Patriot Wealth - September 2020

Patriot Wealth - September 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020

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LIFE LESSONS FROM ‘GEET’

THE GRANDPARENT FIGURE WHO MOLDED ME INTO THE PERSON I AM TODAY

Noah is one spoiled little boy. He’s the first grandchild on my wife’s side of the family and my parents’ third grandchild — and the advent of Amazon and the ability for grandparents to send gifts directly to our house has not been wasted on Noah! But beyond gifts and toys, I believe Noah is very lucky for another reason. He’s fortunate enough to have all his grandparents on both sides of the family. As we approach National Grandparents Day on Sept. 13, I’ve been thinking about the value our grandparent relationships give us. They teach us in ways our parents can’t, and through that relationship, we learn to value familial bonds and belonging to something larger than ourselves. They pass down invaluable wisdom. It makes me happy to know Noah has all four of his grandparents in his life because that’s not something I was fortunate enough to have. By the time I was born, my maternal and paternal grandparents had passed away. Thankfully, I had someone in my life who filled that role for me. My great aunt Marguerite Baker — whom we all affectionately called Aunt Geet because “Margurerite” was too difficult for us kids to pronounce — was born June 17, 1914, and had that grit and work ethic of someone who had survived the Great Depression, world wars, and turmoil over her long life. She was a strong Christian woman who never spent a penny over what she needed to in order to survive. She was resilient, sweet, and the most prolific grandmother figure in my life.

Geet was my babysitter when I was little, and I imagine it felt just like spending time with a grandma. I still have vivid memories of pretending to hold church in her house. I would stand behind her couch, my papers and notes sitting on the back of the couch like it was my podium, and lead Geet through hymns and my sermons. I’m sure it was heartwarming for her to listen to my services. But Geet gave me more than memories of childhood imagination. She reinforced in me a love of family and the value of her faith. She had that old school approach to life, where she treated everyone with respect. We learned from Geet to honor our elders, the value of a dollar, and just how important family was. Sure, our parents teach us these lessons, too, but there’s something about a grandparent’s influence and wisdom that sticks with all of us. Geet’s lessons are ingrained in everything I do. That’s why it’s so comforting to know that Noah has four grandparents to pass on these lessons. (He even spends three days each week with his Granny, my wife’s mom!) Becoming a grandparent is an opportunity to share your wisdom and stories with another generation. I know Noah is going to have memories of learning how to fish or smoke meat from his grandparents, along with the valuable wisdom that comes from them, and that warms my heart. The beauty of being a grandchild is that we soak up everything our grandparents — or great aunts — say to us. This Grandparents Day, don’t waste that opportunity. Aunt Geet didn’t, and I’m better for it.

–Wes White

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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2 SURPRISING WAYS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PROTECTS YOUR MONEY AND FUTURE

Most people who hear about artificial intelligence (AI) conjure up an image of a robot acting and thinking on its own. However, it’s far more than that. AI systems are used by businesses to identify human behavior patterns and tailor marketing messages. They’re also used by health care professionals to provide diagnoses and monitor trends. And now, AI is being used for financial security. RISK MANAGEMENT Many are concerned about the risk of someone hacking into their bank accounts and cleaning them out. While that can happen at any moment, individuals often have a number of safeguards in place to protect their finances and mitigate this risk. The same is true for businesses, such as banks, credit card companies, or online retailers, though the risks are often far higher for these companies than they are for individuals. How does AI help? It works with >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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