Capital Advisory Group - November 2020

Capital Advisory Group - November 2020

THE WEALTH ZONE

NOV 2020

119 Old State Rd., Ellisville, MO 63021

CapitalAdvisoryGrp.com

The Season of Gratitude WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR IN 2020?

You don’t need us to tell you that it’s been a strange year. It seems that every passing month brought along a new set of challenges. However, despite the challenges and setbacks many people faced this year, there are still many things to be thankful for. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this month, it’s important to reflect on the good that came from this year. What are you grateful for? What brought you joy? We’re grateful for our many clients. We work with clients who are nearing or at retirement, but we also work with many folks who are dealing with tax issues. They may have received a letter or visit from the IRS. In other words, when they call us, they may already be in a challenging situation. They are stressed out and don’t know where to turn for answers. This year was full of many tax challenges. Going into next year, there will be even more tax challenges. It all comes back to the government programs that went into effect temporarily as our country dealt with the pandemic. It was like trying to manage your finances while riding a roller coaster through a storm. We’re grateful for every client who comes to us and says, “I need help.” This means we can go to work to put them on the right path — and we can ease their stress so they can finally sleep better at night.

A good night’s rest is another great way to reduce and manage stress — of course, you just have to solve the problem that’s preventing you from getting a restful night of sleep. We’re grateful for our team at Capital Advisory Group. Everyone here serves an important role — and these are roles that all come back to helping clients get the most out of the services we provide, whether it’s retirement planning or tax planning. We have a great group of people who are dedicated to creating an exceptional client experience. As we approach Thanksgiving, we encourage you to think about what went well this year. Answer that all-important question of the season: What are you grateful for? It’s an important question to answer because the secret to happiness might actually be found in gratitude. What does that mean? A greater understanding of gratitude and what it means can be found in the book “59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot” by Richard Wiseman. In the book, Wiseman examines a study that focused on three groups of people. Over a set period of time, the three groups wrote in journals. The first group wrote what they were grateful for, the second wrote what annoyed them, and the third just reviewed the week in neutral terms.

The results of the experiment were clear. The group that wrote about what they were grateful for were noticeably happier, more optimistic, and overall healthier than the other groups. This is a great experiment to try at home. At least once a week, write down a list of five things you are grateful for. At the same time, rein in your desires. You may find yourself achieving a new level of happiness. This gives you an opportunity to focus on what really matters, like family, friends, and the important people in your life. Focusing on what really matters — whatever that may mean for you — can change your entire outlook on life. Give it a try and see what happens. In the meantime, we wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving and we’ll talk again soon.

-John and Jeff Zufall

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WITH BRENÉ BROWN’S BESTSELLING BOOK ‘Dare to Lead’ How many leaders do you know who will admit to their mistakes openly and honestly to their team? How many leaders have you heard ask their team for direction? How many leaders are willing to step aside so someone else can shine? Chances are if you know that leader — or if you are that leader — then you understand the future of leadership, according to author, researcher, and teacher Brené Brown, Ph.D., author of “Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.” In this book, Brown details her seven years researching and gaining a better understanding of leadership. She interviewed business leaders at both small and large companies, asking questions that revealed what great leadership looks like. Together with her research team, she learned why certain workspaces thrive and grow while others, with seemingly just as powerful of ideas, wither and die. And it all boiled down to one thing, Brown says: courage. In “Dare to Lead,” Brown examines the four pillars of courageous leadership and how business leaders today can practice and perfect it. Brown teaches the four pillars through her consulting work and has seen radical changes in organizations that practice courageous leadership. Brown offers examples — from well-known CEOs and within her own business — to walk readers through real- life applications of courage and how to create stronger teams through vulnerability.

When COVID-19 struck the U.S., travel restrictions had people canceling their vacation plans left and right. This meant that many would-be vacationers had to find some getaways a little closer to home — namely, camping trips and their fancier cousin, glamping trips. If you haven’t heard of “glamping” before, it’s essentially glamorous camping. You have access to the beautiful, rugged outdoors as well as all the comforts of home. While traditional winter camping certainly wouldn’t be a relaxing getaway for most people, glamping during the winter months can give you access to the peace of the outdoors like you’ve never experienced before without so much as a shiver or sniffle. If you’ve decided to make glamping your go-to method of escape from the cabin fever that besets us all during the cold, dark winter days, you might be thinking: How can I make sure I have the best glamping experience possible? Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks you can apply to any glamping location to ensure that your time away from home is just as relaxing as that Caribbean cruise would have been. Step 1: Decide which kind of lodging you want. Glamping shelters come in all shapes and sizes depending on the level of comfort you desire on your trip. The most rugged glamping lodgings usually still include a wood-burning stove and a nice comfy bed, whether you opt for a log cabin or a specialized glamping tent (sometimes called a yurt). However, some of the more posh options include amenities like fresh linens, private bathrooms and showers, fully stocked kitchenettes, and even TVs. Step 2: Decide how you want to spend your time. Obviously, the point of glamping is to spend time in the great outdoors with winter activities, such as snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and other fun snow activities. However, glamping really shines during the frigid evenings. You can retreat indoors, throw some logs in the stove, prepare some hot cocoa or cider, and just watch the snowfall from your window. There’s no right or wrong way to glamp. All that matters is spending time in the wilderness with all the comforts of home — all while feeling refreshed and at peace. Is ‘Glamping’ the Perfect Winter Getaway? CABIN FEVER HAS NEVER BEEN SO STYLISH

Brown exposes how business cultures that don’t practice vulnerability are ineffective as a result. She theorizes that often, these workspaces are filled with fear, uncertainty, and scarcity. To remove these negative traits, Brown offers leaders a road map to build their courage while practicing vulnerability and creating happier work environments.

