What do you know Joe? – 2020

Guess what… only the electoral college will reveal the winner. Not ABC, CBS, NBC, or CNN, or FOX. Not the Associated Press, BBC, or your favorite YouTuber. So, on December 14th, 2020, we will know. Then Congress must agree. Yup, it may not be over once the college convenes. Read about how John Quincy Adams became President.

As I stated in last month's newsletter, conversations will abound, and folks will say things in the media and we still won't know who won. The elections were conducted flawlessly in many states and not so much in some.

Several of our employees voted in person and did not have their ballots counted after checking online. Stories don’t become real until they happen to you or those close to you. That's just not right! Unfortunately, the narratives are true.

What I am saying in this day of video everything, all election counting should be available for all to see online, unedited, and streamed live. All cameras on the ballots. Every angle is monitored and available for all to see. It would make for a boring show, but at least there would be 100% transparency.

Left or right, both sides have the right to a fair election. That is what makes America, America. At the end of the day, we must get back to our everyday lives. Some will go to work, some will fill their days with leisure, some will go to school. 2020 will soon be a memory. 2021 is the future. Whatever the outcome, I see a bright
future because I get to make my own destiny.

I wish you all a warm holiday season and a good new year.

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Here we go! – 2020

By the time you read this newsletter (or listen to it via www.65andcounting.com), the post-election conversations will be in full swing. The final counts will be ongoing for several days if not weeks.

Seats will change hands. 100% of the 435 seats in Congress are up for election. 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate are to be voted upon in the 2020 election.
So, what’s that mean to you and me. Well, to be honest, a heck of a lot. Most folks I interact with on a day-to-day basis are retired. They are concerned their healthcare (Medicare) remains available and affordable. They are concerned their supplemental income continues uninterrupted (Social Security). They are concerned for the financial markets. No one wants to see 1987, 2001, 2008 again.

Most would argue that we don’t have a choice.

Both sides say the same thing. It’s hard to place your trust in this candidate or that one. We don’t have a choice. Please Vote!
If it helps you. Vote for the results you are looking to experience, rather than the person.

Sometimes emotions drive decisions.

Sometimes our leaders exaggerate the truth. Sometimes they are a little forgetful.

Either way, we must make a decision.

Please cast your vote!

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Boo! – 2020

Boo who? I do not know and that is the problem.

Who can you trust these days? What sources do we have to make good decisions? Again, I say Boo. The WHO and the CDC cannot agree. The President may know something we do not know, but he is not an epidemiologist, and neither are the leaders of the house and senate. The news still operates under “if it bleeds it leads”, so it is not in their best interest to dig too deep into a story.

I’m frustrated, aren’t you?

Mask on? Mask off? Well, at least gloves are not a thing anymore. That was weird for sure!

I have to say, we have been eating out much more often. Sitting outside only! Got to be safe you know. The shelves in the stores big and small appear to be near fully stocked. My wife’s favorite toilet paper is available and no longer rationed. Whew, that’s a huge relief!

We meet with folks every day; yes, still virtually, either choosing to retire early or losing their jobs. I wish I could wave a magic wand and return us to the euphoria of December 2019! The market was fine, and unemployment was at the lowest in American history. The economy was booming. Folks were simply happy.
I truly feel for those whose jobs have evaporated. For those whose hours were cut. For those that took early retirement to avoid catching something, we cannot see or touch. It’s just awful!

We at American Retirement Advisors are so blessed to be insulated from this mess. We are so fortunate to be able to help folks throughout our great country. We have even hired new employees during this period. So BOOOO! I guess I can wear my mask for Halloween when we dress up in the office. I’ll be a doctor; yup, that will work!

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Normal – 2020

Last week we had a little normal. Not a lot, just a little. In the olden days just about every day, we (the executive team of American Retirement Advisors) would gather for lunch to chat and discuss the business. We would go to a favorite spot in North Scottsdale. It has a great outdoor area, and from my favorite table, I can sit in the air conditioning next to a floor-to-ceiling window, like I’m outside, but not, and look out at the wonderful Arizona sunshine and beautiful mountains.
For just a few minutes, I was mask-free, enjoying the folks I really like to hang out with and sipping amazing iced tea.
Then the waiter arrived, masked, and I snapped back to the new normal.

Pandemics are not a normal thing. There are only a couple of Hollywood movies on the subject. Fighting something you cannot see is quite the quagmire. Folks we elected to guide our country, states, counties, and cities are all trying to do the right thing. But “THE RIGHT THING” is not clearly defined. But some things are clear. And I, for one, would rather err on the side of caution. You know the saying.

