Brybeck Financial - August 2020

Brybeck Financial - August 2020

F INANCIAL F O R U M

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Memories of Vacations in Hilton Head SNAKE BITES AND BEACH VIEWS

There are few things more quintessentially American than the family road trip. While summer vacations and travel may look very different this year, this time of the year evokes many great memories of our family trips to Hilton Head, South Carolina. Every summer since 1993, Becky, Julie, Tim, and I would load up in the vehicle, strap a giant pod loaded down with golf clubs, beach chairs, and all the summertime essentials onto the roof, and hit the road. Traveling by car was a far more affordable option for our family at the time, but it was nearly 800 miles of traveling with two kids. Every parent can relate to this. I can still remember the time Tim, just 8 years old at the time, said, “Dad, I left my Game Boy at the restaurant.” So, we backpedaled an hour back to the restaurant, got the got the dang toy, and kept on driving down Route 95-South. On our first trip, we had our vehicle fixed in Maryland, but it wasn’t fixed properly — as we learned when it stalled out on the bridge headed into Hilton Head. We Flintstone-d it all the way to a Wendy’s just over the bridge, called a tow truck driver, and hopped in a taxi to finish our journey. That day also happened to be Julie’s 8th birthday. It wasn’t exactly the celebration we had planned.

kicked off upon getting bit. That’s where she saw the culprit: a copperhead snake was slithering away, most likely happily after having put me in my place. We called an ambulance, and my foot swelled. I asked the EMTs if I was ok, and they merely responded, “Well, you’re breathing.”Thankfully, this story has a happy ending. I was fine after some treatment, and now, I have a great story. Now that our kids are grown, Becky and I still find time to travel to Hilton Head, although it’s much more feasible for us to fly. It’s fantastic to travel down for a few days, spend relaxing afternoons golfing or exploring the town, then fly back home. Sadly, we don’t plan to travel to Hilton Head this year, and I’m sure many people are also experiencing postponed or canceled vacations. We plan to stay regional to reduce our risk. So, the whole gang will join us for a family trip to Long Beach Island in September. It’s different from Hilton Head, but family vacations can prompt great stories, no matter where you go.

Still, the memories we made in Hilton Head were worth any travel woes.

If you’ve never been to Hilton Head, then I would recommend adding it to the bucket list. Among the gorgeous vegetation and beach-side views, there’s plenty of entertainment for the whole family. We often enjoyed golfing, hitting the bike trails, spending the day at the beach, enjoying live music every evening, and taking in the gorgeous scenery around us. I can’t really put a finger on what it was that made these adventures so fun, but we always had such a great time on our yearly adventures to Hilton Head. And there are so many stories! I’ll never forget arriving back at our condo in Hilton Head late one night around 8 years ago and getting the shock of my life. I was wearing flip flops, and when I stepped out of the car, a copperhead snake bit me right on my toe! I yelped and felt instant pain. I said to Becky, “I think I got bit by a snake!”

Safe travels!

“Oh, come on,” Becky responded, not fully believing me. As I was hobbling around for a minute or so, Becky went into the bushes to retrieve my sandal, which I had

—Brian Irving

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NATIONAL CHEFS APPRECIATION WEEK

Celebrates Those Who Bring Communities Together

Restaurants have had an especially tough time staying afloat during the pandemic. Most eateries had to discontinue dine-in service, and those that couldn’t adapt to offering takeout or delivery may still be questioning whether they’ll ever be able to open their doors again. During the pandemic, it became clear to many of us just how important a role our favorite restaurants play in providing not just tasty chow, but also a sense of comfort and community. Celebrating National Chefs Appreciation Week is a great way to let the chefs who run those eateries know just how much they mean to us.

Once upon a time, you couldn’t plan a vacation without using a travel agent. They would book your flights and hotels, provide information about local activities, and point you to the best sites to see. But with the advent of the internet, it seemed travel agencies would become obsolete. However, these services are actually far from disappearing: Nearly 20% of travelers still use an agency. Because the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way people travel for the foreseeable future, travel advisors, as they’re now called, are more valuable than ever. GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TRIP With the Expert Advice of a Travel Agent

What is it?

Since the holiday’s inception in 2013, it has most commonly occurred during the third week of August; this year, it’s August 16–22. Restaurants, patrons, and home cooks alike can show appreciation for the art and dedication chefs bring to their craft every day. Several restaurants across the country celebrate with special events and menus, and patrons flock to their favorite places for great food and company and to support the chefs who bring their communities together.

They give expert advice.

How can I celebrate?

If you want to get the most out of your trip, then you should talk to someone who knows exactly how to give you that. Travel advisors undergo training and gain experience with different policies, customs, and travel regulations to get where you want to go. They will be your go-to experts for what you should do when you get to your destination, especially if you’re traveling to a foreign country or overseas.

Now that many restaurants are opening back up for service at a limited capacity, it’s possible to dine in and further support the chefs who make the food you love. But, if you’re still not comfortable eating at a restaurant, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate. Continue having food delivered or picking up curbside from your favorite places. Whether dining in or carrying out, remember to tip well! You can also post about your favorite dishes on social media or leave a glowing review for your favorite eatery on Google or Yelp. The beauty of this holiday is that celebrating includes doing activities you probably already do, so it’s easy to participate. Chefs play a significant role in the evolution of culture, protection of tradition, and construction of community. Their food brings us together, fills our stomachs, and brightens our moods. We may not have fully recognized all they do for us until recently, but now that we have, we can truly celebrate Chefs AppreciationWeek to the fullest.

They can lower costs.

