Capital Advisory Group - November 2021

Capital Advisory Group - November 2021

119 Old State Rd., Ellisville, MO 63021 THE WEALTH ZONE Plus, I’mWriting a New Book! PRACTICING GRATITUDE CapitalAdvisoryGrp.com November 2021

I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. My family, my clients, my business, and the opportunities I have are all things I am most appreciative of this season, but November also reminds me that I have another reason to be thankful. November boasts Veterans Day. This holiday commemorates the actions and sacrifices of our nation’s military service people for their commitment to our country. Without their efforts and dedication, the freedoms we enjoy today would not exist, and many of the things we are most grateful for wouldn’t be possible. Thank you, veterans — and your families — for your service. Thanksgiving and Veterans Day are poignant reminders that we should never take what we have for granted. Gratitude is a powerful tool that should be practiced year-round, but I know for many of us, this isn’t always the case. (I can be guilty of this!) However, when we do so, we are able to approach life with a healthier mindset. It’s a great way to start or end your day! Practicing gratitude is like any habit. You have to keep trying to do it in order for it to stick. My best advice is to incorporate gratitude into a routine. Make it part of your morning coffee, or check off a few items you’re grateful for as you get ready for bed. By doing so, you can instill gratitude as a habit rather 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.

than a one-off feeling you express in moments of happiness. Get used to practicing gratitude during difficult or mundane times. It’s worth it. November also has another one of those strange holidays called National Novel Writing Month. (Seriously, who is coming up with this stuff?!) While I’ve never written a novel, I have co- authored a book. Strangely enough, it started out as a joke! I was laughing about something with a few friends, when someone said, “You need to write about that!” After the laughter wore off, I realized the idea wasn’t half bad. That was the start of “Keep What’s Yours.” It wasn’t an easy process, but I am proud of the final result. I believe the advice and tactics we highlight in the book have helped a lot of people find financial freedom and tax-planning success, and that’s all you can ever hope for when creating a book like that. However, I’m not done yet! This is the perfect month to announce that I have started working on another version of “Keep What’s Yours.” With the federal government’s recent try for new tax codes, I figured it was time we provide useful updates to our ideas in “Keep What’s Yours.” While we are still uncertain as to what these new tax codes will look like finalized — which means the book won’t be complete for a long time — I know this book can be a valuable resource to those who need it. This November, I hope you take a few moments to practice gratitude, thank a veteran, and remember the blessings you have in your life. Who knows? When you start writing down what you’re most grateful for, you just might find you have the makings of the next great novel.

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Jeff Zufall

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By now, you should have an idea of what you want your business to achieve in 2022, but have you considered how you will grow during that year — and the impact that could have on your business? Often, entrepreneurs and business leaders take on the identity of their companies, but in order to personally thrive and see their companies take off, they have to grow right alongside it. 3 GOALS EVERY ENTREPRENEUR NEEDS IN 2022 To do so, consider these goals all entrepreneurs must focus on at some point in their careers. Goal No. 1: Get a Life You are more than the company you started. Plus, having hobbies or personal interests outside of your work can help you excel in work. It allows your brain to grow in new ways, sparking fresh ideas and perspectives. Consider activities that you’re interested in learning more about — like painting, podcasting, reading, or running — and get started. Maybe you’ll fail, but just keep trying! You may find a new activity that brings you the joy you need. Goal No. 2: Save More Many of the dimes you earn as a business owner go back into the company, but don’t forget to consider your future. Is your retirement plan in order? Do you have a plan should your company need to close? Will your family be secure? Consider these questions and hire a trusted financial advisor who can help you find personal investment success. Goal No. 3: Meet New People Becoming inundated by daily, menial tasks can make us miss opportunities. This is where meeting new people can be so valuable! By doing so, you create a network of people who have different experiences than your own. They can help you see beyond your biases and discover a new path. Who knows? You just might find the next great venture for your company!

FOOTBALL AND THANKSGIVING: A MATCH MADE IN MARKETING HEAVEN Last year, 30.3 million people tuned in to watch the NFL’s Thanksgiving showdown between the Washington Football Team and the Dallas Cowboys. For those Americans (and probably for you if you’re reading this article), football is as essential to Thanksgiving as turkey and stuffing — but why? As it turns out, there are two answers to that question. The first is that games have been played on the holiday for almost as long as it has officially existed. Thanksgiving became a holiday in 1863, and just six years later, the third American football game in history was played on it.

According to SB Nation, the Young America Cricket Club and the Germantown Cricket Club faced off in that inaugural Thanksgiving game in Philadelphia, and football has been played on Thanksgiving pretty much ever since! When the NFL was founded in 1920, the Thanksgiving game was official from the get-go.

