Jamestowne Investments Newsletter - Fall 2021

a life well planned is a life well lived

The Captain’s Log Fall 2021

Inflation, Investments, and Fine Wine In September, Ginger and I with two close friends, traveled to Napa Valley and sampled what I believe is the finest wine this planet produces. With over fifteen hundred private vineyards, this unique region of California is a wonderful representation of the exceptional good that can come from extreme and demanding conditions. Drought, fire, insects, birds, and snakes are just a few of the enemies working against landowners and winemakers. Sampling the wine and studying the business model of the individual vineyards, I could not avoid the economic metaphor existing between success as a vineyard and success as an investor. Under both labels, prosperity does not exist without failure. Be it fine wine or the stock market, resilience, planning, and perseverance are daily necessities; however, one ingredient washes away all short-term obstacles – Time! Unfortunately, in today’s economic environment, time is not serving

as our friend. Inflation has arrived and today most investors are dazed and confused about how to react to this age-old financial enemy.

Inflation-generated pricing pressure and value erosion have been a hotly discussed and over analyzed conundrum in the financial services industry for the past decade. However, only in the past year has “evil” inflation surfaced as a legitimate threat to our economic well-being and our long-term financial plans. What caused the sudden arrival of value eroding inflation and how can we as individuals and investors protect ourselves from the invisible, abrading force threatening the integrity of our financial nest eggs?

As taught as the instituational level, inflation is always “too much money chasing too few goods”. If college (continued on page 3)

JAMESTOWNE INVESTMENTS NEWS What’s Inside: Charitable Giving Considerations for 2021 A Brief History of Estate Texas How to Appeal Your Property Taxes Pullbacks, Corrections, and Bear Markets 6 Priorities for the Sandwich Generation Diversification, Patience, and Consistency Eight Mistakes that Can Upend Your Retirement Meeting Today's Financing Needs While Preparing for The Future Can Dogs Have Ice Cubes?

Recipe Corner

Newsletter Disclosures Securities and advisory services offered through Prospera Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC. 5429 LBJ Freeway, Suite 750, Dallas, TX 75240 The material in this newsletter does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment.

Our firm does not provide legal or tax advice. You should consult with legal and tax advisors before making any investment decisions that would have legal/tax consequences.

Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/ MAY LOSE VALUE

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A MESSAGE FROM CLAYTON Your Trusted Advisor students across our great land are trained on the basic economic root causes of inflation, how did we as an advanced economy and mature financial system work ourselves into an environment which has proven to be the perfect breeding ground for upward pricing pressure? Rewinding our memories 10 years, we recall the (at the time) unprecedented post housing-market recession bailout programs and the following decade of artificially compressed interest rates. These economically stimulative years were lucrative in the short-term, but simultaneously and unwittingly nudged our great economy into an "anti-savings" condition. With a decade of interest rates near zero, savings accounts and CDs yielded nothing, and with no incentive to save, the American population borrowed, spent, and joyfully appreciated the economic prosperity. The stock market flourished and individual companies capitalized on the over stimulated “risk-on” marketplace.

Economists have been forecasting some inflationary pressure for the past decade, but mysteriously it never arrived. For the past 10 CLAYTON JAMES years, the amount of money in the system harmoniously matched FINANCIAL ADVISOR the amount of goods being demanded. But monetary conditions radically changed during 2020. To protect our citizenry, we shuttered the global economy and simultaneously enacted another round of unprecedented bail-out capital.

Too Much Money chasing Too Few Goods. The outcome was predictable and the results are real. Inflation is here and we now need to acknowledge and plan for a challenging road ahead.

All investment decisions are impacted in one way or another by inflation because inflation reduces the real rate of return equally on all assets. Whether it is a stock, bond, or real estate investment, if you earned 6% on the investment and inflation is running at 2%, then the “Real” return on your investment becomes 4%.

