Capital Advisory Group - July 2021

Capital Advisory Group - July 2021

THE WEALTH ZONE

July 2021

119 Old State Rd., Ellisville, MO 63021

CapitalAdvisoryGrp.com

WHAT DO YOU ‘GEEK OUT’ OVER?

We all have something we’re really passionate about. For many people, it’s their hobbies For others, it’s their work, their family, and anything that enriches their lives and brings them joy. July 13 is an interesting day. It caught our eye when we were thinking about what we wanted to talk about this month. July 13 is Embrace Your Geekness Day. Like many of the events and holidays we bring up in the newsletter, it’s another one of those offbeat ones. But we often find those offbeat holidays to be the most interesting. Embrace Your Geekness Day honors the things you're most passionate about — your hobbies, interests, and so on. It’s important to have hobbies and various things in your life that bring you joy and that you can essentially “geek out” over. There’s something we’ve been geeking out over lately, but we’ll get to that in a moment. As we enter different chapters of our lives — as we become empty nesters, enter retirement, or even start a new job or career — it’s important to have that “thing” we can rely on that follows us through each chapter of our lives. Hobbies, for example, help keep us grounded. They represent a piece of who we really are. Some people love working on and restoring classic cars. They always have something going on in the garage. Some people build models. Some people are all about Dungeons and Dragons. No matter what it is (the list could go on and on), it’s a part of you and something you can immerse yourself in whenever the feeling strikes. This month, if you’ve been neglecting your interests — those things you geek out over — why not jump back into it? Or maybe it’s time to explore something new. There’s a lot of research out there that says that maintaining our hobbies and interests is important for our health and well-being, so that’s all the more reason to tinker in the garage or take over the dinner table (at least every once and while). So, what is it that we’re geeking out over? In the last edition of the newsletter, we briefly mentioned our new radio show. We’re excited to get it off the ground and to share it with you! The show is called “Keep What’s Yours,” and it airs every Saturday at 3 p.m.

on KTRS 550 AM radio. Each week, we cover topics related to taxes and financial planning, like things to look out for as new laws and regulations are passed, as well as innovative tax strategies to keep your taxes low. Be sure to check it out! As we wrap up this edition of the newsletter, we want to leave you with one more thing: As you might recall, we held a shred event back on April 24. We had a great turnout. In total, PROSHRED helped us shred around 2,750 pounds of paper to be recycled! PROSHRED also shared a few stats from the event. That amount of paper equals about 23 trees conserved, 522 gallons of oil not used, 9,625 gallons of water saved, and 138 cubic yards of landfill space not taken up by all that paper. We want to send a big thank-you to everyone who participated, not just in recycling paper, but also making sure sensitive documents don’t fall into the wrong hands. With that, we hope you have a great summer and don’t forget to geek out about the things you love most! -Jeff and John Zufall

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After more than a year of working remotely, the initial excitement of being able to work in your sweats probably wore off long ago. But this stint of remote work has shown many upsides: Productivity has increased. Eliminating the daily commute has been good for the environment, and workers are spending more time with their families, pursuing hobbies, or exercising. Having a more flexible work schedule has also meant there’s a better work-life balance for many working parents. But for all the benefits, there are plenty of downsides, too. Many have struggled to set boundaries as the line between work and home has blurred, leading to overwork and burnout. Others complain about myriad distractions they face while working from home, especially those who don’t have a dedicated workspace and are also trying to help their children with virtual schooling. That’s not to mention potential tech issues, loneliness or alienation from coworkers, and increased barriers to effective collaboration. Yet, nearly half of those currently working remotely say they want to continue to do so 1–4 days per week even once it’s safe to fully return to the office. That’s led many employers to consider a hybrid model that incorporates remote and in-person work options. Publications like The New York Times and Forbes are touting a hybrid model as the way of the future. But what exactly would this look like? A productive hybrid work model wouldn’t simply mean workers come into the office a few set days a week. The smart approach, says Forbes writer Anna Convery-Pelletier, is to have employees come into the office for collaborative tasks and stay at home to work independently on tasks that require sustained focus and deep thinking. In-person meetings are especially good for “brainstorming sessions, introducing new projects, or team- building exercises,” Convery-Pelletier says. This focus on in-person collaboration may also mean that the office will look different when you return. Some businesses are opting to redesign their physical space to accommodate this kind of collaborative in-person work and eliminate costly individual work spaces now replicated at home. Whatever the future of work holds, many workers will be happy to safely return to their workplaces and see their coworkers in person again, whether full time or just a handful of days a month. What’s the Future of Work? In-Person, Remote, or HybridWorkplaces

5 WACKY PIZZA TRENDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD They Eat What on Pizza?! 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. 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 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.”

