Retirement Planning Strategies - January 2021

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JANUARY 2021

HEALTHY, WEALTHY,

&Wise

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

WHAT’S YOUR “ONE THING”? Resolution Success Means Breaking Things Down

We’re all guilty of it: The year starts strong, but then life takes over and it’s hard to keep up our new commitments, whatever they might be. What if I told you that there’s a way to solve that? Would you be interested? First, a quick change of mindset: Stop feeling guilty. Guilt-tripping ourselves never works. We just end up feeling bad, when what we really need is a positive outlook. Don’t set do-or-die resolutions; look for ways to succeed and feel good about it. And when it comes to succeeding, all you need to do is find your “one thing” for 2021. Like anybody, I could write down a list of resolutions, and that’s a good start. Include things that are harder to put into concrete steps, like “improve my relationship with my colleagues” or “find a hobby and time to pursue it.” Next, look for commonalities. How are these connected? What positive behaviors might help you accomplish two of them — or three or four? What obstacles are common to your goals? What we’re doing is narrowing down all those goals to find your “one thing,” which is just the one thing you can do this year that will have the most positive impact on your life.

To the example list above, let’s add “visit an old friend at least once” and “start exercising more.” What do all of these goals have in common? Well, many have to do with time: You need time for a hobby, you need to make time in your day for exercise, and you also need to schedule that visit to an old friend. You may already keep a work calendar, but now you realize you could also add non-work things and just have one daily calendar for all activities. “Keep a calendar” might be your one thing, right? But when you think about it more, you realize that it’s not just about scheduling your time — you already do that at work. No, what you really need is a routine that you can build a calendar around; one that doesn’t change day-to- day. After all, we all know that we’re happier and healthier if we get up and go to bed at about the same time and follow a basic routine for meals and exercise as well. Suddenly, it clicks: “Routine” is your one thing, and a calendar is a tool you use to help achieve it. If you can get in a routine, you’ll budget time for exercise and hobbies, and pretty soon you’ll have time for coworkers and friends as well. Start getting up at the same time on the weekends as you do during the workweek, and Monday mornings will be a lot easier than they used to be —

meaning you might actually have time to bring donuts and coffee for the office on Mondays, a surefire way to improve your office relationships! Once you find your “one thing,” you see ways that scale up to your biggest goals and down to your daily successes. And instead of keeping the dreaded resolution list, you just have to keep in mind your “one thing” throughout the day, and let the pieces fall into place behind it. This year, my “one thing” is leadership. Every day, as often as I can, I’m going to ask myself what I can do to be a better leader. From attending conferences and training to asking “what would a good leader do here” when presented with a tough choice, that “one thing” will be at the top of my mind. I hope you find your “one thing” and keep it at the top of your own mind in 2021. No stress, no guilt, just that “one thing” you’re going to do all year long. P.S. If you want to learn more about the “one thing” method of success, I recommend you check out Gary Keller and Jay Papasan’s book, “The ONE Thing.” It’s a great way to start your year! –Ann Vanderslice

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Spotlighting John Wilber

PREPARING FOR RETIREMENT LEFT JOHN TIME TO JAM

preserves (and, yes, canned brisket) are just the newest iteration of a preparedness lifestyle. John is ready for disaster in other ways. He set up the breaker box for his entire house with an inexpensive device that allows him to hook up a portable generator — from which to power his entire house. Or take, for instance, his soapstone woodstove, which he explains “retains more heat than metal varieties and slowly gives that heat off.” The end result? “I don’t have to get up and stoke it in the middle of the night!”

If that’s not what retirement is about, we don’t know what it is!

“Preparing for eventualities is a way to keep my skills current and active,” John says. “After the disaster of COVID-19 is all over, I’m planning to consult with people and help them stay prepared. That could mean some

For many people, retirement isn’t the beginning of the end — it’s just the end of the beginning! That’s the case with Retirement Planning Strategies client John Wilber, a retired naval intelligence officer of 24 years and former regional director of the Selective Service System. Nowadays, John lives in Colorado, but the work he does is a through line from his days in the government. “While in government, a sideline of mine was preparedness and continuity of operations,” John says. But what does that look like these days without a Congress-approved budget to work with? “Lots of jams and preserves,” he jokes. Except he isn’t entirely joking. John wanted to learn canning, and it turns out that fruit is the easiest to work with — and it carries a lower risk of going bad than meat products do. “I also experimented with vacuum sealing,” he says, “but canning has always interested me, and it’s easier to store certain food items that way.” The next step, John says, is vegetables and meats. “You have to really know your stuff to pull off some of the meat canning. The risk is too high for an amateur.” John must not be an amateur, because he’s already canned brisket and has added it to his collection of crab apple, blueberry, blackberry, and peach jams in the basement.

water bottles and a roll of duct tape in their vehicle, or it could mean helping them stage and prepare every aspect of their life.” Reach out to us if you’d like help with preparing in your life, and we can put you in touch with John! And thanks, John, for letting us feature you!

