Save Ottumwa Post April 17, 2024

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•••••APRIL 17, 2024•••••

Like many aspects of divorce, managing your finances after splitting up with your spouse can feel complicated and overwhelming.

This is true whether the separation is amicable or acrimoProtecting Your Financial nious. BeStability After a Divorce cause every divorce is different, it’s wise to consult with your attorney and financial advisor for guidance, but here is a basic primer to help you navigate your finances independently from your ex-spouse.

Adjust your budget to match your current lifestyle. Start by calculating your new monthly income, including spousal or child support if applicable, and estimate what you expect to earn over the next year. If you are a stayat-home parent or spouse, you may decide to re-enter the workforce to bolster your income. Or the time may be right to switch careers or seek a side hustle.

Next, look at your spending to see if you need to adjust your patterns.

Whether you’ve decided to remain in (Financial cont’d on pg 2)

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you need to revise your tax strategy. Divorce and continue building your nest egg. You are can affect your tax situation in several ways. responsible for your Impacts may include own savings. In fact, entering a different inthe biggest challenge come tax bracket, promost Americans face viding or receiving child financially is having enough money to cover or spousal support, and changes to your investwhat could be several decades of expenses in ment strategy and your retirement. While retire- process for handling future tax returns. ment saving can feel overwhelming as you Dream and plan for balance competing financial priorities, having the future. Once you a plan can help you feel have a handle on your new day-to-day financmore in control. es and retirement goals, allow yourself to dream Ensure you’re proand plan for other miletected. An important step following divorce is stones that are important to you. Do you wish to maintain, replace or establish insurance that to visit every continent? will help secure your fi- Pay off your mortgage nancial future. All forms before retirement? of insurance should be Open a small business?

Whatever your dreams, reviewed and considdetermine the cost of ered, and your beneficiaries should be updat- each one so you know ed if needed. Make sure how much you’ll need you understand the spe- to save. Save what you can each month, and cific benefits that you and your former spouse keep in mind that even small amounts will add are entitled to through your employers, as well up over time. If you’re as applicable life, health tempted to spend the and disability insurance money elsewhere, consider establishing a policies. If you have separate savings acchildren, whose health count. insurance plan will be used to cover them?

Don’t go it alone. ProWork quickly to establish an insurance plan to fessional guidance from an attorney, tax profesavoid the financial risk sional, estate planner of being uninsured. and financial advisor can help you make emConsider the tax implications of your new powered choices that marital status. Review match your new prioriyour situation with a tax ties. Financial advisors like myself routinely professional to see if

(Financial cont’d from pg 1) your retirement goals

your home or seek new living arrangements, crunch the numbers to see how much house you can realistically afford. Also, evaluate your lifestyle spending, including entertainment, dining out, and vacations, to see if it’s necessary to trim your expenses. If possible, avoid making any major purchases until you feel comfortable with your updated budget.

Consider your children’s future. If you have children, they will understandably take center stage in your planning. It’s important to start thinking about how you’ll handle future financial milestones.

Milestones may include paying for private grade school, college tuition, the down payment on a home, or a wedding. If you’d like to help your children with such expenses, consider these questions: Will you receive financial support from your former spouse? Do you expect your kids to contribute?

As each event approaches, be up front with your kids about what you can afford so they can set realistic expectations.

Prioritize saving for retirement. No matter how close – or far – you are to retirement, make it a priority to update

APRIL 17, 2024

advise clients on how to navigate with the complex decisions that arise during a divorce and offer strategies designed to help you meet new financial goals.

Duane J Lusson, CFP, ChFC, CLU, MSFS, is a Private Wealth Advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Ottumwa, Iowa. He specializes in feebased financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 30 years. To contact him, call 641684-4200 or stop by his office at 527 W. Second in Ottumwa, Iowa.

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and its affiliates do not offer tax or legal advice. Consumers should consult with their tax advisor or attorney regarding

their specific situation.

Investment products are not insured by the FDIC, NCUA or any federal agency, are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed by any financial institution, and involve investment risks including possible loss of principal and fluctuation in value.

Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser.

