Northwest Bergen, NJ April 2024

EDUCATION

ROADRUNNER FINANCIAL GROUP

HEALTH + WELLNESS

LOYO WELLNESS

FINANCE + LEGAL SERVICES

INVESTING WITH NEW YORK LIFE

LOCAL SERVICES

THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD

”… even had a medical doctor on staff to answer my questions …”

Volvo Plug-in Hybrids

Electric cars with a backup plan. Great for everyday trips and longer journeys.

Paying It Forward

Long-time readers of Northwest Bergen Lifestyle may be a bit surprised by this year's April issue. The theme of this issue,  Investment, is a new addition for us here at Northwest Bergen, something that allows us to look at our community from a brand-new angle.

When you hear the word "invest", the first thing that probably springs to mind is money. However, if you take a look at the actual MerriamWebster definition of the word invest, there's a lot more nuance to it than just finance.

invest - /in'vest/ - verb

1. to commit money in order to earn a financial return

2. to make use of for future benefits or advantages

3. to involve or engage, especially emotionally

Clearly, investment can be about so much more than just money. You can invest your time and effort into something like your home, your belongings, or your health, in the hope that your hard work now will pay dividends for you in the future. You can be invested in something like your family, your relationships with friends and loved ones, or your community, in the sense that you care deeply for something and view its wellbeing as your own. Investment, when you look at it closely, is something that you can do in almost every corner of your life.

This month, we'll take you through some of the many ways that investment pops up in the Northwest Bergen area. We'll talk to Paul Vagianos, the mayor of Ridgewood, about being invested in your community and the people who make it. We'll introduce you to Kathleen Sposato from New York Life to talk about how planning for your future is a wise choice at any stage of life. We'll take a look at the Roadrunner Financial Group at Ramapo College, where students are gaining hands-on experience about how to manage financial investment portfolios, and last but certainly not least, we'll hear from Jessica Kishpaugh of Loyo Wellness about how treating your body right and taking control of your health is a real and impactful investment in your future!

Your health, your community, your future, and yourself are all things that are worth investing in. We hope that this issue of Northwest Bergen Lifestyle teaches you a thing or two about how to do just that!

MEGHAN MCGOWAN, EDITOR @NORTHWESTBERGENLIFESTYLE

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INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

Local Students Gain Hands-On Investment Experience with the Roadrunner Financial Group

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER K. MURRAY PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

BY

ROADRUNNER FINANCIAL GROUP

At Ramapo College, the student-managed Roadrunner Financial Group (RFG) is guiding the next generation of investors towards a very bright future.

Brian Goldberg, advisor of RFG and professor at the Anisfield School of Business, says that the Trading Lab is by far the most exciting aspect of his career at Ramapo thus far.

Brian found academia “by accident”. A former student at Ramapo himself, Brian kept in touch with one of his professors over the years.

“We kept in touch through old-school networking. I was a full-time day trader at the time when I was given the opportunity to run a Financial Trading Lab at Ramapo.”

At the time, Brian was feeling a bit burnt out from day trading; so he decided to entertain the interview. He was offered the position and given free rein to run the Trading Lab as he saw fit.

REAPING THE REWARDS

Now at Ramapo for over 12 years, Brian finds the experience to be incredibly rewarding. He calls it his “accidental job that stuck”.

The Roadrunner Financial Group is a student-managed investment fund. Initially, the students managed a portfolio on behalf of the Business School. Brian took over as advisor in 2012.

“We had tried a few times to get what would become the Roadrunner Financial Group up and running. We needed the right group of dedicated students to manage a simulated portfolio. They worked their tails off to impress the Dean of the Business School, and we finally were approved in 2015.”

“We were given $50,000 from the Business School in 2016. We trade through Vanguard.”

Today, their top stock holdings are: Microsoft, Palo Alto Networks, Visa, Adobe Systems and Apple. For 2023, they handily outperformed the S&P 500, returning 34.45% vs. the S&P’s 24%.

