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F E B R UA RY 2 022 | TH E P R E M I E R E I S S U E

Inspired by Community

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

Inspired by Community

February 2022 PUBLISHER

Laura Sabia | laura.sabia@citylifestyle.com EDITOR IAL COOR DINATOR

Kristin Burnell | kristin.burnell@citylifestyle.com

Hello, and welcome to the premiere issue of Darien Lifestyle—where we’re inspired by community, and hope this magazine inspires you too! We’re thrilled to be your source for all things local here in Darien and New Canaan. As you flip through these pages, you’ll be drawn into the incredible stories behind the people and places that call Darien and New Canaan home. From the carefully crafted food being served up at local restaurants like Bodega and Spiga, to beautiful homes in Tokeneke; from start-ups and successful businesses such as seeing the Corbin District come alive before our eyes to local artists, designers and fashionistas, our goal is to share the stories of everything and everyone Darien + New Canaan has to offer—and the things that matter most to you, our readers, for whom we produce this magazine each month. Thanks for inviting us into your homes and sharing your lives with us; we can’t wait to see you around.

LAURA SABIA, PUBLISHER @DARIENLIFEST YLEMAG

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Deborah Fields | deborah.fields@citylifestyle.com MAR KET SUPPORT MANAGER

Lydia Turner | greenwich@citylifestyle.com AD DESIGNER

Chad Jensen LAYOUT DESIGNER

Sara Minor

Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Randy Radosevich CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER Bruce Ianni DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson AD MANAGER Chad Jensen WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

Learn how to start your own publication at: citylifestyle.com//franchise

Scan QR code to visit our Instagram CIT YLIFEST YLE.COM/DARIENCT |

Proverbs 3:5-6 Darien Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Darien area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Darien Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the

L I F E ST Y LE LE T T E R

accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

inside the issue The Premiere Issue

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

12 The Charm and Wonder of Magic

Lifestyle Letter

City Scene

Business Monthly

Locals Only

Travel Journal

Inspired By

Local Limelight

Healthy Lifestyle

Start the new month by remembering the value of a local

Financial Buzz

community and its various components

Culinary Creations

How Mentalist Ryan Oakes Indulges Our Love of Disbelief

16 The Coolest Experience On Cape Cod Bay 20 The Essence of Community

24 Meet the Darien Lifestyle Team

A RTS + C U LT U R E T R AV EL

LI FE + C U LT U R E LI FE + C U LT U R E LO CA L S ERV I C E S

FI NA NC E + LEGA L SE RV IC E S FO O D + B EV E R AG E

F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen in the city. 1

7 5

1: Bride Meghan Vitti and Groom Tyler Lippard Officiant and Brides Aunt: Kathleen Waters 2: Meghan Vitti (Bride) 3: Bride Meghan Vitti and father of the bride, Mike Vitti 4: Dress designer: Suzanne Neville. Purchased from A Little Something White 5: Darien High School alumni celebrating the bride 6: Bride Meghan Vitti and Groom Tyler Lippard 7: Bride Meghan Vitti

C I T Y SC E N E

Want to be seen in the magazine? Tag your social media photos with @darienlifestylemag

8: Grace Pomponi, Alex Hagler, Melissa Vitti, Meghan Vitti, Abigail Seymour, Colleen Kelley, Kayla Dolan 9: Melissa Vitti, Meghan Vitti, Tyler Lippard, Sue Vitti, Mike Vitti

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FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / DA R I E N C T

F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

business monthly A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Darien is encouraging you to Th!nk Smart Before You Start The town and the Darien Police Department have collaborated on an awareness campaign to encourage vehicle users to be more aware of pedestrians and cyclists as they share the local roadways. The goal of the town-wide campaign is to reduce or eliminate accidents that involve drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Residents will start seeing Th!nk Smart Before You Start banners displayed at schools and on buildings.

SaksWorks opens boutique hospitality experience SaksWorks has opened on Greenwich Avenue as a boutique hospitality experience in the SaksWorks family of coworking spaces. Ruby & Bellas, their bar and restaurant is open to the public as well. Customers can book a private dining space on the first and second floors and can also reserve entire areas of the facility with access to SaksWorks’s catering menu. The club will offer ongoing programming and events for the community to enjoy.