Securities offered by Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2024 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

File # 6144334.1

APRIL 17, 2024

All in a Day I was working diligently in my office, occasionally glancing out of the window toward the lake, enjoying the scenery on a warm sunny morning.

It was about 10:00 when my wife called down, “What is that up by the top gate?” I looked up and could see what she to what she was referring. It was large and dark colored but far enough away, I could not make out what it was. I reached for the binoculars and quickly determined it was a Tom turkey, strutting his stuff for all he was worth. We went out to the porch and watched as he displayed, back and forth across the top of the hill.

He never gobbled once but was in a constant strut. After a half hour or so, he worked his way down the hill, following the road. When he got to the shore, closest to the island, he quit strutting long enough to fly over. He strutted across the island and flew up to the top of the dam where he stood in the sunlight showing off his coppery brown feathers. After a while, a hen turkey came down the hill to join him on the dam. When she got close to him, he turned and walked down the back side of the dam and off into the pasture.

I thought this was rather

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strange behavior on his He is a tough little dog part, but the last we saw but not as tough as he thinks he is. If the mothof him, he was headed toward the woods on the er goose did not come off the nest to pound on edge of the north pasture with the hen still in him, the gander surely would. Geese can be pursuit. mean and when they Many people are protecting their nest, think it is only possible to hunt spring gobblers they can be vicious. Jag in the early morning and might not make it back late afternoon. This bird to shore after the adventure. showed us, they can We had no be active all day. We luck at mushroom huntwatched him actively strutting for over an hour ing. Back at the house, and a half in the middle we ate dinner and sat around relaxing for a of the day. The Toms may not be actively gob- while. I took the dogs outside for a last call of bling all day, but they nature before we went are still moving about.

Later that day, to bed. As we stepped out of the back door, I noticed several small ducks swimming around a great horned owl hooted at us from a tree near the shore. Out of curiosity, I grabbed the very close to us. I was binoculars and checked startled and jumped from the noise being so them out. They were wood ducks, five males close. The dogs both and one female. That is started barking at it. The a good sign that several owl was not impressed. hens were off in the tim- He hooted at us a few ber somewhere setting more times before flying off into the night. It on their nests.

We drove out, was time for us to call it a day. going to the woods to look for mushrooms when we passed the island. A goose has been nesting on the north end for about three weeks.

When we drive by, she flattens out over her nest thinking we can not see her. If we did not know where to look, she would be difficult to see.

Her mate stands guard on shore nearby. We are careful not to draw Jag’s Ray’s attention toward her. If Longbranch he were to swim over to Homemade 1/2 lb. Tenderloins & Hamburgers the island, he would be Drakesville, IA • 722-3355 in for a rude awakening.

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APRIL 17, 2024

Nova Mae tells us when the mail is here, when the garbage truck has arrived, and when a delivery truck is at the house.

Nova has an assistant for 24-hour security: Edgar Allan. Our black cat takes the night watch, letting us know if a raccoon is robbing the Asking birdfeeder on the deck or if the neighbor’s cat Questions is prowling around the yard. Between the two We bought our house greet him. Are you supin Minnesota almost 10 of them, we are very well protected. posed to be way out years ago. Planning to here?” do a complete remodel, The other day, I ran to I gutted every room in the post office in town to “Not normally, but I have the house. mail some cookies to a a reason today,” he said, friend. Nova Mae came then asked, “Are you Naturally, while they along for the ride and Thomas?” Crap. It’s selwere open, I tried to wanted to go inside with dom good when a cop, think of everything that me. “You have to wait a school teacher, or your should go inside the here in the van, baby mom calls you by your walls. I ran new plumbformal first name. ing, wiring, and ducts for girl,” I told her. the heat, air conditionAs I walked away from I gave my routine, ing, and exhaust fans. the van carrying the smart-aleck answer, “It We ran cable for TV and package of cookies, depends. Do I owe you USB ports in nearly evNova barked several money?” We shared a ery room. I even rememtimes to express her good laugh about that, bered running a cable disapproval of my deand then I told him, “I to hardwire the smoke cision.

