Today, its common for Americans to spend two, three or even four decades in retirement. This means people have ample time to relax and achieve a bucket list of dreams. However, the flip side is retirees need to ensure they have enough savings to last through their lifetime. One complicating factor is inflation is a fact of life, and it can result in meaningfully higher expenses over time.

As youve likely seen in recent headlines, inflation rates are the highest theyve been in many years. Living costs have risen 5% over the past 12 months ending in June, based on the Consumer Price Index significantly higher than the 1% to 2% annual increases weve gotten used to seeing over the past decade.

Inflation creates challenges for all consumers, but it can be particularly difficult for those who are retired and living on a limited income. Higher inflation can throw off the assumptions for regular expenses reflected in your retirement plan. Its unknown whether this uptick in living costs will persist, but you should prepare for the impacts of inflation regardless.

Here are a few things to know and do:

-- Keep it in perspective

Todays inflation rate of 5% is high by recent standards, but nowhere near a record. We may be a long way from seeing an extended period of high inflation like we had in the 1970s and 1980s, where inflation in the United States peaked at 13.5%. Since 1982, inflation has only been higher than 5% in one calendar year (1991) until now. While another decade-long inflation threat is unlikely, living costs in the near-term may continue to rise at a fast pace.

-- Revisit your expenses

If the cost of essential items, such as food, gas, plus the cost of discretionary expenses, such as travel, are busting your budget, you may need to explore ways to cut back. Can you buy food in bulk to save money? Should you reduce your casual driving to cut down on gas? Are there other discretionary expenses you can forego, at least for now? Addressing these questions today could prevent you from spending down your assets too quickly.

-- Adjust your investments

Is your portfolio properly positioned to keep pace with inflation? It may make sense to keep a portion of your assets invested in stocks. Over the past 30 years, the Standard & Poors 500, a benchmark of U.S. large cap stock market performance, gained, on average, more than 10% annually, well above the 2.3% average annual inflation rate over that same period. Earning higher returns on money you may need 10 to 20 years in the future should help it grow sufficiently to meet inflated income needs at that time, but a large portion of your portfolio should still be invested more conservatively to protect it from market volatility.

-- Look at other options

If you are experiencing financial strains as living costs rise, you may want to consider other options, such as a part-time job or consulting. Even in retirement, it is important to be flexible to react to changing circumstances that may affect even your best-laid plans. Be sure to check with your financial advisor to discuss your most attractive options to manage todays inflation risks.

Ellie Tobin Stubbs is a financial adviser with Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. in Barre.

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Stubbs: Combatting inflation threats in retirement | Business Vermont | rutlandherald.com - Rutland Herald

Have you considered the order you'll withdraw your retirement income? Doing so in the incorrect order could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A 2020 Northwestern Mutual study found that 71% of U.S. adults admit their financial planning needs improvement. However, only 29% of Americans work with a financial advisor.1

The value of working with a financial advisor varies by person and advisors are legally prohibited from promising returns, but research suggests people who work with a financial advisor feel more at ease about their finances and could end up with about 15% more money to spend in retirement.2

A recent Vanguard study found that, on average, a $500K investment would grow to over $3.4 million under the care of an advisor over 25 years, whereas the expected value from self-management would be $1.69 million, or 50% less. In other words, an advisor-managed portfolio would average 8% annualized growth over a 25-year period, compared to 5% from a self-managed portfolio.3

SmartAssets no-cost tool simplifies the time-consuming process of finding a financial advisor. A short questionnaire helps match you with up to three local fiduciary financial advisors each, legally bound to work in your best interest. The whole process takes just a few minutes, and in many cases you can be connected instantly with an expert for a free retirement consultation.

Advisors are rigorously screened through our proprietary due diligence process.

Being aware of these five common blunders when withdrawing your retirement income can help you find peace of mind, and avoid years of stress.

1. Not Starting With Your Investment Income

Withdrawing from your investments first gives your retirement accounts more time to compound interest. If you dive straight into your 401(k) or IRA, you could cost yourself years worth of income in retirement savings.

