Retirement Planning Strategies - May 2022

Retirement Planning Strategies - May 2022

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MAY 2022

HEALTHY, WEALTHY,

&Wise

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

HIGHER STANDARDS = A BETTER RETIREMENT LEARN FROM MARCH MADNESS UNDERDOGS!

March Madness ended weeks ago but there are two games I still can’t get out of my head. Do you remember North Carolina’s matchup against Baylor? Baylor was seeded No. 1 going into the game and North Carolina was No. 8, after a lackluster season. But against all odds, the Tar Heels raced out to a 25-point lead.

Then, they blew it!

Baylor came back and tied the score at 80 with 16 seconds left in regulation. The game went into overtime, and I was on the edge of my seat. Nobody thought North Carolina had a chance, but the Tar Heels didn’t give up. They were in it to win it. They came back during overtime and did just that — 93-86! The other game I can’t forget is an even wilder David and Goliath story: The St. Peter’s University Peacocks vs. the Kentucky Wildcats. If you know even a little bit about basketball you probably know that the Wildcats are a powerhouse. They’re always good, and this time they were seeded No. 2 in the East Regional. The Peacocks were No. 15. It was their first time to the Big Dance. It’s a small school with just 2,700 students. Calling them an underdog would be an understatement. Yet, incredibly, they took on Kentucky and beat them. I could see the Kentucky players thinking, “What the heck just happened?” Then, the Peacocks beat the No. 7 seed and No. 3 seed too! I was cheering like crazy! These games reminded me that my favorite part of March Madness is watching the upsets and seeing small-college teams outplay their bigger rivals. Over the years, I’ve realized these winners have something important in common: They set high standards for themselves, commit to those standards, and stay resilient when things don’t go exactly as planned. No matter what happens, successful teams just don’t stop! Look at the North Carolina vs. Baylor game. North Carolina could have thrown in the towel when they lost their lead, but they kept pushing through the discomfort and pulled out a victory. They knew that if they continued to put in the effort, the rest would take care of itself.

in retirement, like injuries, illnesses, and family conflicts. But we don’t have to let that bad luck get us down, or feel discouraged by slim odds. Just because you’re retired doesn’t mean you should let go of the high standards you set for your life years ago. You can still set goals and commit to achieving them. It might not seem likely that you’ll be able to travel to Rome, move to the other side of the country to be closer to your kids, or turn your hobby into a late- in-life business. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t do it! Don’t give in to the temptation to quit when you’re about to win. Instead, set big goals (even if they make you uncomfortable), hold yourself to high standards, and make a plan to achieve your retirement dreams. Assume that your plan will be disrupted, but never stop moving forward and never give up. I always look at the underdogs during March Madness and wonder, “Are they nervous?” This year I got an answer when a sportscaster asked a young man that very question. He looked right at the camera and said, “What do I have to be nervous about?” I aspire to face my golden years with the confidence of that college basketball player, and you should too. For more inspiration, open up this newsletter to meet a couple of retirees who have kept pushing themselves and are winning!

You don’t have to be a sports lover to see that this is analogous to life off the court. We all encounter hurdles we don’t expect

–Ann Vanderslice

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Raise a Glass to The Lucky Couple!

RETIREE PAT AND HER HUSBAND, SCOTT, ARE AWARD-WINNING HOMEBREWERS

If you venture into the basement of Pat and Scott Ludwig’s home in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, you’ll find a cross between a brewery’s back room and a mad scientist’s laboratory. The couple has squeezed a five-tap beer fridge, a two- tap converted chest freezer, and both one- and five-gallon homebrewing systems into the space! On any given day, you could discover broken-down bourbon barrels or 60 pounds of cherries waiting to become cherry Lambic. It’s a beer-lover’s wonderland! Scott started his adventures in homebrewing back in 2007. That year, a few of his friends tried their hand at making beer. They handed Scott a sample of their latest brew and he was immediately hooked. It tasted a lot like the vivid, flavorful brews he used to drink in South America during his days in the Peace Corps. “Their beers were really, really, really good beers. I’ve always been kind of a science guy so brewing was a natural progression. Brewing is really cool because it’s this marriage of chemistry, biology, and physics,” he says. Scott is still working for the U.S. Forest Service, managing the Mineral & Geology Management group’s National Reclamation Program. But he can see the light at the end of the federal tunnel! This summer, he plans to retire for good and join Pat in their basement brewery full-time. It took more than a decade for Pat to dip her toe into the brewing process. But in 2019, after she retired from a 40-year career as a dental hygienist, she finally had time to give the hobby a try. “I was never a big fan of IPAs, and that’s Pat’s favorite kind of beer to drink,” Scott explains, adding that he’s more of a bourbon barrel- aged Russian imperial stout drinker. “So instead of me trying to make IPAs for Pat, I taught her how to homebrew so she could make her own IPAs!” It was a brilliant idea. Pat fell in love with the artistry of brewing, and soon she was down in the basement all the time playing with flavors. The Ludwigs experimented with new yeasts and hops; fermented batches with fresh fruit; and chopped up old wine barrels to soak in their brews. “To do a smaller batch, we cut up a stave that we had from an American oak barrel, and then I soaked pieces of that in Chardonnay wine and put it into a saison beer and let it sit there

for about a month or two to impart those Chardonnay flavors into that saison beer,” Pat said.

