Patriot Wealth - November 2020

Patriot Wealth - November 2020

NOVEMBER 2020

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PATRIOT WEALTH

NO RAZOR NECESSARY

WHY I’M GROWING MY BEARD OUT FOR NO SHAVE NOVEMBER

Many clients know me one way: bearded. I’ve had facial hair for nearly a decade now, and I have no intention of shaving it off — especially this November. This November, I will participate in No Shave November, a worldwide phenomenon that aims to raise money and awareness for cancer education, treatment, and research. This will be my first year participating in No Shave November, but I am honored to join the cause. Like many families across the globe, my family has been affected by cancer. About 10 years ago, my Aunt Linda — my mom’s sister — lost her battle with ovarian cancer in January of 2010 at the age of 49. It certainly was a difficult time for our family but I am looking forward to doing my part to battle this terrible disease this November! However, the good news is that many forms of cancer can be prevented and treament is possible. That’s the goal of No Shave November. The growth of facial hair — or unruly growth, in my case — is intended to start conversations about cancer research, prevention methods, regular testing, and treatment options. Since its inception, No Shave November has raised more than $3.5 million to combat cancer. That money goes directly toward researching treatments and the disease itself.

The reason why the organizers chose hair as the challenge is that it directly embraces something so personal for cancer survivors and patients. Many patients lose their hair as part of treatment, and in support of this tremendous loss, we are being asked to embrace our lovely locks. As I embark on this journey, I’m honored that the Patriot Wealth family is championing this cause with me. I may be the only person in the firm with an unruly beard this November but I know the PWM team supports me! Since I joined this team in June 2018, I’ve felt like I’ve joined a family. Our time spent together is much more than “work.” You can certainly find us out on the golf course, barbecuing, or even at a local brewery. I feel incredibly lucky to work for a company that values giving back to the community, even if that means looking a little less professional for a few weeks. We take pride in the work that we do every day but also try to seize the opportunity to have an impact outside of the Raleigh‑Durham area. If you would like to learn more about No Shave November, or if you feel compelled to join in on the fun through donations or growing out your hair as well, please visit No-Shave.org/member/AK_PatriotWealth.

Together, we will support cancer patients and survivors. Thank you for your support!

–Austin Kobilka

These articles are designed to provide general information on the subjects covered. They are not, however, intended to provide specific legal or tax advice and cannot be used to avoid tax penalties or to promote, market, or recommend any tax plan or arrangement. Please note that Patriot Wealth and its affiliates do not give legal or tax advice. You are encouraged to consult your tax advisor or attorney. Investment Advisory Services is offered through Retirement Wealth Advisors (RWA), a Registered Investment Advisor. Patriot Wealth and RWA are not affiliated. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

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TOP 5 HEALTHY LIFE HACKS TO HAVE AN AWESOME MORNING

WRITE IN YOUR JOURNAL. Who says you have to journal at the end of the day when you’re tired and ready to sleep? You can journal in the morning about what happened yesterday and the things you’re looking forward to that day. Journaling can remind you of your daily goals and motivate you to stick to your commitments. PACK YOUR LUNCH (OR SNACKS!). Staying on track with your goals starts with having the energy to do them. Plan a healthy balance of fats, vegetables, carbohydrates, and proteins. This can be as simple as assembling dips, carrots, wraps, and salads each morning.

way, it’s always nice to have a little extra time for yourself without losing too much sleep.

START WITH GREEN TEA, THEN COFFEE.

Getting your day started with coffee isn’t always enough. Sometimes, you need to give yourself an extra boost, especially when you have little energy or trouble focusing. For an awesome start to your day, here are five tips to get you going right off the bat. WAKE UP 5 MINUTES EARLY. What’s the power of five minutes? It can be more than you think. Spend this time doing simple breathing exercises or a quick meditation so you can get focused for the rest of the day. If that’s not your style, you can prepare a quick to-do list for your day ahead. Either

A cup of coffee at 7 a.m. can leave you burned out by 10 a.m. Try swapping it with green tea for a more gentle wake-up call. After that, you can brew your favorite coffee to keep you going strong. This practice also might help you consume less caffeine overall! TAKE A QUICK MORNING WALK — AND HAVE YOUR MEETINGS ON THE GO. Morning meetings can make us want to fall asleep again. Don’t spend all of them sitting down if you don’t have to! Not only will morning walks help you wake up, but they can also add some extra physical activity to your day.

It’s time to try these tactics to jump- start your day! FIGHTING BACK HOW YOU CAN LOWER YOUR ALZHEIMER’S RISK

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. That’s a terrifying statistic, but it should be all the more reason to openly discuss dementia and its treatments, research, and prevention. November is Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, a designation that asks communities and families affected by dementia to raise awareness about this deadly disease. At Patriot Wealth, we believe in doing our part, so we’re fighting to eradicate the disease or discover a treatment for dementia. As such, we’re highlighting three steps you can take today to lower your risk. Share this with a loved one, or work on incorporating one of these tips into your life in honor of the 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s. EAT HEALTHIER AND STAY ACTIVE Regular exercise and eating healthy can have a positive impact on your brain health. To start, exercise releases endorphins, which makes your brain feel good and stay healthy. Dieticians also point to heart-healthy diets as

pulling double duty as brain-healthy foods, too. If your heart is healthy, then it’s pumping oxygen-rich blood to the brain, keeping it young and well. SOCIALIZE AND DO MORE Scientists believe social hobbies, like puzzling or hiking, can stimulate the brain. The belief is that these activities — and trying new things — can create additional neural pathways in the brain. This is like exercise for your brain! Think of it like building new muscle or weightlifting for your gray matter. WEAR A HELMET AND PROTECT YOURSELF Your skull is really the only protective layer nature has given you to protect your brain. It’s up to you to take extra precautions! Wear your helmet when bike riding or participating in activities like rafting or rock climbing. A seat belt can protect you from head injuries during a vehicle accident, too. Take head injuries very seriously, as they can have devastating impacts on the remainder of your life and well-being.