She thought I am, but you can call me detectors and a waterbaked the cookies for Tom. What can I do for line for the ice maker in her and was not happy you?” the refrigerator. that I was sending them “Is there something you away. When I returned I thought I’d thought of to the van, she was act- did or didn’t do that you everything, but it didn’t can think of,” he asked. even occur to me to run ing strangely, as if she had done something, but wiring for a doorbell.

I didn’t pay much atten- When I was in town, I did a rolling stop at Ironically, we’ve never tion and drove home.

Davis Street and Outer used the TV cables; they run through the in- About ten minutes after Drive, about a block from the police departternet now. Nobody con- I got home, Nova gave ment, but I doubted he two soft, low woofs nects computers to the saw it, and certainly, he internet with wires any- while looking out the wouldn’t follow me sevmore; everything is wire- bay window into the driveway. This indicates en miles out of town for less. So, I ran a bunch that. Maybe someone of cables for nothing, but a low-threat visitor. I complained that I left we could use a doorbell. looked out the front my dog in the van, but window and a black In hindsight, why would Dodge sedan with silver the temperature was in the forties, so Nova was we need a doorbell? We letting on the door was not in danger. I drew a live on the edge of being in our driveway. “Silver blank. “If you give me a in the sticks with only Bay Police? What are clue what you’re talking a few neighbors, and the city police doing about, I can probably bears don’t ring doorall the way out here,” I bells; they just come in asked. I looked at Nova come up with a confession or an alibi.” through a window if they Mae, “You better not want inside. Besides, have done something in “Do you have a Faceeven the doorbells with the van just because I book account,” he fancy cameras and wouldn’t let you go into asked. I told him I did. security systems are the post office!” When “Have you been in New wireless these days. We I’m driving, if a cop have a wireless doorbell: turns around or pulls out York lately,” he asked. It Nova Mae. behind me, I don’t make was raining, and I could tell he was serious. I them chase me; I pull looked at the name on Instead of a porch cam- over. I guess the same his uniform. Sean Bergera, our wireless dooris true at home. man bell has two eyes and fantastic ears. Nova When the officer got alerts us if anyone out of his car, I stepped “Would you like to step comes on the property out onto the front porch. up on the porch and talk, Sean, to get out of or pulls in the driveway; “Hello,” I said, walking the rain?” she even lets us know if down the front steps someone is in the street. toward the driveway to Under the roof on the porch, Officer Bergman again asked, “Have you been to New York lately or communicated with Pella Regional Health Center is pleased to anyone in welcome Victoria ‘Tori’ Morris, FNP to the New York?

Welcome Olivia Tori Morris FNP

medical staff beginning in April. Morris is a Family Nurse Practitioner who will be practicing in the Pella Regional Walk-In Clinic in Ottumwa.

“I am focused on providing high quality care through evidence-based practice and open communication with patients and the healthcare team,” said Morris. “I am eager to help patients reach their health-related goals.”

Morris earned her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Purdue University Global, West Lafayette, Indiana. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Iowa Wesleyan University, Mount Pleasant, Iowa. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

I explained, “I have a lot of friends I’ve met through social media, and I do communicate with them through comments on posts, but I don’t know if I’ve talked to anyone specifically in New York.”

He named a person

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(I don’t remember the name): “Do you know Jane Smith, or does her name mean anything to you?” I told him it did not. He asked, “How many Facebook profiles do you have?”

“I only have one profile,” I answered. I felt a bit suspect, “Can you tell me what this is all about?”

@waglerbuilders

The officer continued, “When I type your name into the search bar, three more pages appear under your name with your photos. Someone has lifted photos from your wall and created clone pages using your name.” I shook my head in disbelief.

“I’ve seen a lot of people get cloned,” I told Sean, “But I had no idea I’d “A lady reported getbeen cloned – or kidting messages through napped in New York, for Facebook, saying that that matter. Why would you had been kidnapped anyone want to clone in New York, and if she me?” didn’t send ten thousand I get friend requests dollars, they were gofrom people who follow ing to feed you to the my stories; I don’t know fish,” Officer Bergman explained. “She said the many of these people, but I do know others. Or, messages were coming from your Facebook at least, I think I know them. So, I am cautious account. They even when anyone sends me sent her a recorded a friend request. I’ll remessage.” He played ply, where did we meet, the message for me, or where do you know but I couldn’t even understand what the man me from if it’s someone said. “Obviously, that is I haven’t met yet? I can not your voice,” he said. usually tell from their re“And you only have one sponse if they are legitimate or not. profile?”

