Jeffrey Campbell - July 2021

Jeffrey Campbell - July 2021

www.MayfieldHeightsCPA.com (440) 720-0959 Financial Advice From ‘Schitt’s Creek’ (That Actually Isn’t Terrible)

July 2021

Do you have any TV shows that you don’t really watch but like to put on in the background? For me, “Schitt’s Creek” fits that bill. You’ve probably heard of it. It’s a Canadian sitcom on Netflix that’s kind of like a reverse “Beverly Hillbillies” — riches to rags instead of rags to riches. In the first episode, the wealthy Rose family (imagine the Kardashians) loses all of their money and has to move to a small town called Schitt’s Creek. The show is hilarious, but as someone in the financial field, I also love all of the socioeconomic commentary. In a lot of ways, the Roses were defined by their money, so they’re determined to get it back. That means many of the subplots in the show are financial, and they reveal a lot about how having or not having money impacts our everyday lives and how we think. I’m not the only one who noticed this facet of “Schitt’s Creek.” A few years ago, Buzzfeed released an article called “25 Sneaky Little Money Lessons You Might Not Have Noticed in ‘Schitt’s Creek’’’ that pointed out those financial takeaways. This is Buzzfeed we’re talking about, so some of the tips they discovered aren’t great (“Make sure you reaaally need it before you buy it” and “Save for any major upcoming expenses you’ll have’’ are just common sense), but I think a few others are crucial. These five money reminders from “Schitt’s Creek” may apply to you right now. 1. ‘Money can sometimes muddy the waters when it comes to family. Make sure everyone is on the same page when lending and borrowing.’ In the show, Moira Rose and her sister Dee Dee get into an argument over whether the $50,000 Moira gave Dee Dee was a gift or a loan. This tip is a great reminder that money and family don’t always mix, and if you do decide to help out a family member, you should keep written records of your terms. 2. ‘Don’t let any money-saving company benefits go to waste.’ Company benefits are basically free money that a lot of us leave on the table. In “Schitt’s Creek,” David’s company rents him a car at no cost. Your company may not be that generous, but go through your benefits to make sure you aren’t missing out on other perks like free counseling sessions, gym membership reimbursement, or cheap continuing education.

3. ‘Keep your account information in a safe place for when you really need it. Also, follow all account setup instructions to a T.’ This lesson comes up when David can’t withdraw money at an ATM because he didn’t set up his PIN correctly. But we’ve all heard the real-life horror stories of investors who have lost thousands of dollars of Bitcoin to password-protected wallets they can’t access. Don’t let this happen to you! Take the time to set up your accounts correctly, then write down your account information on paper and store a digital copy. For the latter, you can use a cloud storage account (Dropbox) or password manager (Keeper). 4. ‘Money can take you on an emotional roller coaster. And when disaster strikes, things can feel extra overwhelming.’ I think this truth often goes underappreciated. According to a 2015 American Psychological Association “Stress in America” survey, 72% of American feel stressed about money, and that was before the pandemic! A 2019 Mind Over Money survey also found that many people with those worries feel tired, can’t concentrate, and have trouble sleeping. 5. ‘Seek professional advice when needed. Professionals can analyze your circumstances and come up with a personalized plan for your next steps.’ This is the best advice in “Schitt’s Creek.” I felt like applauding when the Roses started looking for a financial advisor. Working with financial professionals is the best way to ward off money stress and avoid being overwhelmed.

As far as the piece of Buzzfeed advice “Money can’t buy happiness” goes, I’d say look back at points 4 and 5. I think the jury’s still out!