Learn more about Alzheimer’s symptoms, prevention, and treatment at the Alzheimer’s Association’s website, Alz.org.

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ARE YOU READY? 3 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE ACCEPTING EARLY RETIREMENT

Perhaps you anticipate retiring in the next few years — or even less than a year — but a request by your employer to take early retirement can leave you with more questions than excitement. Before you agree to or reject the offer, consider these factors. IS THE OFFER GOOD? Companies often offer customary perks as part of early retirement. Our friends at Investopedia write that these usually include one week’s worth of pay for every year the employee has worked with

TAKE A BREAK

the company and gap insurance coverage options until the employee hits Medicare enrollment age. This can be a great option, but it may not be the right choice for everyone. Let’s say you have worked for your company for less than 10 years, and you are still 5–7 years from Medicare enrollment age. You would only get 10 weeks of pay before that well runs dry, and you have at least half a decade of gap insurance to pay for before Medicare kicks in. This may make the offer less appealing than it would for an employee who has worked at a company for 20 years and has two years to go until Medicare’s enrollment age. Consider your situation and negotiate if you can. COULD YOU RETIRE TOMORROW — COMFORTABLY? Some pre-retirees could retire much earlier than their plan dictates and still lead a comfortable life. If that’s you, early retirement might not be out of the question. But for others, early retirement could throw a serious wrench into their plans. Saving for retirement isn’t an exact science, but planning prepares you for future highs and lows. If your plan still needs time to mature and grow, it may not be your time just yet. ARE YOU READY? Do you love your job? Is it starting to exhaust you? Is there another job you’d like to try? Do you have retirement options and lifestyle plans? These are all very important questions to consider as you weigh the possibility of retiring early. Consider what you will do in retirement — this might include finding another job if it fits into your plan — before agreeing to early retirement. You may regret retiring if you do so without a plan or if you feel like you can do more career-wise. The good news is you have options. If you’re considering early retirement, contact our team at Patriot Wealth today. We can guide you through your various options.

Skip the can-shaped cranberry sauce this year and bring a jar of homemade sauce to Thanksgiving instead. This easy recipe can be made ahead of the big event and keeps for 10 days in the fridge. ZESTY ORANGE CRANBERRY SAUCE

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed • 1/2 cup water • 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar

• 12 oz fresh cranberries • 2 tsp orange zest • Salt to taste

1. In a medium saucepan, heat the orange juice, water, and sugar to a boil. Add other ingredients, then bring mixture back to boiling. 2. Reduce the heat to medium and cook gently for 10–12 minutes, until the cranberries burst. 3. Transfer the sauce to a bowl or jar, cover, and refrigerate until serving. DIRECTIONS

Inspired by OnceUponAChef.com

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PATRIOT WEALTH 4350 Lassiter at North Hills Ave. #330 Raleigh, NC 27609 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Austin Participates in No Shave November! PAGE 1

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Top 5 Healthy Life Hacks to Have an Awesome Morning PAGE 2

3 Steps to Lowering Your Risk of Alzheimer’s PAGE 2

Zesty Orange Cranberry Sauce PAGE 3

Have an Early Retirement Offer? Don’t Accept Without Considering This PAGE 3 3 Memorable Thanksgiving Day Football Plays PAGE 4

3 MEMORABLE THANKSGIVING DAY FOOTBALL PLAYS

Thanksgiving is all about good food, family, and football. Each year, football fans look forward to sitting down and watching the game with their family, regardless of whether or not their team is playing. While many games have been played over the years, some stand out more than others because of some major players and their quick actions. Here are three individuals who made their Thanksgiving Day games ones to remember. LAWRENCE TAYLOR New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor was said to have “single-handedly” beat the Detroit Lions in this memorable 1982 Thanksgiving Day matchup. The game was only the fourth of the season for Taylor, who had just recovered from a sprained knee injury suffered in a previous game. With the score tied at 6-6 in the fourth quarter, Taylor intercepted the ball from the Lions quarterback, Gary Danielson, and ran it 97 yards for a touchdown. LEON LETT The Miami Dolphins were up against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day in 1993. This game was marked by its strange weather: Snow covered the field in Dallas, and

temperatures reached only 26 degrees F. But

that wasn’t what made the game memorable. In the last 15 seconds of the game, the

Cowboys blocked the Dolphins’ last 40-yard field goal attempt. As the ball was rolling on the ground, Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett dove for

it but slipped and missed. The Dolphins recovered the ball and were given the chance to kick another field goal at the 1-yard line. The attempt was successful, and they won the game. PHIL LUCKETT One of the most memorable moments during a Thanksgiving game took place in 1998, when the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions entered overtime in a 16-16 tie. Referee Phil Luckett oversaw the coin toss, and that’s when things became tense. Steelers running back Jerome Bettis appeared to call tails, but Luckett said, “Heads is the call.” Upon review later, officials discovered that Bettis changed his mind mid-toss and had indeed called heads first. The Lions got first possession and scored a field goal to win the game.

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