Heartland Investment Partners - October 2019

Heartland Investment Partners - October 2019

STARS & STRIPES

HEARTLAND INVESTMENT COMPANIES

OCTOBER 2019

DARINGARMAN.COM 319-350-5378

A LOOK AT MY FAVORITE LOCAL PIZZA JOINTS HAPPY NATIONAL PIZZA MONTH! It’s no secret that Americans are obsessed with pizza. According to Brandon Gaille, 350 slices of the stuff are sold in the U.S. every second , to the tune of 3 billion pies a year. Those numbers are crazy, but to be honest, they don’t really surprise me — I love digging into a deep-dish slice as much as the next guy. That’s why I’ve decided to use this month’s newsletter to celebrate National Pizza Month and share a list of my favorite pizzerias. If you’re ever in the Cedar Rapids area, you’ve got to check these spots out. I promise you won’t regret it! 1. ZOEY’S PIZZERIA Zoey’s is my family’s favorite pizza place. It’s a small, locally owned shop in the middle of downtown Marion, located in a building that was probably built around 1900. With seating for about 40 people, tops, almost every night there’s a line out the door of folks waiting to get in. In the winter when the temperatures drop below zero, people pack into the entrance of the shop like a bunch of sardines. Driving by, you know they’re there because you can see outlines of all the people waiting behind the foggy, iced over windows, hoping for a table to open up. I’m not one of those folks who will stand outside for 45 minutes and wait, so we usually get carryout. My favorite pie is called The Zoey, which is their version of a supreme Chicago deep-dish pizza. It comes loaded with pepperoni, ham, sausage, mushrooms, black olives, green peppers, onions, and extra cheese, and for me, it has to be deep dish. I don’t mind the thin crust, but I have to do deep dish 9 times out of 10. At Zoey’s, they don’t skimp on their Chicago-style pies, either: A box with one pizza in it feels like it weighs 10 pounds! I’m a meat guy, but, if the kids are along, they’ll add a veggie pizza to our order, too. 2. TOMASO’S PIZZA If we strike out at Zoey’s because the line is too long or there’s a two-hour wait for carry-out, we’ll pop around the corner to Tomaso’s Pizza, another locally owned spot that does Chicago-style, Detroit-style, and New York-style pies. My favorite thing to order there is the Chicago deep-dish pie with feta cheese — it’s a topping you can’t get just anywhere, and the unique flavor keeps me and Gina coming back.

3. HAPPY JOE’S PIZZA & ICE CREAM Happy Joe’s is an Iowa-based chain with 61 restaurants, but the same family has owned its Cedar Rapids

outposts since the ‘70s. It gets a spot on my list because the Canadian bacon and sauerkraut pizza is the best in town. The combination sounds a bit odd, but don’t knock it until you try it! If you like sauerkraut, you’ll be hooked just like we were when a friend recommended the combination.

“IF YOU’RE EVER IN THE CEDAR RAPIDS AREA, YOU’VE GOT TO CHECK THESE SPOTS OUT.”

4. URBAN PIE Urban Pie gets an honorable mention because its Canadian bacon and sauerkraut pizza is almost as good as the one at Happy Joe’s. Plus, it has a location in Marion where I live, so it’s only a quick car trip away! I could talk about pizza all day — really, the only thing that rivals my love of food is my passion for hunting down investment properties. If you’ve got questions investing (or about the pizzerias on my list), don’t hesitate to give me a call. You can reach me by calling 319-350-5378 or visiting DarinGarman.com. –Darin Garman

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DON’T LET MONEY GET IN THE WAY

OF YOUR GRANDCHILD’S EDUCATION

HELP THEM FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO SAVE. Even if you don’t have thousands of dollars to give, you can still help your grandkids look for other opportunities to save. There are thousands of available scholarships, grants, and programs to help students pay for college, and helping them look online and in your community can go a long way. College could be your grandchild’s first stop on the path to achieving their dreams. You can be a part of that journey by making sure money doesn’t get in the way of that.

College expenses aren’t what they used to be. What used to be affordable to any student with a part-time summer job now can take years to pay off. If your grandkids want to go to college, the cost of education should not be a barrier to their future. Luckily there are ways that you can help ease that financial burden. INVEST IN A 529 SAVINGS PLAN. There are no limits on age, income, or monetary contributions attached to this college savings account, and contributions are tax-deductible in some states. Just like a Roth IRA, the earnings grow over time and can be used tax-free for qualifying expenses, like tuition and room and board. There are a few downsides, however. Funds from a grandparent’s 529 savings plan are considered student income and could hurt your student’s eligibility for financial aid. If you choose to fund through a parent’s 529 savings plan, which doesn’t count as student income, you lose control over the funds you contribute. PAY THEIR TUITION. Not everybody has $20,000 just lying around, but if you do, using it to pay for your grandchild’s tuition isn’t a bad way to spend it. Normally, annual financial gifts that are exempt from the federal gift tax can’t exceed $15,000, but payments toward someone’s tuition, for any amount, are not taxed. Keep in mind, however, that the money can only go toward tuition, not toward other college expenses like room and board or textbooks.

HAPPENINGS AT HEARTLAND

THE GEORGIAN IS OURS!