Better safe than sorry.

Mask on. Mask off. I hate wearing a mask, but it beats the alternative. The transmission, according to experts, is aerosol. You know, tiny droplets super small, like fog. So, what can you do? How do you test your protection? In my mind, if you can spray Lysol through your mask, and the spray comes out the other side it’s not going to help anyone. Think about this… according to google, a sneeze can expel aerosol droplets at as much as 100 MPH and travel quite a distance. How about a clear shield? Nope. A bandana, NO!

A cool-looking stretchy material from a sportswear brand, NO! Come on, are you kidding me. The virus travels as an Aerosol! N95 masks or better. That’s it, the only choice when you are near other people. At home, no mask. In the car, no mask. In a park more than 6 ft from others, no mask. Walking into an indoor public place, MASK ON!

Can we avoid human connection forever? I guess. I prefer a little social interaction with other humans. Call me strange.
Be considerate, masks are for the folks around you!

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Dig a hole

Did you ever feel like just digging a hole and jumping in just to get some peace and quiet? I just want this to end! The news media is plain awful, the scarier the better. Gotta keep up viewership, gotta keep those advertising dollars rolling in. Every major city has something weird going on. From folks afraid to speak their minds for fear of reprisal to folks that have lost their minds speaking and doing things without any consequence for their actions.
Folks just need a way to turn this off. I need to get out of town. But wait... Hmmm?

These days a vacation in your own back yard seems to be the only ticket. Lowes and Home Depot are reporting record earnings. Being stuck at home with nothing to do means some-body will find you something to do! A long-forgotten home repair or upgrade project is a path to activities otherwise replaced by travel and dining out or even a movie. I really miss the movie theaters.

It is amazing what you can find when you open those boxes that have been packed away for 15 years. Pictures of the kids when they were little. A great backpack. I even found a leather pad I used every Monday morning in my team meetings to assign tasks.

I know people resist change; I certainly do! I like to eat at the same place, see the same people, wear the same uniform, and see my 14 (now 11) clients a day. I like my routine.

Some things have changed in my world. Gone is the suit and suspenders. On with the jeans. I still have a ton of great shirts that require the cufflinks. At breakfast, a client walked up to me and said, “Are you David Schaeffer?” Hard to tell in my COVID uniform - mask on, jeans, and an untucked shirt.

But things have become more casual at the offices. Of the dozens of folks that make up the American Retirement Advisors family of employees, only five folks come to the Scottsdale office and three folks in the Las Vegas office every day. (Yes, we hired another great person in application processing, Micah.) Everyone else is adjusting to the new normal, working from home.

For the most part, our clients are adjusting as well as can be expected. We are a face-to-face company. Our clients are used to seeing us in person. I know it is hard to do things differently. For some, we are (were) a destination for a comforting smile, a great cup of coffee, and biscotti.

I seem to be a bit more patient with our daily client interactions. I am more empathetic and understanding, helping folks make the transition to virtual meetings. You know - waiting for folks to turn on their computer and open their email to click on a link to join a video conference call.
For many, it is already the way of things with remote work using tools like “GoToMeeting” and the like.

For some, the idea of a “FaceTime” or Google “Hangouts” video call is still foreign. I get great pleasure in seeing someone’s eyes light up when they connect for the first time via video call. It is the way of the present. Doctors are seeing more patients than ever before on telehealth video calls. Financial services companies and insurance companies have always serviced folks by phone. Today, they are updating to include video as well.

You know what “THEY” say, “Change is inevitable”. I wish everyone good health and a smooth transition to “New Normal.” I really miss the movie theaters

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Look on the bright side! – 2020