(440) 720-0959 | 1 -Jeffrey Campbell

Outdoor and exercise crazes come and go almost as fast as hairstyles and popular app games do. But every once in a while, a trend comes along that remains popular — think karate, which spiked in the ‘60s and again in the ‘80s, and it can still be found in almost every American city to this day. Back in 2013, one such trend arose: the stand-up paddleboard, or SUP for short. The act of standing on a floating piece of wood in a surfboard shape and paddling (or poling) yourself along likely goes back thousands of years, but the SUP craze can be traced back to one man — and he’s not even in his 60s yet! That man is famous surfer Laird Hamilton, a household name in a sport that doesn’t usually generate them. And Laird, along with the Waikiki Beachboys, showed the world a new way to hit the water in the first decade of the 21st century. Unlike other crazes, the gear was simple and the activity beginner- friendly. To start, you only need a paddle, a board, a life preserver, and of course, a place to go! It’s a new way to see the water, which only boosted its popularity. Even veteran water sports enthusiasts weren’t used to standing on the water instead of sitting in a boat! What’s ‘SUP? The Stand-Up Paddleboard Craze That Never Went Away

But according to the industry’s own numbers, that popularity never died down. As it turns out, SUP is a good way to get around, and a lot of folks need that. Many cities, such as San Antonio, feature “paddling trails” that let SUP practitioners see the city in a new way or even commute via their board. How cool is that? If you’re looking for a new hobby this summer, it’s easy to rent a stand-up paddleboard and learn the basics. Take a class, head out into the water, and give it a shot. Who knows, you might be one of the thousands of Americans to discover a lifelong passion!

3 Business Tricks That Will Improve Your Personal Life

When you’re constantly in the “zone” at work, you’re not always thinking about what’s best for your personal life. While many business owners prioritize balance, what will truly benefit both your home and work life? Check out these three tricks.

Adjusting your habits might seem difficult, but there’s actually a straightforward method. According to “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, every new habit has a simple formula behind it: motivation, ability, and prompt. Whether your reminder is an alarm at the same time every day or even another habit (“I’ll exercise before I take my morning shower”), make sure it’s part of any new process you implement.

1: Start your day with a plan. We know what you’re thinking: Writing out your plan is more work than just doing it. The key is to plan whenever you can. If you jot down things you want to accomplish the following day as they come up, all you’ll need to do is spend a few minutes organizing your list the next morning.

3: Remember, work is flexible — your personal life isn’t.

Bryan G. Dyson, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, once told his staff, “Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them — work, family, health, friends, and spirit — and you are keeping all of these in the air.” In his metaphor, work is a rubber ball. “If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same.”

Pro Tip: Remember to include time to unwind and relax!

2: Develop new and improved processes. While certain activities can’t be replaced with shortcuts (like spending time with family), consider ways to make your current processes more efficient and beneficial. For example, you can’t lose weight if you don’t change your diet and exercise.

We hope these tips help you protect the “glass balls” in your life!

2 | www.MayfieldHeightsCPA.com

Published by Newsletter Pro | www.NewsletterPro.com

Have a Laugh!

3 INGREDIENTS THAT ARE A WASTE OF TIME, MONEY, AND TASTE BUDS!

There are several foods in just about every supermarket that aren’t what they seem. These are foods that may appear perfectly fine at a glance, but they are actually a waste of time, money, and pantry space. Here are three of those foods and their better alternatives! Beef Broth When you buy beef broth, you buy it with the expectation that it is, in fact, beef-based. However, many products that call themselves “beef broth” are actually yeast -based. All of their flavor comes from yeast and various spices, not beef, thanks to lax U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations on beef broth. The product may have just enough actual beef broth for it to be on the ingredient list and label. The next time you need beef broth for a recipe, replace it with the same amount of chicken or vegetable broth, both of which have more stringent USDA regulations. Cooking Wine This is one of the biggest scams in the culinary world. First, most products called “cooking wine” on their label are low-quality wines. Second, many manufacturers add salt to cooking wine. If you encounter a recipe that calls for cooking wine, in general, stick to regular wine that you would serve on its own. Use white wine for lighter-in-color dishes, such as risotto, and red wine for dark, richer dishes, including sauces and gravies. Ground Black Pepper Many spices can actually fall under this category, but ground black pepper tends to be the most popular — and the most problematic. When spices, like pepper, are ground, they come into contact with air and begin to oxidize and lose flavor. Ground spices stored in sealed containers in a cool, dry place will lose flavor slowly, but ground pepper tends to be left out, which means it loses flavor faster. Instead, invest in a pepper mill and fill it with whole peppercorns. The flavor difference in your dishes will be noticeable!

