Capital Advisory Group - April 2022

Capital Advisory Group - April 2022

119 Old State Rd., Ellisville, MO 63021 THE WEALTH ZONE PREPPING, PLANNING, AND BASEBALL ARE ON THE AGENDA April Has It All! CapitalAdvisoryGrp.com April 2022

We’re done! It’s official — as of April 15, we no longer have to worry about 2021 taxes (pending any extensions). That’s a cause for celebration! We’re not naive enough to think anyone enjoys this process, so let’s all take a few minutes to celebrate getting through another strange tax season relatively unscathed. However, we’re not completely done! You may no longer have to concern yourself with 2021’s taxes, but I would encourage you to consider tax planning for 2022. While everything is still fresh, examine what worked, what didn’t, what part of the process was difficult for you, and if there are ways in which you can adjust your process to ensure you keep more of your wealth. That’s where we come in. We can help you examine the 2021 tax season to identify gaps and successes. Let’s make a plan for 2022 to ensure it’s not too terrible come tax season in 2023. We could even call this planning event a “wrap party” if you want to have a little fun! It is BYOB, though. April also marks another important financial holiday: Financial Literacy Month. I know I’ve discussed how silly it is that we seem to have a day, week, or month for everything, but this is one holiday I fully support!

There’s just no easy way to say this, but many people are financially illiterate. This is a troubling issue because when you have a society that is ill-prepared to protect itself financially, save properly, and invest thoroughly, you create chronic problems that don’t allow for equitable opportunity. To combat this, I believe we should have more financial knowledge in high schools. Our kids should be taught how to file a tax return or how to even create a simple budget! Starting with the basics, like taxes, planning for retirement, and an overview of credit, could provide institutional knowledge for generations to come. Sadly, if this isn’t taught to teens, those who struggle with math or lack the confidence in math tend to avoid financial literacy later in life because it involves numbers. I’m here to tell you that’s not a reality you have to live in! Anyone can be financially literate and successful. We can help you with your tax planning, prep, and understanding, but there are other tools that can provide you with the resources you need to get started (or to introduce your children to this). Turn to Page 3 to learn more! Finally, I’d be remiss if I let April pass by without welcoming you to baseball season! I tend to be a postseason watcher of our St. Louis Cardinals, but the start of baseball season is always exciting, isn’t it? Even if you’re not a big fan of baseball, there is something to be said for a day at the ballpark or rooting for our hometown team. I know many of us don’t actually venture into downtown St. Louis, but there are few greater excuses to do so than to see the Cards play. So, congratulations on making it to Tax Day and baseball season. This is no small feat, so celebrate a little bit, plan for your future and take stock in what you need to know to make next year even better.

Have You Heard Us on the Radio Yet?

Tune in to KTRS 550 AM radio every Saturday from 3–4 p.m. as Jeff Zufall and Josh Gilbert discuss all things taxes and financial planning. From innovative strategies to optimize your benefits to breaking down proposed and current legislative measures, Jeff and Josh guide you through the most pressing topics in the financial world today.

If we can help you, just let us know how.

-Jeff Zufall

(636) 394-5524 1

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KETCHUP ONCE CURED ALL Not Just a Condiment

TAKE YOUR INTERNAL PEP TALKS UP A NOTCH With Tips From ‘Chatter’ You probably know about the benefits of positive self-talk, but have you mastered it? If not — or if you’ve never heard that phrase — “Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It” by Ethan Kross may be the most important book you read in 2022. Positive self-talk is something most of us engage in daily. It’s the “you can do this” nudge you give yourself to combat dark thoughts like “I don’t know what I’m doing” and “no one will take me seriously” before a big presentation. But few resources give you precise strategies for how to engage in positive self-talk effectively so you can make those negative impulses go away. “Chatter” is an exception to the rule, perhaps because it was written by an actual psychologist! Leaning heavily on scientific research and engaging case studies, Kross offers concrete tips for reducing negative thoughts (what he calls “chatter”) and giving your self-confidence a boost. One of his biggest tips, which drives a big chunk of the book, is the importance of creating “mental distance” during your internal pep talks. Mental distance is exactly what it sounds like — stepping back mentally from your worries and problems so you can gain a new perspective. Kross goes over several ways to do this, including trying to “look back” at your current situation from one, five, or 10 years later; comparing this hurdle to tougher ones in your life; and shifting your internal monologue to third person so you can try talking to yourself as