The success with your investments is eroded dollar for dollar. Secondly, inflation erodes the purchasing power of your capital. Because it takes more dollars to purchase the same amount of goods, your dollars do not hold value. The decreasing valuation of the dollar creates purchasing power depreciation which overtime lowers consumer demand for goods and services. Thirdly, inflation will force the Federal Reserve to begin reducing the amount of capital in our economic system. Less capital leads to less spending which ultimately drives lower prices.

As pricing pressures become prevalent, it becomes imperative to understand and plan proactively for the negative consequences of this inscrutable force. Under these conditions, there has never been a better time to establish a sound and inflation-proof investment strategy that provides the returns you need and offers the security you desire. A life well planned is a life lived well.

As we look towards 2022, let’s all enjoy the energy of the reopening trade with a fine glass of Napa’s best.

Whether it be investment advice or opinions on great wine, I am always interested in sharing my thoughts and spending time with you. Have a great Fall and I look forward to seeing everyone as we head into the holiday season.

Cheers!

Clayton W. James, AAMS Managing Director

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Charitable Giving Considerations for 2021 If the COVID-19 pandemic’s far-reaching impacts have you looking to enhance your charitable giving, be sure to remember these tax-related considerations for 2021: Cash gifts. A special rule for this year allows taxpayers who do not itemize deductions to claim up to $300 ($600 for joint filers) for gifts to qualifying charities.

If you do itemize, cash contributions to qualified charities in 2021 might be used to offset up to 100% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) (60% of AGI for cash gifts to a donor advised fund or 30% for cash gifts to a private foundation).

This means that if you’re in a position to make generous gifts, you may potentially offset all of your taxable income. In addition, cash gifts could be used to offset Roth IRA conversion income or capital gains realized upon the sale of real estate or a large position in a single investment.

If you’re unable to itemize but would like to, evaluate the possible impact of bunching several years’ worth of charitable contributions into one year. This may increase your itemized deductions above the standard deduction threshold so you can potentially receive a tax benefit for those gifts. Review your income and deductions for the current year and the next few years with your tax advisor to determine what is the best timing for those bunched contributions.

Qualified Chartitable Distribution (QCD). For taxpayers age 70½ or older, a QCD allows you to gift up to $100,000 per year directly from your IRA to qualifying charities.

QCDs are tax-free distributions and count toward satisfying your required minimum distribution (RMD). Remember that, while RMDs were waived for 2020, they must be taken for 2021.

No deduction is allowed for a QCD since the distribution is not taxable. This strategy is beneficial if you will not itemize deductions this year. It could also help you control your AGI, which is used to determine many tax-related limitations.

Note that the amount of the QCD you are able to exclude from your income is reduced by any deductible IRA contributions you make in the year you reach age 70½ or after.

Stock gifts. Gifting stock directly to charity rather than selling it and contributing the proceeds provides a current tax benefit if you itemize deductions. In addition, it lets you avoid capital gains taxation on the stock’s appreciation if it increased in value while you owned it. Deductions for stock gifts are limited to 30% of AGI when contributing to public charities.

Before employing any of these strategies, please contact your tax advisor and Clayton to help provide the best outcome.

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A Brief History of Estate Taxes

Federal estate taxes have been a source of funding for the federal government almost since the U.S. was founded.

