Retirement Planning Strategies - November 2021

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NOVEMBER 2021

HEALTHY, WEALTHY,

&Wise

1 Denver Federal Center Building 45, Entrance E-9, Room 1050 Lakewood, CO 80225

DO YOU TRUST YOURSELF? THREE TIPS FOR OVERCOMING SELF-DOUBT

A few weeks ago at a conference, two short sentences blew my mind.

that extra hour of sleep, etc.) fall by the wayside. This leads other people to trust us but erodes our own confidence and character. If you’ve been living this way, it’s not too late to change things! 2. DISCOVER YOUR ‘WHY.’ I’m not a psychologist, but I think the best way to solve any problem is to get to the root of it. If self-doubt is holding you back, take a minute to ask yourself, “Why do I feel this way?” Maybe you’ve let yourself down too often in the past, or maybe you don’t feel educated enough to make an informed decision. Whatever that “why” is, once you discover it, you can figure out how to change it. 3. LEARN YOUR WAY THROUGH IT. If the “why” you uncover is that you don’t feel educated enough to make a judgment call, it’s never too late to learn or ask for help. In the case of retirement planning, my team and I can walk you through

to make a great turkey, you can always turn to YouTube or call in Whole Foods Market!

“If a customer isn’t buying from you, it’s not because they don’t trust you,” one of the speakers said. “It’s because they don’t trust themselves.” The statement hit me like a shockwave. As a mom, I understood it completely! In a flash, I was back in the pool, holding my arms out to a chubby toddler and saying, “Jump, I’ll catch you!” Even if my arms were shaking, my kids always jumped. They had more faith in me than I had in myself. Self-doubt tends to pop up any time there’s a big decision to make, like buying a home, getting married, or retiring happily. It’s tough to overcome, and I’m not entirely sure how I do it. But ever since that conference, I’ve been mulling it over. After weeks of reflection, I came up with these three tips to help you find self-trust. 1. KEEP PROMISES TO YOURSELF. We often prioritize keeping promises to other people, but the promises we make to ourselves (to lose weight, leave work on time, get

When you find your self-confidence — and you will — remember to be grateful for it. I know the trust I have in myself is one of my most valuable assets. Of course, I have doubts and second-guess myself just like everyone else on the planet, but I am also thankful I know my strengths and weaknesses and can be realistic about my skills. That’s something I am grateful for! If you’ve been struggling to make an important decision lately — whether it’s about your retirement or buying a new car — I hope these three tips will help you feel more self-assured. The more we trust ourselves, the more others trust us, and the easier it is to plan for the future. With the Thanksgiving holiday coming up, now is the perfect time to do a little soul-searching and express your gratitude for the results.

everything step by step until you’re confident in your choice. And, in the case of Thanksgiving dinner, if you don’t trust yourself

Wishing you a happy holiday,

–Ann Vanderslice

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Retirement in Paradise? Yes, Please! JON ESCAPES TO BELIZE FOR HIS GOLDEN YEARS

exchange, and the fact that English is the primary language. The country’s unique Qualified Retirement Program — run by the Belize Tourism Board — also sweetened the deal. “When you’re accepted into the program, you’re allowed to bring down household goods and different things within the first year — duty free!” Jon says, adding that for him and Dina, that meant a major downsizing of their belongings in Colorado. “I contacted some international shippers, and they brought me a 40- foot cargo container. I had five days to load it up.”

When Jon and his wife, Dina, started considering retirement, they zeroed in on the world’s coastlines.

After moving to Belize, Dina caught up on her reading and Jon swapped snow sports for water sports. “I’ve become a pretty avid scuba diver,” Jon says. “We also snorkel, kayak, and Jet Ski,” he says. “I chose not to have a boat because of the maintenance. It’s a beautiful world we live in, but the elements are very, very harsh. The salt air causes extreme rust and corrosion. I like to kayak, and occasionally, I go out on sailing trips with the tourists here.”

“We both wanted to have a beach on an ocean. We had been talking about it for a long time and considered the East Coast and the West Coast briefly. Then we thought about Mexico — we’d been there a couple of times. We’d visited Aruba years ago, but we wanted some place with a simpler life,” according to Jon. In 2015, they discovered just that on the island of Ambergris Caye in Belize. This Caribbean Island is truly a tropical paradise — as different as can be from their former home in the Denver area. Now Jon and Dina’s condo sits just 500 yards from the shore and the giant Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, the second longest barrier reef in the world. “It was really easy to get used to wearing shorts and flip-flops every day and not thinking about long-sleeved shirts, pants, ties, and jackets,” says Jon, who spent more than three decades working in federal law enforcement before retirement. “Our main mode of transportation is a golf cart. Occasionally, it’s really crowded when we have lots of tourists — which we haven’t had in a while because of COVID-19 — but somehow, it’s easier sitting in a golf cart traffic jam. Even the rainstorms are great here. They feel like nice cool showers,” he says.

One of the most popular tourist destinations is Shark Ray Alley, a dive spot teaming with nurse sharks and stingrays.

“The fishermen used to clean their catch there, so when the boat pulls up and turns off the motor, all of the nurse sharks come. You can jump in and swim with 10–20 sharks around you! It’s quite an experience,” says Jon. Life on Ambergris Caye isn’t entirely perfect — after more than four years there, Jon and Dina are still adjusting to some local customs, like the fact that “tomorrow” could mean the next day, the next week, or the next month — but it’s a beautiful escape from the hustle and bustle of Denver. “I didn’t have a lot of patience when I got here, but I grew it really quickly,” Jon says. “We’re living very comfortably down here on less than $2,500 U.S. a month, and we have a million-dollar view.”

