Principal Shield Financial - July 2021

Principal Shield Financial - July 2021

JULY 2021

WISE & WEALTHY NEWSLETTER

(619) 994-1110 WWW.PRINCIPALSHIELD.COM

LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF LOWER TAXES! TAKE BACK YOUR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE LIKE THE FOUNDING FATHERSWANTED

Happy Fourth of July and, more importantly, Happy Independence Day! Hopefully the significance of that date resonates with you and actually means something more than just another day off of work and another reason to have a family get together. I know I had become complacent, seeing it as little more than an excuse for a family barbecue, but not anymore. When Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence in June of 1776, he was not creating a new political philosophy of liberty; he was simply expressing what the Continental Congress, along with the colonists, had already embraced, that breaking ties between the colonies and Britain was justified based on principles and grievances set forth by the document itself. The moment those delegates signed the Declaration, they were considered traitors to the King of England. In many ways, these men risked their lives, their families, and their fortunes to form an independent nation. And while their struggles were great, their actions helped create what is still the greatest country in the world. They adamantly objected to the King of England establishing an absolute tyranny over the States. Among their exhaustive list of grievances was “imposing taxes on us without our consent.” The King taxed the colonists to death and gave them NO input or control over HOW they were governed or WHOM they were governed by. You may not know this, but with the exception of the Civil War, America managed to survive as a country without an income tax from 1776 to 1913.

But most people don’t know that because politicians have gotten very creative in how they charge and collect those taxes. In addition to substituting words like “fees and surcharges” for the word “tax,” they collect as much tax as they can on a “pay as you go” basis (e.g., sales tax, property tax, gasoline tax, cable bill, water bill, car registration, cell phone bill, dog license, fishing license). They take taxes right out of our paychecks before we ever see a dime of our own money. And sometimes, they simply choose not to show the tax you pay at all. Have you ever seen the federal, state, or local tax disclosed on your receipt from the gas pump? This makes it much more difficult to know exactly how much tax you’re actually paying. If we made one simple change to the way taxes are collected, we would likely have another revolution on our hands. If, instead of collecting taxes as we go, the government mailed us an invoice each month and we had to send them a check for that month’s tax obligation, not only would it be shocking and painfully obvious how much they take, but many of us would finally call bullshit. How do you feel about the amount of taxes you pay? How do you feel about current income tax rates? If you’re anything like me, you believe you’re paying too much in taxes now and that tax rates are already too high. Did you know that current tax rates are the lowest they’ve been in more than 80 years? With a $30 trillion national debt that is growing faster than the U.S. economy and politicians who continue to make promises like Medicare for ALL, free college for all, wiping out student loan debt, free everything for illegal immigrants, free income for ALL, and let’s not forget about the Green New Deal, taxes are going up for everybody, not just the rich. And you’re foolishly naive if you believe otherwise. Politicians are not your friend, and they are not to be trusted. They are devious and deceitful in the way they craft tax laws. Isn’t it time you declared your financial independence from the government and the politicians who seem hell-bent on creating more and more ways to take more and more of YOUR hard-earned dollars? The IRS gives you choice and control as to how , when , or if you pay taxes on your accounts. If you don’t understand that you do what everybody else does, such as save for retirement using 401(k)s and IRAs, it can end up costing you a fortune.

As Margaret Thatcher pointed out so eloquently, “The government has NO money of its own. All it has it takes in taxes or borrows in interest.”

Believe it or not, we pay a higher percentage of our hard-earned money in taxes today than we did when we declared our independence from England.

Retirement Secret #241: Stop investing in accounts that defer taxes to a time when tax rates are unknown and will most certainly be higher than they are today (unless you can withdraw that money tax-free). Know your options. Want to discover more? Get your FREE copy of my book, “Who’s Stealing Your Retirement? 7 Cunning Thieves Who Are Trying to Ransack Your Nest Egg (And How You Can Catch ‘Em),” at WhosStealingYourRetirement.com.

Join me in declaring your financial independence. Let me show you how. Call me TODAY at (619) 994-1110.

WWW.PRINCIPALSHIELD.COM

• 1

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com

GET YOUR TRAIN OF THOUGHT BACK ON TRACK

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE FOURTH OF JULY You Can Share With Your Kids

Recovery Hacks

Have you ever been in the middle of a conversation, presentation, or debate, stringing together thoughts in a way you hope is coherent and insightful when — poof! — you lose your train of thought? It’s frustrating. You just want to make yourself understood, but your brain has other plans. What if there were a way to keep your train of thought on track? Well, the good news is that recovering your train of thought is easy with the following hacks in mind. Repeat, repeat, repeat yourself. Paraphrasing your last few thoughts out loud can help you remember where you were going. Think of it as retracing your steps: You go back to the last words you remember saying, and more often than not, you’ll find your direction again. Take a short pause. Pausing briefly is a great way to make recovering your train of thought seem natural. This hack works really well if you’re answering a question and you need time to think, and you also don’t want to be bogged down by a chorus of “ums” escaping from your mouth. Write it all down . This hack works well when you know beforehand that you’ll be speaking with someone or in front of people. Even if you never refer to your notes while speaking, simply writing down a road map for your train of thought can help you recover from a detour and speak more confidently. Remember your overall point. The easiest way to drive your train of thought into the weeds is to forget your overall point — or not to have an overriding point at all. Always have a short, overarching point you can use to recenter yourself and get back on track. With these hacks, your brain will have to work a lot harder to make you lose your train of thought! Now you’ll be more prepared to tackle any subject matter, no matter how deep or technical, that comes your way.

