C E R T I F I E D P U B L I C A C C O U N TA N T SA N D F I N A N C I A L A D V I S O R S

C E R T I F I E D P U B L I C A C C O U N TA N T SA N D F I N A N C I A L A D V I S O R S

June 2017

Beyond the moneyPRIOR PLANNING PAYS

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What’s Inside

The Story of a Father

Yellowstone: Where the Wild Things Are

Most Underrated Hikes From Coast to Coast

Sensational Summer Salad A Small COLA for 2017

3 Tips for Successful Real Estate Investing

7211 Hiawatha Pkwy.Spring Hill, FL 34606

352-683-7365www.mycpagroup.com

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WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

THE STORY OF A FATHERHow Dad’s Work Ethic Changed My Life

When he was growing up, my dad lived in a very small community in the Florida panhandle near the Alabama-Florida state line. My dad grew up with three sisters, so you can probably guess that he was my grandma’s favorite.

My dad entered the workforce immediately after graduating from high school. He got a job working in mission testing on a Eglin Airforce Base for a defense contractor. He was involved in the testing of various bombs and missiles. My dad had an extremely strong work ethic — he kept the same job for 44 years!

My dad was an avid fisherman and hunter. He loved the outdoors, and he even had a kennel of foxhounds for hunting excursions. When he wasn’t at work, you could find him doing some sort of activity outside. My dad was also a huge Alabama Tide fan, and he loved sports — he played basketball when he was young.

Although my dad tried to instill a love for the outdoors in me, he never succeeded. I was very much a girly-girl, and I wasn’t a very good sport on a hunting or fishing trip. However, my brother inherited the outdoors gene from my dad, so they went on many adventures together.

I have many great memories of my dad, but my favorite ones involve my kids. Jacob, my son, had an extremely strong bond with my dad. It’s amazing how differently grandparents interact with their grandchildren than they did with their kids. My favorite memories are of my dad, Jacob, and my daughter, Brooke, giggling and getting into mischief. It was fun just to watch them interact.

My dad never missed a day of work — unless he was in the ER — and he always showed up on time. My dad had an incredible work ethic, which is one of the greatest things I inherited from him. I also entered the workforce right out of high school, and I got a job at a CPA firm. I have continued to work in the same field for 33 years now. He taught me how to be committed to and passionate about everything I do.

Family was so important to my dad, and he was always there for us. A year and a half after he retired, my dad became ill. I am close to both sides of my family, but I didn’t

realize how strong of a bond we all have until my dad got sick. Without words, my dad made it obvious to me how important it is to have a strong relationship with your loved ones. I work with clients every day in financial planning who are very

concerned about putting away enough money before retirement. I caution them that while saving enough money is important, so is spending time with your loved ones. I would rather my clients have the freedom to retire two years too early than two years too late.

Father’s Day is a perfect time to show appreciation for those we love and to reflect over the lessons we have learned from our fathers and grandfathers. It’s also a good time to schedule a strategic planning session for your Retirement Masterplan. Getting organized, cleaning up your messes, and being prepared, is another way to protect your loved ones. Happy Father’s Day!

This summer, skip the expensive hustle and bustle of an overcrowded theme park. After a vacation like that, you’ll feel like you need another.

As far as getaway destinations go, Yellowstone National Park, sprawling across Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, is a little more expansive. More than 3 million visitors flock to its astonishing peaks, multicolored pools, and dramatic geothermal geysers each year, but as you travel across Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres, it’s unlikely you’ll see much of them. And the sheer variety of unparalleled activities to explore means fun for the whole family.

Make sure to check out Old Faithful, the most famous geothermal geyser in the world, with eruptions averaging a whopping 130 vertical feet. Or if it’s majesty and exploration you’re itching for, hike one of the many trails along the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The views across the Yellowstone River, with clay cliff faces and tree-covered mountains in every direction, are unlike any other. Also, be sure to investigate the Grand Prismatic Spring, which, besides its otherworldly rainbow waters, is known for being the largest hot spring in the U.S.

For many, though, the biggest draw of the park is the wildlife. Yellowstone is home to the largest bison population on public land. It houses more mammals than anywhere else in the lower 48 states, 150 species of birds, and huge populations of native fish, to name a few. Just driving around the park, you’re apt to see moose, deer, elk, mountain goats, and, if you’re lucky, grizzly bears, mountain lions, or wolves.

Go boating, catch a fish, scale a mountain, ride a horse — the things to do vary as much as the breathtaking landscape. If you’re looking for an affordable, relaxed, and wide-open family vacation this summer, Yellowstone is a no-brainer. Jackie Campbell

CPA, CFP®, PFS

“My dad had an incredible work ethic,

which is one of the greatest things I inherited

from him.”

MY FATHER, JACK, STANDING WITH MY BROTHER, HAMPTON, AND ME AT AGE 3

PRST STD US POSTAGE

PAID BOISE, ID

PERMIT 411

3 TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL

The topic of real estate investing is a massive one, but there are a few fundamental principles that apply no matter where you’re buying. If you want to be a successful landlord with

income property, consider these three tips to help you

make the most out of your investments.

KNOW YOUR MARKETEvery market is different. In fact, every

neighborhood is different. The best real estate investors get to know one area exceptionally well, to the point where they can tell at a gut level when there’s a good deal to be had. You simply won’t know what’s underpriced unless you know how the properties are usually priced.

