Welcome to the Educated Investor, our monthly newsletter with information that can help you with your retirement planning. Feel free to use this information and to pass it along to your friends and associates. If you are interested in additional information contact our office at  720-482-1917 or email scichon@householdergroup.com

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Five Common Investment Mistakes When Planning for Retirement Only about 17% of American workers say they are “very confident” they will have enough money to live comfortably throughout retirement.¹ To help reduce such uncertainty in your life, consider these five common investment pitfalls -- and how you might avoid them. Mistake #1: Waiting to Maximize Your Contributions The sooner you start contributing the maximum amount allowed by your employer-sponsored retirement plan, the better your chances for building a significant savings cushion. By starting early, you allow more time for your contributions -- and potential earnings -- to compound, or build upon themselves, on a tax-deferred basis. Mistake #2: Ignoring Specific Financial Goals It is difficult to create an effective investment plan without first targeting a specific dollar amount and recognizing how much time you have to pursue that goal. To enjoy the same quality of life in retirement that you have become accustomed to during your prime earning years, you may need the equivalent of up to 80% of your final working year’s salary for each year of retirement. Mistake #3: Fearing Stock Volatility It is true that stock investments face a greater risk of short-term price swings than fixed-income investments. However, stocks have historically produced stronger earnings over the long term.² In general, the longer your investment time horizon, the more you might consider adding stock funds to your portfolio. Mistake #4: Timing the Market Some investors try to base investment decisions on daily price swings. But unless you have a crystal ball, “timing the market” could be very risky. A better idea might be to buy and hold investments for several years.

Mistake #5: Failing to Diversify Investing in just one fund or asset class could subject your investment portfolio to unnecessary risk. Spreading your money over a well-chosen mix of investments may help reduce the potential for loss during periods of market volatility. Diversification may offset losses in any one investment or asset category by taking advantage of possible gains elsewhere.₃ Now that you are aware of these five common investment errors, consider yourself lucky: You are ready to potentially benefit from other people’s experiences -- without making the same mistakes. Source/Disclamer: 1 Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute, “The 2018 Retirement Confidence Survey,” March 2018. 2 Source: DST Stsyems, Inc. Stocks are represented by total returns from Standard & Poor’s Composite Index of 500 Stocks, an unmanaged index generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. Fixed-income investments are represented by annual total returns of long-term (10+ years) Treasury bonds. Indexes do not take into account the fees and expenses associated with investing, and individuals cannot invest in any index. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. With any investment, it is possible to lose money. 3 Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against a loss in any market. Required Attribution: Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by DST Systems, Inc. or its sources, neither DST Systems, Inc. nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. In no event shall DST Systems, Inc. be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscriber’s or others’ use of the content.  © 2019 DST Systems, Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited, except by permission. All rights reserved. Not responsible for any errors or omissions. LPL Tracking # 1-909500

Your Retirement Super Bowl: A Strategic Saving Plan is the Key to Victory

Super Bowl LIV, the 54th Super Bowl, will decide the National Football League champion for this current season. The game is scheduled to be played on February 2, 2020, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will be performing at halftime. In the meantime, you’re still trying to figure out how much you should be saving for retirement.  Many news reports and surveys suggest that people are not saving nearly enough for retirement. Financial professionals define “enough” as the ability to replace 75–80% of your preretirement income. It’s nice to have a general benchmark like that to start with, but does it apply to you? The reality is that figuring out how much you need to save is your biggest game— your own personal retirement Super Bowl. Understanding the potential variables and how to address them are the key to achieving your retirement goals.