If you have a belly ache, one of the last things you’re likely to reach for is the ketchup bottle. But did you know that ketchup was once utilized as a cure for indigestion? In 1834, Dr. John Cook Bennett came up with a recipe for tomato ketchup that he advertised as a cure for indigestion, jaundice, diarrhea, and rheumatism, according to his research. The ketchup was even packed into pills and his research made its way into well- respected American newspapers. Before this, many Americans were under the impression that tomatoes were poisonous and avoided them like the plague. According to the Smithsonian magazine, in the 1700s, Europeans thought tomatoes were poisonous apples. Entrepreneur Alexander Miles discovered Bennett’s research and partnered with Bennett, calling the ketchup pill “extract of tomato.” The craze over the ketchup pills grew, and many other entrepreneurs began creating their own versions of the “extract of tomato” pills. Some versions didn’t contain any tomatoes at all and, instead, were filled with laxatives. Americans began believing these ketchup pills were the key to ultimate health. Scientists then began to look into Bennett’s research claims, and just when wild claims surfaced that the pills could even cure scurvy, a disease caused by a deficiency in vitamin C, and broken bones, the claims were dispelled and the ketchup pill craze died down by 1850. Modern research today shows that tomatoes contain the antioxidant lycopene, which is linked to reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease. They also are abundant sources of potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate. While Bennett’s research was exponentially exaggerated, we can say it wasn’t completely inaccurate.

if you were your own friend. With these strategies, we can transform our thoughts, rather than avoid them. Of course, those suggestions just scratch the surface of what’s offered in the book. Kross also goes over how to help your friends, colleagues, and employees eliminate chatter, and how mastering your inner voice will help you thrive under pressure. The magazine Inc. named “Chatter” one of the “4 Business Books That Will Accelerate Your Success In 2022” — don’t miss it.

Today, Heinz, the leader in the ketchup industry, sells 11 billion single-serve packets and over 650 million bottles annually.

So, would you like a ketchup pill with those fries?

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CapitalAdvisoryGrp.com

3 Things All Financially Literate People Know

Actually create a budget. A budget is a way of tracking your income compared to how much you spend. It allows you to examine the sneaky ways in which you may be losing money each month. Today, apps make it easier! You may try Mint, which syncs all your bank accounts, credit cards, and financial details together, providing you with a one-stop location for all your finances. Personal Capital is another app that has budgeting features, but it’s designed specifically for those who invest. Investing in your future. If you are not investing in your future, what are you doing with your money? It’s time to make your money work for you. About 1 in 4 Americans don’t have a retirement account, which means 25% of the population isn’t investing in their future. However, saving for retirement isn’t the only investment option you have. Diversifying where you store and invest your money can create a system in which you are paid simply for investing! Speak with a trusted financial advisor to learn more.

Financial Literacy Month provides a powerful reminder — especially when you consider the statistics. Only 57% of U.S. adults are considered financially literate, and when it comes to debt per capita, the U.S. is in the top four. Those are statistics we’d like to see changed.

By working with Capital Advisory Group, you already have a vested interest in protecting your financial legacy. Here are a few more ways those who are financially literate protect themselves. Create a payback method. You’re either a snowball or an avalanche. In the snowball method, you start by paying off the smallest loan first, and then, riding the high of doing so, you pay off the next smallest loan

and the next and the next! Slowly, you pay down your debt. In the avalanche method, you pay off the loan with the highest interest rate first, thereby lowering how much you accrue each month. Choose the method that works best for you to get the most stability out of your financial situation.

If your journey into improving your financial literacy prompts any tax-related questions, please contact our team today.

