Florida Central Coast 8 by The 55 Spotlight

TOP 10 WAYS TO PREPARE FOR RETIREMENT

Saving Matters! Remember

Financial security in retirement doesn’t just happen. It takes planning and commitment and, yes, money.

FACTS

✔ Only about half of Americans have calculated how much they need to save for retirement.

✔ The average American spends roughly 20 years in retirement.

Putting money away for retirement is a habit we can all live with.

1. START SAVING, KEEP SAVING, & STICK TO YOUR GOALS!

If you are already saving, whether for retirement or another goal, keep going! You know that saving is a rewarding habit. If you’re not saving, it’s time to get started.

Start small if you have to and try to increase the amount you save each month. The sooner you start saving, the more time your money has to grow. Devise a plan, stick to it, and set goals. Remember, it’s never too early or too late to start saving.

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2. KNOW YOUR RETIREMENT NEEDS!

Retirement is expensive. Experts estimate that you will need 70 to 90 percent of your preretirement income to maintain your standard of living when you stop working. Take charge of your financial future. The key to a secure retirement is to plan ahead.

3. CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR EMPLOYER’S RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN!

If your employer offers a retirement savings plan, such as a 401(k) plan, sign up and contribute all you can. Your taxes will be lower, your company may kick in more, and automatic deductions make it easy. Over time, compound interest and tax deferrals make a

big difference in the amount you will accumulate. Find out about your plan. For example, how much would you need to contribute to get the full employer contribution and how long would you need to stay in the plan to get the money.

4. LEARN ABOUT YOUR EMPLOYER’S PENSION PLAN!

If your employer has a traditional pension plan, check to see if you are covered by the plan and understand how it works. Ask for an individual benefit statement to see what your benefit is worth. Before you change jobs, find out what will happen to your pension benefit. Learn what benefits you may have from a previous employer. Find out if you will be entitled to benefits from your spouse’s plan.

5. CONSIDER BASIC INVESTMENT PRINCIPLES!

How you save can be as important as how much you save. Inflation and the type of investments you make play important roles in how much you’ll have saved at retirement. Know how your savings or pension plan is invested. Learn about your plan’s investment options and ask questions. Put your savings in different types of investments. By diversifying this way, you are more likely to reduce risk and improve return. Your investment mix may change over time depending on a number of factors such as your age, goals, and financial circumstances. Financial security and knowledge go hand in hand.

6. DON’T TOUCH YOUR RETIREMENT SAVINGS!

If you withdraw your retirement savings now, you’ll lose principal and interest and you may lose tax benefits or have to pay withdrawal penalties. If you change jobs, leave your savings invested in your current retirement plan, or roll them over to an IRA or your new employer’s plan.

7. ASK YOUR EMPLOYER TO START A PLAN!

If your employer doesn’t offer a retirement plan, suggest that it start one. There are a number of retirement saving plan options available. Your employer may be able to set up a simplified plan that can help both you and your employer.

8. PUT MONEY INTO AN INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT!

You can put up to $6,500 a year into an individual Retirement Account (IRA); you can contribute even more if you are 50 or older. You can also start with much less. IRAs also provide tax advantages. When you open an IRA, you have two options – a traditional IRA or Roth IRA. The tax treatment of your contributions and withdrawals will depend on which option you select. Also, the after-tax value of your withdrawal will depend on

inflation and the type of IRA you choose. IRAs can provide an easy way to save. You can set it up so that an amount is automatically deducted from your checking or savings account and deposited in the IRA.

9. FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS!

On average, Social Security retirement benefits replace 40 percent of pre-retirement income for retirement beneficiaries. The amount of your wages that Social Security retirement benefits replace varies depending on your earnings and the age you choose to start receiving benefits. You may be able to estimate your benefit by using the retirement estimator on the Social Security Administration’s website.

10. ASK QUESTIONS!

While these tips are meant to point you in the right direction, you’ll need more information. Talk to your employer, your bank, your union, or a financial adviser. Ask questions and make sure you understand the answers. Get practical advice and act now.