When I confirmed that I had only one profile, Sean pulled it up on his phone. “This is your profile photo and your page, correct?” he asked, scrolling through the page.

Just a few days before, I got a friend request from a person in Ottumwa whom I’ve known for over 30 years. The photos on the profile were definitely Don Phillips and he had poth-

“It sure looks like my page,” I said.

(Just the Other Day cont’d on pg 5)

APRIL 17, 2024

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(Just the Other Day cont’d from pg 4)

ers of himself and his wife, who I also know. It seemed legit, but still, I went through the same precautionary routine, asking where we met or where you knew me from.

Don replied, “Facebook suggested you for me to add, that’s why I sent the request. You look familiar also, but I’m not sure where we met.” That sounded suspicious.

Don would know the answers. He used to live said our farewells and across the street from he was on his way. me, and our kids went to elementary school After Sean Bergman left, together. I’d worked with I spent time reflecting on Don many times through his visit. Even though I the news department briefly felt like a suspect, at the radio station, so I I was glad he was askasked another question. ing questions. He’s doing his job and keeping “Where do you work?” the community safe.

Don replied, “Okay, I It can be a scary world work as an expert in out there. Facebook can crypto trading….” Wow! be a fun place, but it’s A clone, for sure! necessary for all to be I looked up the real Don Phillips profile.

He posted, “I’ve been cloned. Do not accept a friend request from me.”

Double wow! It takes a lot of guts to clone Don Phillips, the Sheriff of Wapello County, Iowa. If these hackers will clone the sheriff’s profile, why would they even think twice about cloning me or anyone else?

vigilant and watch out for one another. Ask questions when you get a friend invite, and when you’re confident it’s legitimate, ask more questions.

I gave Nova Mae a rub on the head and a treat, too. “Thanks for the heads-up that someone was in the driveway.

You’re a lot better than any doorbell.” Be safe, Officer Bergman handed my friends. me a card with a web address. “You can go to this website to report the cloning,” he said. We

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See all our listings online at www.remaxpride.com Licensed in Iowa & Missouri New Price

20843 265th Ave, Moulton 3BRs, 4 Baths, 16.38 Acres $975,000

1152 Lake Road 4BRs, 3.5 Baths, 2.34 Acres $439,900

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22 Washington Ave W, Albia 4BRs, 4 Baths $125,000

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203 W. Main St Drakesville $319,000

Pe n d i n g 220 N. Benton

3BRs, 2 Baths $95,000

Commercial

404 Mary St., Ottumwa

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102 W. 5th St, Hedrick 3BRs, 3 Baths, 1.09 Acres $179,500

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Sold 1230 Greenwood Dr

Sold

ending P 2670 Clearview

ending P 1301 Steller Ave.

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1405 N. Jefferson St. 2BR, 2 Bath Condo $136,000

2BRs, 1 Bath $139,900

2BRs, 2 Baths $139,900

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102 N. James St. 2BRs, 1.5 Baths $119,000

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ending P 1234 N. Adams St. 2BRs, 1 Bath $117,000

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APRIL 17, 2024

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Commercial New Price

22 Washington Ave W

Albia $125,000

ending P 2310 E. Main St. Duplex $75,000

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Sold

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715 Minneopa Ave 4BRs, 1 Bath $115,000

410 S. Schuyler 2BRs, 1 Bath $110,000

175 Vogel 3BRs, 3 Baths $100,000

Commercial

Commercial

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807 Richmond Ave Ottumwa $379,000

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312 N. Marion St. Quadruplex $70,000

Commercial

Commercial

Commercial New Price

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405 Church St Ottumwa $78,200

203 W. Second St Ottumwa $115,000

Sold

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Lots and Land

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0 Rochester Road

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49.13 Acres

0.76 Acres

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