THE MEMBERS ARE EVERYTHING

The Roadrunner Financial Group members are not just business majors - they can be from any major at Ramapo. Brian feels this makes their group special. All students at Ramapo have access to learn about trading.

“There are student-managed fund groups at many schools. What I think differentiates us is that anyone can join - any major, any year. So you could be a freshman biology major who has an interest in the stock market or financial literacy, and come and join us. There is no knowledge required and everyone is welcome at our meetings.”

However, the student members do need to earn the right to vote in the portfolio decisions. They accept applications for this “Investment Committee” every spring.

The Investment Committee has fluctuated between 5-10 members, historically. The group has around 50 members total, with about 30 members attending weekly.

“A non-voting member can come and go as they please. A voting member needs to show up regularly because we’re counting on you.”

The group is performing well, and their portfolio is close to the highest it’s ever been. While the majority of Student-Managed Investment Funds go entirely to cash every summer, the RFG Investment Committee stays in touch over the summer months. They meet in person or via Webex to discuss the portfolio and to brainstorm ways to improve and prepare for the upcoming year.

STRONG ADVICE

The group also benefits from a strong Advisory Board that meets with the students to discuss their portfolio. They can network with these business professionals and receive fantastic feedback on ideas.

CONTINUED >

REAL-WORLD LEARNING

The students certainly learn about managing their money for the future and are given a rare opportunity to understand the stock market. However, there are also other surprising lessons gained.

“Students often say they feel more comfortable with their public speaking skills. At the end of the day, investing is a life skill. Having the ability to take ownership of their own portfolio gives them the ability to create their own financial future.”

Job opportunities are another perk of the group.

The company Polen in Florida has been a strong supporter of the group and a great role model on strategy to help the group run a growth-oriented portfolio.

GIVING BACK

The Roadrunner Financial Group has another goalgiving back.

The group funds an Annual Scholarship for a student leader from any major on campus that is passionate about the stock market, demonstrates leadership, and is actively involved on campus. Financial need is also a factor.

For the past two years, the group has also held a Basketball Tournament Fundraiser to raise $1,500 for Directrelief.org. They also raised $2,000 in aid for Ukraine, with over 100 students in the Ramapo gym raising money.

“We’re trying to do a bit more philanthropy. We also did a Food Drive in the Fall to benefit our local food pantry on campus.”

“It speaks volumes on a resume to be a member of a financial group, which helps students land internships, and even full time jobs.”

“One past president is now at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Another is at Gore Technologies. The last president, Matt Wisneski, is an Investment Banking Analyst at the DAK Group. Many students have found real world opportunities from being a member of this group.”

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

Members of the Roadrunner Financial Group are investing in a more safe future for themselves and others.

“It’s so much easier now for students because brokers, such as Robin Hood, allow purchases of fractional shares. I think that’s great. In our meetings, students share ideas and talk through the news and what’s going on in the economy.”

Performance-wise, Brian says that the students are doing a fantastic job and he couldn’t be more proud of them.

“Being the Trading Lab Coordinator is my favorite part of my job at Ramapo. The students continue to impress me every year, and it’s an honor to work with them, for sure.”

For information on the group, visit: www.ramapo.edu/clubs/organization/ roadrunner-financial-group/

For information on the scholarship, visit: www.ramapo.edu/scholarships/single/ roadrunner-financial-group-annual-scholarship/

LOVING YOURSELF

How One Northwest Bergen Lifestyle Coach is Transforming Lives

ARTICLE BY MEGHAN MCGOWAN PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY LOYO WELLNESS

For millions of people across the country, losing weight and building healthy habits is one of their major goals, and one of their most challenging. Taking control of your health can be a transformative decision, but for most, it’s far easier said than done. While some of these struggles are

“It’s 100% an investment in your future self, and it’s an investment in yourself right now, too.”

certainly external– everyone knows what it feels like to have a week where you’re simply too busy to cook healthy meals– many of them are far more internal. Addressing these problems is what Jessica Kishpaugh of LoYo Wellness does for a living.

