Wolf Retirement Navigation - January 2021

Wolf Retirement Navigation - January 2021

RET IREMENT NAV IGAT ION

MONTHLY

4230 Pablo Professional Court Ste. 101 Jacksonville, FL 32224

4711 US Highway 17 Suite C-5 Fleming Island, FL 32003

As seen on:

January 2021

The Future Is Bright and Promising

DON’T GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS

restrictions are lifted, you don’t have to worry about money. To get started, set some time aside to think about what your dreams are and start on a plan. I know that’s easier said than done. I have a hard time getting some free time in my own schedule with family, business, client, and community responsibilities, but I’ve found it helps to actually account for that planning. If you use a scheduling app, or even Google Calendar, to keep your day straight, open it up and find some time when you aren’t so busy. That could be in a week, even two weeks — no matter when that gap in your schedule is, jot down some time so you can plan for your dreams. Even if you can only spend 5–10 minutes on it over several days, it’s still better than no planning at all. The thing about dreams is that they aren’t achieved overnight. Dreams like these can happen, but they are very rare. Usually, to accomplish things, it takes time and effort. All dreams can evolve from a figment of an idea and become a reality; all it takes is that first step. As we enter 2021, I want to encourage everyone to rekindle their dreams and make them shine. Thank you for your friendship and business!

A dream is an idea — but it can’t stop there. If you have a dream you want to achieve, it’s time to get serious. Doing what you can to make sure your dream becomes a reality might be difficult. Often, it requires the right mindset, determination, and planning to get started, but once you do, you’ll be on the right path. Even the most difficult dreams can come true by taking these steps. The most important step in accomplishing any dream is to plan. Planning gives your dream a more concrete feel and allows you to consider how long it will take and what you might need to succeed. Whether that’s retiring on your own terms, taking a vacation to another country when the world opens back up, starting a business, or writing a book, getting that first rough idea will help you in the long run. Even with the pandemic, you can still plan. If you want to travel, now might be the perfect time to start saving so when traveling

When it comes to fulfilling our dreams, there’s a lot that could distract us from those goals. Unfortunately, for hundreds of thousands of people, 2020 was one large distraction. Over the course of every hardship last year, many people may have lost sight of their dreams. Yet, even if you’ve lost sight of them, I want to encourage you to not give up on the dreams you have. Jan. 13 celebrates Make Your Dreams Come True Day. I know this holiday might seem like it’s telling people to accomplish their dreams in a day, but that’s not what it stands for. I believe this is a great holiday to remind us what is truly important in our lives and that our dreams are important enough to keep working toward no matter the adversity. It serves as a starting point. As we leave 2020 behind and look to the future, it’s a perfect time to turn our thoughts to those dreams once again.

-Adam Wolf, CPA, CFP ®

Investment Advisory Services offered through Retirement Wealth Advisors (RWA), a Registered Investment Advisor. Wolf Retirement Navigation LLC and RWA are not affiliated. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. This information is designed to provide general information on the subjects covered; it is not, however, intended to provide specific legal or tax advice and cannot be used to avoid tax penalties or to promote, market, or recommend any tax plan or arrangement. Please note that Wolf Retirement Navigation LLC and its affiliates do not give legal or tax advice. You are encouraged to consult your tax advisor or attorney.

Annuity guarantees rely on the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer. Any comments regarding safe and secure investments and guaranteed income streams refer only to fixed insurance products. They do not refer in any way to securities or investment advisory products. Fixed insurance and annuity product guarantees are subject to the claims‐paying ability of the issuing company and are not offered by Retirement Wealth Advisors.

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GREASE AND FINGERPRINTS BE GONE 3 Handy Ways to Clean Your Screens

phone screen gets, you can clean it any time, any place. These wipes are individually wrapped and can easily fit in a pocket, purse, or drawer at work. As an added bonus, they can also clean your eyeglasses. You can find them for $7.49 on Amazon!