In 1797, Congress instituted a system of federal stamps that were required on all wills offered for probate when property (land, homes) was transferred from one generation to the next. The revenue from these stamps was used to build the navy for an undeclared war with France, which had begun in 1794. When the crisis ended in 1802, the tax was repealed.1 Estate taxes returned during the build up to the Civil War. The Revenue Act of 1862 included an inheritance tax, which applied to transfers of personal assets. In 1864, Congress amended the Revenue Act, added a tax on transfers of real estate, and increased the rates for inheritance taxes. As before, once the war ended, the Act was repealed.1 In 1898, a federal legacy tax was proposed to raise revenue for the Spanish-American War. This served as a precursor to modern estate taxes. It instituted tax rates that were graduated by the size of the estate. The end of the war came in 1902, and the legacy tax was repealed later that same year.1 In 1913, however, the 16th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified – the one that gives Congress the right to “lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived.” This amendment paved the way for the Revenue Act of 1916, which established an estate tax that in one way or another, has been part of U.S. history since then.1 In 2010, the estate tax expired – briefly. But in December 2010, Congress passed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. The new law retroactively imposed tax legislation on all estates settled in 2010.2 In 2012, the American Tax Relief Act made the estate tax a permanent part of the tax code.2 As part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, estate tax rules were adjusted again. The estate tax exemption was raised to $11.2 million, a doubling of the $5.6 million that previously existed. Married couples may be able to pass as much as $22.4 million to their heirs. As of 2019, that rate has risen to $11.4 million per individual (and $22.8 million for married couples). The Act is set to expire in 2025. If you’re uncertain about your estate strategy, it may be a good time to review the approach you currently have in place.2,3

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Year Exclusion Amount Highest Tax Rate 1916 $50,000 10.0% 1917 $50,000 25.0% 1918-1923 $50,000 25.0% 1924-1925 $50,000 40.0% 1926-1931 $100,000 20.0% 1932-1933 $50,000 45.0% 1934 $50,000 60.0% 1935-1939 $40,000 70.0% 1940 $40,000 70.0% 1941 $40,000 77.0% 1942-1976 $60,000 77.0% 1977 $120,000 70.0% 1978 $134,000 70.0% Estate Taxes and Overall Federal Revenues 1979 $147,000 70.0% 1980 $161,000 70.0% Estate taxes typically account for less than one 1981 $175,000 70.0% percent of total federal revenue.2 1982 $225,000 65.0% 1983 $275,000 60.0% Exemption through the Years 1984 $325,000 55.0% Federal estate taxes exempt a share of estates from 1985 $400,000 55.0% federal estate taxes. For the 2019 tax year, if an 1986 $500,000 55.0% estate’s worth less than $11.4 million, no federal 1987-1997 $600,000 55.0% estate taxes may apply.1 1998 $625,000 55.0% 1999 $650,000 55.0% 2000-2001 $675,000 55.0% 2002 $1,000,000 50.0% 2003 $1,000,000 49.0% 2004 $1,500,000 48.0% 2005 $1,500,000 47.0% 2006 $2,000,000 46.0% 2007 $2,000,000 45.0% 2008 $2,000,000 45.0% 2009 $3,500,000 45.0% 2010 $0 or $5,000,000 0% or 35% 2011 $5,000,000 35.0% 2012 $5,120,000 35.0% 2013 $5,250,000 39.6% 2014 $5,340,000 39.6% 2015 $5,430,000 39.6% 2016 $5,450,000 39.6% Chart Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2019 2017 $5,490,000 39.6% 1. Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income Bulletin, 2007 2018 $11,180,000 37% 2. Internal Revenue Service, 2019 3.Tax Policy Center’s Briefing Book, History of the Tax Code, 2019 2019 $11,400,000 37%

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How to Appeal Your Property Taxes Between 30 percent and 60 percent of taxable property has an inflated assessment, which may lead to higher property tax bills. Moreover, typically fewer than 5 percent of taxpayers dispute their assessment.¹ For homeowners who think their local government may have assessed their property’s value too high, there are ways to appeal and potentially win a lower assessment, which may save hundreds or even thousands of dollars annually in future taxes.² The procedures and requirements for challenging the assessed value of your property will differ by state, but you should consider a number of general factors.

Determine Whether an Appeal is Justified Your opinion of the fairness and accuracy of your property assessment is not enough. You will need to gather facts to support your claim. One way to do that is to see how your home compares to similar homes in your neighborhood.

Check to see if there are any obvious errors (e.g., is the square footage incorrect?). If you have found an outright error, you may be able to simply bring it to the assessor’s attention and get it corrected.

