$25 GIFT CARD Activity Challenge

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Hello Fellow Quarantined Michigander!

Here at CLC Investment Advisors, LLC we are all about business! We believe business is the backbone of our Free-Enterprise system here in America and are committed to supporting our neighbors.

During these times of isolation CLC Investment Advisors, LLC has developed a game that will help you stay focused, active AND support your local community businesses. If you’re anything like me, you started out this quarantine mandate with a good attitude and a list of things you wanted to accomplish…but, for me, the last part of this first week has been challenging.

Alright, I’ve had a bad attitude!

I admit it.

The cause of my “stinking thinking” has been putting my focus on the negative: the extremely volatile market, Facebook feeds, nightly news, in-laws (hahaha), etc. 

It reminded me of the almost cliché sayings: 

“Where your focus goes, energy flows.” -Tony Robbins

“Life is like a camera, what you focus on will develop.” -Unknown

I have decided as of today that I will no longer inundate my mind with constant bad messages, but instead have chosen to put good things into my mind (yes I'll stay informed on what's happening but I KNOW I can cut down on my intake of bad news).

So to make all of this a little more fun: How about a little competition?

Here's what you must do to be entered into the drawing for the FREE $25 Local Business Gift Card:

1. Share this contest/blog link on your Facebook Timeline.

2. Complete 5 of the 10 activities listed below (honor system) by Friday April 3rd at 5:00pm.

3. Post a positive story/picture in the comments about one action you did that was "memorable". 

You will then be placed in the drawing and a winner chosen at random.

The winner will be announced Sunday April 5th! 

Don't be this guy!!

GET BUSY!! You've only got until Friday at 5:00pm!!!

Quarantine Activity Checklist (must complete 5 of 10)

• Read out of a self help book for 10 minutes each day

• Organize Closet or Garage

• Text an encouraging message to the first 10 people in your phone's contact

• Go for a 10 min walk 

• Help someone in your house with a chore or project

• Have a candlelight dinner with your spouse, family or self (online dinners count)

• Make a family budget 

• Make a list of 20 things you want to do when the quarantine is over

• Rearrange living room or bedroom 

• Pick up a new hobby (paint, draw, instrument, working out)

David Cadarette is a registered Fiduciary Investment Advisor Representative with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and is the CEO of CLC Investment Advisors, LLC with offices in Petoskey, Boyne City, Mount Pleasant & Traverse City Michigan. He currently lives in Charlevoix Michigan with his family. 

For answers to other questions or to learn more visit: www.clcinvestmentadvisors.com

How to Maximize Your $1,200 Stimulus Check

Advice From a Fiduciary Investment Advisor

Wednesday morning the United States government approved a MASSIVE $2 Trillion stimulus package to help combat the destructive panic that has seized the world and the financial markets. Americans (below certain income levels) will be receiving $1,200 per person and each child will receive $500. Financial Experts weigh in on the right steps to take.

4 Steps to Maximize Your Stimulus Check

1.  Donate 10% IMMEDIATELY 

I’ve read a few articles on “How to Spend Your Stimulus Check” and almost ALL list giving as the LAST thing to do. It needs to be first…period.

I know this sounds counter intuitive. “Give some of my money away? What if I don’t have enough? What if I run out of money? What if I cannot buy food for my family? I cannot afford to give anything.”  

But that is fear speaking to you and donating a portion of your money will kill fear at its root. 

During uncertain times it is easy to get wrapped up with the unknown and to become afraid. Unhealthy fear makes us do uninformed things (just look at all the empty toilet paper shelves). Giving a portion away to someone or to a cause you believe in, will help you develop an abundance mentality. What is an abundance mentality? It’s the opposite of a scarcity mentality.

Scarcity Mentality – there’s only so much to go around. I’ve got to get all I can, save all I can and sit on the can!!

Abundance Mentality – even though some scary things are happening I know that God will provide for me and I am going to demonstrate this by sharing what I have.

Sharing opens you up to joy. Hoarding opens you up to despair (excessive amounts of TP). 

One mentality gives life. The other sucks life out of you.

One breeds a happier existence. The other breeds contempt.

"If you give, you begin to live.
You get the world." -Dave Matthews

2.  Establish An Emergency Fund (Food & Shelter)

An Emergency Fund is a set amount of money that you put away for…drum roll please…AN EMERGENCY!! 

Refrigerator breaks, you run low on food, car blows a blinker fluid gasket (I know nothing of vehicles), furnace needs repair, etc. Anything that interrupts you attaining the daily necessities of life. You do NOT spend this money on NON-emergencies which include, but not limited to:

-       Kid’s birthdays (they come around every year on the same day)

-       There’s a sale online of 50% off  (unless it’s toilet paper! Okay no more TP jokes)

-       There’s 0% financing available on that $63,000 truck you “need”

-       The big screen TV at Wally-World is giving a 70% rebate!

-       I can get 2,000 more channels on my cable TV for “only” $150 a month

-       Anything else that doesn’t include necessities: food & shelter

To learn more visit Dave Ramsey's site on Emergency Funds:

https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/quick-guide-to-your-emergency-fund

"Money is a lot like oxygen, if you have enough
you never think about it." -Unknown

3.  Pay Down High Interest Debt

Getting rid of high interest debt can go a long way in establishing a more enjoyable life. On average if you have a credit card and pay the minimum payment you will pay off the balance in 30 YEARS!!1

Debt on “lifestyle” purchases (TVs, computers, game consuls, etc.) gives you pleasure in the movement but will give you long term stress in the future (having to make the payment and pay the interest). On most high interest debt you pay interest up front and very little goes to the principal. 

Let me illustrate: Let’s say you buy a TV on credit for $1,000 (hey it was marked down from $2,000!!) and your minimum payment is $100. More than likely your $100 payment pays $70 in interest and $30 toward the $1,000 you borrowed leaving a balance of $970. Yikes.

Wiping out all of that debt or a large portion of it will secure your future and make you feel like you are gaining control over your finances. It will put you in the drivers seat of your life.

To learn more visit Dave Ramey's site on DEBT:

https://www.daveramsey.com/askdave/debt?snid=tools.debtadvice

Or use common sense like this guy:

4.  Save The Rest

Once you’ve funded Steps 1-3 then don’t spend the remaining funds on anything else. Put it in a high yield money-market or savings account that is liquid (meaning you can get to it without penalty). We don’t know what the future may hold or what may happen during these times so having money put away that you don’t touch will give you a bit confidence in the future.

To calculate the amount of your stimulus check visit: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/business/coronavirus-stimulus-check-calculator/

David Cadarette is a registered Fiduciary Investment Advisor Representative with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and is the CEO of CLC Investment Advisors, LLC with offices in Petoskey, Boyne City, Mount Pleasant & Traverse City Michigan. He currently lives in Charlevoix Michigan with his family. 

For answers to other questions or to learn more visit: www.clcinvestmentadvisors.com