Whether you have mutual funds, a brokerage account, ETFs, stocks or bonds, theyre all taxable, so youll have to pay capital gains taxes on withdrawals. Some investments also require you to pay taxes on distributions each year, like some mutual funds. Check with a fiduciary financial advisor to see if this is the case for your accounts.

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All of the financial advisors on SmartAssets matching platform are registered fiduciaries, who are legally bound to act in your best interest. If your advisor is not a fiduciary and constantly pushes investment products on you, use this no-cost tool to find an advisor who has your best interest in mind.

2. Claiming Social Security Benefits at 62

If you want your maximum Social Security benefits, youll need to work until your full retirement age.

But benefits at age 62, 66 or 67 are not your maximum benefits. The maximum Social Security retirement benefit kicks in at age 70. If you claim before, you're not getting your full entitlement.

Each year after full retirement, your payout increases by a certain percentage based on specific criteria. To maximize this strategy, we recommend holding off until you are 70 payments will be the highest possible, increasing by 8% each year you wait.

While this strategy will help you collect the highest Social Security benefit, every situation is different. Consult a financial advisor to figure out how and when Social Security benefits should factor into your unique retirement plan.

3. Withdrawing From Your 401(k) and IRA Before RMDs Kick In

You can start withdrawing money from your 401(k) when you turn 59 1/2, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea. The law doesn't require you to start taking Required Minimum Distributions until you turn 72, so this is time your money can keep growing with compound interest.

4. Tapping into Your Roth Before Exhausting Other Options

Put off withdrawing money from your Roth IRA as long as possible.

You paid taxes up front so you can take money out of your Roth IRA and it wont count as taxable income.

Your Roth IRA also will continue to grow tax-free as you tap into your other accounts. Since a Roth IRA holds after-tax funds and the IRS doesnt need to tax it again, you also dont need to take Required Minimum Distributions. This account can keep growing for as long as you don't touch it.

The Best Way to Plan Your Withdrawals

Determining the optimal sequence to withdraw money from your retirement accounts is different for everyone, so we recommend speaking with a financial advisor.

Voya Financial found that 79% of people who use an advisor said they know how to pursue achieving their retirement goals. The study also found that 59% of those who use an advisor have calculated how much they need to retire, while 52% established a formal retirement investment plan.5

Chances are, there are several highly qualified financial advisors in your town. However, it can seem daunting to choose one.

Our no-cost tool helps makes it easy to find the right financial advisor for you. Now you can get matched with up to three local fiduciary investment advisors that have been rigorously screened for regulatory disclosures and to confirm their licenses. The entire matching process takes just a few minutes.

See more from Benzinga

2021 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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The Worst Way to Withdraw from Retirement Accounts - Yahoo Finance

What You Need to Know

Two-thirds of women in a new study say they now invest savings they have outside of retirement accounts and emergency funds in the stock market, a 50% increase from 2018, Fidelity Investments reported Friday.

At the same time, many women may still be keeping significant savings in cash or bank accounts, earning minimal interest and therefore missing out on thousands of dollars in potential earnings, the study found.

CMI Research conducted a survey in July among 1,200 American women and 1,200 American men, all 21 or older with a personal income of at least $50,000 who are actively contributing to a workplace retirement savings plan, such as a 401(k) or 403(b). Fidelity was not identified as the sponsor of this study.

Fidelity said it was already seeing a notable uptick in 2018 in women getting more hands-on with their finances, and that momentum has continued as the pandemic has disproportionately affected women.

In fact, it said, the events of the past 18 months catalyzed even more women to make their finances a priority, through building up emergency savings, creating or updating financial plans, and making the move from saver to investor.

Still, a great deal of opportunity remains for those who are not yet investing, as well as for those who may still be keeping significant savings on the sidelines. Taking proactive steps may bode well for the future, Fidelity said.

