New Beginnings - February 1, 2018

new BEGINNINGS A Supplement to Times Beacon Record Newspapers

INSIDE: • Working financial planning into New Year’s resolutions • Prosperity in 2018 • New year, new you

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PAGE S2 • NEW BEGINNINGS • FEBRUARY 01, 2018

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NATURAL APPROACH HEALTHCARE

It is that time of year again when we make new year’s resolutions. We promise ourselves this is the year we are going to lose that weight that has been piling on over the years. Up and down the number goes year after year as we try to win the war against the scale.

I want you to stop focusing on weight loss and start focusing on your health. If your goal this year is becoming healthy, then the weight loss will be a side effect of that goal. All too often I see patients focused on weight loss as their health is deteriorating. High blood pressure, diabetes, o you wantdisease, beautiful straight teeth glaucoma, heart vertigo and the Many list goesbut ondon’t and want on. Itbraces? is time for adults you to and teenagers would perput yourself first for once andlike getthe healthy.

When you have health, thatthe is true wealth. fect smile but don’t want hassle and It is hardthat to live a fullwith life with a body drawbacks present traditional that cannot keep up with all you want to braces. do.

I have seen many over thesmile years Invisalign® is the way patients to get that great who wanted to lose weight and thought without braces. Invisalign® uses a series that was the answer to health.

They found of invisible, removable and comfortable out too late weretell wrong. aligners thatthat no they one can you’reMaking wearsimple changes in smile your daily put ing. So, you can moreroutine duringcan treatyou on the road to a healthier you in 2018. ment as well as after. Invisalign® is made Drink full eight-ounce glass of water with 3-Dacomputer imaging techwhen you first get up in the nology combined with space morning. It will help hydrate you and wake up your aged materials and has been digestive system up. Doing 10 minutes of proven easy and effective at cardio first thing in the morning helps immoving your teeth. prove your circulation.

WHY WOULD IT? your rouWhenever youI WANT are changing Not only are the aligners invistine, you must remember it takes 30 days they are removable, so 30 youdays make toible, make a habit.

For the first eat and drinksowhatever acan morning checklist nothing isyou forgotten. want brushI dowhile hearinatreatment. lot of my Plus, patients complainingthat andthey flossing aretime. no We problem. ing have no make time for Theyis are also comfortable, withmade this what important to us. If you have no metal then to cause abrasionstodurresolution, it is important you and you ing find treatment.

Notometal also will the time do it.wires When you have a means you can’tand see them and you morning routine do it consistently, your will will spend time atyour the Orthodays goless smoother, energy will increase, moodadjustments. will improve. dontistand offiyour ce getting Just beware when you start to shed the HOW DOES IT WORK? weight as you start take care offor yourself, You wear each setto of aligners you will2 feel rundown andthem fatigued.

Why is about weeks, removing to eat, this? are As stored by youreach body in fat brushToxins and floss. you replace aligner cells. shrink, with As thethose next incells the begin series, to your teeth those will toxins body.

Your move -are littlereleased by little,into weekyour by week - until body must then filter them out.

During this they have straightened to the final position time, you must be sure to drink plenty of

your Orthodontist has prescribed. You’ll visit the office about every 6-8 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages about 9-15 months.

Consider Invisalign® to get the beautiful straight teeth you’ve always wanted. Even if you have been told in the past you are not a candidate for Invisalign® treatment, your Orthodontic Specialist has new advances Kris Johnston, natural Approach healthcare that can now ensure treatment success. water to flush them out of your system.

a low-carb Elite diet. Provider I alwaysforrecomCallEat an Orthodontic an mend a diabetic diet for everyone. Do not Invisalign® review today!

drink your calories. Try to stay away from those lattes and cappuccinos we all love so

By Mark A. Rienecker much. Use them as an occasional treat to D.D.S reward yourself so that you do not feel that you are giving everything up. If you feel deprived you will not follow through with your plan to a healthy new year.

Part of a healthier you is keeping yourself young. Although we cannot turn back the hands of time, we can take up activities such as taiqi, qigong or yoga. How will this help? Well, as we age we lose our balance.

It happens slowly over time and falling becomes a risk. We do not heal like we once did; and, as we age, we can lose our independence because of a fall. Taiqi, qigong and yoga help to improve and maintain our balance and keep us young.

My wish for you all in 2018 is to live your life to the fullest with a healthy balanced body that will do what you desire.

Good luck with all of your resolutions.

Kris Johnston is the founder of Natural Approach Healthcare in Stony Brook.

FEBRUARY 01, 2018 • NEW BEGINNINGS • PAGE S3

New BegiNNiNgs

Promising signs for the 2018 real estate market

METRO

Sometimes, one stat says it all. In a Jan. 4 article Newsday reported that consumer confidence for the metropolitan area, which includes Long Island, has hit a new 10-year high. Confidence is now even higher than it was in February 2007, before the recession.