Consider the Cost-Benefit Ratio Appealing your assessment may cost you money, depending on the complexity of the process and whether you choose to use professional resources. You are the ultimate judge of weighing the costs related to some uncertain financial reward, but know the cost-benefit before you start. For instance, you may not want to spend $1,000 to save $200 per year.

Use an Independent Appraiser Your appeal will have less credence if the market evaluation is made by a local real estate agent. A comparative appraisal will carry considerably more weight when it is performed by a credible, third-party expert.

Follow All the Rules Appeals have precise deadlines and procedures. You need to meet them; otherwise you run the risk of losing out on the opportunity to have your appeal heard for another year. Call your local officials or visit the relevant website to familiarize yourself with the appeal process requirements.

1. National Taxpayers Union Foundation, 2021 2. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation.

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Pullbacks, Corrections, and Bear Markets

The COVID-19 outbreak has put tremendous pressure on stock prices, prompting some investors to blindly and indiscriminately sell positions at a time when the entire market is trending lower. Worried investors believe "this time it's different." When the market drops, some investors lose perspective that downtrends, and uptrends, are part of the investing cycle. When stock prices break lower, it's a good time to review common terms that are used to describe the market's downward momentum.1,2 Pullbacks.

A pullback represents the mildest form of a selloff in the markets. You might hear an investor or trader refer to a dip of 5-10% after a peak as a “pullback.”1 Corrections.

The next degree in severity is a “correction.” If a market or markets retreats 10% to 20% after a peak, you’re in correction territory. At this point, you’re likely on guard for the next tier.1 Bear Market.

In a bear market, the decline is 20% or more since the last peak.1 All of this is normal.

"Pullbacks, corrections, and bear markets are a part of the investing cycle."

How is this bear market going to affect me?

That’s a good question, but it’s something that you won’t fully understand in the here and now. The average bear market lasts 146 days for the Standard & Poor’s 500.2 A retirement strategy formed with Clayton has market volatility factored in. As you continue your relationship with us, we will also be at your side to make any adjustments and help you make any necessary decisions along the way. Our goal is to help you pursue your goals.

1. Kiplinger.com, March 10, 2020.

2. MarketWatch.com, March 14, 2020. The Standard & Poor’s 500 is an unmanaged index that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. Index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index. The return and principal value of stock prices will fluctuate as market conditions change. And shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

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6 Priorities for the Sandwich Generation The “Sandwich Generation”—adults caring for aging parents as well as children—faces several stressful challenges that come from trying to juggle everyone’s needs. One of those top stressors: finances, such as how to cover education and health care costs and still save enough for retirement. The demands often compete with one another—which is why setting clear priorities is so important.

Here are six tips for setting those priorities to help you deliver the support your loved ones need—without shortchanging yourself.

1. Take care of your future first. Saving enough for retirement should be your top priority. You have to take care of your needs before you help your parents and your children.

2. Create or update your investment plan. Create an investment plan that will help you balance your financial goals with the needs of your children and parents. Review your budget, analyze your expenses, and set savings targets to help you prioritize planning for an upcoming expense, such as college costs or long-term care for your parents.

3. Review your insurance coverage. Protecting your assets is always a good idea, but it’s even more important when you have two generations depending on you. Make sure you have enough life insurance in case something happens to you to pay off your mortgage and other debt, and to help cover the future living expenses of your dependents. And don’t forget disability insurance: More than a quarter of today’s 20-yearolds will become disabled before they retire, according to the Council for Disability Awareness.

4. Check in on your parents’ financial health. Though it might seem awkward, talk to your parents about their wishes for the future and their financial health. What financial assets and expenses do they have?

How do they plan to meet their financial obligations? Do they have a plan to cover the costs of long-term care? This conversation can help you determine how much financial support you will need to provide.

