Hamilton Insurance Group - Quarter 3 2022

Hamilton Insurance Group - Quarter 3 2022

THE SILVER LINING To Your Life & Health

770-744-1855

I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU!

For Your Insight and Trust

Not long ago, my daughter

has helped me become a better father. For that, I couldn’t be more grateful. One client told me, “Duane, you’ve helped me with my insurance, I’m grateful for you. Can I share some insight about families with you?” Of course, I was intrigued so I let her continue. She began to tell me about her daughter who was in her 30s and was jumping from relationship to relationship. This woman had divorced her former husband when this daughter was 12, and she felt her daughter was still trying to fill the hole her father left. My client told me it didn’t matter if things got difficult with my wife in the future — I needed to do everything in my power to stay in the same house as my children so they had a strong father figure. That advice really stuck with me. I have another client named Linda who is in the acting industry and always gives me philosophical things to think about during our conversations. At one point, I had hired a new assistant who was good at what he did but was unsure of himself. Linda asked me to share with him some thoughts from “The Complete Works of Florence Scovel Shinn.” I ended up reading the book myself, and it profoundly altered my approach to personal growth and spiritual exploration. That book alone provided me with many life lessons. I am beyond appreciative of my clients for all they have done for me.

Ryan Marie Hamilton reached a major milestone in her life when she walked across the stage at her high school graduation. Last year, I informed you all that my son had graduated from Henry Grady High School as a member of their final graduating class. This year, my daughter was part of the first graduating class at Midtown High. Technically, they went to the same school, but the name changed between their graduations. Ryan graduated with a 4.4 GPA, and I couldn’t be prouder of her. Ryan actually finished high school last year but had a few classes left that she completed at Georgia State. In the fall, she will be attending Duke University, but we’re still unsure if she will be considered a freshman or sophomore. She’s taken classes for college credit here in Georgia, but we are not sure how many will transfer over to a North Carolina university. During this exciting time in our lives, I have taken a moment to sit back and reflect on my journey. It doesn’t take me long to realize that it’s because of you all that I’ve been able to be there for my family to provide them with what they need. My clients have allowed me to financially support my family, but I’ve also had a few clients give valuable advice about parenting that

You all have shared some incredible knowledge while trusting me to help with your insurance needs. I’m truly blessed to have such amazing clients. I would be remiss if I failed to thank my wife for being patient with me throughout this journey. She has always been supportive even when things weren’t easy, and there were certainly times when I was too hard- headed in my ways. But through everything, she has been by my side supporting our family through whatever challenges we faced. I also want to thank my older sister and brother who helped out when ends didn’t meet. As we celebrate Ryan’s graduation and look toward the future, I’m simply in awe of the support my family has received over the years. I want to thank each of you for being a client and sharing your wisdom with me!

–Duane Hamilton

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Have you heard? There’s a new trend for pre-retirees: test-driving retirement destinations, just like new cars! Thanks to remote work, many folks in their 50s and 60s can spend weeks or months immersing themselves in potential retirement destinations. With a long-term rental or RV (and good Wi-Fi), you can soak up a place’s culture, weather, and way of life. This strategy worked perfectly for Rutgers professor Barbara O’Neill. According to AARP, O’Neill left her home in New Jersey to test-drive the community of Ocala, Florida, several times over three years. She spent The Pros and Cons of Long-Term Stays ‘Test-Drive’ Your Retirement Spot

nine months there on sabbatical and working remotely before falling in love with Florida and buying a home. Of course, that doesn’t mean test- driving retirement is right for you. The Pros • You’ll experience the perks and pitfalls of your retirement spot. A Google search of “Palm Beach, Florida” can give you a bulleted list of the city’s pros and cons, but it can’t let you experience them. Is the coffee actually good? Is the humidity annoying or just downright unbearable? You’ll only know if you make the trip yourself. • You’ll see past the “vacation bubble.” As one wealth manager told AARP, “When you’re living there full time, it’s a different lifestyle than when you’re on vacation.” You’ll find out for sure if your retirement spot is right for you. • You’ll build confidence.

The Cons • Test-driving is expensive. Airline tickets and gas can be pricey and so can testing all of the “experiences” of a new place like restaurants and excursions. If travel isn’t in your budget, this strategy may not be for you — yet. flexibility. If you or your spouse has a career where remote work isn’t an option, test driving may not be feasible. Instead, consider waiting for retirement, then using an RV to visit multiple locations before buying a home. If you think test-driving your retirement is for you, schedule several extended stays in different seasons (Airbnb and Vrbo are your best friends). Consider your spouse’s reaction, the weather, cost of living, tax situation, health care options, and distance from family. Ultimately, getting ready for retirement should be fun, not stressful! • Not everyone has work

Put That Coffee Away! How to Naturally Boost Your Energy

It doesn’t matter if you’re a retired senior hitting the golf course or a college student trying to get through your studies — we all have moments when we feel like we could use more energy. For some, this feeling only occurs once in a blue moon, but others feel like they have lapses in their energy levels every single day. It can be quite discouraging to feel your energy drain each day, but there comes a point when an extra cup of coffee or energy drink doesn’t pick you up anymore. It can leave you wondering what to do next. Thankfully, there are some easy things we can do each day to help boost our energy levels on a regular basis. If you feel like you could use a little more pep in your step, try giving some of these tactics a try.