Achieving financial security and success doesn’t always have an easy answer. Our team at Capital Advisory Group is dedicated to helping you protect your wealth, and while doing so, you may have the following questions: • What are the rules when investing in cryptocurrency? • Should I retire during a high inflationary period? • Which form of investing is best for me — active or passive? • What do I need to know if I’m retiring this year? If you are curious about any of the above questions, please call Capital Advisory Group today at (636) 394-5524! Have Questions? We Have Answers!

CROSTINI WITH RICOTTA, PEAS, AND MINT Inspired by AheadOfThyme.com

Ingredients

• 1 French baguette, sliced • 4 tbsp olive oil, divided • 1 tbsp and 1 tsp salt, divided • 1 lb English peas, fresh or frozen

• 2 garlic cloves, smashed • 1 lb fresh ricotta cheese • Fresh mint leaves, sliced • Sea salt, to taste • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. On a large baking sheet, place baguette slices. Drizzle with 2 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle with 1 tbsp of salt. Bake for about 7 minutes, but do not brown. 3. In a medium pot, add water and 1 tsp salt, then bring to a boil. Add peas and cook for 3 minutes. Drain peas and place them in ice bath. Cool for several minutes before draining. 4. In a medium skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté drained peas with garlic until cooked through. The peas should still be firm, not mushy. 5. On a large platter, layer crostini with ricotta, peas, and a few slices of fresh mint. 6. Season each crostini with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

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(636) 394-5524

Inspired by GoodHousekeeping.com

119 Old State Rd. Ellisville, MO 63021 CapitalAdvisoryGrp.com

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ISSUE INSIDE THIS

page 1

Jeff’s Big Reminder for April: Prep!

page 2

The Ketchup Pill Craze

‘Chatter:’Your Guide to Thriving Under Pressure

page 2

page 3

Can You Pass This Financial Literacy Test?

page 3

Crostini With Ricotta, Peas, and Mint

page 4

3 Organizations That Need Your Time!

Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC, (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC, (Kestra AS) an affiliate of Kestra IS. Capital Advisory Group, Inc. is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS. Neither Kestra IS or Kestra AS provide legal or tax advice and are not certified public accounting firms. KestraFinancial.com/disclosures

Get Volunteering, St. Louis! LET’S MAKE REAL CHANGE TODAY

Mission: St. Louis Website: MissionStL.org

We love St. Louis! That’s why, in the spirit of Volunteer Day on April 20, we encourage you to show your community a little love by helping a local organization. Here are a few groups that could use your support.

Volunteers can help in a number of ways: packing, cooking, re-stocking, and more. Sign up at FoodOutreach.VolunteerHub.com .

Like Almost Home, Mission: St. Louis is dedicated to providing support and resources to foster greater social and economic opportunities for the St. Louis community. Through programming and educational opportunities, Mission: St. Louis empowers the community as a whole. Children are given access to educational programs, adults have the opportunity to extend their expertise with job resources, and older adults can receive affordable home repairs. With so many avenues for change, your volunteer opportunities are endless. Learn more online.

Almost Home Website: AlmostHomeStL.org

Food Outreach Website: FoodOutreach.org

Support young moms through Almost Home! The nonprofit was created as a resource to help young mothers obtain the support they need to raise their babies and create a strong, stable future for themselves and their families. The group partners with other nonprofits, including the United Way and the St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund, to provide GED programming, access to low-income housing, job support, child care guidance, and parent coaching. Volunteers can teach or join events to provide support. Visit Almost Home’s website to learn more.

In 1988, a group of people decided to host meals out of their church’s kitchen for their seven friends living with HIV/AIDS. That mission grew into a nonprofit devoted to serving those with HIV/AIDS and cancer. Food Outreach is designed to provide nutritious, health-conscious meals to some of our most vulnerable populations battling these ailments, regardless of their age. If food really is fuel, then Food Outreach is dedicated to serving those who truly need this support.

You can find more opportunities online at VolunteerMatch.org.

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