Also, make sure your parents have done adequate estate planning, and ask for copies of their will or trust, durable power of attorney, healthcare power of attorney, and advance healthcare directive. Make sure your own estate-planning documents are complete and updated as well.

5. Consider reducing financial support for grown children. Many parents still help their grown children with their finances—sometimes even to their detriment. Many young Baby Boomers are still paying their kids’ expenses, cell phone bill, or car insurance. If this is the case for you, talk with your children about the steps they can take to start becoming more financially independent.

6. Look for ways to help reduce your taxes. In some cases, you may be able to claim your aging parents as dependents. Also check with a tax advisor to see if their medical expenses qualify as a tax deduction.

Another way that may benefit your financial bottom line is to set up a 529 Plan account for your children’s education expenses. / 9

Diversification, Patience, and Consistency Regardless of how the markets may perform, consider making the following part of your investment philosophy: Diversification. The saying “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” has some application to investing. Over time, certain asset classes may perform better than others. If your assets are mostly held in one kind of investment, you could find yourself under a bit of pressure if that asset class experiences some volatility.

Keep in mind that diversification is an approach to help manage investment risk. It does not eliminate the risk of loss if an investment sees a decline in price.

Asset allocation strategies also are used in portfolio management. When financial professionals ask you questions about your goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk, they are getting a better idea about what asset classes may be appropriate for your situation. But like diversification, asset allocation is an approach to help manage investment risk. It does not eliminate the risk of loss if an investment sees a decline in price.

Patience. Impatient investors can get too focused on the day-to-day doings of the financial markets.

They can be looking for short-term opportunities rather than longer-term potential. A patient investor understands that markets fluctuate, and has built a portfolio based on their time horizon, risk tolerance, and goals. A short-term focus may add stress and anxiety to your life, and could lead to frustration with the investing process.

Consistency. Most people invest a little at a time, within their budget, and with regularity. They invest $50 or $100 or more per month in their retirement account or similar investments. They are investing on “autopilot” to help themselves attempt to build wealth over time.

Consistent investing does not protect against a loss in a declining market or guarantee a profit in a rising market. Consistent investing, sometimes referred to as dollar-cost averaging, is the process of investing a fixed amount of money in an investment vehicle at regular intervals, usually monthly, for an extended period of time regardless of price.

Investors should evaluate their financial ability to continue making purchases through periods of declining and rising prices. The return and principal value of stock prices will fluctuate as market conditions change.

Shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

If you don’t have an investment strategy, consider talking to Clayton today.

Clayton and Ginger with friends during a visit to Napa County.

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Eight Mistakes that Can Upend Your Retirement Pursuing your retirement dreams is challenging enough without making some common, and very avoidable, mistakes. Here are eight big mistakes to steer clear of, if possible.

1. No Strategy: Yes, the biggest mistake is having no strategy at all. Without a strategy, you may have no goals, leaving you no way of knowing how you’ll get there—and if you’ve even arrived. Creating a strategy may increase your potential for success, both before and after retirement.

2. Frequent Trading: Chasing “hot” investments often leads to despair. Create an asset allocation strategy that is properly diversified to reflect your objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon; then make adjustments based on changes in your personal situation, not due to market ups and downs.1 3. Not Maximizing Tax-Deferred Savings: Workers have tax-advantaged ways to save for retirement. Not participating in your employer’s 401(k) may be a mistake, especially when you’re passing up free money in the form of employer-matching contributions.2 4. Prioritizing College Funding over Retirement: Your kids’ college education is important, but you may not want to sacrifice your retirement for it. Remember, you can get loans and grants for college, but you can’t for your retirement.

5. Overlooking Healthcare Costs: Extended care may be an expense that can undermine your financial strategy for retirement if you don’t prepare for it.

