Retirement Planning Strategies - July 2019

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JULY 2019

HEALTHY, WEALTHY,

&Wise

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

The Historical Impact of Federal Employees WHY OUR NATION NEEDS PUBLIC SERVANTS

contributions of countless people to make the Declaration more than just a piece of paper full of wishful thinking. In a sense, those who fought in and supported the war effort were the first federal employees. We may not know all their names now, but they contributed to a cause that has an incalculable impact on our lives today. I think making these unseen, unheralded contributions is a situation to which many federal employees can relate. Often, federal employees are maligned and discredited simply by virtue of who signs their checks. The average person doesn’t realize just how many things they rely on every day are the result of government- funded projects. Baby formula owes its existence to NASA, and GPS wouldn’t exist without the National Weather Service. Funding and research for the internet as we know it came from the National Science Foundation. The list goes on. We are fortunate to live in the greatest country in the world, and much of its greatness is the result of a government created to both represent and improve the lives of its people. The work of public servants of all stripes is essential in making government work. The common layperson may not see all the ways federal

employees contribute to our society, but those contributions are there just the same.

This Independence Day, I hope you have the chance to take a moment and realize just how special it is to be a federal employee. Serving the greater good through public service has been an American tradition since before those 56 signatures landed on the Declaration of Independence. It’s part of the fabric of our nation. You are part of a long tradition of people who wanted to better their country through their work. That’s a really big deal. more than that. It’s about our nation’s history: its struggles and its triumphs. It’s about the people who fought tirelessly to make the United States the place it is today. Equally, I think, it should be about the folks who devote their energy to the betterment of today’s country. So, in honor of Independence Day, let me thank each and every federal employee for the great work done for our nation. Enjoy the fireworks. You deserve it. The Fourth of July may commemorate a single event in history, but it’s about much

We celebrate Independence Day to commemorate the day that 56 of our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. Even when that famous document was signed, the colonists were not automatically granted freedom from England. They worked tirelessly to secure it. By the end of the Revolutionary War, George Washington lost more battles than he won, and many of the men who signed the Declaration went bankrupt. Thousands of lives were lost in the battle to break away from Britain, but, in the end, a new nation emerged victoriously. History, as they say, is written by the winners. It’s easy to view American independence as a foregone conclusion. In reality, it was anything but. It took the

–Ann Vanderslice

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Meet Keith Spengel “There are 2.6 million federal employees, but there’s only one Ann Vanderslice,”

OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING

country. In the past nine years, he’s hosted over 1,000 seminars and training days. “I sort of stumbled into the world of retirement planning,” Keith says. “I was working in broadcasting when I began to realize how few people had the knowledge and tools to successfully plan for life after work. All these years later, here I am.” In addition to hitting the books, Keith is loving the chance to get to know an entirely new subset of the American workforce. “Federal employees have super interesting work lives,” he says. “In a single day, I talk to people who work at any number of federal agencies: the Department of Defense, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the General Services Administration, you name it. Many of these people do exceptional things and make huge contributions to our nation. It’s amazing to be able to help them make good financial planning decisions.” Outside of work, Keith needs two things to be happy: a stage and a microphone. Whether performing stand-up comedy, playing blues harmonica, or speaking at events, he’s naturally charismatic and engaging. Lucky for us, then, that he’s applying his talents to educate federal employees of all ages on the importance of preparing for retirement.

says Keith Spengel, the new director of financial education and training at Retirement Planning Strategies. “The main function of my role is to help us spread the word about the importance of retirement planning to federal employees of all ages.”

Keith joined our team in January but, in the intervening months, he’s been learning the intricacies of the federal retirement system from Ann herself. “The hardest part of the training has been getting through the Federal Employee Almanac,” Keith reveals. “It’s a completely different system — you don’t just get a 401(k) and that’s that — which is why so few financial advisors are adept at working with public servants. Understanding the ins and outs of the federal retirement program may be like learning a new language, but it’s vital and fascinating work.”

Before joining Retirement Planning Strategies, Keith was hosting retirement planning events for private sector workers all over the

Title AGuide to Eating Seasonally This July ZUCCHINI, AVOCADO, AND SWISS CHARD — OH MY!

TAGLINE

FRUITFUL HARVEST Avocado toast lovers rejoice! Your season is here. Avocados are in season during July, joining many other fruity favorites. Gorge yourself on scrumptious blackberries, sweet strawberries, and bountiful tomatoes. Don’t forget about the cherries and blueberries, too! Because these fruits are so plentiful this time of the year, it’s easy to find ingredients for your favorite recipes. Host a Latin-inspired food night with fresh guacamole and salsa, or make a delectable shortcake with a blackberry and strawberry mixture on top. GRILL GAME SO STRONG There’s no better time to fire up the grill than July, and not just because of the weather. Zucchini and corn reach their peak during July, and these grilling favorites pair well with steaks, burgers, hot dogs, or

When you eat something during its harvesting season, you get the most out of your meal. In-season fruits and vegetables are more nutrient-dense than their out- of-season counterparts, and there’s no matching the flavor profile of fresh, in- season produce. Even better, because in- season foods are so bountiful during their peak, you can save a lot of money by shopping with the season. This July, enjoy some tasty foods during their prime with this handy guide.

fish. Go low-carb by stuffing your zucchini with vegetables and a protein for a charred skillet bowl. Even better, add some corn to your fresh salsa to add an extra zing to your tacos. Regardless of how you utilize them, zucchini and corn are sweetest, juiciest, and freshest during July. GO GREEN Filling your plate with plenty of greens is never easier than in July. Pick up a bundle of spinach, arugula, lettuce, Swiss chard, or any other leafy green, which are all juiciest and freshest during July. Cucumbers and green beans are bountiful this time of the year, as well. This July, add some fresh flavor to your water with cucumbers or create hearty salads with any of the leafy greens mentioned above. After all, there’s no better way to celebrate the middle of summer than by consuming its most delicious foods.

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Beware These Retirement Spending Mistakes

COMMON FINANCIAL PITFALLS

ONLINE SCAMS Hackers and cyberscammers love to prey on the elderly. As gross as it may sound, they know that older generations tend to be less tech savvy than their younger counterparts. You should be wary of online offers that look too good to be true. If you have even the slightest doubt, have a loved one take a look at the offer to ensure you’re not being scammed. Never provide your private financial >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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