TRADE YOUR TIME FOR MONEYOne of the best guiding philosophies for rental property success is trading your time for money. Every activity you outsource

costs a premium and takes control out of your hands: funding, locating prospective properties, crunching the numbers, making repairs, showing the property, marketing, and many more. The time you spend will usually be more than compensated by cutting out so many middlemen — as long as you do your homework and learn how to get each task done right.

VET YOUR RENTERSYour rental properties can be automated money-generating machines, or they can be nightmare horror stories. While the quality of the property itself has something to do with that, the biggest factor is who you put in there. If you want to avoid a house stripped of doorknobs, a motorcycle parked in the living room that’s leaking engine oil, or legal trouble because of illicit activities on the premises, vet your tenants carefully. That means a background check and credit check, every time. It means calling references. And it means popping in occasionally to see how the property looks.

While there are plenty of other tidbits of wisdom in the real estate investing game, these three are essential practices as you venture into the investing world. Take heed and you’ll get the financial independence you’ve been working toward!

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When planning your summer activities, consider adding new hikes to the itinerary. There are many underrated trails across the United States — don’t be afraid to discover them all!

Ingredients

• 1 pound strawberries, thinly sliced• 3 medium peaches, thinly sliced • 1 cup blueberries• 1 heaping tablespoon fresh basil or mint, chopped • 2 tablespoons lemon juice• 1 tablespoon maple syrup• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

Directions

1. In a medium serving bowl, combine the strawberries, peaches, blueberries and basil.

2. Drizzle lemon juice, maple syrup, and balsamic vinegar on top.

3. Gently toss to combine.4. Serve immediately, or chill for later.

Recipe inspired by CookieAndKate.com.

Sensational Summer Salad

MOST UNDERRATED HIKESFROM COAST TO COAST

REAL ESTATE INVESTING

It’s summer, and your list of fun backpacking locations is looking slim and dull. Long days, good weather, and vacation time give you a great excuse to travel and cross some trails off your list, but you’re not sure where you should go. Here are some of the most underrated trails from coast to coast to add to — and cross off — your list!

HIKE TO ALAMERE FALLSThe hike to Alamere Falls on the Palomarin Trailhead near San Francisco, California, is about an 8 1/2-mile trail out and back. Starting at the Palomarin Trailhead, locate the trail map after about 2 minutes on the trail. From there, hop on the Coast Trail and head toward the falls. The trail becomes narrow and steep when you reach the coast, but the tidal falls is only a short way down the beach. Make sure to pack a map, good trail shoes, a camera, water, and a swimsuit.

LOWER ROCK CREEK TRAILLower Rock Creek Trail is located in Mark Twain National Forest near Fredericktown, Missouri. The trail is about 6 miles out and back and features a beautiful waterfall. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. The

tumbling creek and high bluffs make this a beautifully untouched area spectacular, and the rugged and remote areas are perfect for camping. This is a dog friendly, on-leash trail.

CONECUH TRAILAlabama’s Conecuh Trail is a 22-mile path that meanders through a remote section of forest near the Alabama-Florida border. The gentle trail rarely exceeds a 5 percent grade, and it’s as easy as a walk in the park. The trail takes hikers past Buck Pond, Five Runs Creek, Blue Spring, Camp Creek, Nellie Ponds, and Mossy Pond. Keep your eyes peeled for red-cockaded woodpeckers, endangered gopher frogs, armadillos, and a few species of poisonous snakes.

OCEAN PATHThe Ocean Path trail begins at the far end of the upper parking lot at Sand Beach in Acadia National Park, about 3 hours from Portland, Maine. The trail takes hikers along the eastern shore of Mount Desert Island for about 2 miles until it arrives at Otter Cliff and Otter Point. The trail features Thunder Hole, an underwater cave at the end of an inlet that creates the sound of thunder when waves force air out of the cave.

A SMALL COLA FOR 2017 Retirees didn’t get any cost of living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security in 2016, and this year, the tens of millions of retirees in the United States are seeing just a 0.3 percent increase in their benefits. For the average monthly Social Security benefit of $1,360, this works out to a $5 raise. (Or for married couples, a total raise of $6, to $2,260.)

If 0.3 percent seems small, that’s because it is. While the COLA is supposed to ensure that your Social Security benefits maintain their purchasing power, you still may find the cost of everyday expenses rising faster than the COLA. Why?

The COLA is tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks the pace of inflation on goods and services that typical Americans buy. However, the CPI used by the government is weighted for urban wage earners and clerical workers — people who spend much more on entertainment, electronics, and other luxury items than seniors do.

For example, the cost of health care increased 5.1 percent from August 2015 to August 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Compare that to the 0.3 percent COLA. While medical care is included in the CPI, the index isn’t weighted to reflect the greater proportion of income older Americans spend on their health care.

Are cost-of-living increases going to stay this low forever? Admittedly, it’s been a long time since the benefits have cracked two percent in a year. Over the last five years, we saw an increase of 3.6 percent in 2012, 1.7 percent in 2013, 1.5 percent in 2014, 1.7 percent in 2015, and zero percent in 2016.

But the important thing is how you can respond to the lean increase this year. If your rent increases $50 a month while your Social Security increases just $5, you have to turn to your investment portfolio to make up the difference. Bonds and dividend-paying stocks are both risky right now, but they may be your best bet for additional retirement income in this challenging economic climate.