Inside Your Wealth - May 2020
A Note from Marilyn and Ora - Quarantinis While You SIP?
Welcome to May! Most of you have experienced your first SIP (Shelter in Place) orders and some of you may be getting used to the new lifestyle, with enjoying a Quarantini or two daily! For some 60+ days staying home, working remotely, herding kids to their online classes, walking dogs at least twice daily, and managing laundry and dishes often, is getting old, right? But we may be moving to a new phase where we can enjoy more services away from home, although the remote working and remaining wary of public spaces will be front and center.
Almost every state is now opening and we can find out what it may be like to venture out beyond the grocery store, Home Depot, and the few essential businesses that stayed open. We have coined the term “New Normal 2 “ for our lifestyles going forward where we will be mindful and careful of not only our finances, but our health and our social circle(s) for many months to come, until we see that there is a therapeutic regimen(s) and vaccine(s) that may mitigate or kill this life changing virus.
In January of this year, who would have thought that our world would change this dramatically, with so much daily “mind-bending” news that impacted our lives. For those who man the front lines, we thank you for your service, your heart and your talents! For those who have become ill and recovered, we wish you the very best! For those who lost loved ones to this virus, we send you our love and healing prayers that may provide you with comfort.
We will see our world recover, be even stronger and we hope more united! Be safe and Be Well and Happy Memorial Day!
What Foods Should You Keep on Hand During Quarantine?
Many Americans facing long periods of COVID-19 quarantine have done their best to stockpile food and supplies. With many sequestered for weeks at a time as well as the possibility of more quarantines down the line, some are looking for ways to get the most out of their grocery pickups or deliveries. Now might be a good time to explore healthier options, as opposed to prepared meals with large quantities of salt and fat. (They taste great, but they might not be as satisfying, leaving you to want to eat more.) If you are planning a meal, consider cooking extra portions of soup or stew, suitable for freezing so you can have a quick option for lunch or quick meals for days to come.
The freezer is a great resource for your quarantine pantry. You can have frozen vegetables and fruits. While you might have meat on your mind, you might get more protein from beans. Canned beans can be a versatile food, and you can make your meals go a long way through meals like chili or red beans and rice. Not only that, but canned beans offer a quicker cooking option than dry legumes.1
When Plans Change
Nearly half of Americans leave the workforce earlier than they had planned. Those preparing to retire continue to report an expected median retirement age of 65, yet actual retirees say that they retired at a median age of 62. A recent Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) survey has consistently found that 43% of retirees leave the workforce earlier than planned, with 35% citing illness or disability as the reason and 35% retiring because of workplace changes. In keeping with their income expectations, 80% of workers expect to work for pay in retirement, while only 28% of retirees report that they have actually done this. Why do so few work during retirement, despite their intentions? Some of it is down to those health issues mentioned earlier. Others simply don’t find themselves with the energy or desire to continue working. Those approaching retirement age with these ambitions should strategize to anticipate either possibility, offering them the most flexibility during their golden years.2
Recipe of the Month—Hummus
Ingredients:
One 15-oz. can of garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained
¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup of lime juice
2 Tbsp. tahini
1 (or more, to taste) peeled clove of garlic, or equivalent minced garlic
¼ tsp. cumin
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. paprika
Directions:
1.Combine all ingredients, apart from spices, into blender; blend until smooth.1.Combine all ingredients, apart from spices, into blender; blend until smooth.2.Add spices and blend until evenly distributed.
Looking for smoother consistency? Add a Tbsp. of water and blend, as desired. Spicier? Add more cayenne, or other spices, to taste.
Recipe adapted from allrecipes.com
Is Handshaking “Canceled”?
Is Handshaking “Canceled”? Is Handshaking “Canceled”? In the wake of COVID-19, many have speculated about how life in the United States will be changed in the long term. One long-standing tradition might well be going the way of the buggy whip. The handshake, a staple of friendly interaction for business and intrapersonal communication, is being cited as a potential communicator of diseases, from ordinary colds and influenza to the current malady. No less an authority than Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has come out against the practice.
“I don’t think we should ever shake hands ever again, to be honest with you. Not only would [ending handshakes] be good to prevent coronavirus disease, it probably would decrease instances of influenza dramatically in this country.” While you’re probably not shaking many hands while social distancing, regular hand washing can be an effective deterrent to contagious diseases, including COVID-19.3
Remain True to Yourself—Worth Tip
As we mature, we spend much of our time trying to measure up to someone else’s standards. We learn from our parents, that a “B” is not good enough when an “A” is expected on a report card. When we don’t take the time to congratulate a child or team member on a project for a job well-done, that could have delighted them for the rest of the day. We make that person, or ourselves, begin to want to be that other “ideal” person and lose themselves in the process. Trying to please or keep up with the “ideal” YOU is not a very pleasant way to live.
Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are — Marilyn Monroe
Until you value yourself, you won't value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it —Scott Peck
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent—Eleanor Roosevelt
Savvy Women —
Finding My Voice While Traversing Two Career Paths
Finding your voice is a great topic! It has taken me over 30 years to find my voice and to believe that I truly have a voice. Why so long you may ask? For those who know me, it is not because I did not voice my opinions or that I was not passionate about my work during those years.
My voice was weakened because I was not fully aligned, head, heart, and soul. There are many reasons why my alignment was out of kilter, in those earlier years. I started my career in Corporate America more than 30 years ago at the young age of 21. Women in management were not only a minority but a rarity. As I climbed the corporate ladder in sales and marketing, I built my reputation and voiced my thoughts, strategies, and tactics. But I always felt I had to “stay in my lane” to be recognized and to be accepted.
It was not until I joined the ranks of true entrepreneurs in smaller, focused venture-backed high technology firms where I started to find my voice and it resonated with my peers. Most venture-backed firms operate as a meritocracy where intelligence, hard work, and passion is rewarded and recognized.
However, my journey took me to a 2nd Act where I founded my Wealth Management Firm, The Diamond Group. This where I evolved my voice and learned to present myself and my work in a way that was both educational, influential, and inspirational for my clients and colleagues. In these early years of building my wealth management business, I learned that my best self, my voice was clearest when I was in full alignment; head, heart, and soul.
This self-evolution took deeper reflection on who I was at the time and the person I wanted to become as a wealth manager and person who deeply cared for my clients’ lifestyles and their ultimate goals and intentions. From this experience and self- reflection came my bigger intentions to become an author, a speaker as well as wealth manager, serving my community of Savvy Women. My first book, “36 Quick Tips for Savvy Women, Taking Control of Your Work, Your Wealth and Your Work”, is the foundation of my work, my business, and my passion today.
Today, I am still working on my voice, however, I am emboldened by my life and my business experiences and the impact we and I have had on the lives of our clients. And that helps me continue to perfect my voice every day!
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