An analysis of the investing behavior of its retail customers, comparing the annualized return of assets of 5.2 million self-directed retail accounts from January 2011 to December 2020, showed that on average, women not only realized positive returns on their investments, but also outperformed their male counterparts by 40 basis points.

Over the last year, Fidelity said, it has seen an increasing commitment to saving and investing for the future among its own customers as well:

Fidelity expects this momentum to continue, as 9 in 10 women say they plan to take additional steps to get more engaged in the next 12 months. But women will need additional support and education to help reframe how they think about investing, it said.

Although half of the women in the study said they have become more interested in investing since the start of the pandemicand 42% said they now have more to invest, only 41% purported to be comfortable with their investing knowledge.

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Fidelity Finds 50% Jump in Women Investing Outside of Retirement - ThinkAdvisor

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By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer

Michael Annett has been in and out of his No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet over the last few months due to a leg injury. And following his third comeback behind the wheel Saturday at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, this time was different.

Announcing his retirement from full-time NASCAR competition on October 6, Annett now has four races left on his racing career in the Xfinity Series.

Despite an injury adding stress to his final weeks, the 35-year-old has a goal in mind: End it on a positive note.

I dont want to go out on the run I had at Richmond, Annett said, finishing 22nd in that race. It just wasnt a very good run. I feel good enough to be in the car, Ive been with JR Motorsports for five years, Pilot Flying J for 20-some years. I just feel like I owe it to them to finish it out. And I want to.

Finishing 27th Saturday at the Roval, Annett was far from pleased with that result. However, it wasnt due to ill feelings behind the wheel in regards to his leg injury.

Personally, I felt fine, he said. [The leg] got pinched about halfway through, I started to feel it and then you just quit thinking about it. Your adrenaline gets a little higher. I dont know a whole lot about it, I just felt it about halfway and I dont feel it right now [postrace]. Thats a good thing.

Replacing Josh Berry in the car last-minute, Annett was confident that the tricky road course of Charlotte wouldnt be an issue of physicality.

The first time I came back was at Watkins Glen so I knew it wouldnt be that bad, he said. I didnt want to have to come back at a track I was terrible at [laughs], I would have rather been at an oval. But we fought hard all day. I was eyeballing a top 10 on the last restart and got myself turned.

The roller coaster ride of hardship since July gave Annett time to access his future. And though many assumed his leg injury was the deciding factor in retirement, he reveals that it was not.

Its something I thought of even before I got hurt, he said. The injury gave me a lot of time to think about it. I just felt it was time to do something else. I wasnt as excited going to the airplane each weekend like I used to be. Its time to let these younger guys have a shot.

Ive dealt with an injury before when I broke my sternum [in 2013] and sat out for three months. Its definitely tough when I thought I was coming back and then had to get back out. Those ups and downs were tough. It was really cool watching Josh [Berry] win the other week and seeing my guys celebrate. Thats what they deserve.

As for whats next following the season finale at Phoenix, the Iowa native has plenty of ideas.

Every hour I come up with something different, he said. From going to Charleston and starting a charter fishing company, Im all over the place. Well have some time to think about it.

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Michael Annett Wants to Leave on a Positive Before Retirement - Kickin' the Tires

Former world No. 21 Leonardo Mayer absolutely enjoyed his time at home and he felt it was the right to retire. Mayer last played at Wimbledon, where he lost in the qualifying first round. On Thursday, 34-year-old Mayer announced he was retiring.

"I had a kind of internal battle. Even when I came back from Wimbledon I told myself: Im going to stop playing for a while and see how I feel, said Mayer. So I gradually wound down from playing and, honestly, I felt fine.

With plenty of barbecues and things to do at home, I said: Thats it, everything Ive done has been perfect and Im not a tennis player anymore. Tennis brought me so much joy and its been part of my life since I was little.

But I feel that its time to end this wonderful period of being a player. Thank you to my wife Milagros, who was part of all my experiences and provided vital support. We have three beautiful children and they are the biggest trophies.