Connecticut Dermatology Group welcomes Leah Finch Leah Finch, MSPAS, PA-C, completed her undergraduate degree in health science with a minor in biology from Sacred Heart University and is a graduate from the University of Saint Joseph’s Physician Assistant program. While working as a medical assistant at CT Dermatology Group, she developed a passion for providing dermatologic care. Leah is a board certified physician assistant whose special interests include the treatment of acne, eczema, surgical dermatology, and skin cancer detection. N. Lalor Photography

If you want to be included, send us a message! Visit CityLifestyle.com/DarienCT to get in touch.

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Mentalist and magician Ryan Oakes, with Melissa Joan Hart, performing at the Maritime Aquarium.

LOCA LS ON LY | A RTS + CULTURE

The Charm and Wonder of Magic HOW MENTALIST RYAN OAKES INDULGES OUR LOVE OF DISBELIEF

ARTICLE BY ROBIN MOYER CHUNG

Consider this: scientists create ibuprofen to relieve headaches. Do we know how they created them? No. Do we know what’s in them? Maybe, sort of. Do we know how they work? Probably not. At least, we don’t know how they work any more than how Ryan Oakes, who Forbes claims is the “hottest magician working today,” makes a tiny X miraculously appear on the hand of the man in front of him. A Sharpied X? Magic! Ibuprofen that eradicates headaches? Nah. Why are we in awe of a trick? Because we want to believe in the delight and thrill of magic. We forget our gravitas while witnessing unexplained phenomena existing solely for our entertainment; a remnant of childhood wonder. According to Ryan, "It’s me creating a moment for you that you perceive as magic, which I do through shaping your perception.” The famed mentalist/magician asked a party guest to select a card, look at it, then put it back in the deck without showing him. Then Ryan placed the stack of cards on the floor. We all watched as a single card wiggled out from the deck, unaided by human force. When Ryan plucked it off the floor, it was the card the guest had selected. Someone shrieked in disbelief. It may have been me. I mean, that rudderless, brainless piece of stock moved all by itself.

How does he make a card crawl from its cohort? How does he know the name of our random friend or the song we sing in our head? It’s impossible, charming, and wonderful. Ryan, winner of the Society of American Magician’s National Magic Competition (his industry’s highest honor), travels around the world performing for audiences online and in-person and developing marketing programs for companies as diverse as Siegfried & Roy and Hermès. Which begs the question - what did he do for Hermès?? “They were introducing a new fragrance, Water of Marvels [Eau des Merveilles], and wanted to create magic with the bottle and box itself,” Ryan regales. “I developed tricks using the iconic ribbon, orange box, a scarf, and the bottle. For instance, a playing card would appear in a perfume bottle. I worked with local magicians to perform in stores and Hermès boutiques.” Of his audiences, there are those who are rapt and those who try to figure out the secret. I’m of the enraptured ilk and followed him around like a puppy at the party for which he performed. At one point he folded a slip of paper into several halves and whipped out a small pair of scissors from his pocket. He asked a partygoer to think of a singer. Swiftly, he sliced at the folds, small bits falling like confetti. CONTINUED >

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / DA R I E N C T

Cut-out portrait of Rihanna.

As he unfolded the paper he asked for the name of the singer. The partygoer replied, “Rihanna” as Ryan unfolded a beautifully cut portrait of the rockstar. Even though he insists it’s only a perception, I’m pretty sure it was actual wizardry. Then there’s his “Digital Deception” which uses iPhones and technology to astound viewers. He took a guest’s iPhone and opened the calculator app. Then he passed it among the crowd, asking each person to add a number - a lucky number, their age, etc. - to the number on the calculator. The result was one billion nine hundred million forty million… or, said another way, the man’s phone number. Of course, a small squad of participants searched the phone for clues afterward. They promptly announced they had figured out the trick based on some inane reason that made no sense. “There’s always one person who thinks ‘Oh, I figured it out’ maybe just to pacify their own curiosity,” Ryan states. “If they figure out even a piece [of the illusion] they’ll tell themselves they’ve broken down the whole facade. But there are multiple layers, not just one little secret.” By the way, of those trying to explain the iPhone trick, how many of them truly understand how an iPhone works? Texting and emails and touching images to multiply numbers - does that illicit the same cries of joy and disbelief as finding the card you selected in someone else’s pocket? No. Something to think about.