Screen Cleaner

Best Buy has its own brand of screen cleaner called Insignia. Insignia can thoroughly and safely clean any device’s screen and keep it streak-free long after cleaning. Since you simply spray some onto a cleaning cloth, the 5-ounce bottle lasts quite a while. With a 4.7 rating from over 1,400 reviews, Insignia is perfect for all of your screen-cleaning needs! Pick up a bottle of your own at Best Buy for $9.99.

While phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops have become convenient, everyday technology, one struggle remains: constantly dirty screens. Regular cleaning is a must for battling fingerprints, dust, and other smudges, not to mention all the germs that can collect on the surface of your device. But how do you clean your screens without ruining any functionality? Before you drench your device in your typical household cleaner, try these three cleaning products and say goodbye to dirty screens!

Electronic Wipes

Weiman Electronic Wipes are perfect for removing grease smudges, dust, and fingerprints from any of your delicate screens, including TVs, tablets, phones, and laptops. They can even be used to spot-clean keyboards. The wipes come ready to use and contain no harsh ingredients. You can purchase them on Amazon for $14.98.

Mobile Screen Wipes

Chances are, you use your phone more than all your other devices combined, resulting in a constantly dirty screen. With Zeiss Mobile Screen Wipes, you can rest assured that no matter how dirty your

SLOW DOWN AND TURN THE PAGE

2021’s Must-Read Books

Nev, and a protest against another band that uses a symbol of hate as part of their music. That protest has consequences in the moment, but as a journalist pieces together their story years later, it turns out that the “moral high ground” was more elusive than anyone thought at the time. ‘The Four Winds’ — Kristin Hannah’s writing reminds us that Americans have made much of trying times. “The Four Winds,” which is set in the heart of the Dust Bowl at the height of the Great Depression, is about Texan Elsa Martinelli and the choices she faces during that time. In her story, readers will find parallels — and maybe even answers — to the difficulties in our modern era. What’s on your reading list this year? Novels fresh off the press — or old classics you return to time and again? Be sure to let us know and happy page turning!

Stories are one way we make sense of the world and keep knowledge alive. That tradition is strong today with new novels that touch on recent events and the distant past — often at the same time. Here are the page-turners (and tearjerkers) you won’t want to miss in 2021. ‘Project Hail Mary’ — Few authors find true success online, but Andy Weir did exactly that when his previous book, “The Martian,” originally a blogging project, was turned into a best-selling novel and then Hollywood movie. Weir is back in 2021 with a new novel of adventure and danger in the cold reaches of space. Expect a thrilling tale grounded in hard science — science that saves one minute and reveals new threats the next. ‘The Final Revival of Opal & Nev’ — Author Dawnie Walton tells the fictional story of a 1970s musical act, Opal and

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New Year’s ... Intentions?! A New Take on New Year’s Resolutions

years, even though we’re still dealing with a pandemic and rising cases in many states. This isn’t a sign of delusion, though; in fact, a healthy mindset is crucial to dealing with stress and succeeding in life’s challenges. These new polls indicate that we Americans are nurturing the exact sort of headspace that will carry us through the trying times ahead into a brighter future. To that end, many aren’t calling their resolutions by that name at all; instead, they prefer the word “intentions,” along with the affirmative connotation it carries. What a great way to approach 2021. You could learn a new skill, visit family, or see a landmark you haven’t been to in years! Many of these newly positive thinkers didn’t feel this way before and are just now seeing the importance of a good state of mind. Why not join their ranks?

Resolutions to eat right and lose weight, get in shape, and be more physically active have long dominated polls on Americans’ New Year priorities. But for 2021, a large majority of Americans say they don’t care about “material” resolutions like these at all. Instead, people report wanting to learn a new skill, save money for the future, and spend more time on the road. That’s right, road trips feature heavily in many 2021 “to-do” lists, reflecting the desires of a populace that’s been cooped up in lockdown over much of the past year. Psychologists have long connected road trips with improved mental health and a more positive mental outlook in general — and, sure enough, many Americans report wanting to foster a healthier world view as another 2021 priority.