The experiments were huge successes! Today, both Pat and Scott are members of the Rock Hoppers Brew Club, and they’re decorated champions of homebrewing competitions. Pat always makes a point to enter women-only contests like The Queen of Beer Women’s Homebrewing Competition in California and SheBrew in Oregon. Her beers have medaled multiple times in both competitions, and she has even won two prestigious Pro-Am competitions at the Great American Beer Festival! Perhaps her biggest success is “My Fav,” a fruity, tropical IPA that’s crisp and light on the palette. It won a Pro-Am and took first place in the American Standard IPA and Strong Ale category at SheBrew this year. Pat’s Pro-Am winning beers have even been served in local bars. When Scott retires, the Ludwigs plan to keep on homebrewing and travel the country in their refurbished four-wheel drive Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van. “We’ve already made some plans to do Yellowstone and just start traveling, both in the U.S. and internationally,” Pat says.

Ahh, the joys of retirement. We’ll raise a glass to that!

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RETIRE AND GO TO YALE — FOR FREE

Ivy League Classes Are for Anyone!

Ah, retirement! These golden years only come with one rule: Do what you want to do!

revolution, and grappled with the impacts history has on today’s culture. Be sure to check out this class before booking that trip to Paris!

That’s a retirement secret many people don’t understand until they actually get there. You have so many possibilities that you may feel unsure where to start. Maybe the big plans you had aren’t living up to expectations, or you worry about depleting your retirement savings. Maybe you’re just … bored. It’s easy to feel rudderless or lost in retirement, but you don’t have to feel that way for long. Among the many resources available to retirees, Yale University has a catalog of pre-recorded classes that any user can take for free . Participants can be as active as they wish to be. Some students choose to do the readings, homework, and tests, while others simply listen to lectures. Best of all, you can learn something new or discover a hobby thanks to some of the world’s brightest minds, all without spending a penny.

Modern Poetry — Get in touch with your emotional side and impress your friends at your next party

by learning about prominent poets in the Modern Era. Students will engage with texts that give life to the social landscape during pivotal, historical moments. Professor Langdon Hammer provides his expert critiques to The New York Times Book Review magazine, so you know you’re learning from an expert. The Psychology, Biology and Politics of Food — If you’re looking to improve your well-being in retirement, this just might be the course for you. Professor Kelly D. Brownell is a distinguished expert of food science. His course is an overview of the political implications of food science and the way food impacts our mental well-being.

Here are some of our favorites among the dozens of prerecorded courses from which you can choose:

France Since 1871 — This is the perfect course for the history buff and traveler. It provides a modern glimpse into the devastation and growth of France as it battled in world wars, contended with its own

You can download these courses or find others online at OYC.Yale.edu/courses.

Train Your

BRAIN!

Mother’s Day Brunch Rainbow Frittata

Inspired by EatingWell.com

INGREDIENTS

• Nonstick cooking spray • 1/4 cup sweet potato, diced • 1/4 cup yellow pepper, diced • 1/4 cup broccoli, chopped • 8 eggs

• Basil, thyme, salt, and pepper, to taste • 1/2 avocado, pitted, peeled, and thinly sliced • Cherry tomatoes, halved • Sriracha hot sauce (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 F and coat a cast-iron skillet with nonstick cooking spray. 2. In the skillet over medium heat, cook sweet potatoes, yellow pepper, and broccoli until soft. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, basil, thyme, salt, and pepper. 4. Pour egg mixture into skillet with vegetables. Don’t stir but instead use a spatula to lift the edges of the egg mixture until it is evenly distributed.

5. Transfer mixture to oven. Bake for 5 minutes or until the dish sets. 6. Top with avocado and tomatoes. Drizzle Sriracha on top (if desired).

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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. 1312972 5/22.

issue INSIDE THIS

The Secret to a Bett r Retirement PAGE 1

Meet Two Award-Winning Homebrewers PAGE 2

Need a Retirement Plan? Go toYale!

Mother’s Day Brunch Rainbow Frittata PAGE 3

Remembering the Space Race PAGE 4

AMERICA’S JOURNEY TO ORBIT EARTH The First American in Space

On May 5, 1961, Alan B. Shepard became the first American to enter space on the Freedom 7 Mercury capsule. It was an incredibly momentous event, but the back story is just as intriguing. Here’s a look at what led up to Shepard’s historic trip. During the 1950s and ’60s, the U.S. and Soviet Union found themselves in a race to conquer space. The United States began their space mission in 1958 with Project Mercury, which had three goals: orbiting a crewed spacecraft, investigating the ability to function in space, and safely recovering the spacecraft and the crew. Before the first American ever took flight, several test launches were conducted to see what needed to be adjusted and modified for a safe launch into space. The first successful launch of Mercury without an astronaut occurred in December 1960. But before an American was launched into space, NASA tested the Mercury capsule in January 1961 with a chimpanzee named Ham, who took a route that was similar to the one the astronaut would eventually follow.

After going through numerous simulations, NASA decided that Shepard would be making the first flight. He began his mission on May 5 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. More than half a million Americans watched the launch on nearby beaches. Shepard took his orbit around the Earth and made a successful return. Days later he received NASA’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal, from President John F. Kennedy on May 8, 1961. Although the Soviet Union sent the first human into orbit in April 1961, this didn’t stop the U.S. from pushing forward. Instead, the bravery of these astronauts and scientists inspired the U.S. to go to new heights and have the first man on the moon by 1969. There are still ongoing debates about whether the U.S. or the USSR won the space race. Either way, it has allowed the world to conduct unprecedented research on our galaxy. As a whole, this event led to tremendous efforts to push the limits of human capabilities, create new technology to explore outer space, and see what our universe holds.

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