Mayer captured two ATP titles and achieved a career-high ranking of No. 21. "Yesterday, I went to the gym while my children were having a nap, but only for a while, so that my shoulder doesnt hurt, said Mayer.

Ive started living as a stay-at-home dad, taking care of the house, looking after the garden... I cook a lot of barbecues, eat whatever I want, take care of the kids; all the things I never used to do because I had to look after myself.

I can even play football matches now. Ive had a good career. Yes, there are a few specific matches I could have won or played better in, but thats just the way it is. Thats how you build a career and sometimes its not easy.

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Leonardo Mayer: Barbecues and fun time at home pushed me into retirement - Tennis World USA

Key Points

You've probably heard that Social Security won't pay you a high enough monthly benefit to cover all of your living expenses in retirement, and that you'll need to save money independently to manage your various bills. Many people consistently put money in an IRA or 401(k) plan for this reason -- to ensure that they have savings to tap once their careers come to an end.

But there's another type of retirement savings plan you might be missing out on. And actually, it's an account that offers even more tax benefits than you'll get with an IRA or 401(k).

Image source: Getty Images.

Not everyone is eligible to contribute to a health savings account, or HSA. To qualify, you must be enrolled in a high-deductible health insurance plan, and the definition of that changes every year.

But if you are eligible for an HSA, it pays to contribute as much money as you're allowed to for one big reason -- or actually, three. HSAs offer a host of tax benefits -- more so than IRAs and 401(k)s.

With an HSA:

When we compare HSAs to IRAs and 401(k)s, it's easy to see why they make so much sense. Traditional IRAs and 401(k) also offer tax-free contributions, but investment gains are tax-deferred and withdrawals are taxed. Roth IRAs and 401(k)s offer tax-free gains and withdrawals, but no tax break on contributions.

Technically, you can use an HSA at any time to pay for qualified healthcare expenses. But if you manage your HSA wisely, it can serve as a retirement savings plan.

The funds you put into an HSA never expire, so you can carry that money all the way into retirement. Meanwhile, many seniors find that their largest monthly expense is healthcare. And so having a dedicated account to pay for those costs can come in very handy.

With an HSA, you can withdraw funds during retirement to cover your Medicare premiums and copays. You can also take withdrawals to cover services that Medicare won't pay for, like dental care and eye exams (though Medicare Advantage plans commonly cover these services, original Medicare does not).

Best of all, if you happen to enter retirement with so much money in an HSA that you don't need to spend it all on medical expenses, once you turn 65, there's no penalty for taking an HSA withdrawal for non-healthcare purposes. The worst that'll happen is that you'll be liable for taxes on your withdrawal. But in that case, all you're really doing is making your HSA comparable to a traditional IRA or 401(k).

Socking money away in an HSA could put you in a stronger position to tackle what could be your greatest retirement expense. If you're eligible for an HSA, it's a good idea to do two things:

Many seniors struggle financially specifically because their healthcare bills become unmanageable. An HSA could help you avoid that fate and set you up for a more comfortable, stress-free retirement.

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Are You Missing Out on This Triple Tax-Advantaged Retirement Savings Account? - The Motley Fool

Make sure these financial landmines don't destroy your golden years.

Pat yourself on the back. You saved up, did the 401(k) thing, built up a nice portfolio. Maybe youve got a million, maybe more. Now its time to chill out, travel, play with the grandchildren, whatever. The point is, youre done working.

And that could be the scary part!

Without that regular paycheck, youve got to make sure your savings last the rest of your life. But that could be two decades, perhaps more. You dont want to deplete your nest egg, and you certainly dont want to spend sleepless nights worrying about it.

But youve got this, and weve got your back. You have plenty of weapons in your retirement arsenal, its just a matter of learning about them and deploying them.

Here are some big retirement risks and how to address them.

What it is: Longevity risk is the risk that youll outlive your savings.