Increased confidence translates into increased sales volume, setting the stage for this new year. Here are other factors to watch: Case-Shiller Home Price Index reports: The New York area is now posting watershed numbers. The latest Case-Shiller report showed a year-over-year home price change of 5.9 percent. The preceding read was 5.2 percent. As noted recently by Zillow’s senior economist Aaron Terrazas, “The last few months of 2017 have clearly demonstrated the extent to which the housing market refuses to be knocked off its stride … despite a severe and worsening shortage of homes actually available to buy.” This holds true locally as well as nationally.

Home equity: Due largely to the home price appreciation strides noted above, many local homeowners have much more home equity to apply toward their next home than they may realize. In 2018, it is likely that Long Islanders will begin to tap these reserves, which will further foster

consumer confidence means good things to come in 2018. the health of the local market.

The Federal Reserve and interest rates: Until early January, expectations were that there would be three Federal Reserve System rate increases in 2018. Latest reports indicate that the path is no longer that clear.

New incoming Fed leadership and new Fed committee members could signal changes.

The best path for buyers is to lock in the lowest rate possible as soon as possible. The effect of rate increases on the cost of home ownership cannot be overstated.

Baby boomers: Long Island’s boomers are making themselves heard. The trend toward multifamily housing that began a few years back is now a major force in local real estate. Over-55 complexes have sprouted up all over Long Island, including locally in Port Jefferson. Many boomers are choosing to downsize to a more carefree lifestyle, one that includes amenities and excludes home and yard maintenance. Local builders are accommodating this explosive new market.

Millennials: Older millennials are moving up, while younger millennials as well as Generation Xers are ready for their first purchases. Often those first purchases are condos in walkable downtown areas, another multifamily housing trend. The National Association of Realtors’ 2017 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers found that 34 percent of buyers are first-time homeowners, representing a significant portion of the market.

Tax law changes: The new tax law may bring some headwinds to the market as people digest the effects on their individual situations. Over the long term, the compromises made during the legislative process should help to even things out.

With inventory being so tight, rates still low and pent-up demand remaining, it is likely that both sellers and buyers are still going to want to make their moves.

I’ll leave you with one more thought from Zillow’s Terrazas: “Whether and how long the housing market can continue to defy gravity, and whether the good times will last into 2018, remain open questions.

But for now, the fundamentals driving the market today look unlikely to change anytime soon.” I couldn’t agree more.

Michael Ardolino is a broker at and owner of Realty Connect USA.

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PAGE S4 • NEW BEGINNINGS • FEBRUARY 01, 2018

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When I was asked to put some ideas down on paper, I had no idea about what might be of value to those reading it. I glanced about my office and my eye caught the glimpse of “A Round Tuit,” which was given to me many years ago in San Diego.

The idea behind it is pretty straightforward. For years we’ve heard people say, “I’ll do it as soon as I get around tuit.” Today would be a good time to lay down the foundation for your plans, whatever they may be. It really doesn’t matter what your plans are. The important thing to do is to develop the plan and then take action.

Each day that we procrastinate it makes the task even harder and more laborious.

In the coming months we will all begin the arduous task of preparing for 2017 tax filing. Most of us have promised to do a better job preparing for this event, and every year we approach the deadline with distain because we did not do an adequate job.

The most important task you will want to do is the put together a budget. Your budget should begin with the idea of paying yourself first. It will help you to live within your means and prepare you for the future. The important step is to make sure you don’t wait until all the bills are paid before paying yourself. If there’s nothing left over, we rationalize that we can catch up sometime in the future.

January is a great time to put pencil to paper and prepare a plan. We spend more time planning a vacation then we do planning our future. To begin your plan, start with the budget I just mentioned. Jot down your nondiscretionary items. These might include rent/mortgage, food, insurance, taxes and utilities. List those on a spreadsheet for the next 12 months. The next step is listing the discretionary items such as entertainment, going out to dinner, vacations and the like. Now list those things you want to have in the future. A car, home, wedding, major purchase, vacation home or retirement. Make sure to include

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Peter Ostapow, certified financial planner. the date and the cost. Get out your calculator and determine how much you’ll need to save to accomplish your goals. Use a reasonable earnings rate and a good inflation estimate. The home that costs $300,000 today will most likely be higher in 10 years, so make sure to plan for these factors.

We still need one more item and that is your earnings after taxes. Put this number on the first line of the budget and start subtracting out the nondiscretionary and discretionary items and finally the goals. Is the final number positive? If it is, you are to be congratulated. If not, start reviewing the discretionary items to see if there are some items that can be cut back. Keep working on the plan until you at least break even. A better plan will include a buffer to take care of those contingences that crop up from time to time.

In closing, I’d like to give you a gift of “a round tuit.” Now that you have one, you can accomplish all those things you put aside until you get a round tuit.

Good luck and best wishes for a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year 2018.

