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a conscious commitment to take responsibility for your financial future.

3. Create, update or review your plan of action.

A financial plan provides a roadmap for spending and saving, and encourages you to allocate your money toward the items or experiences that matter most to you.

Your plan should articulate how you intend to handle your day-to-day finances, while working to achieve your long-term goals such as paying off your home mortgage and confidently retiring on your terms. If a Take a Fresh Look large expense comes along, may need to re-evaluate at Your Finances you your financial priorities. Adjust as necessary and then Remember those financial get back on track as soon resolutions you committed to as possible. Likewise, if you at the beginning of the year? receive a raise or windfall, If they seem like a distant consider how the additional memory, the start of summer funds can be applied to your is an excellent time to reset financial plan. and take stock of your progress. Follow the tips below 4. Spend within reason. to recommit yourself to your Your plan can provide you financial goals. with guardrails to keep longterm goals in sight as you 1. Start with a clean slate. satisfy near-term wants and Review your financial situneeds. When you know your ation and recent spending emergency fund, retirement patterns. Is your spending and other goals are on track, aligned with your financial you can purchase tickets to goals? Re-evaluate any the big game or plan a fambad money habits that may ily trip without feeling guilty be holding you back from or worried that the costs will making better financial deciprevent you from achieving sions. Remind yourself that your larger financial goals. healthy financial behaviors can become part of your 5. Prepare for the undaily routine. expected. Life can throw challenging curveballs.

2. Commit to financial Unexpected events such as stability. It’s easier to do unplanned medical bills or something when you are losing your job can greatly intentional. Just like you set impact your bottom line. The aside an afternoon to clean only certainty is uncertainty, out the garage, set aside a and that’s why it’s critical to few hours to clean up your assess your insurance polifinances. During this time, cies to ensure you’re fully reflect, organize and make covered, and establish an

“emergency fund” to cover surprise expenses. Consider reviewing your life, disability health, home and auto insurance policies with a financial professional who can help you identify and close any gaps in coverage. If you’ve acquired artwork, collectibles, technology or other valuables, make sure they are covered under your current home insurance plan.

Also, use this as a time to update beneficiaries on your policies if needed.

6. Find joy in the process.

The desire to keep your finances in good order is an admirable aspiration, and it has lasting impacts. Focusing on your finances today may help you to achieve a more comfortable financial future for you and your family tomorrow. Consider working with a financial professional to help create a plan to reach your goals.

With renewed energy and a well-defined plan, you can feel good about your financial choices.

Duane J Lusson, CFP, ChFC, CLU, MSFS, is a Private Wealth Advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Ottumwa, Iowa. He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 30 years. To contact him, call 641-684-4200 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 advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser.

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 Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2023 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. File # 5613359

MAY 31 , 2023

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Ray’s Longbranch Homemade 1/2 lb. Tenderloins & Hamburgers Drakesville, IA • 722-3355

getting desperate when we spotted a crow in a Camping Out nearby tree. With a precision shot, the crow was Dick, a longtime taken down. At least we friend of mine, called last were not going to starve week to tell us he and to death before morning. his wife would be campWe placed cleaned crow ing at Lake Wapello. He pieces in my cheap little wondered if we would like aluminum frying pan and to stop over for a meal placed it over the fire. We and conversation. He learned a cooking lesson and I have been friends when the pan melted. It since grade school. His probably would have been parent’s farm joined my better to have some oil in parent’s farm, and our the pan before placing it houses were a mile and over a hot fire. We picked a half apart by road. It our pieces of supper out was half that distance by of the fire, brushed off the cutting across the pasashes and aluminum, and tures, which is usually the found a couple of sticks way we went. We made to skewer our meat. As I our own entertainment recall, the crow was not growing up as farm kids. delicious. It was lightly We hunted, trapped, burnt on the outside and rode horses, and even moderately raw nearer the camped. I had not known bones. We were roughing Dick to go camping since it though, so we ate it anywe were kids. way and pretended it was I remember one good. We knew we had to camping expedition when have the nourishment no we were about 10 or 12. matter how it tasted.

I had a canvas two-man We spent the pup tent. We each had night somewhat hungry, basic camping supplies, rising early in the morning. such as canteen, a cook- One crow split between ing kit where each item two growing boys does fit inside another to save not go far. We discussed space, and a sleeping what to do for breakfast. I bag. We prided ourselves think we were both afraid on being able to rough it of what we might find to and survive in the wilder- eat. We had caught the ness. One day we decid- scent of a skunk someed to camp in the wildertime during the night. We ness and survive off the decided to break camp land. The wilderness was and go to his house for a wooded creek running some good food rather through Dick’s pasture. than take the chance of Our plans were finalized having to eat a skunk for on the bus ride home from breakfast. school. We would get our When my wife chores done and meet at and I went over to see the the pre-arranged camp campers at Lake Wapello, site before dark so we we found Dick and his would have time to hunt wife in a bit more comour supper. fort than a two-man pup We had about tent. They were traveling a half hour of daylight around in a motor home, left by the time we set camping whenever they up camp and got our fire decided, with all the comstarted. We each had a forts a person could want. rifle and game had always We had a great meal and been abundant in this conversation. Dick and I wild oasis between wellboth agreed, camping out manicured farm fields. We is a lot better these days. knew it would be easy to A person can still get back pick off a couple of squir- to nature but now it is posrels or a rabbit for supsible to do it with all the per. Game was always conveniences of home. plentiful unless a person The food was better also. was getting hungry, and We were both glad we did nighttime was fast apnot have to eat a crow to proaching. Things were sustain ourselves.

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