Enlisting the help of a travel agency isn’t as expensive as the average customer might think. Travel advisors receive a small commission from airlines and hotels when they book your trip, which allows them to keep your travel costs down. Every agency charges different fees based on the package you purchase, but on average, you can expect to pay around $75 per traveling person for an agent to book your trip. With all the added experiences and deals they can find, this cost easily pays for itself and then some.

They simplify the complicated process.

The No. 1 reason people use a travel agency is because planning a trip can be overwhelming. You have to research the location, book flights, plan ground transportation, secure lodging, discover activities, and find restaurants. If you don’t travel often or are going to a destination you’re unfamiliar with, then tackling everything yourself leaves room for mistakes, stress, and disappointment. A travel advisor makes the entire process as simple as possible so you can enjoy your vacation to the fullest.

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ARE YOUR THRIFT STORE DONATIONS BEING THROWN AWAY?

Are you thinking about donating your kids’ old clothes or that slow cooker you haven’t used in months? Though donating your unwanted items is a great thing to do, amid the pandemic, many people have not considered the future of secondhand shopping and charity-based thrift stores like Goodwill. In 2018, Goodwill funded nearly $5.3 billion in charitable services, like educational assistance, job training, and work placements. But now, Goodwill and similar organizations are facing a unique problem: They’re receiving too many donations. To prevent your items from ending up in a landfill, consider the following before you donate.

Under the circumstances, this situation is understandable. Thanks to nationwide stay-at-home orders, many took advantage of their newfound spare time to spring-clean and subsequently donate unwanted items to charity. However, with the confusion about how long the COVID-19 virus can live on clothing, secondhand shoppers have been staying home, worried about the health risks of buying used goods. Famously, thrift stores still keep unsold goods out of landfills. Up to 75% of Goodwill’s merchandise, for example, isn’t sold in their stores. Instead, it’s sent to discount outlets and then into global markets. However, Mexican traders, who account for 30% of business at thrift stores close to the U.S. southern border, and Kenya, the world’s largest buyer of unsold secondhand clothes, have stopped buying during the economic shutdown. Meanwhile, some good-intentioned Americans are leaving their goods outside thrift stores’ front doors, not realizing that without enough space to house the excess donations, many of these thrift stores will have to pay disposal fees, costing the business potential revenue and sending your items into local landfills. However, Goodwill still wants your donations! You just might have to hold on to your items for a little bit. Check to see if your local thrift stores are open for donations. Many recommend waiting until the influx slows down, but others have expanded their inventory storage and are ready to keep up. Just make sure to follow their guidelines on acceptable items because any broken or worn items only add to their costs. Happy donating!

RESTAURANT-STYLE FETTUCCINE ALFREDO

TAKE A BREAK

Inspired by The New York Times

Ingredients

Directions

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Salt

1. In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of generously salted water to a boil. 2. In a large, deep skillet, while the water heats, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant and sizzling (about 2 minutes). 3. In a bowl, whisk heavy cream and egg yolk until blended and pour into garlic butter. 4. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir until hot, not boiling. Keep warm on low heat. 5. In the large pot, cook pasta until al 22. (The pasta will float once it’s done.) Reserve about 1/2 cup pasta water and drain pasta. Pour hot pasta into cream mixture and toss to coat on low heat. 6. Add Parmigiano-Reggiano and keep tossing gently until cream is mostly absorbed. If the sauce is absorbed too much, toss with extra pasta water. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 7. Serve with parsley and a squeeze of lemon.

2 tbsp butter

1 clove of garlic, finely chopped

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1 1/2 cups heavy cream

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1 large egg yolk

1 lb fresh fettuccine 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano- Reggiano Freshly ground pepper, to taste Fresh parsley, chopped, to taste

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1 lemon wedge

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Reminiscing About Family Vacations

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Why We Still Need Travel Agencies Celebrate National Chefs Appreciation Week

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Are Your Thrift Stores Donations Being Thrown Away? Restaurant-Style Fettuccine Alfredo

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Rob Kenney Is a Father to Many

‘DAD, HOW DO I?’ How 1 Father Is Passing Along Life Lessons

Being abandoned by a parent is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a child. Rob Kenney experienced this trauma firsthand when his father said he no longer wanted any of his eight children. Kenney was only 12 years old when his father walked out of his life. In an interview with Q13 News in Seattle, Kenney explained that after that experience, he decided that when he had children of his own, he would raise them into good adults and make sure they didn’t have a fractured childhood. But he didn’t stop there.

even with an empty nest, Kenney realized he still had life lessons to pass on. After thinking about other young people in the world who have gone through the same unfortunate experience as he did, he decided to do something about it. In early April 2020, Kenney created a YouTube channel called “Dad, how do I?” and uploaded his first video, titled “How to tie a tie.” In the video, he gives a helpful hint for choosing a tie. Then he talks viewers through the process of how to tie a tie while demonstrating it on himself. As April progressed, Kenney uploaded a number of videos on other seemingly simple tasks, including how to unclog a sink, check the oil in a car, install a shelf, and even how to shave. As he continued uploading videos, he started to include dad jokes along the way. “So today I’m going to show you how to use a stud finder,” Kenney begins in one video. “If you came here looking for help finding a boyfriend, that would be a different stud finder.” Kenney hopes that, by uploading these videos, he can be there for someone who doesn’t have a parent around to teach them these things. And in the course of just two months, it looks like he is already doing just that. At the end of May, Kenney’s channel had over 2 million subscribers and thousands of people have reached out to Kenney to share their own similar experiences and express their gratitude and appreciation for everything he’s doing.

Now 50, Kenney has a 29-year-old daughter and 27-year-old son who are living successful lives thanks to that decision he made many years before. However,

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