6. Not Adjusting Your Investment Approach Well Before Retirement: The last thing your retirement portfolio can afford is a sharp fall in stock prices and a sustained bear market at the moment you’re ready to stop working. Consider adjusting your asset allocation in advance of tapping your savings so you’re not selling stocks when prices are depressed.3 7. Retiring with Too Much Debt: If too much debt is bad when you’re making money, it can be deadly when you’re living in retirement. Consider managing or reducing your debt level before you retire.

8. It’s Not Only About Money: Above all, a rewarding retirement requires good health, so maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, stay socially involved, and remain intellectually active.

1. The return and principal value of stock prices will fluctuate as market conditions change. And shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Asset allocation and diversification are approaches to help manage investment risk. Asset allocation and diversification do not guarantee against investment loss. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

2. Under the SECURE Act, in most circumstances, you must begin taking required minimum distributions from your 401(k) or other defined contribution plan in the year you turn 72. Withdrawals from your 401(k) or other defined contribution plans are taxed as ordinary income, and if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty."

3. The return and principal value of stock prices will fluctuate as market conditions change. And shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Asset allocation is an approach

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Meet Today's Financing Needs While Preparing for the Future Access Cash Without Selling Assets As a savvy investor, you know that managing both sides of your balance sheet is an important aspect of your financial success. Planning for borrowing needs in the context of your larger financial picture and using credit responsibly may help you increase your financial flexibility while keeping your financial goals intact And that’s where a First Clearing Priority Credit Line may come in handy. The Priority Credit Line is a line of credit backed by the value of eligible securities in your First Clearing accounts. This product is designed to help you meet personal or business cash-flow needs. It offers an alternative to premature liquidation of assets, deferring potential capital gains taxes.* A Priority Credit Line does not charge origination, non-usage, or termination fees or require monthly payments.

Enjoy the benefits • A Priority Credit Line can be used for practically any purpose other than purchasing or trading securities or paying off a margin account.

• Credit and background checks are not required to establish a Priority Credit Line since the line is supported by your eligible assets.

• A Priority Credit Line allows you to pledge assets for your personal and business borrowing needs.

• You can stay invested in the market while leveraging your securities for liquidity.

• The line’s competitive interest rates are generally lower than credit cards or other forms of borrowing.

Is a Priority Credit Line right for you?

Your financial advisor can help you take an objective look at your full financial picture, which includes your borrowing and liquidity needs. He or she will take the time to explore products that may help meet your current and future needs.

Carefully consider whether securities based borrowing is right for you Securities-based borrowing has special risks and is not suitable for all investors. If the market value of pledged securities declines below required levels, you may be required to pay down your line of credit or pledge additional eligible securities in order to maintain it; otherwise the firm may require the sale of some or all of the pledged securities. The sale of pledged securities may cause adverse tax consequences.* The risks of securities-based borrowing include: • Market fluctuations that may cause the value of pledged assets to decline • A decline in the value of your securities that could result in selling your securities to maintain equity • Adverse tax consequences as a result of selling securities* • An increase in interest rates will affect the overall cost of borrowing Use your Priority Credit Line for …

• Unplanned expenses • Real estate financing • Debt consolidation • Education expenses • Business financing • Tax payments Or whatever need is a priority for you.

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Can Dogs Have Ice Cubes?

As any mixologist will tell you, an ice cube is only as good as the water you freeze to make it. And that is exactly what ice is: frozen water. So what does that mean for dogs?

Are Ice Cubes Dangerous For Dogs?

When I first heard the question: “are ice cubes dangerous to dogs?,” my first response was: “only if someone throws an ice cube at a dog’s eye,” but this question seemed to linger. There was the reported case of a dog ingesting ice cubes and winding up at a veterinary emergency hospital requiring surgery to alleviate “bloat.”

Reportedly, the veterinarian in charge felt the cause of the bloat was due to the dog ingesting ice cubes.

