JULY 2015
“The world is not
yet exhausted; let me see something tomorrow which I never saw
before.”
- Samuel Johnson
GOLF TIP Check your putting
grip
With a conventional putter, your grip should run up your palm,
approximately along your lifeline, with the shaft of the putter running parallel
to both of your forearms. This grip helps to reduce wrist action and promotes a
consistent, one-lever stroke. It allows you more command of the putter and its
speed, so you can better control putting distance.
BRAIN TEASER Family Finish
Line. Four kids raced
across a yard: Tracy, Danny, Alexa and Layne. Danny was as many places behind Alexa
as Layne was ahead of Tracy. Alexa was not first and Tracy was not second. Who was
first, second, third and fourth?.*
DID YOU KNOW?
(Not quite) light as a feather
The feathers of a bird commonly weigh more than its
skeleton.4
|
|
HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT EACH OTHER’S MONEY?
Sometimes one spouse or
partner has only a vague knowledge of how much the other earns, spends, or
saves. As retirement nears, this can lead to surprises.
Last month, Fidelity
Investments released its 2015 Couples Retirement Study. While most of the 1,051
couples surveyed said they had no difficulties talking to their spouse or
partner about money issues, the perception of each other’s financial standing
wasn’t always accurate. For example, 43% of respondents could only guess how
much their spouse or partner earned annually; 10% were off by at least $25,000.
In addition, 36% of couples had differing estimates of their investable assets;
60% (including half of baby boomer respondents) had no idea of the size of their
projected Social Security benefit.
While talking about money
can be difficult, it becomes a necessary conversation in the context of
retirement. You want to approach your “third act” knowing how much you have
collectively saved, how you are invested, how you spend your money, how much
income you have now, and your potential income in the future. Enter the next
phase of life with shared knowledge of your financial situation and your
retirement potential.1
IS MEDICAL TOURISM WORTH THE RISK?
The Centers for Disease
Control estimates that up to 750,000 Americans travel abroad annually for
medical procedures. The savings can be remarkable, but so can the hazards.
Language barriers can promote miscommunication with health care professionals.
Medication quality is suspect in some areas of the world, as are sterilization
and injection methods. Strains of resistant bacteria tamed in the U.S. may be
prevalent elsewhere, a big concern given that the blood supply in some
developing nations comes from paid donors.
If you do become a medical
tourist, what precautions can you take? The CDC urges you to double-check the
qualifications and credentials of the health care providers and the facility
involved; a written agreement with the medical facility spelling out the costs
of treatments, supplies, and care is essential. Follow-up care in the U.S.
should also be arranged, and talking to a travel medicine practitioner at least
several weeks prior to the trip is a great idea.2
ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
In 1900, there were 3 million Americans age 65
or older – just 4% of the nation’s population. Today, 13% of Americans are aged 65
or older – 44 million.3
|