Wolf Retirement Navigation - June 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:

June 2021

That Time I Climbed Everest in My Garage GNARLY GOALS INVITE BIG SETBACKS — AND EVEN BIGGER GAINS

I’m no stranger to big goals; after all, many of my clients feel that retirement is a goal as outlandish as Everest! Even though that’s rarely the case, I still knew for a goal that big I had to train like a mad man. And I did. I spent 2019 getting into the kind of shape I’d thought was long, long behind me. There was no way I was going to end up in the same place as I had for two years in a row, and January 2020 saw me a very different man. I had my first “Everesting” attempt all planned out for that year. And then, like so many things, COVID-19 laughed in the face of my plans and then canceled the entire year’s worth of activities, gatherings, and parties. I couldn’t believe it. I’d expected adversity, but a global pandemic? That wasn’t an injury I could train through. At this point, I was hiking miles a day and attaining thousands of feet of elevation gain on my incline treadmill. Was all of that for nothing? It took a moment to see a way forward, but I found one soon enough. If I couldn’t finish 29,029 feet of elevation gain on an actual mountain, then I was going to do it in my garage. And that’s exactly what I did. Was it easy? Absolutely not. I expected to have fresh air, gorgeous views, sun, birds, and pine

I decided to do something about it. I’m not a “small goals” kind of person, as you may already know! I recognize the importance of those daily victories that keep us on track to succeed at the larger goal — but, for me, that goal has to be a pretty significant one. What could work for the situation I found myself in? Only the craziest thing I could think of. That’s how I decided to train for Mt. Everest.

How do you approach goals and setbacks? Two years ago, if you’d told me that by 2021 I was going to be in the best shape of my life, I’d have laughed at you — and that was before we knew about a global pandemic that locked us all away for months on end. The fact is, back in 2019, I wasn’t in what I’d call “good shape.” I’ve always liked to move; I played football in school and

remained active long after I graduated. But time has its way with us all, right? When I tipped the scales at 265 in February of 2019,

Now before you start forwarding

my mail to Nepal, I need to clarify: Training for

there was little point denying that I was in a slump. When we

Everest is not the same as planning to actually do it. In fact, there’s a whole subgenre of endurance sport called “Everesting,”

measure ourselves, we tend to reach for objective markers of success or failure. But I’ve found there’s only one person and only one bar we can measure

and this endurance hiking event is awesome . You have 36 hours to complete 29,029 feet of elevation gain — the same height as Mt. Everest. Usually, that means heading to a ski resort, hiking up to the peak, taking the gondola back down, and doing it all over again until you hit that number. Take a look at 29029Everesting.com for more information about the event. 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.

ourselves against. That one person is our own self, and that one bar is our past selves. And by that standard, whether I was objectively in good shape or not, it wasn’t important, because I knew I was in the worst shape of my life, and I didn’t feel good about it. 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.

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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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... continued from Cover

being in shape and keeps them out of trouble, too. Earlier, I compared this quest to saving for retirement, and now that I’ve come this far, I have to say the comparison is a really good one. I was wrong when I felt I couldn’t make it, but it’s a totally understandable way to feel. You don’t get in good shape overnight; every day you get up and work at it, and each little increment is effort you’re putting away for the future — just like retirement. From nutrition to new exercises, I learned a lot doing this. But most important of all, I learned my limits and how to push past them. You can, too. And although retirement is not Everest, it can still be pretty daunting. We’re here to help.

trees … but that wasn’t what I got. But it didn’t really matter. I met my goal, and I was getting in better shape than ever by doing so. Like everyone else, I took every step forward in faith that things would, eventually, get better. And they did. Here we are in 2021. I am in the best shape of my life — I’m under 240 pounds, and more importantly, over 15 pounds of that weight is new muscle. I feel good, and I have little doubt that I could work my 19-year-old self into the ground — which I never expected to be able to say again! But best of all, I have not one but two “Everesting” attempts lined up for this year. This month I’m headed to Sun Valley, Idaho, for the first one. In August, I’m repeating the performance, but this time in Snowbasin, Utah. I’m making both attempts to raise money for an after-school program for at-risk kids in Jacksonville, the Police Athletic League (JaxPAL). It shows kids the benefits of

-Adam Wolf, CPA, CFP ®

LET US ADD VALUE TO OUR RELATIONSHIP

We Help You With Things Big and Small

Robin can notarize all kinds of documents, whether they’re related to your work with us or not. If you need help, and you don’t want to spend money to have someone you don’t know notarize sensitive information, you can come in or give us a call to set up an appointment. Here’s another way we try to help: document shredding! Some people have a home office shredder, but all of us have a stack of documents we’d rather not fall into the wrong hands, which is always a risk when we throw them out. Instead, give them to people you trust to securely shred for free. It’s a safe, secure service provided by Shred for Good (ShredForGood.org). Shred day is always fun! Please call our office to set a time to drop off your documents. We think you probably get the idea, and we can provide or assist you with many other services like this. All you have to do is give us a call, and we’ll see what we can do. Robin has even served as an officiant at Wolf clients’ weddings before! Every time we can help, we will, and we are so flattered you trust us with the things you need or want to get done.

