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Stewarding Our Blessings
Happy Memorial Day! “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” —Romans 5:7–8 me·mo·ri·al "Created or done to honor a person who has died or to remind people of an event in which many people died." —Merriam Webster Dictionary Here it is again—a [...]
Holiday Greeting – Memorial Day Quiz
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance. It’s the time when we pay our respects to the men and women who died fighting for our country. See what you know about this important holiday by taking our Memorial Day quiz. 1. What did the National Moment of Remembrance Act do? a. Establish the last Monday in May as Memorial Day b. Establish a moment of remembrance at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day [...]
Holiday Greeting – Moms are Unique
Moms are like snowflakes. No two are exactly alike. So, when you’re thinking about what to give your mom for Mother’s Day, consider a gift that is as unique as she is -- share your memories with her. Here are some prompts to get you started: • My favorite story about my mom… • What I love about my mom… • One important thing my mom taught me… • One inspiring thing my mom [...]
Preserving and Protecting Our Elders
"Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, 'things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.'" — Ephesians 6:2-3 (NIV) In today's day and age, honoring the older generation seems to be passé. But honoring the former generation is an incredible blessing to both the former and the future generations. God blesses those who honor their elders. [...]
Finding the ‘Goldilocks’ Retirement Plan
Where do you set aside the money you’re saving for retirement? If you’re like many Americans, you save for retirement primarily through an employer’s retirement plan, according to Pew Research.1 Unfortunately, less than one-half of private sector employers sponsor retirement plans. Firms that have plans tend to be large.1 In part, that may be because of a misperception among smaller employers. Many small companies think sponsoring a retirement plan is too expensive. However, 45 percent [...]
LifeStyle Newsletter – Sleep: It’s More Elusive as We Get Older
If someone tells you older people need less sleep than younger people do, don’t believe it. Older Americans need about eight hours of sleep, just like everybody else. What’s different is quality sleep is harder to come by as you age. There are a lot of reasons for it and you may be affected by more than one.1If someone tells you older people need less sleep than younger people do, don’t believe it. Older [...]
How Will Rising Healthcare Costs Affect Your Retirement?
It’s no secret healthcare costs are going up. Medical expenses have been steadily increasing for years. In 2007, costs were up almost 12 percent. However, the rate of increase slowed to 6 percent during the past five years and that trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, according to a June 2018 report from PwC. While single-digit increases are an improvement, ever-rising costs are a concern for those who have to foot the [...]
Holiday Greeting – Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day
On St. Patrick’s Day, it’s okay to celebrate even if you’re not Irish. St. Patrick himself wasn’t Irish. As we celebrate, we would like to share some of our favorite facts and tidbits about St. Patrick’s Day:1 • St. Patrick’s Day is an Irish national holiday with banks, stores, and businesses closing for the day. • Shamrocks are the national flower/emblem of Ireland. • The color of St. Patrick’s Day was originally blue. • [...]
Baby Boomers and Digital Assets
How many password-protected accounts do you have? If you keep mental inventory, use a password manager, or have a written record of your passwords (which is not recommended by anyone), take a quick count. You’re likely to find you may have some or all of the below types of accounts: • Email accounts • Online bank accounts • Online brokerage accounts • Online shopping accounts • Online bill paying • Social media accounts • [...]
Drawing the Line Between Greed and Blessing
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." — 1 Timothy 6:10-11 (NIV) Money. We struggle to ensure we have enough for retirement and loved ones, and struggle to make sure we aren't greedy. Evil is a heavy word. How [...]
Holiday Greeting – Valentine’s Day Spending
Valentine’s Day means different things to different people. Some welcome Valentine’s Day as a time for romance, while others see it as an opportunity to cherish friends and family. No matter how it’s celebrated, Valentine’s Day spending gives the U.S. economy a boost. See what you know about this heartfelt holiday by taking our Valentine’s Day quiz.1 1. How much did the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimate Americans spent on Valentine’s Day last year?1 [...]
Make Sure Your Smart Home is Safe from Cyber Attack
Whether you own a house or rent an apartment, building a smart home is easier than it has ever been. Homeowners and renters can purchase kits that integrate specific smart items or they can select smart home products, such as light bulbs, crockpots, coffee makers, thermostats, vacuums, ovens, doorbells, mailboxes, window shades, and security cameras. After downloading the appropriate apps, anyone can connect everything together through a Wi-Fi network.1, 2 Smart digital assistants (SDAs) [...]
