



Investment by definition is the act of devoting time, effort, energy or finances to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result. We can invest in a lot of things such as our community, our relationships, our finances, and our health with the hope that the effort will have a positive impact. We can invest in our community by supporting our local businesses, schools and local organizations. We can serve the community through volunteerism and investment in future generations. The city of Chamblee’s growth and evolution is a prime example of this kind of investment – and it’s not done yet!
On a larger scale, we can participate in public surveys and stay educated and involved with future city planning. Investing in our finances helps create wealth, meets long-term financial goals, and secures our retirement. On a personal level, we can invest in our families and enrich relationships by giving time and effort to the people in our lives who mean the most to us. This type of investment has the most meaningful impact to, not only us, but to the people closest to us.
I am by no means a financial expert or guru, but several years ago a modest investment in a little DVD rental by mail company called Netflix, by good fortune, resulted in my ability to become a small business owner. And now this publication gives us a platform to invest in the continued growth of our Chamblee community and the excitement we all share about it. There are always opportunities for investment – in your finances, in your community, in your own or your family’s well-being. It’s a constant in life. And while investing in ourselves, relationships, community and finances can look very different from person to person, the effort we put into these areas of our lives is done with the common goal of having a positive impact that yields results.
In this issue, we wanted to share about some of the ways that we can invest in our community, our finances and with those that we love, and we explore a few of those different ways and how they can impact all of us.
Kevin Parker | kevin.parker@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Tana Poncsak | tana.poncsak@citylifestyle.com
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Polina Williams | polina.williams@citylifestyle.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Janet Howard | j@janethowardstudio.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Robert Platt and Aaron Michelle Platt-Baker
Robinson
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8: Residents volunteer their time and support for Arbor Day and Keep Chamblee Beautiful. 9: The Atlanta Lunar New Year Festival includes a parade and other festivities in the celebration! 10: Kids attend the STEM Unite Lego Robotics Camp in the Keswick Park Community Room. 11: Friends of the Chamblee Library meet to discuss upcoming events and initiatives. 12: Speed networking with attendees of the Freelance Unlocked event at the Distillery of Modern Art. 13: Relive is busy while holding a Grand Opening Event in the Chamblee location. 14: It’s a packed house for the Chamblee Onstage production of ‘Chicago: Teen Edition.’
Congratulations to Jared Hucks, owner and executive chef of The Alden Restaurant. Jared is one of six 2024 Georgia Grown Executive Chefs recently added to the Georgia Grown Executive Chefs Program. The program is statewide and fosters relationships between chefs and farmers, and it also brings about awareness of the quality of sources and locally grown products in area restaurants. The program is in its 15th year. For more information, visit georgiagrown.com and thealdenrestaurant.com
The city of Chamblee recently received a 2023 Governor’s Circle Award for outstanding achievements in community beautification and environmental sustainability. The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation (KGBF) presented the award in recognition of exemplary performance in litter reduction, waste minimization, and community greening. Congratulations to the city of Chamblee! For more information, visit Chambleega.com.
With Spring coming soon, it‘s a great time to consider alfresco dining for your next event. Dining outdoors allows your guests to enjoy the beauty of nature, whether it’s a scenic view, a lush garden, or simply feeling the sun or breeze on their skin. This connection with the outdoors can elevate your party experience and promote a sense of relaxation and well-being. Visit tabloozah.com to schedule your free 20-minute consultation!
Tamala Williams grew up in Chapel Hill, N.C., in a family of five. It was during college, Tamala realized she wanted to do something to help others. After graduating with a degree in Sociology, Tamala found herself in Atlanta working for an investment brokerage firm. That experience laid the foundation for the work she does today as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and partner at Key Planning in Chamblee. Tamala also holds the Retirement Income Certified Professional™ designation. Tamala and her husband live near Chamblee with their family of “happy backyard chickens.”
When it comes to investing, we wanted to find out what it means to invest in yourself, so we spoke with Tamala to get a better understanding of the concept and why it’s important.
Tamala Williams is a partner with Key Planning Financial Advisory & Tax Planning in Chamblee.
“IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO PRACTICE SELF-CARE, WHICH IS ALSO AN EXAMPLE OF INVESTING IN YOURSELF.”
TAMALA WILLIAMS, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
AND PARTNER AT KEY PLANNING
WHEN CREATING A BUDGET, WE OFTEN HEAR YOU SHOULD “PAY YOURSELF FIRST.” WHY IS THIS AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN EXACTLY?