Why are we in awe of a trick? Because we want to believe in the delight and thrill of magic. We forget our gravitas while witnessing unexplained phenomena existing Dazzling the ladies. (Photo: Twah Dougherty)

solely for our entertainment; a remnant of childhood wonder. According to Ryan, "It’s me creating a moment for you that you perceive as magic, which I do through shaping your perception.”

RyanOakes.com

LOCA LS ON LY | A RTS + CULTURE

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The Coolest Experience On Cape Cod Bay

View Overlooking the Bay

T R AV E L J OU R N A L | TR AVE L

Jack Frost Cocktail

Creative cocktails and private igloos await this winter season at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club which is now open year round. A fun getaway for the whole family. Picture this, while enjoying beautiful views of Cape Cod Bay, you can have a socially distant, gourmet dinner in a private igloo experience with up to six of your favorite people. 10 heated igloos outside overlooking Cape Cod bay alongside a more traditional closed in dining room. The Frost Bar is a must for any foodie looking for a destination dining experience full of seasonal Cape Cod flavor. CONTINUED >

Hot Cocoa Charcuterie

Hot Cocoa Martini

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / DA R I E N C T

Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club has recently transitioned into a year-round resort. Each season now offers something different to experience. An upscale, family-friendly hotel boasting with beautiful suites and plenty of historic character throughout. The hotel has gone above and beyond to prioritize your safety so that you can feel comfortable while traveling. Offering extra precautions as contactless check-in and daily housekeeping. Ocean Edge has something for everyone and has a director of FUN on staff who will entertain the kiddos so you can have some alone time. There is not a shortage of activities during the colder months, they bring the fun indoors and offer things like mixology classes, trivia nights, indoor pool karaoke, fitness classes, paint & sip nights, and local artist exhibitions in the lobby. Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club is the ultimate place to stay and play!

TIPS FOR THE IGLOO EXPERIENCE: • Reservations required. • While the Igloos are nice and toasty, wear warm clothes to enjoy the full experience. • Don’t miss out on the specialty Jack Frost cocktail or Hot Cocoa Martini. • Create an awesome playlist on your phone to play your own music through the personal bluetooth hookup. Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club is located at 2907 Main St Route 6A, Brewster, Massachusetts, United States, 02631. Reservations can be made by calling 508-896-9000 or visit www.oceanedge.com.

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The Essence of Community

Start the new month by remembering the value of a local community and its various components ARTICLE BY LINDSAY HURTY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANE BEILES

I NSP IR E D BY | L IFE + CULTURE

A new year. A fresh start. Beginnings are the best: filled with hope, clarity and resolutions. The New Year often inspires us to take stock of where we are in our lives, the things we’d like to do better, and the ways in which we want to let go. It’s also a time to reflect on our friends and families, the different roles we play + the importance of the communities we inhabit. Whether you’ve lived in this community for ages, have recently moved back, or have transplanted from somewhere else… guess what? You can officially call this town your own! But what does that mean? How is that important? In essence, this town gets to be a community for you. And likewise, you get to further shape the community that it is. We’re all connected in these ways and share this opportunity. The concept of community has evolved dramatically in recent decades. I remember explaining to my 94-year-old grandmother about 15 years ago why people are spending so much time on computers. “It’s this thing called the World Wide Web,” I told her, “and it’s invisible but allows people to connect.” Unclear on the logistics, she understood the concept. Connection, and our desire for it, simply makes sense. And historically, that life-enhancing connection would come primarily from our families and local communities. But what holds a local community together? The neighborhoods? The schools? The small businesses? The faith homes? The town officials? The local media? In a sense, all of them, of course! The town’s fabric is comprised of all the components that our town offers. And depending on your specific interests, stage in life and influences, you will discover a way to exist and thrive in our town. You will discover the places that you grow to frequent, your secret hide-outs, favorite spots, and your routine will begin to take shape. But what about the invisible forces that hold us in community? Many of us also thrive on the intangible network that keeps us emotionally and