No gym fees, less eating healthy, and no harsh penalties for failing — what? According to a OnePoll/Affirm survey, and widely reported by People Magazine, these are the realities of most Americans’ New Year’s resolutions for 2021. They reflect a changing set of priorities and maybe a healthier outlook on life due to the ongoing pandemic. Call it a “silver lining” to COVID-19.

In another change, people are feeling more hopeful about 2021 than previous

SUDOKU

This sweet and spicy rice bowl comes together in just 30 minutes and serves four.

INGREDIENTS

• • • • • • • •

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

2 tsp light brown sugar

•

2 tbsp gochujang sauce, or more if desired

1 tsp sesame oil

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes 1 lb lean ground beef

• • •

3 cups cooked brown rice 1 small cucumber, sliced

1/4 cup yellow onion, chopped

1/2 tbsp sesame seeds, plus more for topping

2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated

•

2 scallions, thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, 2 tbsp water, brown sugar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. 2. Spray a deep, nonstick skillet with cooking oil and place over high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks. 3. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger to the meat and cook for 1 minute. 4. Pour sauce over the beef, then cover and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. 5. Divide rice evenly into four serving bowls. Top each with scant 2/3 cup beef, cucumber slices, sesame seeds, scallions, and gochujang, to taste.

Solution on Page 4

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904-232-8760 www.wolfretirement.com 4230 Pablo Professional Court Ste. 101 Jacksonville, FL 32224

INSIDE

Solution to puzzle on Page 3

• Make Your Dreams Shine PAGE 1

• Your Devices Deserve Clean Screens PAGE 2 • Have you Heard About This Book?! PAGE 2 • Is Your New Year’s Resolution Outmoded? PAGE 3

• Korean Beef Rice Bowls PAGE 3

• 3 Steps to Perfect, Comforting Soup PAGE 4

Soup’s On! Soup is perfect for sick days and alongside grilled cheese, and Grandma always seemed to have a recipe to make everything better. For as simple and comforting as soup can be, re-creating those memories from your stovetop includes a few tedious steps. Become a soup master with this go-to guide to winter’s favorite dish. MIND YOUR PEAS AND CARROTS. The magic of a hearty minestrone or old-fashioned chicken noodle soup comes from the flavors of vegetables to create the perfect blend of comfort and taste. However, overcooking or undercooking vegetables can ruin this delicate balance. So, consider the vegetables you want in your soup and plan accordingly. Start by chopping vegetables into bite-size pieces that will easily fit on a spoon. No one wants a spoonful of soup that’s just carrots after all! Then, add vegetables to your soup based on cooking time and flavoring. Carrots, onions, and celery should “sweat” in the pot with oil and seasoning before you add the broth to capture the fullest flavor of these ingredients. Potatoes and other root vegetables can be added in the boiling phase, while leafy greens only need minutes in the pot toward the end to capture their full flavor. SIMMER TO BLEND FLAVORS. Simmering is the key to a great soup. Once all your ingredients are in the pot, reduce the heat to a low simmer. This allows the flavors

Perfect Your Soup Recipe With These 3 Tips

to play together without overcooking. If a soup is boiled for too long, the vegetables, meats, and/or pasta can become mushy and underwhelming. SEASON GRADUALLY — BUT GENEROUSLY. No one enjoys a bland soup, but too much seasoning can overpower the natural flavors of your ingredients. Add your seasoning to vegetables as they sauté in the pot before adding the stock. Then, add the stock and the remainder of your ingredients. Only add more seasoning as the soup simmers and do a taste test. Add a bit of salt and pepper until it’s perfect! If you over-salt, don’t panic. Adding more stock, potatoes, noodles, or cream can fix your soup in a pinch.

Bonus Tip: Always serve your soup with bread, toast, or crackers. It’s the perfect vehicle to soak up all the flavors!

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