Spring 2021 Newsletter

C O N T E N T S
Ryan Craner
shares some
interesting
statistics. pg. 4
pg. 3-4
Lockdown Fever
by Ryan Craner
Ryan shares some statistics with being
locked down during COVID and ways to help.
pg. 5-6
I Cannot Wait to Retire!
by John Park
John reminds us of the importance of
properly planning for retirement.
pg. 7
Balance
by Tom Craner
Tom teaches that there is a way to both
have what you need now, while still
preparing for the future.
pg. 8
Radio Show
Tune in to hear Ryan Craner, John Park, and
Tom Craner on the radio.
pg. 9
Retirement Word Scramble
Enjoy this fun word activity.
pg. 10-11
Meet the Team
Introducing the new members of the office.
pg. 3
Lockdown Fever
S T R A T E G I C P L A N N I N G G R O U P | 2

Lockdown Fever
By Ryan Craner
Taking the client advocate and consumer protection approach, Ryan has always viewed every client as
a long-term and very important relationship.
W hat is lockdown fever?
When we are gripped by
fearmongering in the media,
start binge watching
television, and wait around
for the sign that it is safe to
come outside, we are
suffering from Lockdown
Fever.
Last spring, we were told,
“Two weeks to flatten the
curve.” Well, those two
weeks turned into months
and months of the same
advisories and
recommendations with no
change in results. It was
worse in some states than
others.
No matter where you live,
stop living in fear and start
living. There are many things
you can do that are healthy,
exciting, and most of all,
COVID safe. This is something
I strongly encourage each of
my clients to consider. Start
doing things that are fun and
engaging again.
I do not want anyone to
become a statistic in any of
these alarming trends that
Lockdown Fever is creating in
our communities.
In July, data collected from
the top 50 countries for
COVID cases showed that
lockdowns did not result in a
reduction of hospitalization
or death. However,
lockdowns did correlate with an
increase in depression, use of
drugs and psychiatric
medication, smoking, obesity,
and economic decline.(1)
I do not want anyone
to become a statistic
in any of these
alarming trends.
Several months later, a study
found that “stringency of the
measures settled to fight the
pandemic, including lockdown,
did not appear to be [directly]
linked to the death rate.”(2) W e
continue to find study after
study with the same
conclusion.
STRATEGIC PLANNING GROUP 3

As we have seen for ourselves,
staying open does not
produce more risks and is
significantly beneficial to
mood, physical well-being,
and the economy. The health
of normally healthy people
worsens as a result of
shutting down entire
communities and sections of
society.
The stress caused by lack of
socialization, unemployment,
being forced into at-home
learning, disconnection from
family and friends, and a host
of other factors clearly
increases risks for physical
and mental concerns.
A federal survey conducted in
late June showed that the
number of Americans
struggling with depression,
substance abuse, and
thoughts of suicide was
40%.(3) This does not even
account for the sharp increase
as the pandemic has dragged
on in the months since.
A study conducted in the
suburbs of Chicago reported
a 23% rise in suicide
compared to 2019.(4) A
frightening statistic from
Japan illustrates that it is not
only Americans who are
suffering; the number of
Japanese COVID-19 totals at
the start of the pandemic to
the month of October 2020
was 2,087. The number of
suicides in the month of
October alone was 2,153.(5)
It is clear from these numbers
that risks of lockdown stretch
far beyond merely
contracting coronavirus.
Examples of things
you can do to fight
Lockdown Fever:
Snowshoe
Birdwatch
Participate in book
clubs
Cooking with your
life partner
Try a new hobby
Practice
friluftsliving*
...and so much more
Your lives are good.
Your lives are great.
A recent article by the Wall
Street Journal titled We’ll Have
Herd Immunity by April - Covid
cases have dropped 77% in six
weeks. Experts should level
with the public about the good
news has some interesting
insight. The article suggests
that “the consistent and rapid
decline in daily cases since
Jan. 8 can be explained only by
natural immunity.”(6)
By now, we know the behavior
of COVID, we know the
dangers. It is safe to travel.
It is safe to leave the house.
It is safe to do things. You do
not have to delay your life or
become a part of these
statistics.
We believe 2021 is the year
we defeat this terrible
pandemic and reclaim
economic success and
prosperity.
Your lives are good. Your lives
are great. You cannot buy back
the time you have on this
earth.
The time to be alive is now, so
get out and live!
1. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30208-X/fulltext
2. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.604339/full#SM6
3. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm
4. https://abc7news.com/japan-suicides-suicide-rates-covid-women/8359064/
5. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/11/23/covid-pandemic-rise-suicides/
6. https://www.wsj.com/articles/well-have-herd-immunity-by-april-11613669731
* Norwegian phrase meaning free air living, or to be out in nature
STRATEGIC PLANNING GROUP 4