Stay hydrated. When people feel drained of energy, they’re quick to grab a coffee or soda. While those drinks can give you a quick boost, they will leave you feeling more drained and maybe even more dehydrated than before. Instead, try to drink more water. One of the most common symptoms of dehydration is sluggishness and fatigue. If you’re feeling devoid of energy on a daily basis, put the sugary drinks away and consume more water. You’ll gain more energy while also helping to improve your mental and physical well-being. Watch what you eat. Our energy level is directly related to our diets. Studies have shown that eating breakfast can lead to higher levels of energy and a better mood throughout the day. If you’re skipping

breakfast or any other meal, you are only hurting yourself. Make sure you leave time so you can enjoy three meals a day. You can also introduce nuts like almonds and cashews, grains, and fish to your diet to increase your magnesium intake, which will provide you with more energy. Exercise every day. It might sound counterproductive to exercise when you’re struggling to maintain your energy levels but going for a walk or doing other small exercises can actually give you a boost. Exercise will also help you sleep better so you can expect to be more energized during the next day as well.

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H ow T raffic V iolations A ffect Y our I nsurance R ates

It’s fairly well known that if you get pulled over while speeding in Georgia, you will be issued a ticket, but did you know you will also get points on your driver’s license? License points allow officials to keep track of reckless drivers, so any time you get a ticket, you will also get points on your license. Both those points and tickets can have a direct impact on your insurance rates, which means you need to drive safely or you will be paying more to your insurance company. If you get 15 points on your driving record within a span of 24 months, your license will be suspended. Insurance companies usually don’t pay attention to license points as they use their own point system whenever you are charged with a violation. When you get a ticket and receive points on your license, you are warning your insurance company you’re not a safe driver. They will think it’s a risk to provide you with an insurance policy, so they might raise your rate or terminate your coverage altogether if you continually get driving violations.

Points stay on your driving record for two

years. It’s important to keep track of when the points went on your record and when they’ll come off so you can try to save on your insurance rates. That being said, insurance companies usually use their own point system where more severe charges equal higher point totals. So, if you were to get a ticket for a severe violation, even though the points drop off your license within two years, the insurance company might take more time before they lower your rates. In some instances, you might be able to avoid points on your license by contesting the ticket or by completing a defensive driving course to prove you can drive safely. The best way to avoid getting license or insurance points is to drive in a safe and legal manner.

TAKE A BREAK

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1201 Peachtree Street NE Building 400, Suite 100 Atlanta, GA 30361

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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Thankful for My Clients!

Should You ‘Test-Drive’ Your Retirement? 3 Ways to Naturally Boost Your Energy How Traffic Violations Affect Your Insurance Rates Go Ryan!

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Naturally Improve Your Digestive Health

5 Ways to Naturally Improve the Health of Your Stomach TIME FOR A GUT CHECK

If you’ve ever attended an event with older adults, digestion is bound to come up at some point! As we age, our guts sometimes have a difficult time keeping up, causing stomach issues and complications. When people talk about having a “healthy gut,” they are talking about having a good balance of beneficial bacteria and microbes within their digestive tract. Here are some natural ways to keep things healthy and moving along properly. Eat foods rich in fiber. Fiber, found naturally in many foods, including sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, fennel, beans, broccoli, berries, and whole grains, stimulates the growth of the good bacteria that keeps your gut performing in a healthy way. Fiber is also a great way to relieve or prevent constipation!

Get moving. Exercising regularly helps to ensure that everything else in your digestive system moves along regularly, too! Research shows that regular exercise promotes the growth of different types of beneficial bacteria within both animal and human digestive systems. Reduce stress levels. Did you know that when you’re stressed out, your mental state is affected as well as your stomach and gut, as they are intimately connected? By keeping your cortisol levels low, you can eliminate and prevent some uncomfortable gastrointestinal complications. Stress, research suggests, increases the risk of irritable bowel syndrome, so managing stress can lead to better intestinal health.

Drink plenty of water. Hydration plays a key role in both softening and bulking up stools, making them easier to pass through the digestive system. It should be noted that liquids that contain caffeine, such as coffee or tea, can actually have the opposite effect on your body. Take your probiotics. Probiotics occur naturally in your gut. They help to reduce adverse symptoms of digestion, such as pain, discomfort, bloating, and gas. Ask your doctor to recommend a beneficial probiotic to incorporate into your daily lifestyle. A healthy gut yields a stronger immune system, comfortable and effective digestion, and an overall better mood! With these tips, you’ll be on your way to a healthier digestive system!

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