HB Magazine Summer Feature: CD Maturing? Tired of Low Interest Rates? By Ken Earwood

Bank CD rates are at all time lows. Most of my clients are tired of receiving such low rates. This is why your bank is not eager to call and notify you that your CD is maturing. Did you know there are other options for CD owners like yourself. These other options are currently paying on average 3-4% as a fixed guaranteed rate. They are safe, principled guaranteed, and have more liquidity than a typical CD. Sometimes people put funds into CDs instead of fixed annuities because they think their money is more liquid in the bank’s product. But have you ever thought about what happens when your CD is ready to mature? Most banks will send a notice in the mail giving you five to seven days to decide what to do with your CD. If you don’t move quickly, they’ll roll your money into a new CD, sometimes at a lower interest rate, and the withdraw penalty starts all over again.

Fixed CD-annuities have penalties for early surrender, too. But they don’t continually punish you for the privilege of holding your money. Once an annuity’s surrender penalty period is over, it is never re-established. And, unlike CDs that only allow “interest only” withdrawals, you can withdrawal 10% of the account value from an annuity each year without paying a surrender charge. Furthermore, some annuity companies will let you spread out the withdrawals on a monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual basis.

And since we’re talking about CDs, let’s spend a moment on taxes. The earnings on your CDs are taxable every year. And it doesn’t matter whether you have used the income or allowed it to accumulate in the account, you will still get a 1099 tax bill. On the other hand, the interest that you reinvest in your fixed CD annuity grows tax-deferred. In addition, the IRS will give you a tax break by not requiring you to include tax-deferred earnings in the provisional income calculations against your Social Security benefits. This could lead to more tax savings.

Don’t wait for that notice to come in the mail. Before your next CDs matures, call to set an appointment so we can meet and discuss how a fixed CD-annuity can possibly offer the liquidity you may need, earn a higher interest rate, provide a source of income, and save you money on taxes.

Ken Earwood is a professional financial advisor with more than 17 years of experience serving clients in the financial service industry. For free information covering the topic in the article above or if your would like to review your current retirement investment plan, please contact his office located at 16531 Bolsa Chica St. Ste. 304 Huntington Beach, Ca 92649. CA License #: OC44710. E-mail: kearwood@socal.rr.com. Phone: 800-250-3029, ext. 2#

HB Magazine Summer Feature: Parents & Teens: Practicing Proper Nutrition by Paul and Carolyn Fetters

In case you haven’t noticed, teenagers and even younger children are becoming obese. No matter what part of the country you live in the problem is epidemic. Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver has started a campaign in what is considered the fattest state/county in America to educate our children on proper nutrition. That’s a great start, but education should begin at home. His campaign is aimed at the schools, which again, is a good start, but it really needs to include the entire family.

The education of proper nutrition is vital to not only our children, but the parents after whom children are modeling their behavior. If parents realize that they can make a huge impact on their child’s life by helping them make better choices with what is available in the home, it’s a great beginning. Parents should not be expected to know about nutrition, but if you’re buying the groceries, I bet you know enough about making good or poor choices available for your child.

If you’ve been reading our editorials, you might recall our most recent article was about proper portions of food when eating meals/snacks. This editorial is about helping your child make better choices by you, the adult, modeling good behavior. Do you skip breakfast? If you do, it’s a sure bet that your child often does as well. Starting the day on an empty stomach leads to zero energy and inability to concentrate in class, or in your case, work. Consider that you haven’t eaten in about 12 - 14 hours and now you are asking your brain to perform. Not a good plan.

The focus of this article isn’t to beat up parents, it’s to let you off the hook. We often speak to middle/high school students in a seminar format and in the past 20 years, we have witnessed students become heavier and heavier, even with all of the fabulous “diet foods” that have become available. Unless you have a background in nutrition, how do you know how to feed yourself, let alone your family? That’s where we come in. For some reason, children/teens always seem to be receptive to outside “expertise,” even if we’re saying the same thing as you are. Since we have four teenagers ourselves, we can say with total authority that this is normal!

During our Spring 2010 TakeDown Challenge, we had a young lady (17 yrs. old), not only participate, but win! This was her third attempt at the TD Challenge, but it seems the third time was a charm for her! The life of a teenager has become one of total self-sufficiency when it comes to food. Skip breakfast at home, run to Starbucks for a Frappaccunio, drive to Del Taco for lunch, hit Roebuck’s for an afternoon smoothie, then eat whatever is available for them at home for dinner. Next day, repeat this pattern. Being a teenager is all about “grab and go.” Asking a teenager to take a few minutes and prepare their food is tantamount to pulling teeth, especially if they don’t have the tools at home to accomplish this task.