There’s no better feeling to us than adding another apartment complex to our repertoire, and, in September, we did it again

If you’d like to be on our priority list of investors in order to be among the first to learn about profitable investments like The Georgian, email Darin today at [email protected].

when we acquired The Georgian — a 24-unit property that includes two 12-unit buildings. The Georgian is located in southwest Cedar Rapids, offering residents an easy commute to nearby offices, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Darin knew The Georgian would be a good buy right away because it was listed at a price well below the market average. Within hours of discovering the property and its remarkable price point, which guaranteed we would make a profit at closing, Darin put the property under contract. Not surprisingly, The Georgian appraised for far more than our purchase price. Even better, it has operated with occupancy every single month. Now that we’ve acquired the property, Darin is in the process of gradually raising rent in order to continue the upward trend in the rate of return on cash flow. Ultimately, this strategy should make the property much more valuable, offering us an even greater return on our investment!

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LIFE

SUDOKU

THE SWEET

A TASTE OF IOWA CANDY

With Halloween just around the corner, kids and adults alike have candy on the brain. Here in Iowa, we’re fortunate to have a plethora of family- owned candy shops that put the sweet side of Iowa on display year-round. The shops below are just a taste of what The Hawkeye State has to offer. If you’re out of state but still want to feed your sweet tooth, we’ve included the websites for each shop — why not indulge with an online order?

WILTON CANDY KITCHEN (WILTON, IA) WiltonCandyKitchen.com

APARTMENT SALES AND SUCCESS

A self-proclaimed “portal to a sweeter time,” Wilton Candy Kitchen has been selling ice cream, candy, and other confections since 1910. Harkening back even farther, it has ties to a pioneer candy shop founded in 1860, a designation that earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places! If you’re in the area, stop by for an old-fashioned soda fountain experience.

PALMER’S OLDE TYME CANDY SHOPPE (SIOUX CITY, IA) PalmerCandy.com

Palmer’s Candy started as a simple shop in 1878 but has expanded over the years to become a nationally-recognized manufacturer for companies across the country. Its Candy Shoppe in Sioux City remains an outpost, selling ice cream, chocolate confections, and candies by the pound. Its signature product is the Twin Bing candy bar, made from sweet lumps of cherry nougat covered in chopped peanuts and chocolate.

FOR SALE! 5 PLEX — 17%+ RETURN!

124 UNITS FOR SALE CONTACT DARIN 319-350-5378

KALONA CHOCOLATES (KALONA, IA) KalonaChocolates.com

This artisan chocolate shop produces beautiful treats inspired by owner Mattie Hershberger’s Amish heritage. Mattie, her husband, and their four daughters run the shop, relying on simple, tasty ingredients for their small-batch confections. While their chocolates are too delicate to ship, Kalona Chocolates does mail chewy pecan caramels, honey nut clusters, and handcrafted fudge nationwide. BETTY JANE HOMEMADE CANDIES (MARION, IA) BettyJaneCandies.com The award-winning Betty Jane Homemade Candies company has been family-owned since 1938 and has three locations across Iowa. Not only does it craft classics like truffles, toffies, and caramels, it even has its own signature candy: the Gremlin, a cluster of Topper Pecans and homemade caramel covered in milk chocolate.

8 UNITS UNDER CONTRACT!! MARKET IS HOT!!

CONTACT DARIN TODAY AT 319-350-5378!

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HEARTLAND INVESTMENT COMPANIES Darin Garman: Heartland’s Most Trusted Multi-Family Investment Advisor 2505 Silver Oak Trail Marion, IA 52302 DarinGarman.com 319-350-5378

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

INSIDE

Page 1 Happy National Pizza Month! Page 2 3 Strategies for Helping Grandkids Pay for College Heartland Makes ‘Historic’ Gains Page 3 A Taste of Iowa Candy Page 4 International Business Card Etiquette

PUT YOUR BEST CARD FORWARD

SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS CARD ETIQUETTE IN 3 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

INDIA Business cards are exchanged even in nonbusiness interactions in India. Much like hierarchy and status are valued in Japan, academic achievements are valued in India, so list your university, degrees, and honors along with your other information. When exchanging cards, always give and receive them with your right hand. This is also common practice in many Middle Eastern countries. Exchanging business cards the wrong way probably won’t be detrimental to your business deal, but learning the proper etiquette in the country you’re visiting can go a long way in starting a professional relationship on the right foot.

The business card is a nearly ubiquitous way to give your name, position, company, and contact information to potential clients and business partners all over the world. And while the exchange of business cards in the United States does not come with a lot of pomp and circumstance, that is not the case in many other countries. If you find yourself in one of the following places, remember these tips about exchanging business cards. JAPAN Known in Japan as meishi , the exchange of business cards comes with a lot of ceremony. Present your card with both hands, as this gesture is seen as respectful. Japanese culture places a lot of value on hierarchy and status, so make sure your title is listed prominently. When receiving a card, take a minute to look it over and comment on it. Immediately putting it away is disrespectful, and once you’re done looking at it, put it in a cardholder, folder, or binder. CHINA In China, as in many other countries, having your credentials and contact info in English on one side and in the local language on the other is good practice. Gold lettering is considered auspicious, and if your business is relatively old, make sure the year it was founded is on your card. The practice of giving and receiving cards is very similar to that of Japan. Finish the exchange with a bow as a way to thank your acquaintance for meeting with you.

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