Pay yourself first is a budgeting strategy where you put aside a percentage or fixed amount of money from each paycheck for savings, retirement, emergency fund or other specific account. You do this before you allocate any of your paycheck to other categories in your budget. The money set aside isn’t for frivolous spending. It’s to be saved or invested for the future. This budgeting method has been around for a long time and has proven to be effective. In fact, many people are already paying themselves first whether they intend to or not when they participate in an employee sponsored retirement plan like a 401K.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “INVEST IN YOURSELF” AND WHAT ARE SOME WAYS OUR READERS CAN APPLY THIS CONCEPT?
I believe the phrase “invest in yourself” means intentionally putting time or money or discipline into improving your current situation and quality of life. People can invest in their health by committing to taking a certain number of steps each day or by going back to school or getting a certification or starting a business. I think it’s important to know that investing in yourself doesn’t necessarily require a dramatic shift in your daily life and it doesn’t have to come at a significant cost financially.
There are ways to invest in yourself without spending a lot of money. Exercising doesn’t require an expensive gym membership or costly at-home equipment. Many new skills can be learned by reading and applying the information. YouTube and other apps are also great resources for learning. You can also ask someone to be your mentor or coach.
When it comes to investing, we often hear you should pay yourself first and that it’s important to invest in yourself. We wanted to find out what it means to pay yourself first and to invest in yourself, so we spoke with Tamala Williams of Key Planning to get a better understanding of the concept and why it’s important. What we found is that investing in ourselves can be relevant to our well-being and requires strategy and takes some discipline. Read the full story for details.
Tamala Williams earned her degree in Sociology. Currently, she is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and partner at Key Planning in Chamblee. Tamala also holds the Retirement Income Certified Professional™ designation.
Disclaimer: Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. a broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Key Planning and Cambridge are not affiliated.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REWARDS AND BENEFITS WHEN IT COMES TO “INVESTING IN YOURSELF?”
Rewards from investing in yourself from a health standpoint could be living pain-free or without the use of prescriptions or improved flexibility. Financial rewards may be the choice to retire early or the experience of what it feels like to be completely debt-free. Often the benefits of investing in yourself are passed down or shared with others. For example, when parents leave an inheritance for their children – that wealth or those assets may have been from the discipline of the parents making sound investment choices over time and the children may reap the financial rewards from that discipline. It can really be a gift that keeps on giving.
WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT SELF-CARE. WOULD YOU CONSIDER THIS AS A WAY TO INVEST IN YOURSELF? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SELF-CARE?
Yes! The way I look at it, self-care is self-preservation! It’s so important to practice self-care, which is also an example of investing in yourself. Financial self-care can allow you to support people and causes that you care about, and it can reduce the stress from overspending. Most importantly, financial self-care can help you plan for the future and reach goals such as owning a home or retiring. Self-care practices will hopefully have you feeling more energetic, improve your mood, and help you gain a greater purpose in life.
HOW CAN WE MODERATE SPENDING WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTING IN YOURSELF AND SELF-CARE?
The best way is to stick to a budget. If there’s something specific you want to do or accomplish, save and plan for it as you would for a vacation or large purchase. Also, look for ways to reduce or eliminate expenses. For instance, in most households there are several subscription based streaming services. It’s good to review those subscriptions and cancel the ones that aren’t used often.
When you make a commitment to invest in yourself, there should be a high emphasis on accountability. That is accepting responsibility for your actions or inactions. If you struggle with self-accountability, ask a trusted friend or family member to be an accountability partner. And learn to say no when you need to.
For more information about Tamala and Key Planning Financial Advisory & Tax Planning, visit keyplanning.com
“The city creates opportunities for residents to participate and to make a difference in the place they’ve chosen to call home.
Most people spend time looking for the right home in the right community, and as residents, they want to see their community thrive. The best way to help is to invest in your community.
The city creates opportunities for residents to participate and to make a difference in the place they've chosen to call home. Events, public meetings, and more are all ways the city opens communication and creates opportunities for resident engagement.
• Get involved in planning and city government. Attend meetings. Not only will you know what's going on in city government, you can also have input in the city's future.
• Volunteer your time and your talents - join a committee or run for office.
• Get involved in your child's school and volunteer.
• Support local businesses, artists, and restaurants by shopping, dining, referring a friend, and when you have a good experience, tell others by writing a review.
• Attend events like the Summer Concert Series, a Taste of Chamblee, the annual Chalk Walk, and more. It's a great way to meet your neighbors!
• Use facilities such as parks, libraries, and other community venues.
• Take part in offerings such as the Citizen's Police Academy, Chamblee 101 and others to learn more about the city and how things run behind the scenes.
• Stay informed by reading Signal, Chamblee's newsletter, follow Chamblee on social media, and visit the city's website at chambleega.com
If you want to invest in your community, the answer is simple - get involved. For information, visit chambleega.com .
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Renting a private villa is ideal for families or groups of friends. Many of the villas feature private pools, butlers, maids, and chefs, and can be cleaned and sanitized on a daily basis. Heather works with a Villas Concierge to accommodate special requests and to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for customers.
