Retirement Planning Strategies - October 2020

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OCTOBER 2020

HEALTHY, WEALTHY,

&Wise

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

THE HAPPINESS FACTOR Learning to Find Joy Amid the Pressure of Change

In last month’s newsletter, I talked all about how tiny habits can help affect great change. Something as simple as developing the habit of reading a book for a few minutes before bed every night can help make tackling bigger, more life- altering practices feel more achievable. So this month, I want to talk about another incredibly important factor in finding the motivation to start tackling changes in your life: happiness. Lately, I’ve been listening to a podcast called “The Happiness Lab,” hosted by Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos. She dives into the latest scientific research on what happiness really means and how we achieve it, and she shares some pretty incredible real-life stories along the way. For example, one episode examined the assumption most people have that more money leads to more happiness and explained why that’s actually not true. Studies and surveys have consistently shown that at a certain point, say when someone goes from a $55K salary to a $60K salary, the difference doesn’t make them any happier about their life. Money and happiness stop existing on a straight line together at a relatively low number.

But what really prompted Dr. Santos to start “The Happiness Lab” was a student survey she conducted at Yale. We’ve all seen the videos of students opening acceptance letters and screaming and jumping for joy upon learning they’ve been accepted to the school of their dreams, but what many of us don’t see is that during their first year, nearly 80% of students become unhappy with the way their life has progressed. The Yale students who took this survey felt tired, overworked, and stressed out, which completely detracted from the sheer joy they once felt about simply being a student at Yale. Dr. Santos was shaken by these staggering findings, so she decided to do something about them. That’s when she created a new Yale course based on the psychology of happiness. It explores what it is, how to achieve it, and how to discover “happiness hacks” to help you find or create more happiness in everything you do. Dr. Santos had no idea the course would be as popular as it has become, but she’s been thrilled to see a majority of first-year students sign up for it, making it the most popular college course in Yale’s history ever.

The reactions to this class have been so uplifting that now, the course has been made available to anyone and everyone with an internet connection. That’s right — you can take Dr. Santos’ happiness class for free online at Coursera.com. I’ve been talking to many clients who, whether they’re retired or not, are feeling the added stresses and pressures that this year has imposed on life. Like those first-year Yale students, they feel like they’re missing the joy from their lives that they once had. That’s why I’ve been so eagerly recommending “The Happiness Lab” podcast and the Coursera happiness course to them. It’s up to each one of us to take an introspective look at what happiness really means to us and what we can do differently to generate it for ourselves. Change is happening all around us, and it’s asking us to change with it. Sometimes, the only thing we can control about change is the way we decide to feel about it. But every day, more and more people are discovering that if they can find a way to feel happy about it, then tackling change isn’t so hard after all.

–Ann Vanderslice

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Meet Tiffany Viduya After six years of working for the Boy Scouts of America, Tiffany Viduya is joining our team and we’re thrilled! Tiffany became our receptionist in August and has

SHE CONNECTS OUR TEAM WITH YOURS

a staggered schedule. “I’m so excited to come to work every day because it means I get to work with incredible people every day,” she says. “It was so clear from day one that every single person here is about building supportive relationships with each other and with clients. It’s what I love most about Retirement Planning Strategies.” Outside of work, as though giving her job her all isn’t enough, Tiffany is also working toward a business degree from Red Rocks Community College. “I feel like I’ll be able to bring so much more to my work when I have the knowledge that comes with a business degree,” she says. “We can always be better at anything we do, right?” When she’s not working or studying, Tiffany loves spending time with family and getting out of doors. As a Colorado native, hiking with friends is one of her favorite activities, but a recent trip that she can’t wait to take again was to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. “It’s a beautiful place for stargazing, particularly incredible views of the Milky Way. It was an experience unlike anything I’ve ever done before, and I’d recommend it to anyone.” We’re already eager to take Tiffany’s recommendations and can’t wait for our clients to do the same.

already brought so much to the role. “I played several roles with the Boy Scouts, but the one outstanding thing my work there helped me realize is that I love being a support system for people,” Tiffany says.

We knew Tiffany’s background would make her an asset to our team and our clients as well. “I love being that connecting bridge between our clients and our talented team,” she says. “Having the opportunity to assist our advisors with preparing for their client meetings and getting everyone on the same page about important tasks means we can still provide the same great services we always have, even during a time when that’s still hard for some businesses.”

Tiffany is one of a handful of team members here who comes into our office every single day to work in-person rather than on

THE SPOOKY ‘STAR WARS’ SHORTAGE OF 1977

A long time ago … in October of 1977 to be exact, Halloween was fast approaching and many parents faced a major dilemma. That year, kids didn’t want to go trick-or-treating dressed as vampires,

more “Star Wars” costumes than pumpkins. Kids who got their hands on an authentic Han Solo or C-3PO costume were considered lucky. But kids who arrived at the store to find the costume shelves empty didn’t throw in the towel. Instead, they went and found some brown towels to make their own Chewbacca costumes. In the current age of cosplay, homemade costumes based on movie characters are commonplace, but in 1977, this was uncharted territory. Kids searched for white dresses to be Princess Leia and bathrobes they could cut short to mimic Luke Skywalker. Moms everywhere broke out their sewing machines and created costumes using only action figures for reference. It was grueling work, but it showed just how much kids

witches, or ghosts. The classic costumes simply wouldn’t do. That Halloween, almost every child in the United States wanted to dress as their favorite character from the new hit movie, “Star Wars.” Today, you can walk into a Halloween City on Oct. 30 and easily pick up a costume for Rey, Darth Vader, or Princess Leia. But in 1977, less than five months after the release of the first movie in the popular franchise, getting your hands on any “Star Wars” merchandise was a bit more difficult. Ben Cooper, a costume company in Brooklyn,

had the foresight to license “Star Wars” for costume rights after the movie came out. Unfortunately, they didn’t foresee how great the demand for these costumes would be.

wanted to spend Halloween in a galaxy far, far away.