intellectually afloat in our worlds. This invisible network that supports our day-to-day living is also community, but it’s not the brick and mortar kind. Rather, it’s the people and the feeling and the energy of a place. And I imagine that energetic network to be like one of those magnificent glistening spider webs that’s stretched across an impressive space and consists of intricate connective threads. But, unless you catch a glimpse of it from a precise angle and in just the right light, you may never become aware that it’s there. But don’t be fooled, it’s there, that magical web of connective threads; it’s all around us, even if we haven’t discovered it or leaned into it in a while. Finding one's footing in a local community can take time, but it’s heartening to be reminded that people all around us, in this local community of ours, are making threads to design and enhance the invisible web that’s able to extend and grow and change because of the people who engage in it. As we continue into this new year, let’s remember that our resolutions are an expression of intention. And perhaps we can try on a different kind this new year. Maybe, rather than taking on that big, huge goal, instead, we consider designing a resolution that involves settling in. Perhaps the intention is to choose to further strengthen our shared community. That could mean choosing to add your uniqueness to this web; deepening your existing connections; finding support where you need it; or being curious about what else our community might ignite for you. At the end of the day, it’s the people—you, me and them—who create the collective energy of what we all consider home. And we all get to have a hand in designing this web, this intentional community that holds us. Written By: Lindsay Hurty, Co-Founder of Everwell (www.theeverwell.com) Everwell is a community for life-learners to gather, connect + grow in meaningful through our thoughtfully curated programs, events, workshops + online courses.

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MEET

the

DARIEN LIFESTYLE

team

Ever wonder where the magic happens behind the scenes? Meet the team at Greenwich + Darien Lifestyle Magazines and see the faces behind the pages.

laura sabia

kristin burnell EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Kristin is the Editorial Coordinator of Darien and Greenwich Lifestyle Magazines. She also works as a TV News Reporter at Western Mass News, an ABC/ Fox affiliate station in Springfield. Kristin graduated Summa Cum Laude from Sacred Heart University in 2021 with a M.A. in Broadcast Journalism and in 2019, she received her B.A. in Journalism and a minor in Public Relations. Kristin was also a member of the Division One Dance Team for 4 years and was a College Associate with Fox News Media as well as an editorial intern for Greenwich Lifestyle Magazine. Born and raised in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Kristin is excited to bring inspiring stories amongst the community.

lydia turner

PUBLISHER

MARKET SUPPORT MANAGER

Laura is the founder and publisher of Greenwich Lifestyle Magazine and is

Lydia heads up business development and partnerships, as well as teaching

excited to be expanding her publications into Darien and New Canaan mar-

Pure Barre in her free time. She is passionate about helping others grow to

ket. Her tenure as a local business owner started with a single very special fit-

their full potential, anything wellness related (literally, anything!), and good

ness studio, and those first experiences have stayed with her over the years. It

food. City Lifestyle has proven to be a place where all of these things come

is because of those experiences, and because of the challenges she faced

together - and Lydia, along with the rest of the team, cannot wait to share this

growing her dream, that she chose to bring City Lifestyle to her friends and

unique publication with the Darien community!

neighbors. Local love is more than just a play on words, it’s the driving force behind Laura’s vision and efforts to support this amazing community.

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | L IFE + CULTURE

leslie kumar posmentier ACCOUNT MANAGER

With over 15 years of marketing and sales experience Leslie Kumar Posmentier

ashley cannon CONTRIBUTING WRITER

brings a wealth of knowledge as she embarks on her new role as Account

Ashley, also known as STYLEE LYST is a Connecticut-based lifestyle blog fea-

Manager with City Lifestyle for Darien Lifestyle Magazine. Most recently Leslie

turing fashion, beauty, travel, eats, and more. STYLEE LYST's goal is to inspire

was a small business owner where she oversaw design, marketing and sales of

women (and men!) to live their best lives at every price point. In addition to blog-

her jewelry collection, which was sold in stores nationwide. Originally from

ging, Ashley also writes the fashion column The Style List in Greenwich Lifestyle

the Chicago area, Leslie currently resides in Stamford, CT with her husband

Magazine, styles clients and does freelance marketing. She is a soon-to-be

Jaret and two daughters, Avery and Sydney.

mother that resides in Fairfield County, CT with her husband and yellow lab.