Brown has spent the past two decades researching and breaking down emotional concepts into tangible goals for her readers and followers. She is the owner of The Daring Way, a consulting firm that helps businesses develop vulnerability in leadership and the workplace. She is also the host of the podcast “Unlocking Us” and has one of the most-watched videos of all time, “The Power of Vulnerability.” You can learn more about Brown’s work and find “Dare to Lead” at BreneBrown.com.

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Humans are an inventive bunch. In the last century alone, we’ve completely transformed our society with all kinds of technological marvels, from automobiles to all things entertainment. But there’s one area where we really stand out: flight. November is Aviation History Month! It’s a month that celebrates the many achievements of flight, from Leonardo da Vinci's early concepts to the moon landing — and everything in between. The Wright Brothers alone conducted thousands of experiments and attempts. It was on Dec. 17, 1903, that they made their most important series of flights, including the 59-second flight that went down in history. As we’ve developed flight technology over the years, it’s come with many other things — including the checklist. Pilots, aviators, and everyone involved in the flight process rely on checklists. It’s all about getting from Point A to Point B as safely as possible. Checklists have helped make flying one of the safest forms of transportation on the planet. Soaring to Success CHECKLISTS ARE A LIFESAVER

Checklists can make your life much easier — and we encourage them! For instance, as the next tax season approaches, it’s good to have a tax- planning checklist. It might look something like this: • Gather documents (last year’s tax return, income documents, financial statements, etc.). • Gather deduction information (Did you make any charitable donations this year? You may be eligible for a $300 charitable deduction thanks to the CARES Act. However, you must itemize your deductions to qualify. Other potential deductions include

education costs, mortgage interest, child care, etc.). • Review investment accounts and retirement plans. • Review interest and dividends.

Of course, how detailed you want it is up to you. The more detailed it is, the more thorough you can be. If you aren’t sure what to include in your tax-planning checklist, a retirement-planning checklist, or any checklist related to your financial situation, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re more than happy to help you develop a checklist that suits your needs so you can best prepare for what you need to do next.

TAKE A BREAK

Cinnamon-Spiced CANDIED SWEET POTATOES

These candied sweet potatoes will make your family beg for more! Inspired by FoodAndWine.com

Ingredients

Directions

• 4 lbs orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces, then cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed • 1 tbsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp ground cloves • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed • 4 (2-inch) cinnamon sticks

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Place sweet potato wedges in a 4-quart baking dish. 3. Sprinkle sugar, salt, and cloves over sweet potatoes. 4. Dot with butter and place cinnamon sticks around sweet potatoes. 5. Bake, turning every 15 minutes, until sweet potatoes are tender and the liquid is syrupy, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. 6. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. 7. Discard cinnamon sticks and serve.

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

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What Are You Grateful for This Year?

page 1

Researcher Brené Brown Helps Leaders Find

page 2

Their Vulnerability — and Succeed

Is ‘Glamping’ the Perfect Winter Getaway?

page 2

How Often Do You Rely on Checklists?

page 3

Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes

page 3

How’s Your Blood Pressure?

page 4

IN CONTROL 2 Ways to Manage Stress (and Lower Your Blood Pressure) During a Stressful Year

Nov. 4 is Check Your Blood Pressure Day. It’s a day that serves as a reminder to, well, check your blood pressure! As we get older, monitoring your blood pressure is important, but it’s also important to consider what influences your blood pressure. A common influencer is stress. Stress elevates blood pressure. When we’re stressed for extended periods of time, it can have a detrimental effect on our heart health. That is to say, the more stressed we are, the more at risk we are to develop heart disease or have a heart attack or stroke — all things we want to avoid. What causes stress? For many people, it can be traced to outside sources or something that is beyond our control. This year was full of stressors, from the pandemic to the election. It seems that everywhere we turn, there’s something waiting to cause us stress. How do you manage stress? One of the best ways to manage stress is to focus on what really matters (which we talk about more in this month’s cover article) and what you have direct control over. The No. 1 thing you have control over is yourself! Here are ways you can take control of your stress right now.

Make lists. Make daily, weekly, and monthly lists (read more about that on Page 3!). This gives you something tangible to work with and brings what you need to do into clearer focus. As you check off each item, it brings you a higher level of satisfaction versus doing a task with no visible record. This feeling of satisfaction helps override feelings of stress. The more you accomplish on your list, the better you’ll feel.

Get moving. The importance of exercise cannot be understated. Not only does it help keep you in shape, but it also reduces stress and helps manage feelings of frustration and anxiety. Plus, it gives you something else to focus on. The hard part is making it a habit. Set aside 30 minutes a day to move and you’ll be feeling better in no time.

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