What do your kids know about the Fourth of July? Do they know it’s a day when you have a barbecue, spend time with friends and neighbors, and watch a fireworks show? These hallmarks of the holiday certainly do make it fun and memorable, but they don’t really exemplify why we celebrate the Fourth of July, the anniversary of when the United States declared its independence from Britain. So, along with the sparklers and hot dogs, here are a few fun facts about Independence Day you can share with your kids to help them understand the significance of the holiday. The Fourth of July marks our country’s independence because it’s when the Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence. This fact might seem like a no-brainer, but it contextualizes the holiday for kids. It’s a great jumping-off point to talk about why the United States wanted to be its own country, what the Continental Congress was, what the Declaration of Independence said, and what it means to “ratify” something. Two future presidents signed the Declaration of Independence: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson . They both died exactly 50 years later, on July 4, 1826. This fact is an interesting coincidence sure to fascinate both kids and adults. It’s also a great way to introduce kids to some of the Founding Fathers and share how they helped shape the United States today. In 1776, the year the United States was founded, only 2.5 million people lived here. Today, the U.S. population is 331 million. Lots of people have been born in the United States since it was founded, and millions more came here from other places, hoping to find a better life. Many succeeded, too. Many people want to call this country home! On the Fourth of July, around 155 million hot dogs are eaten in the United States. Okay, so this fact might not have anything to do with American history, but it’s still pretty funny! If anything, the fact that we have so many hot dogs to eat on that day is evidence of the prosperity so many people enjoy in the United States of America.

2 •

(619) 994-1110

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com

ARE THE CARTOONS YOUR KIDS WATCH ACTUALLY MADE FOR KIDS?

With the many streaming platforms out there, kids have access to a more diverse array of content than ever before. That being said, parents need to be extra vigilant about which shows and videos are captivating their children’s attention, particularly when it comes to cartoons. Cartoons on their own aren’t bad for kids. In fact, enjoying them in moderation can have myriad benefits for a child’s development. They can bring laughter and relieve stress, engage a child’s

animation becoming more popular in recent years, many of the cartoons available on TV, streaming services, and YouTube are explicitly not for children.

So, how can parents make sure the cartoons their kids are watching are safe, wholesome, and educational?

In recent years, as YouTube has continued to amass countless hours of video content — much of it geared toward children — they’ve developed YouTube Kids, their

imagination, help them develop their language skills, and teach them about topics ranging

streaming site for children under the age of 13. This site isn’t airtight, however, and disturbing content can sometimes slip through the cracks. Parents might also find value in sticking to certain channels or streaming services, such as PBS Kids, Nick Jr., or Disney+. There are also organizations like the Parents and Television Media Council, whose website, ParentsTV.org, can help parents determine which cartoons are okay for their kids to watch.

from mathematics to social skills. The best cartoons can be bright, colorful, funny stories that help children learn and grow.

That said, though, not all cartoons are for kids, nor do they teach good lessons. Many cartoon characters encourage violence and speaking rudely to teachers and other authority figures. Additionally, with adult

Ultimately, the best way to ensure cartoons are safe is to watch with your kids. After all, this turns a solitary activity into one where parents can learn, laugh, and bond with their children.

MEXICAN CORN SALAD

TAKE A BREAK

Ingredients • 4 cups of fresh corn, cut from 5 cobs • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped • 1/2 red onion, diced • 6 green onions, chopped • 1 jalapeno, diced • 1/2 avocado, cubed • 1/4 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice

• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped • 1/2 cup cotija or feta cheese, crumbled Directions 1. In a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, add oil and corn. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3–5 minutes or until corn starts to char. 2. Add the corn to a large bowl and let cool for 5 minutes, then add the remaining ingredients and stir together until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning. 3. The salad pairs well with grilled entrees and can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

• 1/2 tsp ground cumin • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika • Salt and pepper, to taste

• 2 tbsp sour cream • 2 tbsp mayonnaise

WWW.PRINCIPALSHIELD.COM

• 3

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

10435 Cadwell Rd. Santee, CA 92071

INSIDE

1

Isn’t It Time to Take Back Your Financial Independence?

2

Fourth of July Fun Facts to Share With the Kids

Life Hack: How to Recover Your Train of Thought

3

Are Your Children’s Favorite Cartoons Actually for Kids?

Mexican Corn Salad

4

Is ‘Hammocking’ a Better Way to Sleep?

IS ‘HAMMOCKING’ A BETTERWAY TO SLEEP? (Theoretical) Benefits of Sleeping While Swinging

Hammocking has become a popular leisure activity within the last 5–10 years, with the global hammock market growing about 17% between 2017 and 2021. As fun as it is, though, could hammocking be more than that? Could it be a better way to sleep, not just on camping trips or in the park, but in our homes, too? The short answer is that the >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

www.principalshield.com

Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter maker