debbie fields

SA LE S A N D PA RT N ER SH I PS

emily liebert CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Debbie began her career as a commercial leasing broker in NYC and closed multiple deals in the early 1980s. She then founded Epic Events Inc. and produced

USA Today bestselling author Emily Liebert was born and raised in

150+ events for iconic New York institutions and elite clients. Highlights include

New York City. She attended Horace Mann School and Smith College,

Stevie Wonder’s Time for Peace event held at The Metropolitan Opera House,

graduating with a B.A. in English Language & Literature. In 2000, she

John Kennedy Jr. 's, Reaching Up charity, and a light show at the Planetarium at

was appointed Editor-in-Chief of The WAG—a luxury lifestyle mag-

the American Museum of Natural History sponsored by Johnnie Walker Black

azine covering Westchester and Fairfield Counties. During Emily’s

Label. In project management and sales, she helped launch a sustainability

five-year tenure, she wrote hundreds of articles, including celebrity

startup in NYC, securing contracts with top tier hotels including The Plaza, The

profiles, travel, fashion, and beauty. She’s also contributed to The

Mandarin Oriental and the William Vale, saving hotels money and complying

Huffington Post, Oprah.com, Elite Traveler, Robb Report, Gotham,

with NYC’s green waste mandate. Debbie is extremely effective in establishing

and Cottages & Gardens. Emily is the author of six novels: YOU KNEW ME

and nurturing client and partner relationships. She communicates very well

WHEN (2013), WHEN WE FALL (2014), THOSE SECRETS WE KEEP (2015),

with individuals at all levels within an organization and is detail oriented, cus-

and SOME WOMEN (2016), all with Penguin Random House, and PRETTY

tomer-focused and a committed team player with a natural ability to identify

REVENGE (2019) and PERFECTLY FAMOUS (2020), both with Simon &

and expand growth opportunities. Debbie loves to spend time with her family,

Schuster. Emily lives in Westport, CT and Miami, FL with her husband,

close friends, play tennis, read, hike and travel with her husband.

Lewis, and their two sons, Jax and Hugo. FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / DA R I E N C T

H EA LT H Y LIF E ST Y LE | LOCAL S E RVI CE S

It’s Time to Get Salty!

One thing is for sure. We love wellness at Greenwich Lifestyle and will usually be the first to try any new wellness fad. Butter in coffee? Yup. Amethyst Crystal Water Bottles? You mean water that sparkles while you drink and provides health benefits? Done. Salt caves? We are intrigued. For generations, salt has been a way to revitalize, heal stress and respiratory discomfort and can even improve your skin health. We sat down with owner and Greenwich native, Adrienne O’Donnell Schuck from the Salt Cave of Darien to learn about what her hidden treasure cave of salt has to offer. GL: Can you please describe your business to our readers that have never visited? AS: At our enchanting Salt Cave of Darien, you’ll enjoy an oasis of peace, calm and serenity. Whether you want to release stress, address a health challenge, or gather with friends and family, you’ll find our Cave inviting, warm and soothing.

CONTINUED >

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / DA R I E N C T

"The benefits of dry salt therapy is clinically proven and it is not a fad. It has been used in Europe for centuries. It is such a positive atmosphere and people have found relief from many different issues."

— Adrienne O’Donnell Schuck

GL: What types of services do you provide? AS: The Cave is a wellness destination with a rich line up of therapies to help you destress, detox and improve your overall health. We have many different things that we offer from the popular 45 minute salt session to full cave rentals where your group relaxes together. We offer couples massages and special events. During special events, some top local healers visit the cave bringing additional services to clients, including guided meditations, yoga nidra and yin yoga, sound-bowl meditation, reflexology and acupuncture. The Salt Cave has added a private salt-lined room perfect for our popular salt room Date Night which comes with Prosecco and small bites or individual treatments. Now you can enjoy a private session, massage, reflexology, energy work or tarot card readings all while breathing in the healing salt air, so you receive double the benefits during every treatment. GL: What are the benefits of those services? AS: We provide halotherapy (salt therapy) during all of our services. Halotherapy benefits in many ways: Its anti-inflammatory properties has been known to help with allergies, respiratory issues, stress release, joint pain and skin problems while leaving you with a feeling of deep relaxation. The benefits of dry salt therapy is clinically proven and it is not a fad. It has been used in Europe for

