Welcome to the Summer Edition of The Ultimate Guide For the Successful Steward, Fourth Dimension Financial Group’s newsletter.
If Summer Were Longer Could We Handle It?
Right or wrong, many of us wait all year for summer. We know we shouldn’t wish our lives away, but there’s just so much fun to pack into the few short summer months! I sometimes wonder, as I’m wishing that summer were longer, would more summer just wear me out?
So far this summer we hosted a French girl in our home for three weeks, fostered a dog, four kittens in two separate batches, went to Cedar Point twice, showed our gardens in the Wood County Master Gardeners Garden Tour (well, Carie’s gardens), and generally tried to just keep up with all of the activities of having a bigger family. There’s been so much activity that I’m already wishing for it to stop!
So as I consider summer, I’ve experienced that feeling that there really can be too much of a good thing, so we should enjoy summer for what it is and not long for a bigger dose every year.
Financially speaking, the world has been in a bit of a holding pattern. The markets have gone up, then back down, then back up, ultimately creating the sense that nothing much has really happened lately. Maybe that’s a necessary respite from all of the political news. Maybe like having a too-long summer, too much economic activity will just wear us down.
Anna somehow turned 16 and got her driver’s license. She couldn’t be happier about it. Me, on the other hand…
In this edition of the Steward, we have wonderful contributions from Richard Chamberlain and Stephen Hanley. Richard does what he should and actually suggests action be taken by those who are yet to formalize their wishes in an estate plan. If this is an unfinished task on your list, please commit to doing what it takes to add it to your ‘done list’. Steve has shared with us some really important updates concerning the investing markets; so important that this column is longer than is typical. I really hope you’ll take a moment to read it and consider what may be coming. In Back to the Basics, I share some thoughts on Social Security and how important it is to be thoughtful about your claiming choices.
Also, please check out the upcoming dates for our retirement classes at BGSU. Retirement Elevated is our most comprehensive education offering and is something that could be a huge benefit to those you know and care about. Please consider passing this information on so others can prepare themselves for a successful retirement.
I hope you’re enjoying summer as much as I am, maybe a little less. Let’s pace ourselves, shall we? Thanks for all that you do; we’ll look forward to seeing you very soon.
All the best,
Adam B. Cufr, RICP®
