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Sometimes Life Throws You A Curve Ball and Forces Us Down A New Path

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Sometimes in life, we need a shock, a jolt, or a wakeup call to get us doing something different. When ife throws you a curve ball what do we do then? Sometimes in life we need a shock to force us down a new path. We could be living a successful life. We could have a job that brings in good money and we could believe everything is on track for a happy existence. When a major, unexpected event takes place that puts all that we value in jeopardy we are not prepared.

If for instance the major breadwinner, the one that brings home the most income each week, is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness we may be forced into reassessing not only what we are currently doing but what we will be doing into the future.

Those are perhaps the lucky ones. Some of us get no warning, no second chance. That was the case with me when my Len passed away suddenly from a heart attack. One minute the family was sitting around the table in a restaurant downtown enjoying a birthday celebration and the next minute Len slumps in his chair. A fellow diner jumped in, whipped the tablecloth off the table, lay Len down on it on the floor and commenced CPR while the staff called an ambulance. In that instant the world as I knew it changed forever.

When placed in these situations we are put under great stress and how we cope can vary. Stress can put us in flight or fight mode. This response refers to a specific biochemical reaction that we experience during times of intense stress or fear. The sympathetic nervous system releases hormones that cause changes to occur in our bodies. Unfortunately, we could end up feeling that life is too much and too difficult to cope with. This psychological reaction occurs when we are faced with something that terrifies us and it can be either be mentally or physically fear-inducing and quite serious to deal with. What do we do under these circumstances?

The circumstance can also force us to search for a new path. Kathy Fettke was thrown a curve ball. Kathy was put in this heart-breaking, terrible situation when her husband was diagnosed with a melanoma and given six months to live. With a young family to provide for Kathy was forced into having to take stock of her life. It sent her on a journey to search out ways to create a cash flow income and still be able to spend the time to raise her family.  Kathy was lucky. The doctors were wrong. Kathy and her husband went on to found the Real Wealth Network,a member-based network that educates their members to create multi-million dollar real estate portfolios. We need to be better prepared.

Listen to the episode 47 here and be inspired.

Until next time.

Ann

Have you ever thought about your spit?

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Have you ever thought about your spit? If you’re like most people, you probably haven’t at all, except for when it becomes annoying (like when you exercise and might have too much of it).

But your spit, or your saliva, to be more exact, is really something you should know a little bit more about. That’s because it’s not just water; it’s an actual indicator not just of the health of your mouth, but the health of your digestive tract. That’s because saliva isn’t just water. It’s enzymes and proteins, minerals and antibacterial compounds.

It helps to balance out the pH levels in your mouth, which in turn protects your teeth. And it also can help to heal wounds and get rid of nasty food chemicals. What more should you know about how your saliva functions and how you can make sure it keeps doing its job?

This graphic explains it.

DIY Investing, One Way To Keep Focused On Achieving Financial Independence.

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When my SMSF (Self Managed Superannuation Fund) was established my advisor at the time, Heath Hill, advised me to have my funds allocated between Australian Shares that paid a dividend and cash. As I already owned property it was decided I did not need any more in my retirement super fund. After a few years of attending seminars and joining Investor groups I decided to have a go at DIY Investing and manage my retirement savings super fund. It is one way to keep focused on acheiving financial independence.

I would like to say it is easy but I can’t, you need to be disciplined and you need to have a financial plan for your Superfund. Buying and selling shares is not the hard part. You can save money by setting up your own online broking account and do the trading yourself. The hard part is knowing what to buy, what allocation to have between the various asset classes and when to sell.

Your age plays a part in all of this as well. If you are under the age of 45 years then you have the luxury of more time to invest in property as it is considered a more long term investment. If on the other hand you are over 55 years then other things become important to you such as having income generating assets once work stops.

Invest in Yourself
Retire Well Retire Happy Invest In Yourself

Will I always do it myself? I imagine that once I get into my mid 70’s I will probably just invest in funds that own a spread of the best companies. In the meantime, I am still learning. I have attended a Successful Investor Group and now follow Peter Castle from EasyShareTradingsystems.com.au.

To reduce my risk I have diversified investments across various financial instruments, industries, and other categories. This technique allows my investments to maximize returns by investing in different areas.

I have diversified my investing pool in:-
  • First Mortgage Lending
  • Australian Shares
  • US Stocks
  • UK Start-Ups
  • CryptoCurrency

If you want to give DIY (Do it Yourself) investing a go then you need to learn to invest in yourself, and you need to practice. Our retirement savings will probably be the largest amount of money we have ever had to look after so the earlier you start your financial education the better investor you will become.

Find an organization to join that represents the interests of the investor. In Australia, the Australian Investors Association (AIA) holds an annual conference at the Gold Coast, Queensland every year and is an excellent place to start your investor knowledge.