Peter Paul Ostapow is a certified financial planner in Setauket.

FEBRUARY 01, 2018 • NEW BEGINNINGS • PAGE S5

New BegiNNiNgs

How long can market growth be expected to continue

By Mark Snyder

MARK SNYDER

We are presently in the second-longest bull market ever without experiencing a significant correction and/or pullback.

While most 2018 market and economic forecasts call for this trend to continue, we remain concerned about a potential correction in the not-too-distant future. As a result, we have taken and will continue to take precautionary steps in anticipation of such an event.

In 2017 we saw near record lows in unemployment, inflation and the price of energy. Each of these factors contributed to an economy that had already been running at a healthy if not overwhelming pace. Growth has not been robust during this current, extra-long cycle, but it has been steady. While the economy continued forward in 2017, possibly one warning sign that 2018 may not be so robust is that the pace of job growth has significantly slowed.

Many forecasts call for U.S. growth to further strengthen, mostly thanks to improving circumstances for the consumer.

The jobs market is steady, consumer confidence is rising, and retail sales growth is increasing — possibly the greatest economic surprise of all considering the high cost of housing, health care and higher education and the negative, long-term

repercussions these forces have had on household budgets. One must realistically wonder just how economically resilient is the American consumer?

With retail spending healthy and wages rising, consumer-serving businesses have the potential to do well in the next phase of the economic expansion. Prospects are bright for companies with large economies of scale, that is, purchasing power like The Home Depot, Amazon and Walmart; but it has become apparent that increased online shopping continues to take traffic away from many malls and individual/independent retailers, proving that technology can be a double-edged sword. Many workers will be forced to transition to thrive. How will the truck driver earn a living and continue contributing to our economy when driverless cars and trucks take to the highways?

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act fully rewrote the tax code. Many wonder how the new tax plan will affect markets, the economy and their personal financial profile in the years ahead.

Confused? Many tax professionals are taking a wait-and-see approach. On Jan. 1, a number of changes went into effect, including new tax brackets for citizens and a permanent tax-rate reduction for corporations. Subsequently, this may affect economic performance and your individual

‘Many forecasts call for U.S. growth to further strengthen, mostly thanks to improving circumstances for the consumer.’

— Mark Snyder

Financial advisor Mark Snyder. bottom line, including your ability to comfortably retire. While our office does not provide tax advice, to potentially obtain the greatest benefit from its changes, while avoiding costly mistakes speak with us and

your tax professional. Your financial future can potentially be optimized when our offices work together.

Mark Snyder is a financial advisor in Medford.

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PAGE S6 • NEW BEGINNINGS • FEBRUARY 01, 2018

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Do you want beautiful straight teeth but don’t want braces? Many adults and teenagers would like the perfect smile but don’t want the hassle and drawbacks that present with traditional braces.

Invisalign® is the way to get that great smile without braces. Invisalign® uses a series of invisible, removable and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you’re wearing.

So, you can smile more during treatment as well as after. Invisalign® is made with 3-D computer imaging technology combined with space aged materials and has been proven easy and effective at moving your teeth.

WHY WOULD I WANT IT? Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink whatever you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause abrasions during treatment. No metal wires also means you can’t see them and you will spend less time at the Orthodontist office getting adjustments.

HOW DOES IT WORK? You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them to eat, brush and floss. As you replace each aligner

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with the next in the series, your teeth will move - little by little, week by week - until they have straightened to the final position your Orthodontist has prescribed. You’ll visit the office about every 6-8 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages about 9-15 months.

Consider Invisalign® to get the beautiful straight teeth you’ve always wanted. Even if you have been told in the past you are not a candidate for Invisalign® treatment, your Orthodontic Specialist has new advances that can now ensure treatment success.

Call an Orthodontic Elite Provider for an Invisalign® review today!

Mark A. Rienecker is a dentist on the North Shore.

There are obvious benefits to home ownership rather than renting. You benefit by paying down a mortgage with low interest for 30 years at a fixed rate, helping you freeze your monthly housing expense. Renters do not have the benefit of monthly rent control. Your home investment can also appreciate as history shows, but no appreciation benefit is possible for a renting tenant.

Home equity line of credit or refinancing can fund renovation upgrades, help you increase your home value and salability and fund other financial demands, like college tuition. No home equity opportunity or benefits exist for renters. As the property owner, your role is like that of a CEO. You control when repairs or improvements take place and when you want to move. Renters have no control over repairs for housing issues or if the landlord should decide to evict you.

Tax-free appreciation upon the sale of your primary residence, up to $250,000 per owner ($500,000 per couple) still applies.

Mortgage rates are still low yet slowly

rising. It’s a great time to buy and perhaps build closing costs into your low interest rate mortgage, using extra cash for remodeling.

A recent study indicated owning in New York is $1,635 per month cheaper statewide compared to renting a similar home.

