December 2024 Newsletter

Happy Holidays and a Joyous New Year to You and Yours!

I hope you’re enjoying the “Most Wonderful time of the year!” (Pola and Wyle). Have plenty of family fun, stay healthy, and look forward to a terrific 2025. Plus, please review the important tips and suggestions below.

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Medicare Supplement Plans

Medicare’s Annual Election Period is coming to an end for this year, marking the end of your opportunity to make changes to your Medicare coverage.

Remember: this has no effect on your ability to get a Medicare Supplement plan.

There is no “deadline” for a “Medigap” plan. You just need to have Original Medicare.

A Medicare Supplement can help cover bills that Medicare does not, such as deductibles and coinsurance. And it can help you keep more money in your pocket. If you have any questions, please contact me any time.

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If you’ve thought about a Medicare Supplement plan, please contact me soon. Together, we’ll see if one of these money-saving plans is just right for you.

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Enjoy Holiday Traditions

For many older people, the best part of the season (apart from just seeing the grandkids) is engaging in holiday traditions.

Traditions can take various forms, including family activities, special dinners, or breakfasts. They can add togetherness and comfort to get-togethers (Palm Medical Centers).

Here are some fun activities you may want to add to your traditions.

Dinner specialties -- seafood dishes, for instance …
“Secret Santas”
“Sing alongs”
Reading to children

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Senior Holiday Safety Tips

This holiday season is focused on family and fun. But it makes sense to add something else to your holiday to-do list – implementing safety measures for seniors and those who love them.

Here ae some ideas to help seniors stay safe and healthy (Bright Star):

Clear pathways and declutter to help avoid falls.
Place handrails throughout the home.
If you have hardwood or tile flooring, always be aware of how slippery it can be, especially when wet.
Maintain a warm environment for older visitors.

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Something for You

Here's a holiday gift you can give yourself. It doesn’t cost anything. It only takes a few minutes of your time.

Just set up an insurance policy review. It’ll simply be a “sit down” or call for us to go over your life insurance or other coverages.

This way, you can start the new year with real peace mind, knowing that the protection you need is in place.

So take a break from the holiday hustle and bustle. Contact me for an appointment.

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We can also discuss annuities that can help build cash streams.

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Good Taste, Good Health

Easy Christmas Cookies with Holiday Pretzels

These holiday pretzel “cookies” are a delightful and festive treat that even the little ones can help to make.

INGREDIENTS:

1 bag waffle or holiday shaped pretzels (e.g., stars, trees, bells)
1 bag “M&Ms,” or similar chocolate candy,
1 12-oz bag chocolate “kisses” or similar candy

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 170°. Line cookie sheet with waxed paper.
Open the bags of pretzels and remove all the unbroken pretzels.
Place pretzels in a single layer on waxed paper-lined cookie sheets.
Unwrap chocolate kisses and place one on each pretzel. Repeat steps to cover the whole cookie sheet.
Place cookie sheet in oven and bake for 6 min.
Upon removing cookie sheet from oven, place one candy on top of semi-melted chocolate kiss.
Place cookie sheet in refrigerator until treats are set.
Store at room temperature in air tight container for up to one month. Freeze in freezer bags for one-to-three months.

SOURCE: The Wicked Noodle

DID YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT DECEMBER?

December 1, 1955 - Rosa Parks began the Montgomery bus boycott.

December 7, 1787 - Delaware became the first state to adopt the new constitution of the United States of America.

December 16, 1773 - the “Boston Tea Party” occurred.

Christmas, December 25 - became a federal holiday in 1870.

SOURCE: The History Place

December Celebrity Birthdays: Jim Morrison (December 8), Frank Sinatra (12), Taylor Swift (13), Ludwig Van Beethoven (16)

SOURCE: Famous Birthdays

Senior Financial Glossary

Year-over-year (YOY) is a method of measuring growth that compares a statistic such as revenue in one time period with the same time period one year earlier.

An annual return is the return that an investment provides over time. It's expressed as a percentage.

The yield basis is a method of quoting the price of a fixed-income security as a yield percentage, rather than as a dollar value.

A year’s certain annuity is a retirement income product that pays the holder a continuous periodic income, generally monthly, for a specified number of years.