The second reason we watch football on Thanksgiving is more about money than tradition. In 1934, a Detroit Lions coach, George A. Richards, decided that in order to attract more fans, his team would make a point to always play on Thanksgiving when most people were off work. To sweeten the pot, he committed his radio station (an affiliate of the NBC Blue Network) to broadcasting the Thanksgiving game live on 94 different stations across America. This idea was a hit from day one! According to Sporting News, the long-unloved Lions “not only sold out the stadium, they also had to turn people away at the gates.” In 1966, the Dallas Cowboys signed on to play every Thanksgiving, too, for similar publicity reasons. Since those early days, football-themed traditions have flourished in American families. Apart from watching games on TV, one of the most popular is organizing a pre-turkey game of family touch football a la the sitcom "Friends." (Its famed episode “The One With the Football” aired Nov. 21, 1996.) If you’ve never organized a game, this could be your year! To get started, Google “Scott’s Family-Friendly Touch Football” and click the first link.

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TAX CHANGES ARE COMING

And You Need to Prepare Now!

Nobody likes paying taxes. There — we admitted it.

up for alerts that notify you whenever a story about “tax changes” or “tax changes for 2022” is published, and

Throughout the course of human history, no topic has been as politicized and hotly contested as paying taxes. More specifically, people argue about how much they should pay in taxes. No matter what side of the aisle you land on in this argument, we can all agree that taxes can be a powerful means of fueling societal growth, yet this benefit is often overshadowed by arguments either for or against whichever president makes tax changes. All of this is to say that there will be tax changes coming in 2022, because basic mathematics show the need for tax changes. It’s not partisan; it’s fact. And your discomfort or anger over potential changes should not cause you to ignore them! Currently, the Biden administration and Congress are still hashing out what these changes will look like, but there are two ways you can stay ahead of the biggest and most impactful changes. Sign Up for News Alerts While you have to be mindful of which news outlets you trust, signing up for news alerts — or Google alerts — will allow you to follow current projections and changes as they occur in real time. Simply sign

do your own research to determine how this news will impact you. By doing so, you can gain a greater understanding of what’s happening and why, allowing you to plan with knowledge.

Tax Plan Early and Often Regular tax planning is one of the smartest ways to protect yourself every tax season, but when we’re in a year of tax changes, it’s vital that this becomes a quarterly habit. Our team at Capital Advisory Group can help you examine your progress and needs each quarter to determine what adjustments need to be made to ensure you keep more of your money and don’t get burned by a last-minute tax code change.

Much like taxes themselves, tax code changes are inevitable. Get ahead of the wave and start preparing for the 2022 tax changes today.

TAKE A BREAK

Easy Pumpkin Brownies Inspired by TheCookieRookie.com

Ingredients

• 1 box brownie mix, plus other ingredients listed on box • 1/2 cup chocolate chips

• 1/2 can pumpkin purée • 6 oz cream cheese, softened • 3 tbsp sugar • 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions

1. Preheat the oven as directed on the brownie box, then make the brownie mix. Fold in chocolate chips. 2. In a medium bowl, combine pumpkin purée, cream cheese, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. 3. Choose your pan as directed on the brownie box. Grease it if needed. 4. Pour half of the brownie mix into the pan and spread evenly.

5. Add the pumpkin mixture to the pan, evenly or in a pattern. Cover with the rest of the brownie mix and spread evenly. 6. Bake as directed on the brownie box, adding 10 minutes to account for the pumpkin. Test for doneness, and when your toothpick comes out clean, cool and enjoy!

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Inspired by TheKitchn.com

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What Do Veterans, Gratitude, and Books Have in Common? Football and Thanksgiving: A Match Made in Marketing Heaven

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3 Personal Goals to Make 2022 Better

Don’t Avoid It — Prep for Tax Law Changes Today!

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Roasted Turkey

Fry Safe: 3 Tips for Safely Deep-Frying a Turkey

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For many, the taste of a fried turkey is a tradition that can’t be beat, but many inexperienced chefs forgo safety for the sake of ease when frying a turkey. Don’t be that person! Instead, create a juicy fried turkey and stay safe this Thanksgiving with these tips. Step 1: Set Up Your Space Turkey frying should be a strictly outdoor activity. Set your fryer on a flat surface and never leave it unattended while it’s on. It’s also important that your fryer is a safe distance from your house, children, and pets, and try to avoid placing it on concrete. (Want proof? Just ask Jeff about his Thanksgiving stain on a then-new patio.) And before you fill it with oil and turn it on, fill your fryer with water and place the turkey inside it. This will give you an idea of how much oil you really need to safely fry. Step 2: Mind Your Turkey Frying a turkey is not the same as baking a turkey. (Read that again.) For starters, you

will have to remove the giblets and other packaging stuffed in your turkey no matter how you prepare it, but do not stuff your bird with stuffing (or dressing, as some call it) when frying it. This just won’t work! And this next tip is vitally important: Only fry a completely thawed turkey! If a turkey is partially frozen and placed in hot oil, the water that’s released in the oil could cause a fire or oil spill. Step 3: Be Prepared for Disaster We’re not talking about over-salting your bird. When you’re working with hot oil — or with any hot food or device in the kitchen — accidents can happen. In these scenarios, it’s important to be prepared. For frying a turkey, your go-to safety tool has to be the fire blanket. Water and regular fire extinguishers alone will not put out oil fires. These fires have to be snuffed out completely with a blanket. Keep one nearby just in case!

Tips for Safely Frying Your Thanksgiving Turkey

Get more turkey-frying tips at FoodNetwork.com. Enjoy!

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