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="3.22"][et_pb_row _builder_version="3.25" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="|||" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.4" hover_enabled="0"] Remember all those lists of things you wanted to do, but you never had the time? I seem to have a lot of those. We have a closet that has not seen light for over 5 years. The door has not been opened, mostly because of all the stuff piled up in front of the door. I seem to recall it was filled with old Disney VHS movies, family pictures, and the kids’ (now grown and out of the house) video game things. Big game things, video drum sets, car racing wheels, and something they used to jump on. Since we can’t seem to travel anywhere far away without major hassles and concerns for our health, that closet is going to get what it deserves. A complete renovation. Yup… that’s my Fourth of July vacation. What else… I cannot watch television, I tried it. But the narratives are UNBELIEVABLE! It makes me mad, scared, and plain uncomfortable. Call me old-fashioned. If there is a threat to my friends and family or clients, do not worry, I’ll handle it. But wait, I can’t see this threat. The virus is a terrible thing. It is quite scary. It seems to be most dangerous to those we serve, folks over age 65. Folks that seem to be better able to handle the effects of the virus are those that are lucky enough to be healthy. Folks that are not on medications to maintain blood pressure or pulmonary conditions. I’m back to my pre-virus workouts, even though MIT posted a list of places that are safer than others to visit. Do you have a list? Have you been putting off things you know you need to do, but were either afraid to take care of them or they just keep getting buried? How is your medical directive? How is your Will? How is your Trust? These are simple things you can do yourself, online! Are you taking your vitamins? Most Medicare Advantage plans provide a catalog for free vitamins! Are you getting in your daily exercise? Most Medicare Advantage plans and many Medicare supplements offer FREE AT-HOME exercise programs, since going to the gym may not make sense these days. Tomorrow is another day! Make the best of what we have. Put a smile on someone’s face. Make a difference in someone’s life. Take care and stay safe! [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

Change is a certainty! – 2020

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We are in a different world because the world we live in is always changing. What we are going through as a planet, we will get through. Agendas will be pushed from the left and the right, as they always have been. We will see the same things in the news as we always have in the past.

Some things are different! Folks that have been tech adverse are finally turning on their computers and tablets, learning how to click to attend a video chat. Folks are buying groceries online. Shopping via ETSY for locally made crafts and necessities has never been more popular. A primary care doctor visit is only available via telemedicine. Meetings with your financial professional are only online. Buying a car has never been more convenient, with dealers coming to the house with the car of your choice. I’m not talking fancy cars; all dealers have home delivery and test drives.

Innovation is happening. Transforming how we do our everyday activities is evolving. Schools adapted quickly, providing every kid with tablets and laptops in many school districts. The cellphone services gave unlimited cellular Wi-Fi to help, as well. Kids can participate in school, socialize, and learn from home or … what if their parents were able… take an RV trip for a month and see the national parks and the kids could keep up with their studies and classmates virtually? What if the parents were fortunate enough to work remotely and explore America? In many cases, this is a new reality.

Change happens, how will you participate? National political conventions are soon to happen. It is highly likely they will be a digital experience. If done well, attendance and participation may be higher than ever before in history for many reasons, but a digital experience is open to everyone, not just the fortunate few that can travel to a specific location and pay a ton of money to cover the expenses.

Our business has been limited by time and distance in the past for over a hundred years. Not by us, but by our clients. This pandemic has forced people to expand their normal comfort zones and explore and expand the possibilities. I look forward to the new normal and the opportunities to connect with people all over our great country as we move forward.

I look forward to guiding our companies toward our new motto “People helping people in a digital world.” TM

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Mask On! – 2020

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="3.22"][et_pb_row _builder_version="3.25" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="|||" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.4" hover_enabled="0"] Wow. Last month I called the virus issue a Pandemic, two weeks before the government did, hoping this month to print a retraction. This month seems just eerie, surreal, not how things are supposed to be. I started prepping the house for supplies in October last year and early February this year. I hope you are all stocked as well. With nationwide meat processors closing, buying local makes sense if you can find an old-fashioned butcher shop. Good news, local farms are delivering daily to grocers that do not warehouse their produce. Happy story! I eat breakfast at the same deli (JJ’s) nearly every morning. Now its pickup only. They know me by name. But one day in early April, the week we were supposed to be in Jamaica, I stopped in wearing shorts, sunglasses, and a mask. They had no idea who I was. Kind of weird, right! I always wear a suit and ties and braces. After they decided I was really me, we got to jabbering and I mentioned that a BBQ place in Cave Creek, AZ, was selling supplies to support the community and make some extra money. I stated, you guys can order a case of toilet paper and sell it to me. The owner said yes, no problem, sharing he ordered for the deli on Sunday, and its delivered Monday. I said great, a case please. As I’m walking out to the car with my breakfast and a brown-bag lunch, the manager runs out with a giant box of 96 rolls of TP. I was so happy, because I know folks are running low and the stores have been out for a while. I was excited to bonus employees with rolls of TP to put their minds at ease. Then they said, “It’s on us.” Huh? The owner said gratis, my money was no good, take it, thanks for being a good customer and always taking care of the staff with Xmas in July and October. Good Karma seems to be in the air! American Retirement Advisors is deemed by the State and Federal Governments as an essential service. We are open, servicing folks nationwide, just as busy as normal. But it’s a little different. Using video chat services, we are certainly helping everyone with Medicare, Long-Term Care, and Retirement Income Planning, but it feels a little different. A little disconnected. Folks are different, too; more appreciative, I think. Maybe it’s just me. Please wear your masks in public, don’t go to the grocery store just because it’s the only place open. It may be the stores will soon transition to ‘pick up only’ in many parts of the country. Use soap after touching stuff.