Courtesy of US Dept. of Labor

2025 PGA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

APR 3 - 6

APR 10 - 13

APR 17 - 20

Valero Texas Open TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course) • San Antonio, TX • USA

Masters Tournament

APR 24 - 27

MAY 1 - 4

MAY 8 - 11

MAY 15 - 18

MAY 22 - 25

MAY 29 - JUN 1

* Schedule subject to change

Augusta National Golf Club • Augusta, GA • USA

RBC Heritage + Harbour Town Golf Links • Hilton Head Island, SC • USA

Corales Puntacana Championship

Puntacana Resort & Club (Corales Golf Course) Punta Cana • DOM

Zurich Classic of New Orleans TPC Louisiana • Avondale, LA • USA

THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson TPC Craig Ranch •McKinney, TX • USA

Truist Championship + The Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon Course) • Philadelphia, PA • USA

Myrtle Beach Classic Dunes Golf and Beach Club • Myrtle Beach, SC • USA

PENDRITH $1,710,000

PGA Championship Quail Hollow Club • Charlotte, NC • USA XANDER SCHAUFFELE $3,330,000

Charles Schwab Challenge

Colonial Country Club • Fort Worth, TX • USA DAVIS RILEY $1,638,000

The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday + Muirfield Village Golf Club • Dublin, OH • USA

+ Signature Event # Not PGA TOUR Co-sponsored ^ Co-sanctioned with DP World Tour

SCHEFFLER $4,000,000

2025 PGA TOURNAMENT

JUN 5 - 8

JUN 12 - 15

JUN 19 - 22

JUN 26 - 29

JUL 3 - 6

JUL 10 - 13

JUL 17 - 20

JUL 24 - 27

JUL 31 - AUG 3

AUG 7 - 10

Deere Run • Silvis, IL • USA

2025 LPGA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

2025 LPGA TOURNAMENT

LOCAL EVENTS GUIDE FLORIDA CENTRAL COAST

PLEASE NOTE: WE’RE AWARE THAT THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES ARE LIMITING MANY ASPECTS OF LIFE AS WE ALL PRACTICE SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING. DUE TO THE CURRENT OUTBREAK, MANY EVENTS HAVE EITHER BEEN CANCELLED, RESCHEDULED, OR CHANGED TO VIRTUAL EVENTS. PLEASE VERIFY ALL EVENTS PRIOR TO ATTENDING. THANK YOU.

APRIL

APRIL 12 - 13

| BLUEBERRY FEST

Celebrate the spring with buckets of blueberries. This is a fun family festival with delicious foods, blueberries, arts & crafts, and so much more! For more info visit: https://bit.ly/3aODsNB

MAY

MAY 3 | SEA TURTLE MARATHON

It’s time to challenge yourself and go the distance! This race is open to all runners of all skill sets. Once you finish there is a postrace awards party on the beach with live smooth jazz music, light brunch, champagne, mimosas and more! For more info visit: runonthebeach.com

MAY 15 - 18 | ROCKVILLE

With over 200k of you raging together at the largest Rock Festival in North America. If you thought that was off the charts, just wait until you see what we’ve got lined up. We’re turning up the volume to make the biggest party of the

year. For more info visit: https://tinyurl.com/3fesay7v

JUNE

JUNE 14 | JUNETEENTH

Celebrate the Juneteenth Family Festival, a day filled with free family fun. With a wide variety of vendors, food trucks, and community organizations, the festival offers something for everyone. The choo-choo train ride is a favorite among attendees, while live music and engaging games keep the excitement high. The festival brings together families from all walks of life to celebrate African American heritage and culture. For more info visit: juneteenthdaytona.com

JUNE 22 | FOOD TRUCK FEST

Foodies unite! Experience flavors from around the world at the International Food Truck Fest hosted at the City Center in Port Orange. The event will feature vendors from Brazil, Columbia, France, Greece, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Puerto

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LOCAL EVENTS GUIDE FLORIDA CENTRAL COAST

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Rico, Thailand, US and more! For more info visit: https://tinyurl.com/42xntff5

JULY

JULY 5 | BBQ CHALLENGE

Like other food challenges on Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach, the NSB BBQ Challenge guests will use their tasting passports to visit the host sites and taste sample sized bbq portions prepared in multiple different ways like chicken, beef, pork, seafood. Don’t forget to vote for your favorites at the end! For more info visit: https://tinyurl.com/34mu82n5

JULY 19 - 20 | CRAFT MARKET

Feel the Summer Heat and Celebrate the Season with the Summer Sizzle Craft & Vendor Market! Shoppers: Soak up the vibrant atmosphere while discovering treasures to keep your summer sizzling. Whether it’s stylish finds, refreshing seasonal treats, or back-to-school essentials, you’re

sure to find something you love. For more info visit: https://tinyurl.com/kn7z32se

JULY 26 | WING BATTLE

Enjoy this All-Inclusive Wings & Alcohol Event! Vote for your Favorite! and find out: Who serves up the BEST WINGS in Daytona Beach! For more info visit: https://tinyurl.com/4prxk98m

AUGUST

AUG 16 | WING BATTLE

Your admission ticket includes unlimited wing samplings and unlimited domestic beer and hard seltzers for the entirety of the event! Attendees will stop by each wing competitor to sample what each Competitor is servin’ up… And then continue to enjoy UNLIMITED wing samplings, alcohol, Game Area, and live music all night long! For more info visit: https://tinyurl.com/yx9am9fw