What our TD Challenge winner learned was how social food has become for teens. It’s not that much different for us adults, and perhaps that’s the pattern that we set before them. Now when I see this young lady preparing her breakfast BEFORE “zero period,” grabbing a nutrition bar for her mid-morning snack, going home for lunch, the eating a portion-controlled sensible dinner, I get it! She finally gets it! It may have taken her a few attempts to understand how to make better choices and how to live in “her world” as a teenager, but she did and she’s still doing it.

How can you help your child get a handle on this epidemic of poor eating habits? The first step is to ask for help. Your child deserves to live a healthy life and now is the time to teach them. We don’t expect them to be perfect, but we hope that they can learn to make better choices and recognize the importance of how food affects them throughout the day.

Paul and Carolyn Fetters own two Training Spot Gyms and AMS Nutrition both located in Huntington Beach. The Training Spot 16942 Gothard St. and The Training Spot 440 Main St. Paul is certified through the State of CA to speak in Nutrition, Fitness and Wellness. He regularly speaks to several Police and City Agencies throughout OC. For more info, please call (714) 841-9294 or (714) 374-7448 or visit www.tspot.org

HB Magazine Summer Feature: Home Appliance Co. in Fountain Valley is Your Hometown Store

For over 60 years, Home Appliance Co., Inc., has been open for business in Orange County. Located on Beach Boulevard in Huntington Beach since the 1940s, the store is now on Magnolia Street in Fountain Valley. Current owners Randy Montgomery and Mark Merriott are former Home Appliance Co. employees who exercised their right to the American dream when they bought the business in 2004. Today, they’re Orange County’s largest independent retailer of major appliances.

Being the “little guys” who sell appliances, as opposed to Orange County’s big box Goliaths, has its advantages, according to co-owner Mark Merriott. “Our customers know us and our reputation—we’re not part of a giant, faceless corporation,” Mark said. “We’re able to use technology and the power of Nationwide Marketing Group, with over $17 billion in buying power, to obtain discounts from manufacturers.”

As an independent retailer, the company has also garnered its share of local media coverage. When TV news teams want to find out how small businesses are faring in the current economy, they frequently talk to Home Appliance Co. Randy and Mark have been interviewed three times over the last two years by Vikki Vargas, NBC Channel 4 News, and Rick Romero of ABC 7’s Eyewitness News team.

Home Appliance Co. sells all major appliances, including front and top-load washers and dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, gas and electric ranges, microwaves, wine coolers, and freezers. They carry top brand name lines, such as Amana, Electrolux, Frigidaire, GE, Kitchen Aid, Maytag, and Whirlpool. The showroom displays a wide selection of appliances, with everything from the plain vanilla basics to the latest, top-of-the-line models.

The store offers full service to its customers, including delivery of new appliances, free installation (a small fee may apply to some built-in models), and removal of old appliances, if necessary. Six month same as cash financing is available, and some Energy Star appliances may qualify customers for rebates provided by local utility companies. Mark and Randy pride themselves on their reputation for friendly, low-pressure customer service.

In addition to their everyday low prices, Home Appliance Company sells some discounted factory seconds and floor models as specials. There are also weekly and/or monthly specials—check the website at www.homeapplianceco.com for more details.

Find out for yourself why Home Appliance Company is recommended by friends and neighbors as the place to go for discounts on major, name brand appliances. The company is located at 17930 Magnolia St. in Fountain Valley, at the corner of Talbert and Magnolia. Hours of operation are Monday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, call (714) 963-4436 or e-mail homeapplianceco@verizon.net.

HB Magazine Summer Feature: EyeStyles for Lifestyles in Huntington Beach Reinvents Eye Care

At Eyestyles for Lifestyles, the name says it all. The two Orange County Eyestyles locations (in Costa Mesa/Newport Beach and Huntington Beach/Westminster) provide all the vision services you need under one roof. Whether you’re looking for new glasses or contacts, considering laser vision correction, or need treatment for an eye condition, you’ll find it at Eyestyles for Lifestyles.