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From those earliest days, the Founding Fathers knew what Independence Day would be all about, even before the day earned its title. On July 3, 1776, the day after the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Second Continental Congress, John Adams wrote a letter to his wife, Abigail. In the letter, he said he believed Americans would celebrate independence on July 2. He was slightly off on that count, but what he wrote next resonates with most of today’s Independence Day celebrations. “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival,” he writes. Then, a little later in the letter, Adams continues, “It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” From the very first celebration on the first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams’ words rang true. On July 4, 1777, there were parades, feasts, and fireworks — though maybe not quite from one end of the continent to the other — at least not yet. Today, the spectacle of the Fourth of July is bigger than ever, and this year it’s sure to be a blast, with people going all out in their celebration of freedom and the United States. But it’s important to remember that Independence Day goes beyond the celebration of freedom. It’s also the celebration of the American Dream.

For many Americans across the country, Independence Day is a day dedicated to family, friends, food, and fireworks. It’s a day off to relax as we gather in our backyards, on our patios, on a boat, or in the park. We fire up the grill, toss on a few burgers, hot dogs, or steaks — or all of the above. We laugh, celebrate, and have a good time before the sun starts to set and the fireworks shows begin. The Fourth of July is a celebration of a hard-fought ideal: freedom. As we barbecue and watch the fireworks, the day serves as a reminder that people over 245 years ago came together with this ideal in mind. Freedom is all that mattered, and the Founding Fathers, along with those who believed in them, came together to do everything they could to ensure that freedom. A DAY OF LASTING MEANING The Fourth of July

TAKE A BREAK

The Best Texas-Style Smoked Brisket Inspired by AllRecipes.com

Impress guests at your next barbecue with this perfectly smoked brisket. Plus, you’ll have plenty of leftovers!

Ingredients

Directions

• Wood chips • 1/4 cup paprika • 1/4 cup white sugar • 1/4 cup ground cumin • 1/4 cup cayenne pepper • 1/4 cup brown sugar • 1/4 cup chili powder • 1/4 cup garlic powder • 1/4 cup onion powder • 1/4 cup salt • 1/4 cup pepper • 10 lbs brisket

1. In a bowl, soak wood chips in water overnight. 2. In a large bowl, mix paprika, white sugar, cumin, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. 3. Rub spice mixture on the brisket and refrigerate for 24 hours. 4. Preheat smoker to 230 F. Drain wood chips and place them in the smoker. 5. Smoke brisket until it has an internal temperature of 165 F. 6. Remove brisket and wrap it in aluminum foil. 7. Smoke brisket further until it reaches an internal temperature of 185 F.

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119 Old State Rd. Ellisville, MO 63021 CapitalAdvisoryGrp.com

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Unleash Your Inner Geek!

5 Wacky Pizza Trends From Around the World

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Is a Hybrid Model the Future of Work?

What Does Independence Day Mean to You?

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The Best Texas-Style Smoked Brisket

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It Isn’t Summer Without a Hot Dog!

Hot Dogs Around America

With The Fourth of July — along with summer weekend barbecues — on just about everyone’s mind this month, we thought we would take a moment to commemorate National Hot Dog Month this month, as well as National Hot Dog Day on July 21. You could say this is the month of the hot dog! How can we commemorate the occasion in a newsletter? Well, by taking a look at a few different hot dog styles around America! Take a look!

The Chicago Dog As the name suggests, it originates in Chicago, IL. At its core is the Vienna beef frank. The steamed dog is nestled in a poppy seed bun and topped with all kinds of deliciousness — sliced tomatoes, dill pickle spears, sport peppers, chopped white onions, green onion relish, and yellow mustard. There are plenty of variations of this dog (you can also grill it), but it will never have ketchup!

The Seattle-Style This starts with a grilled dog or Polish sausage. After it’s grilled, it’s often split down the middle before heading to the bun. And the bun is where things get interesting — it’s covered in a healthy spread of cream cheese. Then, it’s topped with grilled cabbage, grilled onions, and jalapenos. Of course, like the Chicago dog, you can mix it up when it comes to the toppings; just don’t put any ketchup on it!

Kansas City Reuben Dog This invention is a little closer to home. If you aren’t familiar with this dog, it’s pretty straightforward. It usually starts with an all-beef frank, cooked any variety of ways, then it’s topped with melted cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing. Some versions of this dog are also topped with caraway seeds for a little extra “something.”

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