It doesn’t get much better than that!

Jon and Dina chose Belize for the weather, slow and affordable living, friendly locals, island-grown food, favorable currency

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Have a Low-Stress Holiday

3 TIPS FOR A MERRIER TIME

The holidays are right around the corner, and while many people can’t wait to eat turkey and swap presents, others only see stress on the horizon. Especially for those hosting parties, between decorations, big dinners, excited kids, and visiting family, it can all feel overwhelming. If celebrations are happening at your house this year, here are three tips to lessen the strain and keep up the holiday cheer. RECHARGE FIRST Ensure you’re rested and recharged before the holidays by taking time to relax, getting enough sleep, and engaging in activities that make you feel good. When you’re rushing to get everything done, it can be tempting to skip self-care routines, but that will cost you in the long run. Your daily exercise and other health activities keep you balanced and ready to face challenges head-on. GET STARTED EARLY Holidays always arrive faster than we expect, so begin preparing early. If shopping for presents is a pain point, don’t wait until the last minute. Decorate earlier than you need to — or better yet, get the kids to do it for you. There’s only so much cooking you can do ahead of time, but ensuring you have all of the equipment and

nonperishable ingredients you need a few weeks in advance will reduce both your workload and anxiety.

DON’T EXPECT PERFECTION The sooner you let go of the idea of a “perfect” holiday, the sooner you’ll be able to have a happy one. Face it: Something will go wrong. Whether it’s an overcooked dish, a child throwing a temper tantrum, or your uncle talking politics at the dinner table, nothing will ever go just how you planned. So, embrace the imperfections. Whether you’re celebrating this year with a group of two or 20, holidays can be a stressful time — but they don’t have to be. With these tips, your festivities may not be picture-perfect, but they will be a lot of fun.

BRAIN! Train Your

Easy Pumpkin Brownies

Inspired by TheCookieRookie.com

INGREDIENTS

• 1 box brownie mix, plus other ingredients listed on box • 1/2 cup chocolate chips • 1/2 can pumpkin purée

• 6 oz cream cheese, softened • 3 tbsp sugar • 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven as directed on the brownie box, then make the brownie mix. Fold in chocolate chips. 2. In a medium bowl, combine pumpkin purée, cream cheese, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. 3. Choose your pan as directed on the brownie box. Grease it if needed. 4. Pour half of the brownie mix into the pan and spread evenly.

5. Add the pumpkin mixture to the pan, evenly or in a pattern. Cover with the rest of the brownie mix and spread evenly. 6. Bake as directed on the brownie box, adding 10 minutes to account for the pumpkin. Test for doneness, and when your toothpick comes out clean, cool and enjoy!

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Ann Vanderslice Federal Benefits Made Simple, an E.A. Buck Company is an independent financial services firm helping individuals create retirement strategies using a variety of insurance and investment products to custom suit their needs and objectives. This firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or any governmental agency. E.A. Buck is an independent financial services firm, offering investment and insurance products to consumers. Securities offered only by duly registered individuals through Madison Avenue Securities, LLC (MAS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered only by duly registered individuals through AE Wealth Management, LLC (AEWM), a Registered Investment Adviser. Insurance services offered through Ann Vanderslice Federal Benefits Made Simple an E.A. Buck Company. MAS, AEWM, and Ann Vanderslice Federal Benefits Made Simple, an E.A. Buck company are all separate entities. 1084472- 10/21.

issue INSIDE THIS The Secret Source of Courage PAGE 1

A Homeland Security Worker Retires to Paradise PAGE 2

Lowering Holiday Stress

Easy Pumpkin Brownies PAGE 3

Why You Should Visit New England for Thanksgiving PAGE 4

WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT NEW ENGLAND During Your Thanksgiving Weekend

Last year, travel restrictions kept many families from gathering together in their homes for Thanksgiving dinner. This year,

As for what you could do when you’re in New England for your Thanksgiving weekend, there are a few popular destinations you just have to see for yourself. First and foremost among these are the Plimoth Patuxet Museums. When you visit, you’ll be transported back in time to one of the earliest settlements in the United States, where the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people shared the first Thanksgiving dinner. Other fun destinations in that immediate area also include wandering the quaint historic downtowns of Ipswich, Sturbridge, or several other colonial era towns. You can also find tons of fun shopping destinations in Beverly, Massachusetts. If you want your experience to be a little more rural, you can travel out to Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, or Woodstock, Vermont, to experience a true traditional Thanksgiving celebration at Billings Farm and Museum. Even though your family might not be used to traveling for Thanksgiving, how many opportunities will you have to visit Thanksgiving’s birthplace during the season? It’s the kind of vacation you don’t want to miss!

it appears that people will be able to travel freely to most locations. While a “destination Thanksgiving” might not be something you’ve ever considered, for some families, it can mean the perfect blend of quality fun and family time in an exciting new city. So, why not take advantage and bring your family to visit New England, the part of the country where Thanksgiving began? If you need more reasons than just the origin of a famous holiday, consider the scenery. If you’ve never visited New England in the fall, it’s something that every person should do at least once in their lives. The variety of colors on display in the trees throughout the quaint downtowns and nearby forests is completely unique to that part of the country. There’s a reason that “visiting Boston in the fall” has become not only a popular vacation but also part of the American lexicon as well.

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