“I practiced law in the city for about ten years,” Kishpaugh said, “and was kind of going through my own personal transformation and physical transformation. I realized that I really wanted to study nutrition, so I went back to school. Towards the end of that, I said ‘Oh my god, I really don’t like what I’m doing… I could start my own business, I could be a health coach!’ So I sort of got inspired to do that. I developed a program and have been working with clients ever since. I really started to niche down into

emotional eating behaviors: binge eating, disordered thinking, that emotional connection to food. I really took a mind-body approach to not just nutrition, but a total healthy lifestyle.

“Even before I knew that I wanted to focus on this aspect of self care in that emotional space, like emotional eating, binge eating, and all that, this notion of self-care was always really important to me, and this is something that I believe is really the core foundation of health: loving yourself in body, mind, and soul. How you treat your body, what you put in your body, how you talk to yourself, how you talk about yourself, it all matters. Healing emotional eating and binge eating and those problems requires a lot of self-compassion.”

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That core concept of self care even went on to inspire the business’s name, LoYo, short for Love Yourself. “My husband and I were out to dinner many years ago, and we were just brainstorming names, and he came up with it!” Kishpaugh reports. “He said ‘It’s kind of like ‘YOLO,’ and I said ‘Well, that’s cheesy and very silly,’ and it sort of stuck.”

For Jessica, guiding people on their journeys of self-betterment is more than a job. “Hands down, the most rewarding part is to work with clients, having really deep conversations, really big a-ha moments, and talking about really intricate, emotional, important parts of their lives. That’s what becomes life-changing for the women that I work with. I get off my client coaching calls and I’m like ‘I just love what I do.’ It lights me up so much to see the emotional healing and transformation that’s happening with these women.”

Working up close with the wellness journeys of so many individuals has helped Kishpaugh to gain a detailed understanding of what isn’t working for people. “The diet industry is a huge industry, and in my opinion, it’s so flawed. It flashes shiny objects at people who just want to lose weight yesterday, and it’s really easy to feed on people’s vulnerabilities. But the quick fixes don’t last– it’s putting bandaids on broken legs. I see that happening a lot, and it’s holding people back. I hear a lot about motivation, but I really don’t think it’s about that. People use those terms, they feel it’s about willpower. ‘I have no control. I need more willpower, I

“I get off my client coaching calls and I’m like ‘I just love what I do.’ It lights me up so much to see the emotional healing and transformation that’s happening with these women.”

have too many cravings. I have no motivation to work out.’ But it’s so much more than that! I take a self-compassionate approach to weight and to health, and it’s about ‘How do I love myself through the process of change?’ You’ll still get to the same place you want to get to, it’s just a different way of doing that. It may be slower, it may be different, it may be scary! It’s not a quick fix bandaid approach that’s going to give you an overnight solution, but you’re actually going to have sustainability.

“It’s 100% an investment in your future self, and it’s an investment in yourself right now, too.

I talk about this concept of so many people saying ‘I want to lose the weight so I’ll be happier.’ They’re using that as a contingent on their happiness. ‘When I lose the weight, I’ll be confident.’ Basically what they’re saying is ‘I can’t be confident now, I can’t be happy now.’ They’re putting their happiness on hold. I really hope people lean into this concept of ‘Well, let’s find the confidence now and let’s find the happiness now,’ and have it as you make changes to your health.”

For more information about transforming your health and your mindset, visit loyowellness.com

Preparing for Your Future

ARTICLE BY REBECCA RYDELL PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY KATHLEEN SPOSATO

Most people think of life insurance as something that benefits others after you die. However,  savvy investors know it’s also a financial planning tool.

“In addition to protecting your loved ones when you pass away, life insurance can provide living benefits you can use as an investment strategy,” explains Allendalebased insurance agent Kathleen Sposato of New York Life. “Think of it like a savings account: you can use it to pay for college, put a downpayment on a home, or make ends meet in retirement.”

