McBeath Financial - September/October 2020

McBeath Financial - September/October 2020

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

Financial Horizons Your Connection for Wealth, Lifestyle & Legacy

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Get ‘Back to School’ As the Fall Routine Returns, Take a Look at Your Financial Plan

B y the time you read this cover letter, we will (hopefully) have a second grader enjoying her first few weeks of school! With the early closure of schools last year, it seems a lifetime since our daughter Jillian has been in her regular school routine. I think we are all looking forward to things getting back to something resembling “normal.” We’ve all learned to be extremely resilient during an unprecedented summer. While several activities were limited, Jillian still enjoyed taking a break from scholastic studies and spent her days relishing in the ultimate freedom that summer brings. (Remember the fun of summer break!?) With too many lazy days, I think she is ready to start back. And we are definitely ready for her to have a teacher who isn’t Mommy or Daddy! Throughout the experience of required home-schooling, Robert and I earned a renewed respect and admiration for the teachers and administrators at Jillian’s school, Cornerstone Christian Academy. Beyond the curriculum, she is excited to see her many friends and be back in the fold with our “CornerstONE Family.” Our children are our most important investment, and we enjoy all of the rewards of watching Jillian’s spiritual and academic growth as a result of Cornerstone. As someone with the heart of a teacher, I believe the return to school serves as an important reminder for all of us. Fall has always been a great time to get your financial house in order before the holiday rush. But this year, I believe it may be even more important to take this action, as many of us may have taken our own respite from the world this summer. When this pandemic came to a head in the U.S., we all pushed our long-term responsibilities to the side to focus on caring for our children, elderly loved ones, and our own health. Our concerns had to be immediate, and that’s very understandable. For many, this meant taking a break from their financial plan. Others have completely turned a blind eye to finances as a way to escape all of the noise of 2020. But now is the critical time to “go back to

school,” possibly realign your goals, and ensure your plan is still working for you.

The world has changed for all of us this year, and with an upcoming election, I don’t anticipate things slowing down. Now,

more than ever, a financial guide is critical. These are the times I feel I was called for: to help my clients navigate the very complex decisions that can come with protecting their financial future for their

families. Together, we can set goals and take actionable steps toward achieving them. As we transition from one unprecedented season to the next, it’s

my goal to continue supporting my clients through this strange time. For the teachers, administrators, and school support staff preparing to do the same for our students this year, I know the lead-up to this year hasn’t been

easy. I hope you find some comfort in knowing that our family appreciates the dedication you have made to education, and we wish you the very best this year.

—Krista McBeath

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Do What You Love and Keep Your Body Moving

How HIIT Benefits People of All Ages

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is one of the best ways to burn fat, build muscle, and give yourself a better chance at a longer, healthier life. HIIT workouts are characterized by brief periods (30 seconds to a few minutes) of high-intensity exercise, followed by periods of low- or moderate-intensity exercise. However, what makes these workouts truly remarkable is just how much they can benefit people in every age group.

cells. By energizing your cells, you can actually reverse the decline in muscle health that occurs as people age. Energizing cells through HIIT benefits everyone, but these workouts can be of particular benefit to those over age 65. Seniors experience diminishing returns on energy produced by their bodies at a cellular level, and HIIT has been shown to reverse that process even in advanced age. HIIT workouts also have many other advantages for people of all ages. The exercises don’t necessarily require any equipment, and you can even see results from adding high-intensity intervals to daily walks. Those with health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, can still participate in HIIT. In fact, Healthline reports that HIIT workouts can reduce heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar. However, the biggest draw to HIIT exercises is just how much of a timesaver they are. A few minutes of high-intensity movement can be just as beneficial as roughly 45 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise. You can incorporate HIIT exercises into whatever activities you enjoy, such as walking, cardio exercises, and strength training. If you’re affected by weak joints, you can incorporate HIIT into lower impact exercises, such as swimming or cycling. If you want to feel energized while doing the things you love, then HIIT just might be something you want to try. Just remember to keep a steady pace and don’t overdo it!

According to Mayo Clinic research, HIIT workouts provide unique benefits to the body on a cellular level. The brief, vigorous exercises actually increase your metabolism and improve the health of mitochondria, the powerhouses that create energy within the

The Ripples of Decision 2020

Will the Upcoming Election Affect My Portfolio?

The 2020 election cycle is in full swing, and as is the case in most presidential elections, the candidates are talking about the economy. It’s common to hear rhetoric about what may or may not happen should one candidate be elected over the other, but you may be wondering what this means for you. Will the outcome of the election impact your portfolio? Should you worry about the election or change your allocation to protect yourself?

can happen in any year. The market is more driven by investor concerns and economic conditions.

Focus on the long term. Your investment strategy was designed for the long term, and you’ll likely see times of temporary market volatility. For example, correction markets are downturn losses of 10% or more, which typically only last for about four months. Bear markets, another form of a downturn, can equate to 20% or larger losses and typically last for 13 months. A recovery period, which could take up to twice as long, can be expected after each downturn. It may be tempting to make an impulsive decision during these periods, but investors who pull their money out based on their gut feelings alone, without focusing on the long-term benefits of market commitment during volatility, can miss out on better performance.

Below are a few reminders to help you find peace of mind amidst election fatigue.

Keep history in perspective. When one story, like the presidential election, dominates the news, it’s easy to focus on that solely. But if we zoom out of the present, we realize that the stock market has been through many presidential elections, and it’s done pretty well. In fact, since 1928, there have been 23 presidential election years, and in 19 of those, the S&P 500 had a positive return. The four negative instances correlated with big events, like the Great Depression, World War II, and the dot-com bubble burst.

If this election year has you considering the future of your portfolio, we can help you develop a strategy to give you confidence in your portfolio approach. Call McBeath Financial Group today, and let’s talk about what you need.