H EA LT H Y LIF E ST Y LE | LOCAL S E RVI CE S

centuries. It is such a positive atmosphere and people have found relief from many different issues. GL: What makes your business unique from any other business? AS: Besides adding Halotherapy to our services like massage and the like, our Cave is very luxurious with its own waterfall. Our salt room is a cocoon of salt. The beautiful pinks, reds and yellow also provide chromotherapy which is when colors are healing to the body. Our staff is ready to make sure you enjoy your time with us. You will be sure to leave rejuvenated. GL: This magazine issue is all about local love, what is something you can comment on about the importance of local businesses? AS: I grew up in Greenwich and now am a Darien resident, so this area means so much to me. I want to make sure to support my neighbors and friends which only helps our towns. Plus there are so many stores offering unique items – perfect for that special purchase or gift! Prepare to get salty by wearing whatever makes you the most comfortable. You won’t be covered in salt when you leave. We recommend a light sweater or blanket as the room can get chilly. The Salt Cave is located at 555 Post Rd, Darien, CT 06820. You can book reservations by emailing info@saltcaveofdarien.com. Remember to tell them Greenwich Lifestyle says hi!

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / DA R I E N C T

F IN A N CIA L BU Z Z | FIN ANCE + LE GAL S E RVI CE S

creative planning for your future ARTICLE BY ALLISON SWAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

Creative Planning believes there’s a richer way to wealth. Their team of CFP professionals, CPAs and attorneys work together to create clear customized plans to maximize your wealth, all in one place. Their award-winning in-house services span a variety of financial d isciplines, i ncluding c omprehensive wealth and investment management, insurance, tax prep, trusts, estate, financial and retirement planning. Founded in Overland Park, they have since branched out across the globe, gaining a national reputation that has earned them numerous prestigious awards, including #1 wealth management firm i n America by Barron’s, CNBC and Forbes. President and CEO Peter Mallouk shares his wealth of knowledge with approachable financial advice. Two issues coming together at once inspired the creation of Mallouk’s business. “My dad was a physician frustrated with his financial advisor who sold him products and didn’t really explain things well, and I was an estate attorney that saw a full view of the advisory world and thought there was a better way to deliver

the all around experience. Ultimately, that led to Creative Planning offering investments and planning as well as legal and tax advice in a very approachable, consultative way.” Mallouk has written several books, including 5 Mistakes Every Investor Makes and How to Avoid Them, and has cowritten Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook and The Path: Accelerating Your Journey to Financial Freedom with Tony Robbins. “People are generally fearful of investment and feel the market is too low or too high at any given time. When there is a correction (a drop of 10% or more), people generally stay on the sidelines or sell their stocks, fearing the market may collapse and stay lower—there have been over 100 corrections, usually about one per year, and they have all ended with a full recovery. Some of these corrections turn into bear markets, a drop of 20% or more, and all have ended with a full recovery. On the other end of the spectrum, many are worried about investing when the market is at an CONTINUED >

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all time high. This is actually completely normal and happens about once every nineteen days—in other words, all the time! We aren’t surprised when a Hershey’s bar, box of cereal or ticket to Disney World costs more, but somehow are shocked when the market hits an all time high. It’s normal, and inflation has a lot to do with it.” For those with a 401(k), Mallouk says to do everything you can to contribute. “Some 401(k) plans have an employer match, meaning for every dollar you put into the 401(k), the company will match—it usually applies to the first 3%. It’s a guaranteed 100% rate of return, and there is just nothing else you can do that is going to be as good as that. If you have the ability to contribute the max do that as well, but for sure take advantage of the match.” When faced with the choice to either invest or pay off debts first, Mallouk says to start with focusing on the interest rate. “All debts aren’t created equal—if you have credit card debt where you are paying 10% or more in interest, then paying off the debt before doing anything else other than a 401(k) match is the way to go. If your only debt is a home mortgage at 2-4% or so, then investing over a long period of time is very likely to yield you a far better outcome than making extra debt payments.” When planning an estate, it’s crucial to have a healthcare and financial power of attorney and a will or trust. “A healthcare power of attorney names someone to make healthcare decisions for you in the event you can’t make them for yourself. A financial power of attorney names someone to make financial decisions for you if you can’t for yourself. Lastly a will or a trust both name who will handle things for you in the event of your death, and who will oversee and inherit your assets. Trusts tend to make more sense for wealthier individuals as it can bypass the probate court system, which keeps things private, allows for a faster transfer of assets after death, and because it skips the court system, settling the estate is much less expensive.” When looking for a financial advisor, find the right one by asking the right questions. “Most don’t realize that the vast majority of financial advisors don’t have to act in the client’s best interests. A minority of financial advisors