However, not all policies are the same, and insurance needs vary during your lifetime. Knowing what’s right for you and your family can be complicated. Here’s what you need to know to make the best investment for you.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIFE INSURANCE

Life insurance policies fall into four main categories: Term Life, Whole Life, Universal Life, and Variable Universal. Of these, term life insurance is the only one not used for investing.

Term life is a traditional life insurance policy that replaces lost income when the policyholder dies. You can purchase a policy for a set time frame, such as five, 10, or 20 years.

“Term life insurance is like a rental policy,” notes Sposato. “It expires at the end of the term.”

Whole, universal, and variable universal life insurance policies are financial assets. These have two main components: A death benefit paid to your beneficiaries when you pass away and a tax-free cash value you can access while alive.

“These policies are often used as part of a retirement planning strategy along with a 401K, IRA, and other

investments,” Sposato says. “The cash value is a separate pool of money that can work hand-in-hand with other investments.”

Life Insurance is also a relatively stable investment that provides tax advantages.

“The government wants people to have life insurance so their dependents are cared for and won’t need to rely on welfare,” she explains. “To encourage more people to maintain life insurance policies, they offer tax incentives. Both the cash value and death benefits are not taxed.”

WHOLE LIFE INSURANCE AS AN INVESTMENT

The most popular type of investment policy is whole life insurance. A form of permanent life insurance, whole life is considered a safe, guaranteed part of your portfolio.

“It’s not tied to the stock market, so you don’t have to worry about market fluctuations,” notes Sposato, who has been with New York Life for more than 20 years.

Whole-life policies pay dividends that increase the cash value over time. Premiums are generally lower the younger you are when you buy the policy. As long as you stay current with your payments, they won’t increase as you age. You can also customize a whole-life policy to limit premium payments to a set number of years and the death benefit is guaranteed.

“Most people go for whole life because it is safe. It offers the peace of mind of knowing what you have down the line for retirement,” she adds. “They can afford to take more risks in other investments because they have the security of whole life.”

CONTINUED >

“In addition to protecting your loved ones when you pass away, life insurance can provide living benefits you can use as an investment strategy.”

“Helping clients understand their options and achieve their goals makes my job so rewarding. Every client is unique, so together, we can develop a personalized approach that meets today’s needs and tomorrow’s as well.”

UNIVERSAL LIFE AND VARIABLE UNIVERSAL BENEFITS

Universal life insurance policies are adjustable plans that offer more flexibility but less stability than whole life insurance. You can change the total coverage and adjust premium costs with these policies, which are based on fluctuating interest rates.

“Universal life is popular with business owners,” Sposato explains. “It’s a middle ground between term life and whole life. Unlike term life, universal life allows you to build cash value, but it doesn’t offer the same guarantees as whole life.”

Variable universal life insurance, by comparison, is invested in the stock market. It offers the same flexibility as universal life, but the funds are invested in financial markets, potentially increasing the cash value if the markets are favorable. You can choose from different investment options based on your goals, risk tolerance, and timeline.

“Variable universal is more popular with people who are savvy with the market,” she adds. “It’s a higher risk and there are no guarantees, but some people do very well with it.”

FINDING THE RIGHT PLAN FOR YOU

Life insurance is helpful for anyone at any age, but it’s essential for people with financial obligations.

However, there isn’t a cookie-cutter formula for how much insurance you need. The right strategy for you will depend on several factors including your age, financial goals, and budget. That’s why it can be helpful to work with an insurance agent.

“When working with clients, I always start with a fact-finding interview to gather general information:

where they work, if they have any kids, the size of their mortgage, and other reasons they would need life insurance,” explains Sposato. “From there, I customize a plan to meet their individual needs.”

For young couples with growing families and big mortgages, Sposato usually recommends a combination of whole-life and term-life policies. A universal life policy is a better option for people who wait to buy insurance until later in life.

“If you are too close to retirement age, you may not have enough time for a whole life policy to build up enough cash value to use in retirement,” she adds.