It’s uncertain just how much of an effect COVID-19 will have on this year’s election and market correlation, but the takeaway is that market declines

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How Does Your Portfolio Measure Up?

Please Vote For Us!

The Value of Tracking Your Progress

The Pantagraph’s annual Readers’ Choice Contest is here once again! This is an opportunity for you — the readers — to nominate and vote for your favorite businesses, services, restaurants, and entertainment in our region. And we would love your help! If we have “wowed” you, supported you, or made you feel welcome, we would appreciate a nomination (and later, hopefully, your vote!) for the Readers’ Choice Awards “Best Financial Planning” and “Best Investment Firm” categories. You can nominate McBeath Financial Group from Aug. 31 through Sept. 20 at Pantagraph.com . Search for “Readers’ Choice,” and nominate us under the “Best Financial Planning” section. You can even nominate us every day! Voting for the top five nominations in each category will begin in October.

Hi, everyone! It’s Krista McBeath again. Whenever I think of the

beginning of the school year, I often think of a particularly sweet tradition we do with Jillian at Cornerstone Christian Academy. At the start of each

school year, we snap a picture of Jillian in front of the school’s sign, like many other parents and

students. When the year ends, we snap another photo. It’s always fun to see how Jillian has grown throughout the year and to look back at how much she has changed in just a few years of school. Much like the changes we see in Jillian year after year, your financial portfolio is created to grow and develop. We’ve likely created your plan for long-term growth, which means we will eventually have a long track record of where you were, where you are today, and where you may end up as your portfolio continues to grow. As you age, and as your needs and family change, your goals can adapt, too. Your portfolio should reflect this, and tracking this progress can be beneficial in helping us continue to plan for your future. I use specialty software to help measure your portfolio’s progress. It tracks our movement toward your goals and leaves us with a significant backlog of your portfolio’s history. This can be useful in a number of ways. To start, measuring your portfolio on a regular basis gives us an accurate representation of how aligned we are with your goals. This measurement will give us an idea of how much more aggressive we need to be, or if we need to be more realistic in the goals we help you set. If we don’t regularly measure this, then we risk missing the mark when it comes to your future and retirement. Portfolio measurements can also help us make important decisions or give you peace of mind during market downturns. We all experience downturns as our portfolio progresses, and concrete evidence and feedback from the last downturn can help us prepare possible adjustments or strategies for these moments. As we continue through this COVID-19 pandemic, this measurement is becoming even more vital to our plans. If you would like to learn more about measuring your portfolio, give us a call to set up an appointment. You can also visit McBeathFinancialGroup.com/wealth-management-tools for more financial planning educational tools.

Thank you so much for your support! We’re honored to serve you.

—Krista McBeath

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203 Landmark Dr Unit A - Normal, IL 61761 - 309.808.2224

I N S I D E

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Returning From Your Break: Check In on Your Financial Plan

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How HIIT Benefits People of All Ages

2 Things to Know About the Presidential Election and Your Portfolio

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Why We Measure Your Portfolio’s Progress

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We Need Your Help for the Pantagraph’s Readers’ Choice Contest!

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Did You Know Lucille Ball Saved ‘Star Trek’?

Advisory services are offered through McBeath Financial Group and Motiv8 Investments, LLC. McBeath Financial Group and Motiv8 Investments, LLC are not affiliated. Insurance products and services are offered through McBeath Tax and Financial Services, LLC. McBeath Financial Group and McBeath Tax and Financial Services, LLC. are affiliated. All content of this newsletter is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of McBeath Financial Group and our editorial staff. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representations as to its accuracy or completeness. All information and ideas should be discussed in detail with your individual financial professional prior to implementation. Copyright 2020 McBeath Financial Group.

Beam Me Up, Lucy

How Lucille Ball Saved ‘Star Trek’ in the 1960s

Did you know that Lucille Ball — the iconic comedian best known for her 1950s show “I Love Lucy” — is the reason “Star Trek” exists today? Ball was a Hollywood force in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and she produced hit after hit with her production company. In fact, Desilu, co-founded by Ball and her then-husband, Desi Arnaz, was responsible for hits like “The Andy Griffith Show” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” The two were partners in the company until their divorce in 1960, and in 1962, Ball took over Arnaz’s share. In that moment, Ball became one of the most powerful women in Hollywood, and Desilu, one of the biggest independent production companies at the time, had a lot of pull in the industry. In 1963, one of Desilu’s biggest hits was coming to an end. “The Untouchables” was a crime drama starring Robert Stack. Ball needed a replacement, and two potential shows hit Ball’s desk: “Star Trek” and “Mission: Impossible.” In 1965, Ball took the pitches to her longtime network collaborator, CBS. They said no to “Star Trek” (but yes to “Mission: Impossible”), but Ball wasn’t about to give up on this new science fiction show, so she took it to NBC. The network was skeptical at first but ordered a pilot.

The pilot starred Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Pike and Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock. There was no James T. Kirk to be found — not yet, anyway. The pilot, titled “The Cage,” was a disappointment. NBC executives weren’t about to put it on air, but they decided to order a second pilot after Ball agreed to help finance it.

The second pilot starred William Shatner as Captain Kirk, and he was joined again by Leonard Nimoy as Spock. NBC executives liked what they saw. The new pilot, titled “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” was put on NBC’s fall schedule, though it wasn’t the first episode aired on NBC. That honor went to the episode titled “The Man Trap,” which aired on Sept. 8, 1966. While Gene Roddenberry’s original “Star Trek” only lasted three seasons, it went on to become a major TV and film franchise. One of its recent iterations, “Star Trek: Discovery,” is about to enter its third season on the streaming service CBS All Access — all because Lucille Ball saw potential in a little show back in 1965.

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