DIY Investing is doable. It takes time, practice, planning, and patience.

What’s your Retirement Vision? Time To Discover the Secret of Compromise.

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What’s It Like Living Overseas – Try Before You Buy In PortugalThe retirement vision is something we eagerly await. Some of us have a clearly defined picture of our future retired lives. We know the location, the activities, the travel and dream of the free time. What happens then when this definition of our retired life is not duplicated by our partner? After all those years together, could we possibly want a different life in retirement to them?

“Retirement is a major stressor on relationships, because people are so preoccupied with setting up the financial bedrock of retirement that they don’t think about interpersonal challenges. They don’t think about the lifestyle change,” says Bornstein, co-author of How to Age in Place written with his wife, psychologist Mary Languirand.

Retirement can be about compromise. One of the reasons for disagreement is deciding where to live in retirement. In the past retired folks tended to stick close to their family and friends, and it worked well. They could rely on support as they age. Longevity has increased our lifespan, complicating things. It is now not so simple.

One trend is to downsize and go and live with likeminded golden-agers. The advantage of this move is to reduce the amount of work in and around the house and we also gain the ability to share our lives with others with similar interests.

Another trend is to relocate overseas to achieve a lower cost of living, live in a milder climate and be closer to all those places you wanted to visit but never had the time to go. Increased support for expats via websites and magazine articles has encouraged people to take the plunge and move to a foreign country. If your hobbies and interests are portable then it is not difficult to make the move.

Here are some helpful things you should consider when relocating. Whether you are moving within your state, interstate or to another country, having a register of what is important to you will assist you as you research prospective retirement locations. The reasons for relocating and what is important to you will influence what is on your register.

Tricia Pimental, author and the Portuguese correspondent for International Living, was convinced by her husband to move to Portugal. With a hesitant start, Tricia fell in love:-

  • with the history;
  • architecture;
  • museums;
  • the weather;
  • the Roman ruins in her adopted country

and found the ideal platform to continue her love of writing completing her third book, A Moveable Marriage.

After renting for a number of  years they are now bought their own property to cement their commitment to sharing their dream in new terrain.  Have a listen to Tricia’s story.

As you approach Retirement it is the time to discover the secret of compromise.

Until next time.

Ann

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How to Take Care of Your Liver for a Healthy Retirement

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The liver is such an incredible organ that nurtures and protects the body day in and day out. With over 500 functions, it is best known as the organ that neutralizes and disposes of body toxins, feeds the body the energy it needs to function, and regulates sex hormones, cholesterol levels, and vitamin and mineral supplies.

On top of all these, the Irish Times note that the liver is the only organ that can regenerate itself, which makes it possible for an individual to donate part of their liver to another person. A lot of bodily functions rely on the liver and as such, knowing how to take care of it can be a great help in reducing the risk of developing various health conditions that come with old age. Here are some tips that can help you achieve a healthy liver:

 

life balance for a healthy life

Easy on the booze

With the liver’s capacity to regenerate, liver damage is often reversible – especially if you ease up or completely cut its causes out of your diet. The most common cause of liver damage is alcohol. According to NBC News, a new report found out that more and more Americans are developing severe liver disease related to alcohol. While there is no precise measure of how much alcohol is considered “safe,” it is best to stick to the government recommendation of one drink a day for women and two for men.

 

Get checked

More often not, we don’t realize that anything is wrong with our livers until the damage is already done. If you’re a heavy drinker or eat too many fatty foods, it’s best to get checked regularly even if you don’t feel anything wrong. Each one of us reacts to chemicals, toxins, and medication differently. That being said, efforts you take to support your liver must be advised by a specialist and tailored to your lifestyle, genetics, and other health conditions.

Cleanse through diet

Food can be a great way to cleanse the liver and detoxify. Dr. Shera Raisen of Parsley Health suggests going on a “cleansing diet that gives your liver a break.” Food like artichoke, watercress, green leafy vegetables, ginger, garlic, and berries all help in regulating the metabolic pathways in the liver and assist in the elimination of toxins. Going for green tea and water instead of sodas and other colored beverages can also be of help to the liver.

Drink black coffee

As mentioned by the US News, more and more research has been found to support the benefits of black coffee on the liver. Aside from protecting the liver from alcohol-related cirrhosis, the anti-inflammatory properties in coffee also help reduce the risk of liver disease by as much as 70 percent. Three to four cups of black coffee a day can effectively help in slowing down fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatitis B and C, as well as non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease.

Given the important role the liver plays in your overall health, it pays to maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet coupled with regular exercise. To ensure a healthy and happy retirement, make sure to take extra care of your other organs like your gut. For tips and tricks on how to improve gut health, listen to our podcast Improve Your Gut Health For A Healthy Retirement.