F IN A N CIA L BU Z Z | FIN ANCE + LE GAL S E RVI CE S

“We are planning led, meaning we get to know our clients very well prior to giving them advice. All our portfolios are customized to help clients accomplish their goals, rather than being constructed based on age or risk tolerance.”

are fiduciaries and operate under laws that share similarities with doctors and lawyers, meaning they do have to act in their client’s best interests. First, ask your advisor if they are registered as a broker or are dually registered. If they say yes to either, that means that part or all of the time, they don’t have to act in your best interests. There are thousands of advisors that will act in your best interest, so take the time to find one. Second, ask your advisor if their parent company, or the ownership of their parent company, own investment vehicles. If the answer is yes, don’t be surprised if some of those investment vehicles find their way into your portfolio. Essentially you may find yourself paying an advisor to then put you in a fund where the company collects another fee. There is no need to accept this conflict. Find a fiduciary that is not dually registered and that does not own their own investment products. At that point, you at least have someone that is incented to act on your behalf all the time. From there, look for education, credentials and experience with people like you.” As for the future, it’s never looked brighter at Creative Planning. “It’s an exciting time—we can do more for our clients today than at any point in our history. In many ways, it feels like we are just at the starting line.” For more information, visit CreativePlanning.com.

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FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / DA R I E N C T

B L AC K E N E D SA L MON WITH CRAB FRIED “RICE"

Blackened Salmon Blackened Seasoning: • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika • 1.5 tablespoons garlic powder • 1.5 tablespoons onion powder • 1 teaspoon of sea salt • 1 teaspoon dried thyme • 1 teaspoon oregano • 1 teaspoon black pepper • soy ginger sauce

• 6 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar • 2 teaspoons of honey • 1 teaspoon of sriracha (if you do not like spice, you can omit this) • 2 tablespoons of minced garlic • 2 teaspoons grated ginger or ground ginger

INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Combine all dry seasoning. Season both sides of 4 salmon fillets then set aside. For best results store in the refrigerator and marinate salmon for 30 minutes. 2. Combine all ingredients of soy ginger sauce in a saucepan, bring to a boil and set aside. 3. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Then grab a cast-iron skillet or other nonstick skillet that can go into the oven. Pour 1 tbsp of olive oil into the skillet and let the skillet heat on high until the pan is super hot. 4. Place the salmon skin-side up into the hot skillet. Let cook for about 3 minutes. When the salmon turns opaque on the sides use a spatula to flip the salmon so that it is skin-side down. Place the skillet immediately into the oven and let cook for 6 minutes. Remove from the oven. Let rest 4 to 5 minutes.

Crab Fried “Rice” • 1 Head of Cauliflower, Riced (Frozen works as well) • 10 oz Lump Crab meat or whatever your budget allows • 3 sprigs of Green Onion • 1/2 Yellow Onion (Chopped) • 1/4 Cup Low Sodium Soy sauce

• 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic • 1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil • 1 Tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning • 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder • 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder • ½ Teaspoon Salt and Pepper • Olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS:

ARTICLE BY CHEF SAMMY DAVIS

C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE

1. Heat olive oil on medium heat. Add yellow onions, green onions, and garlic. Stir occasionally for 5-8 minutes or until vegetables turn translucent. 2. Add cauliflower “rice,” remaining ingredients (except crab), and adjust temp to medium high. Stir frequently for 5 minutes and return heat to medium. 3. Add crab meat and toss lightly. Allow it to cook for an additional 5 minutes. Top crab fried rice with the ginger soy sauce, place salmon fillet on top of rice, and garnish with parsley.

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