According to Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at Realtor.com, the average homeowner nationally has a media net worth of almost $200,000, while the median net worth for someone renting is just over $5,000.

The forced savings inherent in a mortgage guarantees a homeowner is building wealth. Tax law changes are inevitable, but the need for housing will always be there, and home ownership still offers many benefits both personally and financially. Before taking any action, sellers and buyers should discuss this free advice with their advisers, which should include an accountant, attorney, mortgage representative and realtor.

Make the right housing investment moves, and you will build wealth with real estate over time.

Raymond Manzoni is a licensed real estate broker and owner of Manzoni Real Estate in Mount Sinai.

FEBRUARY 01, 2018 • NEW BEGINNINGS • PAGE S7

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METRO

Picking the right physical therapist is as important as finding the right doctor.

By Frank Mccoy In this day and age, with rising health care costs, people struggle to find quality care from the options they have. Medical providers are joining hospital-owned groups that help shelter them from liability and negotiate contracts for reimbursements from health care companies for services provided. This model, unfortunately, hurts the patient because they are encouraged to stay within this provider group in order to keep their health care costs low. In turn, this forces the medical provider to see more patients in a day, reducing quality care and sending a false message back to the insurance company that this model works.

Physical therapists are now allowed to see patients without a prescription or seeing a physician first. However, most patients enter the facility with a referral.

When they are given the prescription to attend physical therapy, they are encouraged by the physician where to go for their physical therapy. The majority of these patients will listen to their physician’s recommendation, not realizing they can make their own choice. Since most of these physicians either own their own physical therapy center or belong to a hospital group, the patients are filtered into their provider network, which has adapted the high volume, low cost for service and low-quality care.

This is currently happening more and more. With people living longer and staying active later in life, they need to take responsibility for hand picking a health care team from physician to homecare therapist to outpatient therapist that is going to get them to reach their goals in the most enjoyable, motivating and effective manner.

Patients need to know that they have the power to decide to go to a physical therapist that will provide them with the best quality of care that they deserve. Every patient deserves to receive the best care available in order to obtain the best outcome. Physical therapists who own private practices have the highest reputation for providing this style of treatment. They also have more of a tendency to go above and beyond for the benefit of their patients. Another benefit of a private practice owned by a physical therapist is a more intimate, familylike environment. The autonomy they have allows the therapist to create an experience for the patient that they will soon not forget and ultimately appreciate and tell their family and friends about it.

By asking for recommendations from their community members, patients can make a decision that best suits their needs.

They need to do the research before seeing their doctor, knowing that physical therapy may very well be ordered. And if not ordered, ask “Why not?” This way when they are given a prescription for physical therapy, they will be prepared to tell their physician “this is where I am going to receive my therapy.” Keep in mind that patients are allowed to obtain treatment by a physical therapist without a referral. Direct access exists where a patient may walk into a practice and begin treatment for 10 visits or 30 days, whichever comes first.

Patients need to take their care more in their own hands and decide who will provide the best quality care they deserve.

They need to ask for it and be informed.

And the cheapest safest way may not be the best choice for the long-term benefit.

Frank McCoy is the co-owner of Advanced S.P.O.R.T.S. Physical Therapy in East Setauket.

LAST CHANCE ANIMAL RESCUE

Considering physical therapy as a 2018 wellness option

animals — like Summer and Truffle — at last chance animal rescue are ready for a new home in 2018.

Rescue or foster an animal in need to start the new year

By Mark Freeley

As an adoption event leader, foster and pro bono counsel for Last Chance Animal Rescue, www.lcarescue.org, I can say with certainty that Last Chance provides the opportunity for new beginnings all year long for animals as well as humans.

Last Chance is a foster-based animal rescue in Suffolk County that saves the lives of hundreds of animals each year. It is a not for profit that relies solely upon volunteers to foster animals and run adoption events every weekend at the Petco stores in Selden and Patchogue. In addition, we have cats available for adoption at the Pet Valu store in Setauket.

It is relatively apparent why Last Chance provides new beginnings for all the animals that are saved each week. These animals for the most part are rescued from certain death in the southern part of our country. Once they have a foster commitment here on Long Island, they begin their 17-hour ride to freedom in a packed van. We meet the transport van each Saturday to see the faces of the animals that are truly starting new lives.

As a foster of one of these animals you

get to play a special role in these new beginnings. Yes, you do get attached, but any tear that you shed is well worth the joy of seeing your foster start their new life with a loving family that can’t wait to spoil them.

By being a foster, you have made this new beginning possible, and the feeling that is associated with that new beginning is beyond words. Fosters are the lifeline for these animals, and Last Chance never has enough fosters to save all of the animals that we are asked to help.

While volunteering and fostering for Last Chance, there are also the beginnings of new friendships with those that share the same interests and concerns. It is a close group of people coming together for the common goal of saving the lives of animals one at a time and making the world just a little bit better each week. It is something to be very proud of, and it is something that I am lucky enough to do with my daughter each week.