Why you might need a LESS aggressive game plan Depending on how you envision your life in retirement, your anticipated expenses may be much less than they are today. In addition, you may continue to earn money in retirement to help offset expenses. Here are some reasons you may need to save less than the general benchmark indicates:  You have a mortgage that you plan on paying off before you retire You plan on downsizing to a smaller home, with a much lower mortgage payment You plan on relocating to a less expensive city You plan on working part-time during retirement  You anticipate other sources of income, such as investment/rental properties  You expect Social Security benefits will provide adequate income for your needs  You will no longer need to financially support children or other family members You anticipate good health, with no unexpected medical or long-term care expenses

Why you might need a MORE aggressive game plan On the other hand, with retirement potentially lasting 20 years or more, you may want to be more aggressive with your retirement saving goal. Here are some reasons you may need to save more than the general benchmark indicates: If you have a mortgage, and you plan on continuing to make payments during retirement You want to travel extensively or purchase a second home for an occasional getaway You expect higher healthcare expenses  You anticipate needing long-term care at some point You plan on starting your own business and will need to provide funding You will need to financially support children or other family members You believe that your Social Security benefits will be reduced or inadequate Call the plays There are many variables involved in determining how much you should be saving for retirement. Here are some important things to think about: How much you have saved so far Desired lifestyle in retirement Projected rate of return on your savings Rate of inflation in the future Uncertainty about the future of Social Security benefits and Medicare How long you expect to live Future cost of healthcare and medications

Consider a professional retirement quarterback If you haven’t already, you may want to consider a professional financial advisor to help you with your retirement saving game plan. They can help you keep all your financial goals in perspective, while helping you determine the best investing strategy for achieving them, based on your unique personal situation. How will your mortgage play into retirement? Traditionally, homeowners looked forward to paying off their mortgage before retirement and removing the heavy burden of a monthly house payment. But that is becoming less common, according to a recent survey.  The 2018 survey, “Retirement and Mortgages,” by national mortgage banker American Financing, found 44% of Americans between the ages of 60 and 70 have a mortgage when they retire, and as many as 17% of those surveyed say they may never pay it off. The survey also found that 32% predict they will be paying their mortgage for at least eight more years. This material was prepared by LPL Financial, LLC.  Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. To the extent you are receiving investment advice from a separately registered independent investment advisor that is not an LPL Financial affiliate, please note LPL Financial makes no representation with respect to such entity.   If your advisor is located at a bank or credit union, please note that the bank/credit union is not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL may also be employees of the bank/credit union. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, the bank/credit union. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are:

This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal or investment advice. If you are seeking investment advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material. Kmotion, Inc., 412 Beavercreek Road, Suite 611, Oregon City, OR 97045; www.kmotion.com ©2020 Kmotion, Inc. This newsletter is a publication of Kmotion, Inc., whose role is solely that of publisher. The articles and opinions in this newsletter are those of Kmotion. The articles and opinions are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Nothing in this publication shall be construed as providing investment counseling or directing employees to participate in any investment program in any way. Please consult your financial advisor or other appropriate professional for further assistance with regard to your individual situation. LPL Tracking # 1-921087

Cranberry Brie Bites

INGREDIENTS: 1 (8-oz.) tube crescent dough Cooking spray, for pan Flour, for surface 1 (8-oz.) wheel of brie 1/2 c. whole berry cranberry sauce 1/4 c. chopped pecans 6 sprigs of rosemary, cut into 1” pieces SERVINGS: 24 TIME: 35 Minutes INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 375° and grease a mini muffin tin with cooking spray. On a lightly floured surface, roll out crescent dough, and pinch together seams. Cut into 24 squares. Place squares into muffin tin slots. 2. Cut brie into small pieces and place inside the crescent dough. Top with a spoonful of cranberry sauce, some chopped pecans, and one little sprig of rosemary. 3. Bake until the crescent pastry is golden, about 15 minutes.

Sources: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a56610/cranberry-brie-bites-recipe/; Produceforkids.com

Scroll down past picture for answers.

Source: http://www.printmysudoku.com

Householder Group Estate and Retirement Specialists LLC. advisors are Registered Representatives with and securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Householder Group Estate and Retirement Specialists LLC., a Registered Investment Advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial.