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Social Security remains a critical component of most American’s retirement plans and questions persist around its long-term solvency. While the number of Social Security beneficiaries is expected to continuously What does the grow over the next decade, future of Social payments Security mean for into the program via your retirement? payroll taxes are likely to slow. This dynamic is creating anxiety for many about whether they can rely on Social Security to help fund their retirement. It can be beneficial to explore the role that Social Security may have in your retirement and how to best prepare if there are meaningful changes to the program.

The future of Social Security. If you have been following financial news, you may have heard industry pundits commenting on the solvency of Social Security and its ability to pay full benefits over time.

Indeed, Social Security is currently paying out more than it is taking in, which many view as problematic. In May of this year, the Social Security and Medicare Trustees released their annual report, (Financial cont’d on pg 2)

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(Financial cont’d from pg 1) lifestyle during retirement

and the associated costs, which predicts that by so you can craft a Social 2033 assets of the proSecurity plan that aligns gram will be depleted. It is with your retirement goals. expected that in 2033, the Social Security’s Old-Age Work with a financial adviand Survivors Insurance sor to adapt your retire(OASI) fund will only take ment plan. A financial in 79% of tax revenue advisor can help deterneeded for benefit paymine the optimal payment ments. As a result, payplan for Social Security ments under the program in your retirement. The could be reduced by age at which you begin 21%1. It’s widely extaking distributions and pected that Congress where these distributions may act to shore up the fit into the whole of your program before this hap- retirement plan is unique pens, however there are to you. An advisor can asno guarantees. Planning sist you in evaluating the ahead can help shield variables that may impact your retirement income, the time at which you should Social Security be begin collecting benefits unable to fully meet its such as your health and obligations. life expectancy. With careful financial planning you Determine the role Social can consider a variety of Security has in your retire- income producing investment plan. It is important ments that may contribute to understand where to your retirement secuSocial Security fits into rity. your retirement plan. For many retirees, Social Se- How Social Security procurity benefits provide key grams morph and change supplemental income be- in future is largely outside cause the program alone of your control, so plan for will not provide enough what you can. It is never income to cover all essen- too soon to work with a tial and desired lifestyle financial advisor to plot expenses. Additionally, various scenarios for reeach individual’s benefits tirement based on factors will vary depending on that are unique to you. their lifetime earnings Ultimately, knowing you’re and the age at which they prepared can help you begin taking distributions. feel more confident about If future payments are retirement. adjusted lower to make 1- Ameriprise Financial: “Did You up for the deficit of flows Know...” May 8, 2024. Compiled by coming into the fund when Russell T. Price, Chief Economist you retire, it may be wise Duane J Lusson, CFP, ChFC, to plan on utilizing other CLU, MSFS, is a Private Wealth means for retirement Advisor with Ameriprise Financial income. Take some time Services, Inc. in Ottumwa, Iowa. to determine your desired He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset manage-

ment strategies and has been in practice for 33 years. To contact him, call 641-684-4200 or stop by his office at 527 W. Second in Ottumwa, Iowa. .

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.

Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future financial results.

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

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A Little Mud on My Shoes My wife and I spent the week of Thanksgiving at our son’s house in Houston, Texas. It is what one might call culture shock, going from the boondocks in Iowa to a sprawling metropolis such as Houston. Where my son lives, a few hundred acres of what was a cow pasture has been converted into a residential area consisting of several thousand lots which are rapidly having large houses built on them. The neighborhood has been landscaped with walking trails, small lakes, and native plants and trees. Even with the thousands of people living in the neighborhood, nature still abounds.

Waterfowl and shore birds have moved into the man-made lakes and streams. Rabbits and squirrels co-exist with people and their pets in the green spaces.

The biggest problem that confronts me is finding my way around the maze of streets, highways, and

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walking trails. To me, it all begins to look the same after a while.

When my son and daughter-in-law were visiting our place, she was afraid she would get lost going for a walk as there were no streets or sidewalks. I thought at the time that this was rather strange. I orient myself by the position of the sun, certain trees, or change in terrain. I could not imagine getting lost in the timber or walking around the farm. In Houston, there are too many streets and sidewalks. Orienting oneself to the position of the sun does no good if a person is walking around in giant circles. Being a new neighborhood, all the trees are the same size and type. The terrain has all been created and looks the same from one area to the next.

One evening, a couple from next door stopped by for a visit.

During the course of the evening, conversation turned to the differences of where we lived. The wife wondered if we were afraid, living so far from other people in a remote area. I found this to be rather humorous. I did not tell her but I would be much more uncomfortable living so close to so many other people. My closest neighbors are deer, turkeys and raccoons. The most trouble I have with them is they occasionally eat the plants in the flower beds or get into

the trash.

I would be much more concerned about the intentions of any number of the millions of people living in close proximity.

I can see the advantages of living in a big city.

There is an almost unlimited number of restaurants, shopping centers, and entertainment venues. A person never has to get mud on their shoes. I can also see the disadvantages to city life. There is more traffic on the roads at any one time than I knew existed.

Six, eight, and ten lane highways are congested at any time of the day or night. The noise is constant. Even in the neighborhood away from major highways, a person can always hear traffic, sirens, or dogs barking.

There is no such thing as quiet outside.

I guess that is why we say different strokes for different folks. Some people cannot understand living out in a rural area, away from the city. As for me, I prefer the peace and quiet, away from crowds and I do not mind a little mud on my shoes from time to time.

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make the full meal on Thursday. To some this might be a burden, but I love cooking and happily agreed. But plans changed one more time.

time. Who knows when, or if we’ll ever stay at this cabin again?

I climbed from our warm bed, went to the kitchen, and made a cup of cofAs we were leaving my fee. It was still dark, lightly in-laws home on Wednes- raining, and chilly when I day night, I was told of walked out onto the deck another change; someone with my cup of joe. “Meelse would be roasting lissa may have been right. the turkey.

I was back to This would be a good day Another Time cranberry relish, rolls, and to stay in bed,” I said. I It wasn’t exactly your ordi- sweet potatoes, sans the passed the log furniture nary Thanksgiving Day. I pies. Again, no problem, on the covered part of the set the alarm for 6:15 a.m. even though I’d already deck, and then removed A good time to get up to bought the pie ingredithe lid from the hot tub. start preparing a Thanks- ents. “Sorry about the pie I turned on the aerator, giving Day feast – but I changes,” someone said then climbed into the tub was only doing part of the as we were leaving. “Tom with my coffee. cooking this year. Still, will find something to do sometimes plans change. with the apples. Maybe The 102-degree water another time.” was quite a contrast to The first plan had me the 44-degree morning doing cranberry relish, I learned years ago, air. I had to ease myself sweet potatoes, dinner things will change when into the hot water before rolls, and pies. I made cooking holidays meals. completely sitting down. the relish Tuesday. (It’s I can either roll with the It was awesome - espebest after resting at least changes, or get frustrated. cially with cold rain drops 24 hours.) Then a friend It makes for a less stress- falling lightly on my head delivered a pumpkin pie to ful holiday to just roll with and shoulders. I sipped my in-laws. One less pie it. Still, I know that ‘anmy coffee and enjoy the to make; I was good with other time’ frequently slips serenity of the rain falling it either way and I’d still away, and never happens. in the woods surroundget to make the apple pie. I didn’t want that. Melissa ing the cabin, and on the I was looking forward to and I returned to the cabin tin roof of the porch. As that. we had rented near Pick- dawn broke, a breeze ens, South Carolina. began softly moving the You see, when Melissa windchimes. Hearing the first told her Dad I would I kept thinking about those sweet music of the pipes be baking an apple pie words, ‘another time.’ gently bumping each for him for ThanksgivEven though I had little other, the raindrops falling, his eyes lit up bright cooking to do Thursday, I ing, and sounds coming and a smile shot across finished up some things in from the forest was like his face. “That would be the kitchen and then set having my own personal really great,” Phil said my alarm to get up early. symphony to serenade with anticipation; it’s his I’d made some changes in me. favorite flavor. But then my own plans.

Wednesday afternoon, Despite all the backanother friend delivered When the alarm sounded, and-forth changes from an apple pie to the house. I nudged my wife, “Are the night before, nothing I didn’t want to disappoint you getting up with me?” could disturb the peacePhil, but now we already ful feeling I experienced had an apple pie from a “I didn’t sleep very well,” on this Thanksgiving nearby bakery – and a she said. “I need more morning, and I had plenty Granny Smith Apple pie at sleep. Maybe tomorfor which to be thankthat. row morning.” Although I ful. Besides, there have understood why she was been years with bigger Plans changed again, staying in bed, I didn’t changes, and obstacles and I was asked if I could want to wait for another to overcome; even in the

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Carolinas. I began to recall old memories.

One Thanksgiving at my daughter’s house in North Carolina, I had baked two pumpkin pies. Sydney took a bite of pie and her face puckered. When I took my first bite of pie, I noticed something terribly out of order. I knew immediately what I did. “Don’t eat the pie,” I told every-

one at the table. “I forgot the sugar!” Although this could be considered a disaster, I had a plan.

I scraped the custard from the rest of the pie slices, along with the second pie, into a large mixing bowl.

This time I added the sugar, and then mounded the filling to the uncut pie shell. Having no idea how this would turn out, I baked the pie for another thirty minutes. The flavor of my new creation, twice baked pumpkin pie, was as good as ever – the texture was not. We all had a good laugh about that, and certainly did not let it dampen our festivities.

But the pie wasn’t the biggest improvision I’d made on Thanksgiving Day. In 2012 it was Melissa’s turn to host Thanksgiving for her family at our house. “Aren’t you remodeling your kitchen, Tom? How’s that coming along,” I was asked. The suggestion was to move Thanksgiving that year, and Melissa could host another time. But this would be the first time she’d host the event for her whole family and I was determined to help her make it a great day.

“I am going to remodel (Just the Other Day cont’d on pg 5)

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had them ready to install.

Each day I cut out of work a little early to keep going the kitchen,” I said, “But on the kitchen remodelI haven’t started yet.” I was reminded Thanksgiv- ing. When the ceiling and walls were done, Andy ing was only five weeks came and installed the away. “Not a problem,” I assured. “It’ll be done.” To cabinets. Brown’s Kitchen Center measured for the accommodate the work quartz countertops and schedules of our guests, installed them a day later.

Thanksgiving dinner would be served on Black Still, we were pushing the deadline. Brother Dan reFriday. Three weeks beturned to install the sinks fore Thanksgiving, I gutted the kitchen. Remodel- and finish the plumbing.

“This dishwasher isn’t ing, as with any project, going to work,” Dan said. will come with changes.

“The handle sticks out too far.” That meant another “As long as the walls are open, it only makes sense trip to Des Moines – time I couldn’t afford, but it had to install new plumbing going to the upstairs bath- to be done. room,” my brother Dan the plumber, said to me. And Finally, we finished the kitchen at 12:30 Friday so, we did, thus incorporating a bathroom remod- morning. I got up at 7 el along with the kitchen. a.m., and started cooking in the new digs, while MeStill, I wasn’t worried. lissa was cleaning, setting tables and preparing for My cousin Andy custom our guests. Sydney, Delbuilt our cabinets and he

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brother, Jeff, put a fire in the fireplace. Carol and Betty took turns playing the old antique piano, filling the house with beautiful music. Phil joined in with his guitar and we sang songs, from gospel hymns, to Johnny Cash and John Denver.

The last of our company left around 11 pm. Melissa and I sat and watched the fire burn down, while listening to Annie laughing upstairs with a friend who was spending the night.

Shortly after 1 p.m., we were serving a full turkey dinner, with all the fixings, to 17 people. It would have been 18 people, but at the last minute, our friend Verna decided she would stay home. She said she would feel out of place with our family, “I’ll find something to eat around here.” Despite my pleas for her to join us, I wasn’t going to change her mind. “Maybe another time,” Verna said.

I started to count my blessing, but all too quickWe ate well, all was delily ran out of fingers. God cious. After dinner, we has been good to me. prepared a turkey dinner Life is good and I have a plate for our dear friend darn good dog as well. I Verna, from the old neigh- couldn’t have been more borhood. I included a proud of my wife in the small slice of both pump- way she hosted her first kin and apple pie. SevThanksgiving Day, pereral of us walked over to fectly! deliver the dinner, visited with Verna for a bit, and I reminisced until it octhen returned home. curred to me, it was daylight now and I could By evening we started see the warm water had baking cookies. Melissa’s my fingers looking like

prunes. It was time to get out of the hot tub.

We loaded our car and headed to my in-laws, where I would make the sweet potatoes and dinner rolls. In the kitchen, I said, “I got thinking about what was said, about making an apple pie for Phil another time. But I don’t know when another time will come, so I went ahead and baked an apple pie for him last night.”

Phil’s eyes lit up, and he smiled from ear to ear, when Melissa presented her dad with his apple pie. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family, and many more good memories were made.

Eventually Melissa and I drove back to our cabin.

We would be leaving, headed for home the following day.

My alarm went off before daylight the following morning, I made a cup of coffee and headed out for the hot tub. It was 32 degrees and there was ice on the puddles around the deck. I slowly lowered myself into the hot water.

Soon, Melissa came out and joined me for coffee in the hot tub. We enjoyed the sunrise and watched a hawk land in a tree nearby. He watched below, waiting for something to come by for his breakfast.

It was an amazing final morning for this visit to South Carolina.

I hope we can do this again another time.

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DECEMBER4, 2024