We care about you; we are here for you. Be safe. Stay home. Stay healthy!

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What in the World? – 2020

[et_pb_section bb_built="1"][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="3.0.101" background_layout="light"] This past month has been a whirlwind. Those that are daily food shoppers, can’t. Those that cling to old philosophies about the market, got stung again. Those that usually call their doctors for every little ache and pain can’t get through. Those that procrastinated to enroll in Medicare can’t get into a Social Security office because they are closed. Toilet paper. What toilet paper? Rice, beans, flour. Nope, all out. Now that I got that out of my system… good news. Fast food and coffee drive thru’s are open and we are too! We are taking appointments in person (if allowed at the time publication reaches you) and online, just as we have been for years. Many of our staff mem-bers already work from home, so it’s just another workday. Our company was built to be agile and responsive. We know what’s going to happen way before it happens. It’s not that we can see into the future. We just look to the past for clues to the future. When the CDC deployed a team to the LAX airport in February, we knew that was an unusual event. I ran to the store and bought… yes, toilet paper. Not too much, just 2 months’ supply. When the news shared the virus was spreading in China, we knew that was not normal. China does a lot to maintain its image on the global stage. I ran out the next morning at 5:30 a.m. to the grocery store and filled our pantry with canned goods. My wife was not happy. After my scolding, I requested my wife run out for real food. You know… meats that we could freeze. I emptied the large freezer of ice cubes and made room for our new haul. We have chicken, steaks, frozen pizza, bread, and most importantly, mac and cheese. I hope you did the same! The government is really doing a great job of managing this pandemic. They are reflecting on what China did correctly and then Italy. That hindsight helps us improve our national outcomes over what the other governments experienced. By cancelling most every large gathering and closing businesses to allow the virus to run its course, is probably the best way to manage our country’s health. While this is hugely disruptive to our economy, hard decisions are required so we still have a country. The recovery will happen in late July to early August. Restaurants will reopen. Conventions and travel will normalize. Folks will get back to work. BUT…it will not happen overnight. It just won’t. There will be a renewed focus on “buy American” and buy local. We will reevaluate just about everything. When was the last time you ate a can of fruit cocktail? I was a kid. That stuff lasts nearly forever in storage. I’m going to have a can tonight, for dessert! I know I always relate things to food. Think about what’s important and what’s not. Focus on the important!

Be safe, stay home and protect your health!

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The State of Things! – 2020

[et_pb_section bb_built="1"][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="3.0.101" background_layout="light"] Corona virus, democratic caucuses, Russian election meddling for Trump and Sanders and the economy. Did I miss anything? Nope. Good. Next subject. So how’s your life these days? Are you keeping up with your new year’s resolutions? Are you eating well, getting in a little exercise every day? Did you change the air filter in the air conditioner? Did you get to that project that has been just been sitting around? How’s your closet? Did you get that stuff over to Goodwill? The news is the news. The President is gonna do what he does. The opposing party will do what they do. So what’s new? A lot! It’s been years since we have seen the economy generating so many jobs. The millennials are actually joining the workforce. Gen X, Y and Z too. Even folks that have retired are joining in and getting back to work. Illegal immigration has nearly ground to a halt. Good bad or indifferent, the burden on taxpayers is lessened. I wish everyone an opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. There has to be a way for folks wanting a better life to enter our country legally. At this time, the legal entry process is not a realist option for people looking to come to America. That is the reality. That needs to be fixed! All of us are children of immigrants. Our families got here somehow. That’s how our country grew and prospered. By the way we need more folks to fill skilled jobs! Changing subjects. In Nevada, commercial rents are through the roof. Even higher than in Scottsdale. (Yes, we are looking for more space in Las Vegas.) To hire new folks seems to be really difficult. The labor market has shifted completely to the side of the employees. Labor costs are moving up dramatically. Which means more money in the hands of working folks and a tougher time filling positions. Here is what I know. If folks have a job, then they can get by in America. If folks have a decent job earning a good living, life can be good and they can support their family. If folks want to, they can generate thoughts and ideas that solve problems and create opportunities for others. Life can be great. It’s a choice! [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]