If you are looking for a new beginning this year, try fostering an animal or volunteering — the reward is priceless.

Mark T. Freeley Esq., is an attorney practicing on the North Shore.

PAGE S8 • NEW BEGINNINGS • FEBRUARY 01, 2018

ATTENTION MEDICAL COMMUNITY, HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROFESSIONALS AND RELATED FIELDS TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA Presents...

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2018 PUBLICATIONS May 3 Deadline April 19

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Deadline August 9

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New BegiNNiNgs

Start of a new year is a good time to begin estate planning

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A Comprehensive Guide to Wellness looking at all aspects of today’s Family Health Issues

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Adult Day Care Programs Providing care for an aging parent, spouse or loved one can be an overwhelming responsibility for family members and friends.

Adult Day Care offers a wide range of services for adults who need a protective environment but choose to remain in the community and continue to be a vital part of family life.

There are two distinct programs to choose from. A medical model adult day health service program is designed to provide for the needs of those who have physical, cognitive or psychological ‘Providing care for an aging parent, spouse or conditions requiring supervision and monitoring. It may offer loved one can be an overwhelming responsibility.’ medical supervision, nursing The best time to start exploring the care and rehabilitative services, social work, therapeutic activities and options is before you actually need them: wellness programs. A social model adult day care program offers seniors who are · When a loved one can no longer structure experiencing decreased levels of physical his own daily activities and mental functioning supervised · When he or she is isolated and desires socialization and stimulating activities companionship or in a caring and creative environment. · When he or she cannot be safely left at Participants can take part in a range home. of enriching activities to promote the We aim to improve the quality of life by maximum level of cognitive and emotional restoring or maintaining functional ability ability including exercise, arts and crafts, and assisting with personal care in a lifegardening, cooking, pet therapy, games affirming atmosphere.

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With the start of a new year, people are often inclined to make lists of things they need or want to do. Resolutions cover everything from losing weight to making more time for family and often include a resolution to finally create an estate plan.

While having an estate plan in place is important, equally important is organizing your financial papers and compiling the information pertaining to your assets and final wishes so that those who will administer your estate are not left scrambling.

Although not exhaustive, the following is a list of the types of documents and information you may want to put together to facilitate the administration of your estate.

• Deeds to burial plots • Funeral/burial wishes, or documents relating to any preplanned or prepaid funeral arrangements, including military discharge papers if you were in the armed forces and wish to be buried in a military cemetery or have an honor guard • A list of people including contact information for those you believe would want to be advised of your passing • Wills and any codicils to the wills, and a list of the addresses of all of the people named in the will and/or codicil • Trust instruments in which you are named as a grantor, trustee and/or beneficiary • Life insurance policies, including the beneficiary designation forms • Annuities, including beneficiary designation forms •Bank statements and pins for use in ATMs • A list of bills that are automatically paid from your bank accounts or charged to your credit card accounts •Brokerage statements • Statements relating to IRAs, 401(k) s, 403(b)s, 457 plans or any similar plans, including the beneficiary designation forms • Documents relating to pensions and/or deferred compensation plans • Deeds, leases and documents relating to real property you own, including documentation relating to time share properties • Loan documents, including home equity lines, lines of credit, mortgages, reverse mortgages and personal loans on which you are either the lender or the borrower • Credit card account numbers and statements

Estate planning should be worked into your new year’s resolutions.

• Keys to safe deposit boxes, the location of the box and the location and combination to any safe you use • Pins, security codes and passwords for online accounts, social media accounts, and email accounts • Account numbers and logins for frequent flyer and other rewards programs • Copies of divorce decrees and pre- and/ or postnuptial agreements to which you may be a party • Citizenship documents • Documents pertaining to any business entities in which you may have an ownership interest • The names and contact information for your financial adviser, brokerage account manager, insurance agent, accountant and attorney Although this list may seem daunting to you, think how much more daunting the task of finding all of these documents and collecting all of the information listed above will be to those left to handle your estate. For your peace of mind, as well as theirs, getting organized is one resolution you should keep.

Linda Toga is the owner of the Law Offices of Linda M. Toga, P.C. in East Setauket.

‘Getting organized is one resolution you should keep.’

— Linda Toga

FEBRUARY 01, 2018 • NEW BEGINNINGS • PAGE S9

New BegiNNiNgs

Suggestions for prosperity in 2018

By Harlan FiscHer

How to Sell Your House Without An Agent Suffolk County – If you’ve tried to sell your home yourself, you know that by the minute you put the “For Sale by Owner” sign up, the phone will start to ring off the hook. Unfortunately, most calls aren’t from prospective buyers, but rather from every real estate agent in town who will start to hound you for your listing.