Americans are living longer lives than ever before. In fact, the life expectancy in the United States is about 77 years, and folks on average are retiring before age 65. Thats a lot of nonworking years to make sure your savings last and if you stay healthy, it could be a lot longer.

Severe fluctuations in the stock market could put a dent in your portfolio, and there are unplanned expenses: illness, housing repairs, a sick pet, you name it. And dont forget inflation, keeping the price of everything on the rise.

What you can do: To create additional monthly income, consider annuities or a reverse mortgage. To conquer inflation, devote a portion of your savings to stocks and other investments likely to rise in value.

How an adviser can help: If youre unsure of how much money youll need in retirement, talk to a financial adviser. A good adviser will help you define your post-retirement income, spending and plans for the future. Then, theyll develop a clear plan.

The value of working with a financial adviser varies by person, but according to an independent study, people who work with a financial adviser feel more at ease about their finances and could end up with about 15% more money to spend in retirement.

Use this free matching service to connect with three qualified financial advisers in your area in five minutes. The first appointment is typically free.

What it is: Market risk, also called systematic risk, is the risk the entire stock market declines, taking your savings with it.

Thats why investing in stocks, although theyre an important part of your overall savings, can be intimidating. While stocks have historically gone up over time, sudden declines of 10% or more arent uncommon. At the wrong time, that could be devastating.

What you can do: Dont put all your eggs in the stock basket. Diversify. Ideally, your portfolio should be a mix of stocks, bonds and cash equivalents. Your ideal personal mix depends on your age, risk tolerance and other factors.

How an adviser can help: As you plan and invest for retirement, make sure youre developing the right mix of investments. Talk to an investment professional. Even if youre sure youve got it down pat, a review by an outside expert never hurts.

What it is: The risk that health care expenses devour more of your savings than you planned.

Today youre healthy, but unfortunately, sooner or later, especially as you age, the odds increase that youll need expensive medical treatment. Medicare will help, but it wont pay for everything. For example, Medicare doesnt pay for long-term nursing home stays, which cost an average of more than $7,000 a month.

According to a study by Fidelity Investments, todays average 65-year-old couple will incur about $300,000 in medical expenses during their retirement years.

What you can do: The best defense to offset medical expenses is to be proactive by eating well, exercising and getting regular checkups. You could also consider long-term care insurance, which pays all or part of long-term nursing care. But it doesnt come cheap and gets prohibitively expensive as you pass retirement age.

Another way to save for health expenses is with a health savings account (HSA). If you have high-deductible health insurance and are otherwise eligible, youre not taxed on HSA contributions, your account grows tax-free and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are also untaxed.

You can also explore Medigap and Medicare advantage plans. Both can lower your post-retirement health care costs.

How an adviser can help: Meeting potential health care challenges is critical and planning for them is complicated. Connect with an expert adviser for help.

What it is: Inflation is when the cost of goods and services rises over time. It affects everyone, but its particularly dangerous for retirees, who lose the ability to earn more even as the cost of living goes up.

Consider this: In 1980, the average annual wage was $12,513. The average amount retirees need to fund their retirement was $125,134.

The difference between then and now? Thats inflation.

What you can do: Buy stocks, which carry some risk but which have historically greatly outpaced inflation. Real estate is also an inflation hedge, as are investments like TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities), which adjust to keep pace with inflation.

How an adviser can help: New ideas and techniques to defeat inflation are being developed all the time, so make sure your bases are covered by talking to an expert, especially when you can get matched with an adviser in five minutes for free.

What it is: The risk from changing tax rules and policies.

Whether youre still working or youve already retired, its important to do everything possible to keep income tax and other taxes from eroding your savings.

The federal government is continuously changing tax rules. For instance, the SECURE Act, passed in 2017, ushered in several changes affecting retirees. And more changes could be in store during the Biden administration.

What you can do: However and whenever the IRS rewrites the rule book, there are investment options and strategies to help cope with the tax burden, such as:

How an adviser can help: While its illegal to evade taxes, its smart to legally minimize your obligations by understanding the rules. Enlist the help of a professional to make sure youre not paying a penny more than you should and to plan how best to access your retirement accounts in the future.