LOCAL EVENTS GUIDE FLORIDA CENTRAL COAST

AUG 23 | COKE ZERO SUGAR 400

The Coke Zero Sugar 400 returns once again as the Regular Season Finale for the NASCAR Cup Series! Racing under the lights of the famed high banks and with only a couple Playoff spots up for grabs, anything could happen as the stage is set for NASCAR to crown a Champion! For more info visit: daytonainternationalspeedway.com

SEPTEMBER

SEPT 6 - 7 | MUSIC FESTIVAL

MTI Rock Fest is a Rock Music Festival in Melbourne Florida. Hosted at the New Castle Park. Music, Vendors, Food Trucks and plenty of drinks. For more info visit: vierarockfest.com

OCTOBER

OCT 16 - 19 | BIKETOBERFEST

Biketoberfest in October and Daytona Bike Week in March are a collection of activities that take place at venues and businesses in cities throughout Volusia County and beyond. Our local hotels,

businesses, parks and beaches are open for visitors to enjoy the area’s beautiful October weather and scenic rides. For more info visit: biketoberfest.org

OCT 30 | STATE FAIR

The Space Coast State Fair is Brevard’s largest and most popular annual family event. The Space Coast State Fair is a short ride from all areas of the Space Coast. Loved by all who come, come and see why the Space Coast State Fair is a must-see tradition! For more info visit: spacecoaststatefair.com

LOCAL EVENTS GUIDE FLORIDA CENTRAL COAST

NOVEMBER

NOV 8 - 9 | ART FEST

The Avenue Viera is a unique outdoor lifestyle center concept consisting of a dynamic mix of premier national retailers, select local merchants and specialty restaurants. Artists will be jury-selected to exhibit in this outdoor fine art show to ensure the best of the best. Come enjoy this weekend full of perfectly curated art. For more info visit: spacecoastartfestival.com

NOV 27 - 30 | TURKEY RUN

The Daytona Turkey Run, presented by Daytona Beach Street Rods, features thousands of unique automobiles and swap meet vendors in the infield of the ‘World Center of Racing’, Daytona International Speedway. Considered to be largest combined car show and swap meet in the United States, this family-friendly four-day event takes place every fall during the Thanksgiving holiday week. For more info visit: https://tinyurl.com/2tz2nf34

NOV 30 | MARATHON

Running Zone Foundation and Space Coast Runners welcome you to the annual running of the Space Coast Marathon and Half Marathon – Florida’s oldest marathon. We invite runners and walkers alike to experience one of the most beautiful USATF certified waterfront courses on the east coast of Florida. For more info visit: https://bit.ly/3dpydGy

DECEMBER

DEC 1 - 31 | CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR!

This enchanting event includes all the rooms on the ground floor and the 3 bedrooms on the second floor. Just when you think you have seen it all you are then treated to a visit into the original School House which has since been converted into a Zen like guest cottage featuring a soaring 15 ft Polynesian ceiling. For more info visit: https://bit.ly/3rz0gL1

LOCAL EVENTS GUIDE FLORIDA CENTRAL COAST

JANUARY

JAN

TBA | RENAISSANCE FAIR

Gather one and all for the Brevard Renaissance Fair! A full cast of colorful characters fills the lands with music, dancing, and more. With over 100 stage shows daily, varieties of foods and treats, and numerous artisan merchants with handcrafted wares, the Brevard Renaissance Fair invites guests to immerse themselves in a unique experience of history and fantasy! For more info visit: brevardrenaissancefair.com

FEBRUARY

FEB

15 | SPEEDWEEKS

Historic performances, spectacular racing, amazing memories, and being here live will stay with you for a lifetime! Don’t miss your chance to experience an action-packed schedule of races across several different racing series, all at The World Center of Racing! For more info visit: https://tinyurl.com/bdz6mh9a

MARCH

MARCH 1 - 8 | BIKE WEEK

The Annual Daytona Beach Bike Week, one of best-known motorcycle rallies in the world. Motorcycle enthusiasts are invited to enjoy spring riding in Daytona Beach for this 10-day rally - along historic Main Street to Midtown, Scenic A1A Highway and through the best of old Florida, the Ormond Beach Scenic Loop. For more info visit: officialbikeweek.com

2026 GRAND SLAM TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

2025 GRAND SLAM TOURNAMENT

SCHEDULE

* Schedule subject to change

MAY 25 - SUN 12:00 PM 1st Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single MAY 26 - MON 12:00 PM 1st Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single

MAY 26 - MON 8:15 PM 1st Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single

MAY 27 - TUE 12:00 PM 1st Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single MAY 27 - TUE 8:15 PM 1st Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single MAY 28 - WED 12:00 PM 2nd Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single MAY 28 - WED 8:15 PM 2nd Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single MAY 29 - THU 12:00 PM 2nd Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single

