The Beacon

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The Beacon The Official Newsletter of the Rivermist HOA Issue 2, Volume 7

Financial Focus

Rivermist

Submitted by Matt Smith, Edward Jones

Yard of the Month

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B

C

D

A.) Mr. and Mrs. Basham 8418 Pearl Lagoon, San Antonio, TX 78249 B.) Ms. Hoffman 10830 Hillsdale Loop, San Antonio, TX 78249 C.)Mr. and Mrs. Thomas 10727 Rivera Cove, San Antonio, TX 78249 D.)Mr. McCulloch 11027 Rindle Ranch, San Antonio, TX 78249

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July 2011

On July 4, we shoot fireworks, attend picnics, watch parades and otherwise celebrate our nation’s independence and the many freedoms we enjoy. But as you go through life, you’ll find out how important it is to work towards another type of freedom — financial freedom. That’s why you need to put strategies in place to help you work towards your own Financial Independence Day. And there’s no way to “sugar-coat” this task, because it will be challenging. In recent years, a combination of factors — including depressed housing prices, rising health care costs, frozen or eliminated pension plans and the financial market plunge of 2008 and early 2009 — has made it more difficult for many of us to accumulate the resources we’ll need to enjoy the retirement lifestyle we’ve envisioned. In fact, the average American family faces a 37 percent shortfall in the income they will need in retirement, according to a recent report by consulting firm McKinsey & Company. But now that we’ve gotten the “bad” stuff out of the way, let’s turn to the good news: You can do a great deal to work towards financial freedom during your retirement years. Here are some suggestions that can help: • Save and invest more. Obviously, the younger you are, the greater the benefit you’ll get by increasing your savings and investments. But whatever your age, you’ll find that it pays to save and invest more. During difficult economic times, of course, it’s not always easy to boost your savings and investments, but try to find ways that are as “automatic” as possible. For example, whenever you get a raise, increase your 401(k) contributions, which come directly from your paycheck. And whenever you get a “windfall,” such as a tax refund, try to use part of it for your IRA or another investment account. • Rebalance your portfolio. It’s always a good idea to periodically rebalance your investments to make sure they are still aligned with your goals and risk tolerance. But it’s especially important to (Continued from Page 2) The Beacon - July 2011



The Beacon community info Rivermist

8223 Rock Mist San Antonio, Texas 78249 www.rivermistsa.com

HOA Board members President ................................................... Charles Hasberry Jr. Vice-President............................................... Nancie Drullinger Secretary..................................................... Mary Jane Scarsdale Treasurer............................................................... Debora Estes Advisory..........................................................................Vacant

important numbers Sheriff’s Department (NON-EMERGENCY)..... 210.335.6000 EMERGENCIES:................................................................ 911

CPS...................................................................210.353.4357 ................................................... (report street light outage) Bexar Co. Public Works.....................................210.465.4528 ...................................................... (shredding, graffiti, etc.)

Financial Focus - (Continued from Cover Page) rebalance as you get older and you near retirement. At this stage, you’ll want to decrease the volatility in your portfolio and lock in what gains you’ve achieved, so you may want to move some (but certainly not all) of your more aggressive investments into less volatile ones. • Cut down on debts. It’s easier said than done, but anything you can do to reduce your debt load will free up money to invest for your retirement. Work diligently to pay off whatever debts you can and examine your lifestyle to find areas in which you can reduce spending. • Consider working part-time during retirement. Many Americans are now living longer and enjoying happy, healthy retirements. In fact, the concept of “retirement” has changed so that it now includes any number of activities — including part-time work in a completely different area from one’s previous career. If you are willing to do even a little part-time work during your retirement years, you can greatly reduce the financial pressures you may face during this time of your life. The 4th of July comes and goes quickly. So put strategies in place now to help you work towards your own Financial Independence Day. Work Toward Your Own Financial Independence Day!

Bexar Co. Sign Dept.........................................210.465.0536 ........................................... (report damaged/missing signs) SAWS................................................................210.704.7297

Newsletter Publisher

Editor....................................................charles@rivermistsa.com Peel, Inc...............................................................512-263-9181 Advertising...........................................advertising@peelinc.com

MAD MAXX The Lake Houston Shrine Club had it’s annual Mud Maxx fun run on June 11, 2010. Visit www.mudmaxx.com for pictures and videos which will show how much fun was had at the event.

mission statement The Beacon, for Rivermist Residents The mission of The Beacon is to provide the Rivermist Community with one source of local news content that is written by Rivermist residents. Our goal is to help build the community by connecting local businesses with residents and residents with relevant neighborhood information.

"Be the community."

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The Beacon - July 2011

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The Beacon pick up the pile

Canine waste is full of bacteria. When left behind in parks, campgrounds, and yards, it threatens our water supply. When it rains, it runs into rivers, streams, and wells. It only takes one irresponsible pet parent to infect an entire area’s natural source of H2O. That’s because different types of bacteria like fecal streptococcus, fecal coliforms (E. Coli), campylobacter, and salmonella which is found in pet waste can make humans sick. Being prepared to pick up your dog’s pile each and every time he or she feels nature call is one way to remedy this growing problem. It’s the right thing to do for a number of reasons as explained by Tracy Johnson, Founder of the Pick Up the Pile Campaign. The concerned Austinite was alarmed to see just how many pet parents let this issue go despite city efforts to eliminate public waste. She routinely encounters piles on the sidewalks and recreation areas of the parks that she visits. Rather than keep quiet any longer, she decided to address the problem one pet parent at a time. Her nationwide campaign is set to go into effect June 1st. Cities around the country will take part in educating the public about the dangers of canine waste. Johnson notes that it’s never been easier to safely conceal and discard piles. A number of products have been designed to help remedy this problem. Even the most squeamish pet parent will have no trouble being responsible once they are introduced to the items Johnson has found online and through pet supply stores. Johnson believes that education is key to shedding light on this problem. She also thinks the next generation of pet parents will show greater concern for the issue. As a way of introducing young people to the Pick Up the Pile Campaign, she is offering a fun Scavenger Hunt consisting of different Tasks, Trivia, and Finds. Find out how to participate by visiting www.pickupthepile.com .

COLIN’S HOPE creates and supports programs that aid in preventing children from drowning. Despite numerous sources for water safety, the number of children who drown per year is staggering. Colin’s Hope of saving children from drowning is being achieved through increased water safety awareness and improved standards throughout the community. To learn more, visit http://www.colinshope.org/

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The Beacon - July 2011

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