An Olympic Medal — For Arts

Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the modern Olympic Games, saw art competitions as integral to the Olympics. At the 1912 Stockholm Games, Coubertin finally secured Olympic fine art competitions. There were categories for architecture, music, painting, sculpture, and literature, but every work had to be inspired by sports. Judges didn’t have to award gold medals if they were disappointed by all the submissions, but in 1912, a gold medal was awarded in every category. As the Olympics exploded into a beloved international event, the fine arts competitions rarely caught people’s attention. There were significant winners, however. John Russell Pope (the architect of the Jefferson Memorial) won a silver in 1932. Other famous participants include Italian sculptor Rembrandt Bugatti, American illustrator Percy Crosby, Irish author Oliver St. John Gogarty, and Dutch painter Isaac Israëls.

The arts competition at the Olympics ended in 1952.

(440) 720-0959 | 3

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 6110 Mayfield Road Mayfield Heights, OH 44124 www.MayfieldHeightsCPA.com (440) 720-0959

Financial Advice From ‘Schitt’s Creek’

1 2

The Paddleboard Craze Is Here to Stay Make Your Work-Life Balance Easy

An Olympic Medal — For Arts Avoid These Ingredients in Your Cooking!

3

5 Wacky Pizza Trends From Around the World

4

They Eat What on Pizza?! 5 Wacky Pizza Trends From Around the World

Here in the U.S., pineapple is considered a wild and controversial pizza topping. Even celebrities take a stand. Justin Bieber is pro-pineapple, but Jimmy Kimmel is against it. According to a 2019 YouGov Omnibus study, only anchovies and eggplant are more hated. But in other parts of the world, the tangy yellow fruit is far from the strangest topping you’ll see! Here are five wacky pizza trends from around the globe that will either make you hungry or inspire you to sprint the other way. You may want to order a comforting cheese pie from your favorite local pizzeria before reading this, just in case. 1. Banana-Curry Pizza (Sweden) — The Swedes first accessed bananas in 1944, and since then, they’ve put them on everything, including pizza which they top with tomato sauce,

smoked cheese, banana slices, and curry powder.

of fish (sardines, tuna, mackerel, and salmon), onions, herbs, and occasionally fish eggs. Most troubling of all, it’s served cold! 5. Chickpea Pancake Pizza (Argentina) — In Buenos Aires, locals top their super-cheesy pizza slices with fainá — chickpea pancakes cooked separately from the pies and balanced on top of each slice. Keep these pizzas in mind when planning your next international vacation! They might be tastier than they sound, and if not, they’ll still make great Instagram fodder. As actor Cole Sprouse once tweeted, “You’re losing followers because you’re not relatable enough. Try mentioning that you eat pizza. If that doesn’t work, play the ukulele.”

2. Ketchup and Corn Pizza (Brazil) — According to several sources, Brazilians swap pizza sauce for ketchup or tomato slices, and top their pies with strange combinations of local ingredients like corn, beets, hearts of palm, and potato sticks. 3. Haggis Pizza (Scotland) — Pizza may be the only semi-enjoyable way to eat haggis: a mix of sheep or calf offal, oatmeal, suet, and seasonings that

are boiled in an animal’s stomach. Last year, Papa John’s got in on the action when it released a limited- edition haggis pizza in honor of a Scottish poet, Robert Burns.

4. Mockba Pizza (Russia) — This local pie comes topped with four kinds

4 | www.MayfieldHeightsCPA.com

Published by Newsletter Pro | www.NewsletterPro.com