January 2025 Newsletter

This month we shine a spotlight on the critical importance of blood donation and its life-saving impact, the differences between “lifespan” and “healthspan” and much more. Read on below for more information.

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Start 2025 Strong: Schedule Your Retirement Plan Checkup

With 2025 off to a fast start, it’s important to remember that life, health and retirement needs are always evolving. An annual review can help ensure you’re on the track for success.

And right now, with the New Year just beginning, is the perfect time to give your retirement plan a 2025 checkup.

I can help you with that — at no cost or obligation.

Contact me today and we'll set up a Policy Review.

I'll use the resources of American Senior Benefits to help make sure you truly have the right plan for retirement success. (If you haven't yet begun your plan, it's all right, we'll start at square one and get it done!)

We can make sure you're truly ready for all the great years ahead.

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Hugs and Donations

January is National Blood Donor Month -- a time to honor America's invaluable blood donors.

Blood supplies often run low in the winter months, yet the demand for blood in emergencies and medical treatments never slows. You can make a difference in a multitude of ways.

Not able to donate? Spread the word on social media, organize a community blood drive, or encourage friends and family to donate. You can also make a difference buy scheduling a donation at a local blood bank or drive, just one pint of blood can save up to three lives. Let’s all do our part to make a difference this January.

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BLOOD PLATELETS are tiny cells in your blood that form clots and stop bleeding.

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January is Glaucoma Awareness Month

More than 3 million people in the United States have glaucoma. The National Eye Institute projects this number will reach 4.2 million by 2030, a 58% increase.

Glaucoma is called “the sneak thief of sight” since there are no symptoms and once vision is lost, it's permanent. As much as 40% of vision can be lost without a person even noticing.

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Lifespan vs Healthspan

The terms “lifespan” and “healthspan” may sound similar but they have their own unique meanings. Lifespan quantifies the years of your life, while “healthspan” evaluates the quality of those years and emphasizes the importance of living better.

The distinction is critical in medical and aging research, where the goal is not only to increase the number of years you live but to ensure those years are spent in optimal health, with minimal suffering and maximal function.

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Your Social Security Break-Even Age

Many Social Security recipients decide to delay taking benefits to increase their checks later.

Waiting to collect a higher benefit check later means the recipient is foregoing cash flow now. But when do you catch up?

The “break-even” point comes when the total benefits collected at full retirement are more than all the cash that could have been collected by starting early.

Reports say the break-even point usually comes somewhere around age 80.

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For more about options for claiming Social Security and to learn how to calculate your breakeven point, CONTACT ME at any time!

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Good Taste, Good Health

Cheeseburger Soup

Here's a combination of cheesiness, hamburger, veggies, and seasonings. It's warm, delicious, and just right for winter.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 lb ground beef
• 5 tbsp butter, divided
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 3/4 cup chopped onion
• 3/4 cup shredded carrots
• 3/4 cup diced celery
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried parsley flakes
• 1-3/4 lb cubed, peeled potatoes
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup cubed Velveeta “original"
• 1 cup cubed Queso Blanco (white, crumbly cheese)
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/4 cup sour cream

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large saucepan over med heat, brown the hamburger until no longer pink, 6-8 min drain and set aside.
2. In the same saucepan, melt 2 tbsp butter over med heat. Add garlic and sauté for one min. Sauté the carrots, onion, celery, parsley and basil until vegetables are tender, about 8-10 min.
3. Add potatoes, ground beef and broth. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered for 10-12 min or until the potatoes are tender, which should be about 10-12 min.
4. While potatoes simmer, melt remaining butter in a small skillet. Add flour; cook and stir until bubbly, 3-5 min. Add to soup; bring to a boil. Cook and stir 2 min.
5. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cheese, milk, salt and pepper, and cook until the cheese melts. Remove from heat and blend in sour cream. If desired, serve with French fried onions crumbled on top and chopped green onions.

SOURCE: Passion for Savings

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DID YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT JANUARY?

January 3, 1777 -- During the American Revolution, General George Washington defeated the British at Princeton and drove them back toward New Brunswick, NJ

January 18, 1966 -- Robert Clifton Weaver was sworn in as the first African- American cabinet member in U.S. history, becoming President Lyndon B. Johnson's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

January 21, 1954 -- The USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear powered submarine, was launched at Groton, Connecticut.

January 28, 1915 -- The U.S. Coast Guard was created.

SOURCE: The History Place

January Celebrity Birthdays: Bradley Cooper (January 5), Jeff Bezos (12), Michele Obama (17), Mary Lou Retton (24)

SOURCE: Famous Birthdays

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Senior Financial Glossary

A yellow knight is a company that orchestrates a hostile takeover, but backs out and proposes a merger of equals with the target company.

A flattening curve yield is when short-term and long-term bonds have no significant rate differences. This makes long-term bonds less attractive to investors.

The letter "Y" appears at the end of a stock symbol indicating that the stock is an American depositary receipt (ADR). ADRs are negotiable certificates representing shares of foreign stock.

Yield-on-cost is calculated by dividing the annual dividend income by the original purchase price of the investment. It can reflect how much an investor is earning on their initial investment over time.

SOURCE: Investopedia

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Quote of the Month

Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it isn't going way.
- Elvis Presley

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‍View Last Month's answers

SOURCE: BrainyQuote^©

For information about Medicare or Claiming Social Security, please visit briangoldman.myasbagent.net. Should you have any questions, please email me at brian.goldman@successfs.com or call 412-897-0760.