More than 1 million Americans have reported saving an average of $991.20 each simply by reading the totally free Money Talks Newsletter.

Our newsletter gives you a daily dose of specific advice to help you make more, spend less and invest like a pro.

It takes less than five seconds to subscribe and, if you dont like it, less than five seconds to unsubscribe. Sign up for our free newsletter right now and see what youve been missing.

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5 Big Retirement Risks and How to Tackle Them - Money Talks News

On Tuesday, HarperCollins will publish my new book,San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities. Interest in the book is high. On Monday I recorded interviews with Jordan Peterson and Dave Rubin. Yesterday I recorded an interview with Joe Rogan. AndThe New York Timeshas told HarperCollins that it will publish a review of it.

Pre-publication sales ofSan Fransickoare four times higher than the ones forApocalypse Never, but that is no guarantee the book will become a best-seller, likeApocalypse Neverwas. So pleasetake a moment now to pre-ordera copy for yourself, and a few copies for friends and family. If youd like me to sign, dedicate, and mail a copy to you, pleasedonate$100 to Environmental Progress, and we will get one out to you today.

If you likedApocalypse Never, I promise you will loveSan Fransicko. The books are of equal quality and length.San Fransickois darker thanApocalypse Never. But likeApocalypse Never,San Fransickodelivers a big argument through compelling characters and dramatic stories. The two together constitute a sturdy foundation for Environmental Progress and the grassroots movements we are building.

The publication ofSan Fransickois a spotlight moment for me, literally and figuratively. In the 2015 film, Spotlight, there isa powerful scenewhere the journalist character played by Mark Ruffalo makes a highly emotional demand of his editor boss, Michael Keaton, that they publish their bombshell findings that Catholic priests had been molesting children for decades. We see for the first time how impacted personally the taciturn Ruffalo has been by his reporting. The Keaton character says no they arent ready. Im not going to rush this story Barrett told us to get the system, he says, referring to another senior editor. We need the full scope. Thats the only thing that will put an end to this.

The dramatic scene ran through my mind many times while reporting on and gathering the evidence my colleagues and I have assembled inSan Fransicko.I was emotionally shattered at various moments reporting on the drug death, poisoning, and addiction crisis. I saw a young and frail mentally ill woman, alone, and vulnerable to rape on Skid Row, with a hospital band still on her wrist. I saw a psychotic man shooting drugs into his bare foot in the Tenderloin. I heard stories that were so depraved and sickening that I chose to keep them to myself.

But doing so had an impact. Invariably, after visiting Venice Beach, Tenderloin, or Skid Row, the following day I would need to take a long nap out of sheer emotional exhaustion. Its time! shouts the anguished Ruffalo character. They knew! And they let it happen! To kids! The same can be said of the architects of Americas ever-worsening drug death disaster, which is not onlykilling kids in the streets but also in their bedrooms.

But the Michael Keaton voice in my head kept me from publishing the results of my research until I had what I felt was the full scope. Once I had it, I started publishingexcerptsofSan Fransicko, with the kind permission of my publisher, HarperCollins. Ive also been supporting parents of kids killed by, and addicted to, fentanyl, to protest political officials, Snapchat, and everyone else with the power to do something to address the problem. But with the publication ofSan Fransicko, the whole world will get to see just how deep the problem goes.

I am proud of the many blurbs for the book from people I highly respect. But the word ofpraisethat I feel most accurately describes the book comes from Michael Lind: Devastating. Im proud that the book is as devastating to read as it was to write, because thats what will be required to take down the system that is perpetuating the horror show of what we euphemistically call homelessness, and the broader drug crisis, which I believe are two of the greatest threats to our shared humanity, dignity, and integrity as a nation.