The “Star Wars” costume shortage marked a new era for Halloween — one where making your own costume was just as cool, if not better, than buying it.

Retailers across the country were selling out of “Star Wars” costumes as fast as they came in. Some stores reported selling

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Does Vitamin D Help Our Bones and Our Muscles?

A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN BENEFIT OF VITAMIN D

As the weather cools and the days get shorter, we can’t rely as much on the sun for our daily dose of vitamin D. The primary function of vitamin D is regulating the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are necessary for

of absorption and activation in the body, researchers observed the levels of inactive vitamin D in 116 women ages 20–74. What they found was that women with higher muscle mass had lower levels of inactive vitamin D, while women with lower muscle mass had higher levels of inactive vitamin D. The conclusion researchers drew was that active vitamin D might help optimize muscle strength. While that conclusion is not ironclad, vitamin D’s other well-known benefits still make it worth getting your daily dose. It can aid weight loss, enhance mood, support cardiovascular health, boost the immune system, and strengthen bones, among many other benefits. So, its potential muscle-boosting properties are just another reason to get more vitamin D. To get more of this important vitamin in your diet, try adding salmon, mushrooms, and even canned tuna to your menu. Also, as winter approaches, it might be time to start taking a vitamin D supplement. Whether you’re 20 or 74 years old, it’s never

strengthening our bones and teeth, which becomes increasingly important as we age and our bones naturally become more brittle. While these benefits of vitamin D are well documented, did you know that getting your daily dose of vitamin D can also contribute to healthier muscles?

A few years ago, researchers published a study that seemed to show that vitamin D could potentially help people gain muscle mass. While the research team said their results weren’t conclusive, their findings were certainly interesting.

Vitamin D enters the body in an inactive form. It doesn’t become active until it comes in contact with the right enzymes in either the liver or the kidneys. To learn more about what factors affect this vitamin’s rate

too late to find ways to strengthen your muscles.

BRAIN! Train Your

Classic Pumpkin Soup

Inspired by MinimalistBaker.com

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup canned light coconut milk • 2 tbsp honey • 1/4 tsp sea salt • 1/4 tsp pepper • 1/4 tsp cinnamon • 1/4 tsp nutmeg

• 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 shallots, diced • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 2 1/4 cups pumpkin purée (homemade or canned) • 2 cups vegetable broth

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté olive oil, shallots, and garlic for 2–3 minutes. 2. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. 3. Transfer the soup to a blender and purée. Pour the blended soup back into the pan. 4. Cook over medium-low heat for 5–10 minutes. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired, then serve!

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issue INSIDE THIS You Can Discover Your Happiness PAGE 1

Introducing Tiffany Viduya PAGE 2

A Previously Unknown Benefit of Vitamin D PAGE 2

How HIIT Benefits People of All Ages PAGE 3

5 Steps to a Safer Hotel Room PAGE 4

5 STEPS TO A SAFER HOTEL ROOM Keep Strangers and Viruses Out With These Quick Tips

3. QUARANTINE YOUR REMOTE CONTROL . As USA Today puts it, “It’s common knowledge that one of the germiest items in a hotel room is the remote control.” To avoid the ick, pick up the remote while wearing gloves and drop it into a Ziploc. Then, remove your gloves and seal the bag. Now you can use the remote without touching it directly! 4. INVEST IN A RUBBER DOOR WEDGE. Viruses aren’t the only risk in hotel rooms — break-ins are another concern. To keep your room secure, bring a rubber door wedge. They cost less than $10 on Amazon and make kicking in a door much more difficult. 5. FOR MAXIMUM SECURITY, BRING A DOOR ALARM. Simple travel alarms hang from the handle of a door and have two prongs that slide between the door and its frame. When the door opens and the prongs separate, that triggers the alarm. These simple devices send thieves running, and Lewis N. Clark makes a model for just $14.99.

Why May Is the Best Month to Start be extra safe, strip these off the bed and wash your hands afterward. If you’re chilly, opt for the hotel’s spare blanket (it’s probably hiding in a closet) or bring one from home. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and your family from illness, but sometimes life gets in the way. Maybe you need to travel for work, to help a relative, or just to keep your kids from bouncing off the walls. If you have a hotel stay on the books, worrying about safety is understandable. But by taking these precautions, you can protect your loved ones and increase your odds of coming home healthy. 1. BRING A SANITATION KIT AND USE IT! Most hotels are going above and beyond to sanitize their rooms these days, but it never hurts to take extra care. Before you check in, pick up cleaning supplies like disinfectant spray, wipes, plastic bags, and gloves. Then, use them to wipe down your room. Focus on big surfaces as well as features like faucet handles, doorknobs, lightswitches, and microwave buttons. 2. SKIP THE DECORATIVE LINENS. Many hotels don’t wash decorative bedding like comforters and fancy pillowcases. To

Hopefully, these tips give you some peace of mind on your next trip. Happy trails!

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