WORKING WITH AN AGENT

The best way to figure out the right strategy for you and your family is to work with an experienced agent.

“Helping clients understand their options and achieve their goals makes my job so rewarding,” says Sposato. “Every client is unique, so together, we can develop a personalized approach that meets today’s needs and tomorrow’s as well.”

Technology also makes working with an agent more convenient than ever. Virtual meetings mean you don’t need to tidy up before an appointment.

“COVID changed the nature of this work. We used to travel to people’s homes to fill out paperwork and get hand signatures,” she explains. “Now I meet with clients on Zoom or over the phone, and documents are signed electronically. “As a full-time mom and a fulltime worker, this gives me the flexibility to stay home with my toddler and take care of my family while also working smarter for my clients,” Sposato adds.

LEARN MORE: If you’re in the market for life insurance, you can contact Kathleen Sposato by phone at 551.264.9321, email at kdelaney@ft.newyorklife.com, or online at newyorklife.com/agent/kdelaney.

It Takes a Village

INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD

ARTICLE BY MEGHAN MCGOWAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY PERRY QUARANTA AND THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD

Residents of the entirety of Bergen County know that the Village of Ridgewood is one of the crowning jewels of the area. Full of beautiful residential neighborhoods, welcoming public spaces, and a charming and bustling downtown business district, it’s a hub of activity for the whole region, and the past year has been an exciting time of development for the town. We had the opportunity to speak to Paul Vagianos, mayor of the Village of Ridgewood and owner of the local restaurant It’s Greek to Me, about what 2023 was like for the community, and what’s in store for 2024.

Vagianos spoke about projects that have transformed the town over the past year in many different ways, from planting trees and revising zoning ordinances in the central business district to make it easier for new businesses to open, to breaking ground on new wells to provide water to the entire community. The town ran an initiative to display banners of local veterans during the summer and will expand it during the coming year. Together with the county, Ridgewood also paved over 32 miles worth of roads in 2023, and in spite of a nationwide lifeguard shortage, was able to have the lifeguard stands at local pond Graydon Pool fully staffed throughout the 2023 season, with hopes to do so again in 2024.

“We were able to pave new sidewalks in a bunch of places that really needed it for safety,” Vagianos continued, “but one of the biggest ones for me has been Schedler Park. It is a really important project. That property was purchased in about 2008 or 2009 and has been sitting on the shelf for 15 years, and now we’re finally going to bring it to fruition.” Actualizing plans to develop a recreational space, complete with a full-size playing field, at Schedler Park was a difficult process for the town, involving ensuring that the area had no Revolutionary War significance. Now that the plan has finally been approved, it will become the first field in town since 1980, and the only one not on a flood plain. “I wish the devastating flooding of the past months hadn’t proved how right we were about needing it, but it’s crucial to have a safe outdoor space for the residents of this town to use, young and old.”

Of course, not every project of the year was a rousing success. While Ridgewood’s downtown pedestrian plazas of the summer have been wildly popular in years past, this year the initiative didn’t perform as well as was hoped. “We still think it’s important for the community, but it needs some changes for the future,” Vagianos reported. “It’s going to go on the shelf until the time is right.”

Another win for the town during the course of 2023 has been the state of community involvement. Hybrid access meetings to allow Ridgewood residents to more easily participate in town discussions have been huge according to Mayor Vagianos, as has the village’s new website to make information more easily accessible. Looking forward to 2024, participation from all members of the community will continue to be vital to the town’s success. “I’ll quote my mother-in-law’s saying– many hands make light work,” Vagianos said. “This village has been a great village for a long time, and we want to keep improving it, and to do that, everyone has to do their part, whatever that may be. They can coach a team, help put on an event in town, help clean their sidewalks, anything to pitch in where they can. We need everyone to get involved in order to continue to make this town great.”