Let’s be honest: Our technical “job description” is pretty narrow. We help you financially navigate retirement, both before you quit your last job and during the years of well-earned respite. But this isn’t just a job; for us, it’s a calling. And navigation, itself, is a many-faceted thing, right? You could end up doing one thing one minute and something completely different the next minute — never mind the next day ! Which is to say, we are here to help you on your journey. And your family. And your friends. No matter what it entails. If we can help, we will. For example, Robin is a notary public, which means she can provide that service to Wolf Retirement clients and their friends and family members at no charge, whatsoever. When you get into the world of retirement, especially when it intersects with the law and rules and regulations, you end up needing things notarized. This is true for many businesses in all kinds of industries, and eventually, it just doesn’t make sense to run down to the post office or wherever else a notary might be every time you need something notarized.

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Climbing for a Cause Adam Hikes 29,029 Feet for JaxPAL — Twice!

According to Mary Bishop, JaxPAL’s unstoppable director, COVID-19 made the past 18 months very difficult for the organization, starting with cuts to their funding and ending with a fire that almost gutted one of their buildings. They need our help. They need your help. Will you join us?

You already know about Adam’s Everesting challenge from the cover article. But he’s not climbing the elevation of Everest in less than 36 hours TWICE in one summer just for himself. The two hikes are one fundraiser, raising money for the Police Athletic League of Jacksonville, or JaxPAL for short. JaxPAL’s programs reach out to at-risk youth in the Jacksonville area with the goal of building mental toughness, character, and positive relationships with law enforcement. Since 1972, JaxPAL has dedicated its resources to innovative, timely programs that benefit young people in our community. It’s a perfect partnership for Adam’s Everesting adventure, which is all about hard work, training perseverance, overcoming obstacles, and striving to be the best one can be for oneself and for the benefit of others. He hopes that young people, clients, business associates, and other community members will follow his progress on our Facebook page. Longtime followers will know that giving back to the community is one of Wolf Retirement Navigation’s core values, and Adam is using his hikes on June 17–20 and August 19–22, 2021, to draw attention to our combined JaxPAL fundraiser.

SUDOKU

A spice-filled marinade and time do all the work in this recipe that features Middle Eastern flavors.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tsp ground black pepper • 2 tsp allspice • 8 garlic cloves, minced • 6 tbsp olive oil • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs

• 2 tbsp ground cumin • 2 tbsp ground coriander • 2 tsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper • 2 tsp turmeric • 1 tsp ground ginger

DIRECTIONS

3. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill thighs for 10–12 minutes on each side, or until a meat thermometer reads 165 F. 4. Serve with rice, vegetables, or pita bread with tzatziki.

1. To create marinade, whisk all spices with the garlic and olive oil in a medium bowl. 2. Add chicken to the bowl, coat well with marinade, cover, and let sit in the fridge for at least 20 minutes — or up to 48 hours. Strain off excess marinade before cooking.

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

• That Time I Climbed Everest in My Garage PAGE 1 • Let Us Add Value to Our Relationship PAGE 2

• Adam Hikes 29,029 Feet for JaxPAL — Twice! PAGE 3

• Grilled Chicken Shawarma PAGE 3

• Have You Explored a National Forest? PAGE 4

Explore a National Forest for Free On National Get Outdoors Day

• Tongass National Forest: Spanning 16.7 acres and several islands across Southeast Alaska, the Tongass is the country’s largest national forest. • Salmon-Challis National Forest: This Idaho forest is the largest contiguous wilderness area in the lower 48 and contains the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. • Cibola National Forest and Grassland: Spread across north-central New Mexico, west Texas, and Oklahoma, this forest and grassland area is notable for its diverse ecosystems and wildlife. The Sky Islands portion of the park is also home to over 200 rare plant and animal species.

a fee-free day on Saturday, June 12, in honor of National Get Outdoors Day!

Many people in the U.S. and across the world have a national park trip on their travel bucket list. While Zion, Yellowstone, and the Great Smoky Mountains are all awesome locales, outdoor enthusiasts often overlook a resource that is less busy, less expensive, and usually right in their backyard: national forests. All but 10 states have a national forest (or more than one!), so if your home state doesn’t have one, it’s very likely a neighboring state does! And there’s no better time to hike, bike, forage for mushrooms or berries, or camp at a nearby national forest than this month. The tree-filled landscape will provide shade and help you beat the summer heat, and to further incentivize visitors, the U.S. Forest Service (the organization that oversees the national forests) is offering

While parking and day-use fees to access national forests tend to be relatively modest, fee-free days open up the opportunity to all visitors. The U.S. Forest Service has a great interactive map tool that prospective park-goers can use to learn more about the forests in their area, amenities and activities, and accessibility. Visit FS.fed.us/ivm to access the map and see what’s near your hometown! If you’re dreaming up travel plans beyond your state’s border, consider visiting these notable U.S. national forests. • El Yunque National Forest: Located in Puerto Rico, El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the United States.

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2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU! Jacksonville & Fleming Island