MAY 29 - THU 8:15 PM 2nd Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single MAY 30 - FRI 12:00 PM 3rd Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single MAY 30 - FRI 8:15 PM 3rd Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single MAY 31 - SAT 12:00 PM 3rd Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single MAY 31 - SAT 8:15 PM 3rd Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single

JUN 01 - SUN 11:00 PM 4th Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single

JUN 01 - SUN 8:15 PM 4th Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single

JUN 02 - MON 11:00 PM 4th Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single

JUN 02 - MON 8:15 PM 4th Round Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Single

JUN 03 - TUE 11:00 PM 1/4 Finals Ladies’ or Gentlemen’s Singles

JUN 03 - TUE 8:15 PM 1/4 Finals Ladies’ or Gentlemen’s Singles

JUN 04 - WED 11:00 PM 1/4 Finals Ladies’ or Gentlemen’s Singles

JUN 04 - WED 8:15 PM 1/4 Finals Ladies’ or Gentlemen’s Singles

JUN 05 - THU 3:00 PM 1/2 Finals Singles Ladies’

JUN 06 - FRI 2:30 PM 1/2 Final Gentlemen’s Single

JUN 06 - FRI 5:30 PM 1/2 Final Gentlemen’s Single

JUN 07 - SAT 3:00 PM Final Women’s Single

JUN 08 - SUN 3:00 PM Final Gentlemen’s Single

DATE

2025 GRAND SLAM TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

* Schedule subject to change

JUNE 30 - MON 11:00 AM Men's & Ladies' 1nd Round

JULY 1 - TUE 11:00 AM Men's & Ladies' 1nd Round

JULY 2 - WED 11:00 AM Men's & Ladies' 2nd Round

JULY 3 - THUR 11:00 AM Men's & Ladies' 2nd Round

JULY 4 - FRI 11:00 AM Men's & Ladies' 3rd Round

JULY 5 - SAT 11:00 AM Men's & Ladies' 3rd Round

JULY 6 - SUN 11:00 AM Men's & Ladies' 4th Round

JULY 7 - MON 11:00 AM Men's & Ladies' 4th Round

JULY 8 - TUE 11:00 AM

JULY 9- WED 11:00 AM

JULY 10 - THU 1:00 PM

Men's Singles Quarterfinals & Ladies’ Singles Quarterfinals

Ladies' Singles Semifinals & Mixed Doubles Final

JULY 11 - FRI 1:00 PM Men's Singles Semifinals

JULY 12 - SAT 2:00 PM

JULY 13 - SUN 2:00 PM

Ladies' Singles Final & Men's Doubles Final

Men's Singles Final & Ladies’ Doubles Final

2025 GRAND SLAM TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

2025 DESIGN TRENDS

EACH YEAR BRINGS NEW TRENDS IN INTERIOR DESIGN & 2025 IS NO DIFFERENT.

As the world changes, needs and desires change. Interior design can enhance your home environment with new ideas. We want our homes to appeal to all our sensesSensorial design. Vivid colors, environmentally friendly materials and luxury comfort are a few of the current trends.

Colors such as reds, oranges, purples, and maroons will be popular. These are called lucky colors in some cultures.

Accordingly they attract wealth and business success. No more plain walls - wallpapered and colored ceilings as well as textured walls are back. In addition, bold patterns and textures add drama, depth and visual interest to your room. Ceiling treatments also create visual interest. Beams or a coffered ceiling bring texture, depth and character to plain surfaces. They also reduce noise and add a bit of elegance.

Earth tones such as terracotta, ochre, rust and sage are always popular as they reflect nature and create a calm environment that makes a space feel warm and welcoming. To add a little luxury to any space, use gold, bronze, copper or silver finishes with small touches.

Furniture tends to be comfortable and relaxed without sacrificing style. Oversized sofas, comfortable chairs, lounge chairs and even daybeds are popular again. Curved and rounded furniture as well as accent pieces will be popular. They work with either traditional or modern design.

Dark warmer wood tones are back after years of light wood. To change the look of a piece of furniture or cabinet, stain it a walnut hue. Mix in modern with traditional. Darker

tones bring a warm, grounded feeling.

Lighting is an important part of any design project. Consider a layered lighting scheme that incorporates a mixture of overhead lighting, floor and table lamps and sconces. Think of fixtures as art and jewelry for your home. Lighting helps create a functional and welcoming home. Be sure to use dimmable lights as that enhances the mood in any room.

Small changes can reinvigorate your home in keeping with the 2025 design. Paint a wall, wallpaper a bathroom ceiling, add a colorful rug to a neutral room. It’s all about enjoying your home and feeling comfortable.