Bloat, or gastric dilation volvulus, is a dangerous, life-threatening condition that occurs acutely when the stomach fills with gas and then rotates within the abdomen. There has been much study into potential causes of bloat: genetics, diet, environment, exercise/activity have all been studied, and all may be potential factors in the development of bloat. Drinking too much water too fast or feeding large amounts of food immediately after exercise is never recommended, as this may make it more likely that a dog will gulp a lot of air along with water and/or food.

Dogs should always be allowed to cool down after they exert a lot of energy and excitement prior to being offered free access to food and to water, much like racing horses are walked and cooled down after a race.

You can offer them water, but only small amounts at a time until the dog is calmer and rested, at which time free access can be allowed.

Ice cubes can actually be used to slow down the rate of ingestion of water by overly excited dogs. Offering ice cubes is a way of adjusting the rate and amount of water a dog takes in. Veterinarians even recommend offering ice cubes as a way to slowly introduce water to dogs recovering from surgeries or as a tryout after vomiting episodes associated with gastroenteritis, to see if they are able to hold fluids down.

I personally have placed ice cubes in my dogs’ water bowls when we are traveling, in an effort to encourage them to drink more water.

Can Ice Cubes Help Prevent Dogs Overheating?

Ice has also been discussed in relation to dogs overheating (heat stroke). Like everything in life, there are wrong ways and right ways to handle heat stroke: First, prevention is the best cure. NEVER leave dogs unattended in any situation where they can overheat, such as a parked car, even with windows open. Dogs should also be monitored during excessive exercise, as certain dogs or breeds will continue to play hard, despite their bodies telling them to stop. Owners should be constantly aware of an excessively panting dog and/or sounds of harsh labored panting and breathing.

These are sign that an immediate time-out period is needed, preferably in a cool, shaded, or air-conditioned area.

Even for those dogs that do not appear to be cooling down, it is never a good idea to douse them in an ice bath. Too much too soon can cause a potentially dangerous cascading chain of events. It is better to use cool water-soaked cloths or towels, along with fans or air conditioning. A trip to the veterinarian is always indicated for dogs exhibiting signs of heat stroke, as some signs may develop after the event.

Finally, ice cubes are not dangerous to dogs, per se. So, if you’re thinking about offering an ice cube . . . chill. It’s OK.

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You Bake ‘Em Dog Biscuits – Susan Steineke James

Ingredients: 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/3 cup non sweetened applesauce 1/3 cup water 1 1/2 cup whole wheat flower 1/2 cup oatmeal 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese *Options: Ground flax seed, Blueberries, 1 tsp ground cinnamon Instructions: • Preheat oven to 375° • Combine cheddar cheese, applesauce, and water in bowl • Combine flour and oatmeal in separate bowl • Pour wet mixture into bowl with dry mixture and mix • Knead into dough and put on floured surface • Roll dough and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and cut with cookie cutters • Bake for 20 minutes

Our Mission Statement Knowing each client comes to us with a unique individual background and a unique set of personal experiences; our mission is to guide and inspire each client's journey towards financial success, investment confidence and fiscal well-being. To help all clients succeed in this journey, we utilize sound, efficient and relevant investment products, principles, and policies. Our firm places significant value in providing the highest level of personalized customer service and communication. We operate with full transparency, and our success comes alongside our client's success.

A life well planned is a life well lived!

Peace of Mind Can be an Asset  14 /

RECIPE CORNER

Generously shared by Sarah Pulley Hylton

Butternut Squash Soup Ingredients: 2 T olive oil 2 C chopped onion ½ tsp curry ¼ tsp cayenne 6 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash (about 2 squash) 3 ½ - 4 cups chicken broth Instructions: • Saute onion in oil • Add curry and cayenne • Add butternut squash • Add chicken broth • Boil and simmer-covered- about 30/40 minutes until soft. Process with a hand-held food processor until smooth.

• Garnish with sour cream and chopped cilantro. Serve with bread and salad.

ENJOY!

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Photo credit: Sara Harris Photography