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This beachfront villa provides the utmost privacy and unparalleled views.
Guests enjoy exclusive access to a premier beachfront spanning 100 feet and a shaded beach deck.
“
“Booking a villa isn’t just a stay. It’s a passport to freedom.”
Heather Dockery
Enjoy the views on your villa vacation!
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Investing in indoor plants can not only spruce up your living space, but also bring numerous health and well-being benefits
The Snake Plant is for anyone from a green thumb to a black thumb because anyone can grow it. These hardy plants can adapt to any environment and can live in both high light and low light.
The Hope Peperomia likes medium to bright direct sunlight. It does well as a tabletop plant or a hanging plant. Watering is only needed one time a month regardless of plant size.
Bringing the outdoors in with the use of house plants is a great way to add color and dimension to your space. We sat down with Jesse Nelson at Family Tree Nursery, based in Kansas, and discussed the benefits of incorporating plant life into your home. “There are plenty of studies on the health benefits of plants, and the evidence suggests that being around plants and caring for plant life increases overall wellness,” explains Nelson. “Anytime you bring a plant into a home or work environment, it’s going to make you feel better. It is going to beautify the space in a way that art cannot, and they also have the added benefit of purifying the air.” There are a wide variety of indoor plants that work for any space and light situation that you may have. Regardless if you have a green thumb or a black thumb, there are plant varieties that fit your lifestyle. Here are a few of our favorite indoor plants to incorporate into your home.
The ZZ plant, which its formal name is Zamioculas Zamiifolia, is a very easy plant to care for. They like anything from low light to bright light. These plants are hard to kill and can go a long time without being watered.
YOU ONLY GET ONE RETIREMENT
Retirement marks the culmination of years of dedication, perseverance and sound financial choices. It's often envisioned as a period of relaxation, exploration and deep connection with family and friends. However, this dream doesn't just manifest. It necessitates forward-thinking and detailed planning, regardless of one's financial status. Amid global economic changes, evolving life expectancies and intricate tax systems, an all-encompassing and strategic retirement plan is more crucial than ever.
A key element of effective retirement planning is diversifying your income sources. While staples like 401(k)s or IRAs are foundational, it's equally important to branch out. Dividend-bearing stocks can provide regular dividends, bonds offer both periodic interest and principal return and real estate, whether directly or indirectly owned, has potential for both rental income and value growth. Private investments can also yield passive income and impressive returns.
Tax considerations significantly influence retirement strategies. Each financial action, from asset sales to account withdrawals, can carry tax consequences. Knowing these details can greatly influence one's overall retirement income. Tactics such as Roth IRA conversions can help distribute tax liabilities over time, allowing for tax-free withdrawals later on. Using strategies like tax-loss harvesting can balance out capital gains, ensuring proactive steps to reduce tax impact.
Annuities have long been recognized as a popular retirement income source. An annuity is essentially a financial contract that can
offer a steady and predictable income, with options that might even extend to lifetime payouts. Available in varieties like fixed, variable and indexed, they often come with tax advantages. However, retirees should also be aware of certain drawbacks. These might include fees and expenses, issues around liquidity, and potential concerns related to inflation.
Delving into the world of Alternative Investments, retirees can consider assets such as hedge funds, private equity and real assets, among others. These investments may promise higher returns and provide diversification away from traditional stocks and bonds. However, the complexities of these investments mean they often come with challenges like illiquidity, higher fees and the need for a thorough understanding of the investment itself.
Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs), while not familiar to everyone, can be a potential retirement income source. Historically rooted, DSTs offer a form of passive real estate investment, which can lead to regular distributions. They also open doors to 1031 exchange possibilities, offering tax deferral benefits. But, just like any other investment, DSTs have their limitations, notably the lack of liquidity and the heavy reliance on trust management.
Introduced by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs) were designed to spur economic development. Investing in these zones can lead to deferral, reduction and even the potential elimination of certain capital gains taxes. However, they often require a long-term investment horizon, and retirees must be well-versed with the specifics of the chosen opportunity zone.
“USING STRATEGIES LIKE TAX-LOSS HARVESTING CAN BALANCE OUT CAPITAL GAINS, ENSURING PROACTIVE STEPS TO REDUCE TAX IMPACT.”
Rental Income remains a favorite for many looking for consistent returns. Whether through direct property ownership or Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), real estate can offer passive income, tax benefits and appreciation. Yet, the responsibilities tied to property management, the uncertainties of market fluctuations and other associated costs must not be ignored.
The backbone of many retirement plans, Social Security Income, provides a safety net for millions. Established with the intent of financial assistance, the amount one receives depends on various factors. There are also strategies retirees can employ to maximize these benefits, such as deciding on the optimal time to claim or considering the implications of working while receiving benefits.