So, what’s in store for the future? There’s plenty to look forward to over the rest of 2024, including establishing a Gold Star monument in Van Neste Park for fallen veterans, repairing the footbridge on Kingsbridge Lane, and much more. The projects of the past year and the planned projects of the current one are proving over and over again to be crucial investments in the future of the town, something that both the village’s leadership and residents can join hands on.

“Being mayor of this town is such an honor,” Paul Vagianos stated. “It was a great town before I came in and we’ve continued to make it great. One of the most rewarding parts of the job for me is working with residents who have issues to help them resolve those issues. It’s not easy, and there’s not always a clear solution, but when I’m able to help someone, it’s a good day.”

For more information, visit the Village of Ridgewood’s website at ridgewoodnj.net.

Exams

franklinlakesopticians.com

801

MONDAYS

Peter Hart Performs at the Steel Wheel Tavern

Steel Wheel Tavern, Ridgewood 6:00 PM

Renowned guitar player Peter Hart has played music with artists from across the industry, including the Latin Pop of Pedro Capo and the Jazz stylings of Frank Vignola. You can see him perform every Monday evening through the month of April at the Steel Wheel Tavern!

steelwheeltavern.com/entertainment

TUESDAYS

Taco Tuesdays at The Craftsman

The Craftsman, Fair Lawn | 4:00 PM

Celebrate Taco Tuesday right at The Craftsman in Fair Lawn! Enjoy six different taco offerings as well as delicious margarita flights, and be sure to enjoy discounted drinks and appetizers for happy hour as well! thecraftsmannj.com

APRIL 15TH-19TH

Spring Break at Lorrimer Sanctuary

Lorrimer Sanctuary, Franklin Lakes, NJ

Join us for an exciting Spring Break at Lorrimer Sanctuary! Get ready for a week filled with fun, adventure, and learning in the great outdoors! Fun activities include nature art, bug hunts, and more! Sessions available for kindergarten-3rd grade and 4th-6th grade. Please be sure to pack a lunch! njaudubon.org

NORTHERN

APRIL 20TH

A Touch of Pops Concert at the Wyckoff Library

Wyckoff Public Library | 2:00 PM

The Chanteurs, a vocal ensemble from the New Jersey Choral Society, will present their "A Touch of Pops" concert at the Wyckoff Library, featuring songs such as  Slap That Bass  by George and Ira Gershwin,  When I'm Sixty-Four  by the Beatles,  Big Yellow Taxi  by Joni Mitchell,  Our House  by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and many more. bccls.libcal.com

APRIL 23RD

Nature Book Club

Lorrimer Sanctuary, Franklin Lakes

All are welcome to join our Nature Book Club and take part in our discussions! We're currently reading Better Living Through Birding by Christian Cooper. This book is available through BCCLS and on Libby. njaudubon.org

MAY 1ST

Valley Hospital Auxiliary’s Third Annual Vegas Night

Seasons, Washington Township

6:30 PM

Enjoy games of chance, four-hour open bar, gourmet food and great prizes to benefit critical programs for children. All proceeds support The Valley Hospital Auxiliary’s $3.1 million pledge to establish the Pediatric Section of the Emergency Department in the new Valley Hospital in Paramus and Valley Home Care’s Butterflies program for seriously ill children. valleyhealth.com/VegasNight

Primrose

PrimroseFlorhampark.com

Primrose

PrimroseMorristown.com

Primrose

PrimroseParamus.com

Primrose

PrimroseWestOrange.com

Intimate in Scale

Grand in Lifestyle

Only a limited number of fortunate people can call The Vista home. Nestled within Christian Health’s 78-acre campus, The Vista’s intimate size provides many advantages. Your individuality is respected and encouraged. Personalized service is a given. And the spirit of community is upbeat and uplifting. Intimate scale aside, The Vista’s amenities rival those found in many country clubs. Why wait? Explore the rewards of Bergen County’s only life plan community today.

For more information, or to arrange a tour and receive event invitations, visit TheVista.org/contact, scan the QR code, or call (201) 684-9775.