Like other “For Sale by Owners”, you’ll be subjected to a hundred sales pitches from agents who will tell you how great they are and how you can’t possibly sell your home by yourself. After all, without the proper information, selling a home isn’t easy. Perhaps you’ve had your home on the market for several months with no offers from qualified buyers. This can be a very frustrating time, and many homeowners have given up their dreams of selling their homes themselves. But don’t give up until you’ve read a new report entitled “Sell Your Own Home” which has been prepared especially for

sticking to some guidelines will help anyone become more financially responsible in the new year.

Your Health, Our Care

home sellers like you. You’ll find that selling your home by yourself is entirely possible once you understand the process.

Inside this report, you’ll find 10 inside tips to selling your home by yourself which will help you sell for the best price in the shortest amount of time. You’ll find out what real estate agents don’t want you to know.

To order a FREE Special Report, visit www.SellOnMyOwn.info or to hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report, call toll-free 1-800698-1541 and enter 2017. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get your free special report NOW to learn how you really can sell your home yourself.

This report is courtesy of Raymond Manzoni, Licensed Real Estate Broker, Manzoni Real Estate. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2018

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don’t suggest that you become a coupon fanatic, although that works, but finding good value in your purchases makes a big difference over the course of a year.

For example, many times the prices at outlet stores are higher than the same chain retail locations when those items are on sale there. Keep your eyes open for holiday or birthday presents throughout the year if the price is really good. Of course, you can’t do this with clothing for growing children.

6. Don’t spend more than you make.

This would be the first and foremost resolution each and every year. If you can keep this one, at least you’ll be off to a good start.

Most studies show that only 8 percent of people keep their resolutions after the first three months of the year. Hopefully, by setting a manageable number of goals, sticking to a plan and congratulating yourself (perhaps a glass of prosecco) for hitting milestones along the way, your resolutions could last all of 2018 and beyond.

Harlan J. Fischer is a registered investment adviser and president of Branch Financial Services Inc. in Smithtown.

METRO

While I could suggest dozens of financial recommendations that would make sense for most everyone, I will limit my suggestions to what I feel might be the easiest ones.

1. Reduce your credit card debt. The average U.S. household has more than $15,000 of credit card debt. Not only are the payments emotionally annoying, but expect to see the interest rates rise, and the monthly payments with them, as the Fed raises interest rates in 2018. Consider eliminating all cards except one or two. This could also save you money by increasing your credit score, thereby lowering your cost for a mortgage, car lease or any other loan.

2. Put some money away on a regular basis. The use of salary savings in a 401(k) or a 403(b) can help you accumulate funds faster than just waiting for the right moment (which never seems to arrive). If you are an employee, consider taking the additional money in your paycheck starting in February as a result of the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and saving

or investing that amount each pay period.

Or, as in suggestion 1, use it to pay down any credit card debt.

3. Don’t assume you know everything.

Nobody ever said life was simple. If you are thinking about retiring or are retired, It’s interesting to note that almost 75 percent of Americans between age 60 and 75 with at least $100,000 in household assets failed an American College of Financial Services quiz on making money last during retirement years. Interestingly, 61 percent of those who took the quiz said their knowledge of retirement income was high. Don’t ever be afraid or ashamed to ask for help from a professional.

4. Don’t confuse politics and the economy. Regardless of your political persuasion, capitalism, which is our economic system, works many more times than it doesn’t. While much of the news we receive each day can sometimes be confusing or depressing, if the economy is working well and the stock market along with it, don’t let it pass you by. Watching Animal Planet should make you feel more positive than any news channel.

5. Resolve to be a better shopper. I

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Skilled Nursing Center Head Injury Rehabilitation Unit Alzheimer’s/Dementia Unit Subacute Care Adult Day Health Care Social Day Care Licensed Home Care Services Agency 395 SUNKEN MEADOW ROAD, KINGS PARK www.stjohnland.org • 631-269-5800

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PAGE S10 • NEW BEGINNINGS • FEBRUARY 01, 2018

NEW BEGINNINGS Why a retirement community 

No more shoveling or yard upkeep



Give yourself freedom to travel



Financial freedom



Wide-ranging home options



Allows you to live the life you love

Retirement communities provide freedom

BY CATHY DEANGELO A life plan retirement community encourages people to live the life they love.

While this is important at any stage of life, as we age it becomes even more meaningful, as many of us leave the responsibilities of taking care of a home and raising children to the next generation.

A new year is often the time when people begin to seriously consider where they want to live in their retirement years. Most Long Islanders have spent

their adult years maintaining a home.

While a house can be a source of immense pride, pleasure and memories, taking care of that home and paying the bills is more difficult and less satisfying later in life.

A life plan retirement community offers the best aspects of having your own place, without the responsibility.