Since 1986, Eyestyles for Lifestyles co-founder and optometrist Dr. Robert Glass has been revolutionizing the delivery of eye care. At Eyestyles, there are no doctors in white coats and ties. Instead, it feels like a great retail store where you can choose from thousands of contemporary European and American designer frames. Eyestyles is also your sunglass and sports eyewear headquarters, and they carry all the top brands of contact lenses. If it’s not in stock, they’ll order it for you.

“Eyestyles is a unique place, where fashion, function, and eye health are inseparable,” Dr. Glass says. “We’ve created a casual, friendly atmosphere that’s designed to make you feel comfortable. Our focus is on providing a fun, pleasurable visit for everyone, from children to adults of all ages.”

At Eyestyles, the doctors and knowledgeable staff members help you make the best choices for your unique needs and lifestyle. If you play sports or engage in activities that require certain specific types of visual acuity and function, the Eyestyles professionals know how to assist you in finding the right choice in eyewear and contact lenses. As a licensed pilot, Dr. Glass specializes in the vision needs of private and airline pilots.

You can schedule an exam with a doctor six days a week, including evenings and weekends, and walk-ins are welcome. Doctors are board certified to diagnose and treat diseases and conditions of the eyes and lids, such as allergies, dryness, minor injuries, and “pink eye.” If Laser Vision Correction is the right option, Eyestyles is a TLC Affiliate, and offers complimentary consultations. Eyestyles also features the newest technologies, including Optomap retinal exams, which provide an ultra-wide view of your retina without dilation, and Izon wavefront correcting lenses that improve visual acuity and quality to high definition.

If you have a prescription from another doctor for glasses or contact lenses, bring it to Eyestyles’ complete optical lab with full-time staff. Most prescriptions can be filled within the hour, and they have an extensive selection of contact lenses in stock.

“At Eyestyles, we provide state-of-the-art eye care that’s convenient and affordable,” Dr. Glass said. “We’re dedicated to giving you an unbeatable selection of frames and lenses, the most vision correction options, and personalized service. You won’t find better quality, value or service anywhere else!”

Call or stop by to schedule your appointment today. Most major vision plans are accepted. Eyestyles Costa Mesa/Newport Beach is located at 1696 Newport Blvd (at Newport and 17^th). For more information, call (949) 574-0200 or visit www.eyestylescostamesa.com. Eyestyles Huntington Beach/Westminster is located at 16498 Beach Blvd. (at Beach and Heil). For more information, call (714) 848-3937 or visit www.eyestyleswestminster.com.

HB Magazine Summer Feature: Duffy Electric Boats Celebrates 40 Years!

Back in the 1960s, Marshall “Duffy” Duffield of Newport Beach was a teenager working with friends to create his first electric boat. By 1970, he had improved upon the original idea and opened Duffy Electric Boats to sell his creations to the public. This year, Duffy celebrates its 40^th anniversary as the world’s “first and finest” electric boat manufacturer. Duffy boats are sold by more than 40 dealers throughout the U.S. and internationally.

What makes Duffy boats so special? They are quiet, low-maintenance, easy to operate works of art crafted in fiberglass, metal, and canvas. Because customers specify the colors, interior fabrics, and features they want, no two boats are alike. Options include a refrigerator, running water, stereo system, bunks, a galley, dining tables, heater, and many other custom choices.

Every boat comes equipped with a quiet, high-power electric motor, maintenance-free battery system, and a patented, easy to use PowerRudder steering system. With a top speed of 5.5 to 7.5 miles per hour, Duffy boats are ideal for beginning boaters. Rent one by the hour, seven days a week, from the Newport Beach sales and rental office. Experience the beauty of an environmentally-friendly Duffy boat for yourself, and discover a lifestyle that’s been enjoyed for 40 years.

Duffy Electric Boats are available for sale or rent at 2001 W. Coast Hwy. in Newport Beach. Visit www.duffyboats.com or call (949) 645-6812 for more information. ‎

HB Magazine "Ladies" Mixer at The Beauty Bar on April 28th

Marlo and I are excited to represent HB Magazine and take part in what is sure to be a super fun evening of free facials, wine and refreshments at the spectacular Beauty Bar in downtown Huntington Beach, coordinated by Sunny Houston of The Beauty Society for tomorrow evening - Wednesday, April 28th.

HB Magazine Networking Luncheon Scheduled for April 13th

HB Magazine will host a luncheon at Oggi's Pizza & Brewery on Wednesday, April 13th to give the invited local Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley-based business owners and professionals an opportunity to mix and mingle with no agenda - just lunch on us!