Retirement Planning Strategies - August 2019

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AUGUST 2019

HEALTHY, WEALTHY,

&Wise

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‘Atomic Habits’ and the Path Toward Self-Improvement A VERY VALUABLE SUMMER READ

I’m always looking for books that allow me to grow as a business owner and person, but that effort kicks into high gear during the summer. Maybe it’s a relic from childhood summers spent plowing through reading lists, but, for whatever reason, I find myself finishing more books between Memorial Day and Labor Day than I do during any other time of the year. This summer, one of the best titles I’ve picked up is “Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones” by James Clear. “Atomic Habits” is all about the internal systems that create habit patterns. As the age-old cliché states, we’re all creatures of habit. How those habits develop and manifest has a huge impact on the way we interact with the world. We all have little or not-so-little behaviors we’d like to change, but breaking a bad habit isn’t always an easy task. Clear gives readers the tools to do just that. “You do not rise to the level of your goals,” Clear writes. “You fall to the level of your systems.” In other words, you can’t just aspire to a certain goal; you have to work toward it systematically. Clear believes

in a system of incremental growth, of getting “1% better every day.” When you do that, you put yourself on a path toward continued progress. That path begins with believing in yourself. Having the mindset that you are capable of change and improvement is the first step toward changing and improving. Let’s take the example of smoking, a habit millions of people wish they could break, to show how mindset informs results. Imagine two people who’ve recently given up smoking. Each is offered a cigarette. The first says, “I don’t want one right now.” The second says, “No, thanks. I’m not a smoker.” The second person has already changed their mind about smoking. They are steadfast in their resolve to quit, while the first person has left the door open for a cigarette in the future. Which of these people seems more determined to quit? And which is more likely to be successful? (Hint: The answer to both questions is the same.) In this newsletter, we often talk about the importance of focusing on things you can control rather than worrying about what

you can’t. Your habits fall under the first category, even if you don’t think they do. All too often, we rely on the tired excuse of, “That’s just the way I am,” when we behave in a way others or ourselves don’t like. The truth is that you have the power to change the way you are, you just have to work at it. So, yes, we are creatures of habit. The millions of decisions we have to make in daily life would be insurmountable without instinctive habits invisibly guiding our behavior. The question isn’t whether or not you’ll have habits, but what those habits will be. You have a say in determining and developing the most productive and rewarding habits in your life. If you need a hand making those decisions a reality, “Atomic Habits” will be a very valuable addition for you. P.S. If you have any books you think I’d benefit from reading, I’d love to hear about them. Summer’s not over just yet! –Ann Vanderslice

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The Fiduciary Standard Since the financial collapse of 2008, the financial industry has undergone continued legal scrutiny. One area where increased regulation seemed certain was the standards of care accounting professionals have when it comes to acting in the best interest

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SELECTING AN ADVISOR

clients a list of potential conflicts of interest and the newly created CRS Form detailing the nature of the client-broker relationship. Whether or not these stipulations will create greater consumer clarity remains to be seen, but they certainly don’t eliminate the possibility of unscrupulous brokers taking advantage of unsuspecting clients.

of their clients. After years of debate, the SEC rolled out its new set of rules this year. While these rules were intended to provide consumers clarity regarding

different types of financial professionals, they fall short of creating a unilateral set of standards for everyone who provides financial services. Without tighter restrictions, investors need to be mindful of how these rules affect them. The highest standard for a financial services provider is the fiduciary standard. When an advisor is a fiduciary, they must always act in the best interest of their clients. All SEC-registered investment advisors are

Sadly, it appears as though these new rules represent a win for large banks rather than for regular folks looking to plan for their future. But no matter how tight the laws are now or in the future, there will always be people willing to skirt them to make a buck. Everyone working with a financial professional should ask questions about that person’s role and responsibilities. The most important of these questions is, “Are you a fiduciary?”

At Retirement Planning Strategies, all of our advisors are fiduciaries who act solely in your best interest. We have no conflicts nor any vested interest in recommending certain products or strategies. Our only goal is ensuring that you plan for the most secure and rewarding retirement possible.

held to a fiduciary standard, but brokers and other financial service providers don’t need to meet the same criteria. Many hoped that new regulations would change this, but the SEC rules do not. Instead, service providers only need to give

Title A Sport for All Ages Becomes a Craze Among Older Adults THE INCREDIBLE RISE OF PICKLEBALL

TAGLINE You’ve probably heard of pickleball, especially given its rising popularity in the United States and Canada, but you may be wondering what the big deal is about this relatively new fad. Pickleball is an awesome, low-impact sport that people of all ages can enjoy. It’s great exercise and good fun, and it’s the perfect game for family get-togethers.

balls won’t cost more than $100, and you can easily convert a tennis or badminton court for pickleball.

One of the appeals of pickleball for older adults is that it is not excessively strenuous. It also doesn’t have the steep learning curve and high barrier to entry that sports like tennis or golf do. Due to the nature of a pickleball, which contains strategically placed holes similar to those of a whiffle ball, the game is much more about finesse than pure power or athleticism. While you can definitely hone your skills with practice, you’ll start having fun from day one. In addition to being a fun form of exercise, pickleball also offers older adults the chance to socialize with their peers. Leagues often lead to long-term friendships. Courts are small, and each game consists of only four players, making it easy to engage in some casual conversation or playful, competitive banter between points. If you’ve never picked up a paddle, consider joining a league or buying a set for your next family outing. You can introduce your grandkids to a fun new sport — and then school them for the bulk of an afternoon.

Pickleball originated on Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 1965. It was the creation of three fathers — Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum — who needed to come up with something to keep the little ones entertained and out of their hair. Soon, however, it became popular among the adults, and they ended up spending more time on the court than their children. “Frankly,” McCallum says, “the kids got pushed out.” Since its early days, pickleball has transformed from an ad-hoc game to a full-fledged sport, complete with official rules, equipment, and leagues. Despite the more formal structure in place today, pickleball is incredibly easy to pick up and play. Investing in some paddles and

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Ring, Ring — It’s a Robot

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM PHONE SCAMS AND ROBOCALLS

Two of the most common scams are phone scams and robocalls. These calls are incredibly annoying and can trick you out of valuable information if you’re not careful. While it might seem like these swindles are inescapable, there are some precautions you can take to avoid their traps.

calling without picking up, don’t answer. Let it go to voicemail. If it’s important, the person will leave a legitimate message and you can respond afterward. PUT UP SOME DETERRENTS. You can even go a step further and block the calls. Many phone service providers offer call-blocking options, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. You can sign up for this service in-store or on your service provider’s website. Each service costs about $4 per month. There are also a number of call-blocking apps available on Android and Apple devices, but if you subscribe to a blocking service through your phone provider, these apps are unnecessary. Finally, you can sign up for the Federal Trade Commission’s “Do Not Call” program (DoNotCall.gov). While the Do Not Call program can help cut back on calls, this list is largely ignored by scammers. If you’re getting a ridiculous number of robocalls every day, signing up can offer you a brief respite. Thankfully, Congress is already attempting to fix this problem by making it harder for scammers to call you. But until they are able to pass tough, effective legislation, it is up to us, as consumers to remain vigilant and do what we can to keep our personal and financial >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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