Residents may enjoy either spacious apartments or large charming multibedroom cottages. Independent living cottages can range in size and offer all

the comforts of home, simplified. Residences may include two bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, master bedroom with walk-in closet, washer and dryer as well as a patio or sunroom and attached garage. Apartments may range from roomy studios to two bedrooms and den and sometimes larger. Apartments may be conveniently attached to a community center, so access to the wide range of social, cultural, educational, fitness and dining options is a breeze, no matter what the weath-

er. There is no snow shoveling, raking leaves or cutting grass. Growing flowers and vegetables is up to you.

What’s more, a life plan retirement community is about setting you free: the freedom to travel, take a class, make new friends, even freedom from cooking and the freedom to invite friends and family to visit, whether it’s for an evening or a week. Live the life you love.

Cathy DeAngelo is the vice president of sales and marketing for Jefferson’s Ferry Lifecare Retirement Community.

Working financial planning into New Year’s resolutions



Contribute to employer retirement plans



Build an emergency fund



Control your debts

BYMICHAEL R SCEIFORD

do what you can to keep your debts under control. The less you have to spend on debt payments, the more you can invest for your future.

• Don’t overreact to changes in the financial markets. We’ve had a long run of rising stock prices, but it won’t last forever.

If we experience a sharp market downturn in 2018, don’t overreact by taking a “time out” from investing. Market drops are a normal feature of the investment landscape, and you may ultimately gain an advantage by buying new shares when their prices are down.

• Review your goals and risk tolerance.

At least once in 2018, take some time to review your short- and long-term financial goals and try to determine, possibly with the help of a financial professional, if your investment portfolio is still appropriate for these goals. At the same time, you’ll want to reevaluate your risk tolerance to ensure you’re not taking too much risk — or possibly too little risk — with your investments.

Do your best to stick with these resolutions throughout the coming year. At a minimum, they can help you improve your investment habits — and they may improve your financial picture far beyond 2018.

Michael Sceiford is a financial advisor with Edward Jones.

EDWARD JONES

We’ve reached the beginning of another year, which means it’s just about time for some New Year’s resolutions. Would you like to study a new language, take up a musical instrument or visit the gym more often? All these are worthy goals, of course, but why not also add some financial resolutions?

Here are some ideas to think about: • Increase contributions to your employersponsored retirement plan. For 2018, you can contribute up to $18,500 (or $24,500 if you’re 50 or older) to your 401(k) or similar plan, such as a 403(b), for employees of public schools and some nonprofit groups, or a 457(b) plan, for employees of local governments. It’s usually a good idea to contribute as much as you can afford to your employer’s plan, as your contributions may lower your taxable in-

come, while your earnings can grow taxdeferred. At a minimum, put in enough to earn your employer’s matching contribution, if one is offered.

• Try to “max out” on your IRA. Even if you have a 401(k) or similar plan, you can probably still invest in an IRA. For 2018, you can contribute up to $5,500 to a traditional or Roth IRA, or $6,500 if you’re 50 or older. (Income restrictions apply to Roth IRAs.) Contributions to a traditional IRA may be tax deductible, depending on your income, and your earnings can grow tax deferred. Roth IRA contributions are not deductible, but earnings can grow tax free, provided you don’t start taking withdrawals until you are 59-and-a-half and you’ve had your account at least five years. You can put virtually any investment in an IRA, so it can expand your options beyond those offered in your 401(k) or similar plan.

• Build an emergency fund. Try to build an emergency fund containing three to six months’ worth of living expenses, with the money held in a low-risk, liquid account.

This fund can help you avoid dipping into your long-term investments to pay for unexpected costs, such as a new furnace or a major car repair.

• Control your debts. It’s never easy, but

Michael Sceiford, Edward Jones financial planner.

FEBRUARY 01, 2018 • NEW BEGINNINGS • PAGE S11

NEW BEGINNINGS

Popular nutrition trends to look out for in 2018Quarter Page Magazine(4.25”x5.5”) METRO

BY KATHERINE ESPINOZA

IRT-1848D-A

Dreaming Up the Ideal Retirement Is Your Job. Helping You Get There Is Ours.

To learn more about why Edward Jones makes sense for you, call or visit a financial advisor today.

Michael R Sceiford, CFP® Financial Advisor .

903 Main Street Port Jefferson, NY 11777 631-928-2034

www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC

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Nutrition trends in 2018 will revolve around the gut. The biggest trends will focus on simple ingredients, fermented foods, plant-based diets and other ways to improve digestive health.

According to a survey of 2,050 registered dietitian nutritionists, completed by Today’s Dietitian Magazine, consumers will be looking for clean eating and fermented foods. The second major trend will be eating a plant-based diet, followed by eating a ketogenic diet, or a high-fat, adequate protein, lowcarbohydrate diet, the first time this type of diet has appeared on the list.

The Washington Post’s list of hot nutrition trends was based on shifts seen at the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Chicago. The list included omega-9s, plant-based probiotics, chicory root fiber, eating for type 3 diabetes (Alzheimer’s disease), pseudograins made convenient, stevia2.0 and cottage cheese.