Of course, all the jam in the world won’t help you survive a disaster — at least, not if that’s all you have! But as it turns out, jams and

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Three Common Winter Plumbing Problems

AND THEIR SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

If you live somewhere that gets significantly colder during the winter, be aware that the cold can damage your plumbing. In some cases, if you’re not actively working to prevent this damage, you can end up paying a plumber a pretty hefty sum to get everything up and running again.

temptation and make sure you cover all your exterior taps with stoppers to prevent cold air from entering the pipes that way.

WATER HEATER FAILURE If you stop getting hot water out of any of the faucets in your home, it’s probably because the water heater isn’t working. The colder it gets, the harder the water heater has to work, which sometimes causes it to work itself to death. To prevent this, add a layer of insulation around the water heater. Just make sure the insulation doesn’t block air flow or combustion gas outflow, where a burner is used. CLOGGED OUTDOOR DRAINS While the ideal time to clean your gutters is right before the first snowfall, it can’t hurt to check your gutters this far into winter if you get a chance. Clogged gutters can lead to a buildup of standing water on your roof, which can cause damage and leaks. So, when your gutters aren’t buried under snow, it’s a good idea to periodically check for clogs. When it comes to solving winter plumbing problems, the old cliche is true: The best defense is a good offense. Understanding common problems and their simple fixes will save you from paying a huge plumbing bill down the road.

Below are the three main problems that can beset your home’s plumbing during the winter along with strategies to prevent them.

FROZEN PIPES Frozen pipes lead to water buildup, which can result in high pressure that can burst the pipes when they thaw and cause serious damage to your property. The easiest way to prevent this from happening is to keep your thermostat above 55 degrees F. While that might not seem hard, if you’re leaving the house for a few days during the winter, you might be tempted to turn the thermostat down to save some money. Resist that

BRAIN! Train Your

Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole

INGREDIENTS

Inspired by GoodHousekeeping.com

• 1 lb potatoes, peeled and cut in large chunks

• 8 chicken thighs or drumsticks, lightly salted • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour • 1 onion, finely sliced • 2 celery sticks, thickly sliced • 2 carrots, thickly sliced • 1 leek, thickly sliced

• 2 garlic cloves, sliced • 14 oz chicken stock • 1 sprig rosemary

• Finely grated zest and juice of 1/2 lemon • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped

DIRECTIONS

4. Transfer vegetables to the slow cooker and add the stock, rosemary, and lemon zest. 5. Cook on high for 2.5–3 hours or until chicken is tender. 6. Check seasoning and add lemon juice to taste. Top with parsley before serving.

1. In a large frying pan, heat oil and fry salted chicken on high until brown. 2. Transfer chicken to the slow cooker. Add flour and stir. 3. In the frying pan on high heat, fry the onion, celery, carrots, leeks, and potatoes until lightly browned. Add garlic and fry for 30 seconds.

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issue INSIDE THIS

This “One Thing”Means 2021 Success! PAGE 1

Preparing for Retirement Left John Time to Jam PAGE 2 How to Address Winter Plumbing Problems PAGE 3 These Old-School Hobbies Are Making a Huge Comeback PAGE 4

OUT WITH THE NEW, IN WITH THE OLD! Four Old-School Hobbies Making a Major Comeback

January is National Hobby Month — and for good reason! As people set goals for the new year, they’re also thinking about trying new hobbies. But with so many out there, picking just one can be a hobby in itself. Thanks in part to COVID-19, this year, many people are rediscovering old-school hobbies. Some of these have been around for decades or even longer, and others have established communities that can rely on one another for support, sharing information, and more. Here are four great examples.

COLLECTING CARDS No matter what people were into during the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, there was a trading card game for it. And even going into 2021, that tradition has been kept alive. When many people were stuck at home last year, they rediscovered their card collections and remembered how much fun they had. As a result, card sales went through the roof, and online card communities lit up with activity from all over the world. RESTORING CARS Car restoration is a hobby that lets you get your hands dirty and it’s one that you can do with your kids or grandkids. It can be not only educational but fun as well! Together, you can track down parts, talk to folks who are also interested in restoration, and learn about the history of your car. Though car restoration can be a bit costly and time consuming, it’s certainly a journey worth taking. EMBROIDERING Embroidery has taken off because it’s both inexpensive and fairly easy to get into. Plus, many people have fallen in love with its meditative quality. One of the great things about embroidery is that you can use it to make amazing personalized gifts, like pillows, wall hangings, and kitchen towels!

MAKING BREAD Over the last year, interest in this ancient craft has skyrocketed. Homemade bread is tastier and more nutritious than store-bought, and it’s so satisfying to watch it come together. Not to mention it’s a great skill to have! With so many types of bread to try, you’re not going to run out of ideas any time soon.

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