Will it? Not alone. Not long after I began my research, I read what I felt then, and still feel now, were the three best books on homelessness, all published in the early 1990s, and all authored by liberals or progressives. At first the books inspired me. I felt as though three wise elders had reached forward through time to pass along essential truths. But then it dawned on me that, despite those three books having been widely reviewed and well received, including by Americas most influential newspapers, the crisis of untreated mental illness and addiction, as well as what we call homelessness, had grown worse, not better. What would preventSan Fransickofrom suffering a similar fate?

That night, I confessed to my wife, Helen, that all I might be able to do was write a book that warned other places whatnotto do. She grew quiet and looked away. After I asked her what was the matter, she said, Welivehere. I needed to be as constructive as I was critical, she felt. And so at the heart ofSan Fransickois a positive proposal for how to restore human dignity, not just law and order, to progressive West Coast cities. At both philosophical and policy levels it will, I hope and believe, resonate with the heads, hearts, and guts of reasonable conservatives and reasonable progressives. Will it? I dont know. But I promise to use every ethical means available to me to end the horror show unfolding every day in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and other progressive cities around the U.S. That includes working with parents, recovering addicts, and community leaders who co-founded theCalifornia Peace Coalitionto demand change.

Because she has been my moral compass on this and so many other things, I have dedicatedSan Fransickoto my compassionate, tough, and pragmatic wife. I am not the easiest person to be married to. I am thus especially grateful to Helen for her patience, intelligence, and love. And I am grateful to all of you for the support you have given me over the years. I couldnt have written these books without your love and belief in me. I have some big, tough things to say, and am happy the day has finally arrived for me to say them. Progressives, including the people who write book reviews forThe New York Times, arent likely to find them easy to hear. But they need to hear them.

So get ready for a rumble.

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My Moment In The 'Spotlight' OpEd Eurasia Review - Eurasia Review

River of Hope has something to celebrate. It has called its third full-time pastor and he has accepted. The local Lutheran church is introducing the Rev. Hans Peterson at a special public event titled Celebrate Today Hope for Tomorrow 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, in Library Square in downtown Hutchinson. Admission is free.

According to Jim Nelson, worship and music curator, free root beer floats will be served, plus bring a lawn chair to enjoy live music by the duo Dakota Road, which features Peterson and his longtime performance partner Larry Olson. Joining them will be members of the River of Hope Beer & Hymns Band.

Becoming a minister is a second career for Peterson. He was born and raised in Alaska. When it came time for college, he headed to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. His first career spanned 25 years running Dakota Road Music, a grassroots performance, publishing company. He also put together music gigs to do what he loves getting people singing.

Joining River of Hope as its pastor begins a new journey for Peterson. When it comes to adventures, he has had many.

My oldest son and I hiked over 200 miles in Spain on the Way of St. James (el Camino de Santiago), he wrote in his congregational letter. Heidi and I hiked for about four weeks on the Appalachian Trail after we were married. We also canoed about 250 miles from EarthRise Farm in Madison, Minnesota, to the farm where we currently live in Belle Plaine. I carried a few seeds with me from that place where we interned all the way to Heidis grandparents old dairy farm. There we got out of the canoe and spent the next 21 years raising two boys, sheep, chickens, cattle, fruits and vegetables to eat and sell.

Peterson is making a symbolic journey into Hutchinson on Saturday. He is biking from Hope Lutheran in Jordan, where he interned and was the site of his ordination on Oct. 23, to Hutchinson. Its a ride of 50 miles. The culmination will be the party in Library Square where Peterson will meet and greet his new community.

I am excited and truly humbled to join a community that believes there is absolutely nothing that we can do to earn Gods love, Peterson said. This radical grace is at the heart of a community that continues to do joyful intergenerational worship well, welcomes all people without exception, and throws love into the world by going out to transform lives through Jesus Christ.I am honored and thrilled to begin my ordained ministry in such a community as River of Hope.

In addition to biking, the new pastor has a passion for ultimate Frisbee, hiking, cooking, and he has a soft spot for ice cream and most brands of chips. He also enjoys hanging out with his spouse, Heidi Morlock, and his boys, Nelson, 23, and Simon, 17.