Omega-9s, also known as monounsaturated fats, are in because of their potential to regulate blood sugar and promote a healthy weight. While algae is known as a superfood its newest use is in the production of an omega-9 cooking oil. Algae Oil is a heart healthy oil with a high smoke point, which means you can use it for baking, roasting and sautéing.

Probiotics have been a favorite for years. They are bacteria that provide health benefits such as better digestion and a stronger immune system. With more interest in plant-based eating people are looking for choices other than yogurt and kefir. Dairy-free probiotics are the solution because they survive stomach acid and arrive safely in the intestines, where they can colonize the gut.

Chicory root fibers are the only plant-based probiotics with scientifically proven health benefits such as weight management, improved calcium absorption and digestive health. Alzheimer’s disease is now being referred to as type 3 diabetes and brain diabetes, as both conditions involve insulin resistance and deficiency. Eating for brain health is being emphasized.

Pseudograins are basically whole grains that you can get on the table in half the time. You will be able to get this as portable amaranth, buckwheat and quinoa in single portions in most grocery stores.

Stevia continues to rule as the sweetener of choice. It will be in more baking mixes and condiments as consumers look for calorie- and sugar-reduced versions of their favorites.

Cottage cheese used to just be a diet food — it was plain and lumpy. Now it’s becoming more popular because of its higher protein content, which is mostly casein, a protein that helps with satiety. Brands such as Muuna make cottage cheese with a texture that melts in your mouth and is sweetened with real fruit and no artificial flavors.

Besides nutrition trends, there are always new nutrition tips that abound heading into the new year. Most important of all, we all need to incorporate more produce in our diet. Fruits and veggies are nutritional powerhouses, full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. In addition, they are high in volume, but low in calories, so it will fill you up, not out. Add spinach to your morning omelet, try a chopped salad with everything in it for lunch, snack on carrots with hummus in the afternoon and at dinner swap out your pasta for zucchini or squash noodles. Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment and try something new, but check with your doctor before making radical diet changes. Happy New Year!

Katherine Espinoza is a Northport resident, certified nutrition consultant and certified health coach.

PAGE S12 • NEW BEGINNINGS • FEBRUARY 01, 2018

HELPING YOU NAVIGATE TO OPTIMAL HEALTH

David Dunaief, M.D. Integrative Medicine

• A Whole Body Approach • Reversing, Preventing &Treating Chronic Disease and Managing Weight

by Connecting Conventional Medicine with Lifestyle Modifications Our Philosophy is simple.

We believe wellness is derived through nutritional medicine and lifestyle interventions that prevent and treat chronic diseases.

Medications have their place - and in some cases can be lifesaving.

However, there’s no medication without side effects. The goal should be to limit the need for medications - or minimize the number of medications you take on a regular basis.

You are not limited by your genes.

Fortunately, most diseases are based primarily on epigenetics, which are environmental influences, and not on genetics. Epigenetics literally means above or around the gene. In epigenetics, lifestyle choices impact gene expression. Just because your first degree relatives may have had a disease, you are not predestined to follow suit.

We are specialists who will partner with your primary care physician.

A standard medical education does not integrate enough nutritional medicine and other lifestyle interventions. We bridge that gap.

We use evidence-based medicine to guide our decision-making.

The amount of research related to nutrition and other lifestyle issues continues to grow rapidly, with many studies showing significant beneficial effects on health.

We treat each patient as an individual.

We will work with you to develop a plan that allows you to take a proactive role in managing your own health. The health outcomes are worth the effort.

Is disease reversal possible?

Absolutely! Study evidence has found this to be true, and many of our patients have experienced reversal of diabetes, autoimmune disorders, migraines, and cardiovascular disease, just to mention a few. In many cases, because of their exceptional results, our patients have been able to reduce or eliminate their medications.

David Dunaief, M.D.

Clinician, Researcher, Author and Speaker Dr. Dunaief was also recently published in The New York Times and appeared on NBC, News 12 Long Island and News 12 Brooklyn.

Benefits of Our Approach: Treat/reverse the causes of disease, not just symptoms Minimize or eliminate dependence on medications Reduce pain and inflammation Improve weight management

Read more common questions and answers on medicalcompassmd.com.

Dr. Dunaief has written over 2,000 medical research articles that have been published in Times Beacon Record Newspapers.

47 Route 25A, Setauket NY

(Next to Capital One Bank & Across From Convenience Drive-thru)

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631.675.2888

NE W L OC AT ION!

41 Clark Street, Brooklyn, NY 718.924.2655

drdunaief@medicalcompassmd.com Visit our website www.medicalcompassmd.com

“Dr. Dunaief is a knowledgeable, dedicated and compassionate Integrative Medicine clinician, researcher and speaker.”

– Joel Fuhrman, M.D., author of six New York Times best sellers, including Eat to Live.

Dr. Dunaief builds a customized plan for each patient - he knows that “no body is the same.”