Beyond the immediate realm of retirement, estate planning emerges. This encompasses not just post-retirement arrangements but also asset distribution for future generations or charitable endeavors. Regularly reviewing wills, trusts and beneficiary designations ensures alignment with changing circumstances.
Philanthropy seamlessly integrates with retirement plans. Beyond fulfilling a personal mission to give back, it also carries financial benefits. Using instruments like donor-advised funds or charitable trusts lets individuals make impactful societal contributions while enjoying tax advantages.
You only get one retirement. In the ever-evolving world of finance, staying updated and flexible is essential to ensure the continued relevance and efficiency of one's retirement strategy.
Securities offered only by duly registered individuals of Madison Avenue Securities, LLC (MAS), member FINRA/ SIPC. Advisory services offered only by duly registered individuals of Csenge Advisory Group, LLC. MAS, Csenge Advisory Group, LLC and Impact Wealth, LLC are not affiliated entities. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. This is intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation. Our firm is not permitted to offer and no statement made during this presentation shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or any governmental agency.
Every retirement journey is distinct, and each vision merits expert guidance. Impact Wealth is based in Boulder Colorado. You can contact them at Impact@ImpactWealth.com.
APRIL 2024
APRIL 5TH
Chamblee Branch of the DeKalb County Public Library | 10:00 AM
Join us for the Friends of the Chamblee Library Book Sale April 5th and 6th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m at the Chamblee Branch of the DeKalb County Public Library. Proceeds of the book sale go to support the library. For more information visit. dekalblibrary.org
APRIL 13TH
Chamblee High School | 4:00 PM
See celebrity athletes battle it out on the court for a Celebrity Basketball Game! The game starts at 4 p.m. on April 13 at Chamblee High School. The cost is $20 per ticket. For more information, contact dominantforce21@yahoo.com
APRIL 18TH
Chamblee Public Safety Building Arrow Creek Community Room | 6:30 PM
A community meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on April 18 at the Chamblee Public Safety Building in the Arrow Creek Community Room. Attendees will help guide the park master plan for the city owned property at 2335 Woodacres Road., NE. A meeting was also held March 23. The April 18 meeting will cover the same material. Visit, chambleega.org
APRIL 20TH
Peachtree Road between American Way and Miller Drive | 10:00 AM
Peachtree Road between American Way and Miller Drive will be blocked off from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., April 20, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 21, for the Chamblee Art Fest. Browse unique items created by more than 100 artisans including paintings, jewelry, photography, folk art, and more. For information visit splashartfestivals.com
APRIL 20TH
Nuts 'n Berries | 4:30 PM
Explore the World of Hemp with expert guides in a hands-on, two-day event! Join us at 4:20 p.m. Saturday, April 20 and 10 a.m. Sunday, April 21 for our annual Hemp Festival at Nuts 'n Berries located at 4274 Peachtree Road. The event is free. For event details and to get your free tickets, visit hempfest2024.com
APRIL 22ND
5468 Peachtree Road, behind the old city hall | 5:00 PM
On Earth Day, take a tour of a Pollinator Garden and visit a Butterfly Art Project from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on April 22 at 5468 Peachtree Road behind the old city hall. Learn more about why pollinator gardens are beneficial and how a public art project ties into it. For more information, visit chambleerec.com
At
When considering modifying your home for whatever reason, you begin with a vision and a bushel of enthusiasm. Eureka! Then comes the question, “Where do I start?” Undaunted, you confidently dash to the web and start the great journey. To your chagrin, the oracle soon delivers more questions than answers.
As your neighbor and seasoned experts, we hear your cry in the wilderness! We are often heard reciting the motto that everything begins with the designer. Though this is true once you are ready to embark on your journey, one must first plan the trip. Regardless of the depth of your vision and enthusiasm, money is literally the foundation. This is reality. You must assess your TRUE resources along with a couple of self-examinations. Alas, we are required to be concise in our delivery of these pearls of wisdom. It just doesn’t work this time. Too much to say in too little space.
Fear not intrepid explorer! Simply take the invaluable breadcrumbs we have just shared and follow them to our podcast, “Nuhaus Knows.” Specifically, episode 3, where we discuss this spellbinding topic with passion! All this to say, we are your neighborhood designers, always here to assist in your journey.
Committed to providing effective, efficient, and high-quality therapy services.
FYZICAL Chamblee is a medical and scientific-based physical therapy and fitness organization with a broad range of expertise. Spelled different because we are different! Founded in collaboration with a medical doctor, physiologists, licensed therapists and service business experts, we provide prescribed physical therapy and medically-based physical fitness. Yet we are much more than your typical physical therapy clinic.