River of Hope worships 10:30 a.m. Sundays at the Hutchinson Event Center, 1005 State Highway 15 S. For more information, call the church office at 320-587-4414 or Peterson at 952-452-4988.

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Get ready to party with River of Hope of Saturday - Crow River Media

Hustle culture has us working harder and longerand its taking a toll on our health. But research shows that even short breaks during the day can spell big health benefits. So go ahead and give yourself a break (literally); Wellness Recess will provide you with the inspo you need to add more balance and funto your day. See More

If you haven't started a meditation practice, I'm willing to bet one of the reasons is because you don't think you'll be able to sit and be still for a long period of time. Trust me, I get it. Initially, I felt the same way. Ultimately, I was sold on adding it to my well-being routine when I learned you can increase the gray matter volume of your brain, which is associated with self-awareness, emotion, cognition, and aging.

According to Valerie Oula, director of vibrational energy healing at The Well and author of A Little Bit of Reiki: An Introduction to Energy Medicine, you can reap these brain benefits and other mindfulness benefits (like decreased stress, greater emotional regulation, and improved sleep) with a three-minute meditation.

"I really think it's important to start with a bite-size approach," says Oula. "In that three minutes, you actually allow your system to reset." By beginning with three minutes of mediation a day, she says, your body begins to learn that this is the time where you just sit. "But you're not not doing anything," says Oula. "You're just sitting and you're being mindful. And it's that mindfulness that really begins to open up some space for awareness."

You can also draw your energy back in and come back into your body in this three-minute period, says Oula. "I think when we allow ourselves that three minutes to just sit, to get still and just notice without judgment, and just notice sensations in our body, notice our breath, it gets you out of this nonstop, looping 'Oh my God, stress, overwhelm,' all of the things."

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All the emotions and sensations you may be feeling won't magically disappear, but meditation does allow your mindset to shift. And as you become more consistent with three minutes of meditation, Oula says that you might find yourself naturally sitting for longer.

If you're feeling more confident about beginning to meditate, you may be wondering exactly how to do it. "One of the ways that I love to share is for people who are super new and just beginning is to actually count," says Oula.

Start by sitting comfortably in an upright position. ("Your physiology contributes to how you feel," she explains.) You'll also want to sit in a way where you can tune into your core and have your feet grounded, which can be done on a chair or seated on a cushion.

From here, close your eyes and do a simple breath count. For example, say "one" in your head, followed by a slow inhale and a slow exhale (you can also say this in your head to help you control your breathing). And then continue at that pace until your meditation is complete. "The key is to really emphasize the slow breath," explains Oula.

In addition to taking the time to slow down and be present, you're also allowing your body and brain to integrate and process the information you're constantly taking in, says Oula. You're also strengthening your parasympathetic nervous system, one of three divisions of your autonomic nervous system that regulates involuntary physiological processes, which is often referred to as "rest and digest."

Oula says the goal is to spend more time strengthening the restful parasympathetic nervous system and calming the sympathetic nervous systemaka fight-or-flightwhich is responsible for making us feel a heightened state of alertness. "We want to cultivate the resilience of our nervous system [by] moving between sympathetic and parasympathetic."

Meditation helps us to achieve balance because it "gives you the space to step back, versus being fully in the thing and being triggered by whatever you're being triggered by," she explains. It also allows us to strengthen areas in our brain that help us pay attention in different ways and to open up more awareness, in addition to giving our brain the space to clean itself out with synaptic pruning, the removal of connections in the brain that are no longer needed.

At the end of the day, your practice isyours, and you've got to do what is going to help you feel the calmest and present. And one of the best ways to do so, in Oula's opinion, is to begin with an easy three-minute reset. And don't forget, she says: "A little bit is better than nothing at all."

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Im a Meditation Teacher, and 3 Minutes Is the Perfect Amount of Time To Reap the Benefits of Meditation - Well+Good