I Cannot Wait to Retire!
By John Park
From investments to complicated retirement strategies, John works to educate and advise his clients
on making smart financial decisions.
I.
can’t help it; at the ripe
‘ole age of 36, I dream about
retirement most days. Don’t
get me wrong, I love what I
do. I am fortunate to earn a
living in a field I enjoy so
much. Honestly, I feel the
need to pinch myself on
occasion. There is no way I
should enjoy work this much,
but it is true! Working with
clients and helping them
reach their goals gives me
fulfillment and joy unlike
anything else. Not to mention
our amazing staff. I cannot
say it enough, I love being a
part of Strategic Planning
Group.
Even more than my hobbies, I
love spending time with my
wife and kids. We recently
welcomed a new baby boy
into our family. I cannot
believe how lucky I am to
have two healthy children. It
was difficult to understand
the joy of parenthood before
having them in my life. It is
important for me to spend
time with them. When my
first son was born, my mom
said, “Time steals your babies,
so enjoy every moment!”
What a sobering thought.
Well, I’ll be darned if I don’t
enjoy every second I can with
them. It is bittersweet how
fast kids change and grow.
However, it is okay because
after they have grown up,
time will reward me with
grandkids. Now that sounds
fun!
It is important to maintain a
healthy home and work life
balance. I am constantly
striving for it, but why can’t I
wait to retire? It is because I
need more time! I want to
learn all kinds of skills and
hobbies. Some people cannot
wait to travel to exotic places.
That is all fine and dandy, but
I want to learn welding, silver
smithing, and bee keeping,
just to name a few random
interests. Oh, I would also
like to improve my mechanic
skills; you know, complete
engine design and building.
Whatever your personal
passions and interests are,
you will need time for them.
Those are a few positive
reasons I look forward to
retirement. Fortunately, there
are really not any negative
reasons I look forward to it.
It is important to
maintain a healthy
home and work life
balance.
The truth is, part of me never
wants to retire. Like I said, I
enjoy this career. So, it is a
double-edged sword.
In addition to being an
advisor, I am also a man of
many hobbies. I enjoy being
busy in my personal life. I
spend free time tearing apart
cars, doing home
improvements, or restoring
old Coke machines. The
challenges are quite
rewarding.
STRATEGIC PLANNING GROUP 5

The average person does not
think about nor plan for
retirement for a long time.
Often, it is not until they
experience a mid-life crisis
and realize they will not live
forever. That is a downer!
People should not associate
retirement with dying. They
should associate it with living.
When properly planned for,
retirement is the pinnacle of
your hard work. It is a reward.
Please do not view it
negatively.
Remember our Perfect
Calendar? If not, here is a
quick refresher: imagine you
have a blank slate calendar in
front of you. You have all the
time and money necessary to
do anything you want. So,
start filling out your calendar.
What are you going to do on a
typical daily basis? What will
you do during each week,
month, and year? Most of you
completed this exercise when
you first joined Strategic
Planning Group. When was
the last time you looked at it?
You should revisit your
Perfect Calendar. Better yet,
complete a new one and
compare them! Give us a call
and we will send you the
blank form and a copy of your
original. Do not look at the
original until you have
completed the new one. Then
compare! Have your hobbies,
interests, or passions
changed? Are they the same?
At the very least, think about
what you WANT to spend
more time on. Whether you
are preparing for or already
in retirement, please give
this some serious thought.
I recently lectured a great
client(yes, you) about retiring
so they can get after their
projects and hobbies like they
have always wanted. Ryan
has recently lectured another
great client in a similar
way(yes, you too). We are
professionals. This ain’t our
first rodeo. If we say you are
ready for retirement, we mean
it! We would never risk such
an important decision. Also,
if we say you can afford to
spend on “this or that,” we
mean that too! Your financial
situation is carefully reviewed
and assessed. You need to
trust us when we say you can
do things.
Once we give you the green
light, you really have no
monetary excuses to keep
working. Quit stressing about
retirement and get after it!
By the way, don’t you dare
retire and sit on the couch.
Learn new things, go to new
places, and have fun. You
might just like it.
The reason part of me looks
forward to retirement is I see
so many people enjoying it.
Sure, we need to use a cattle
prod to get some folks to
enjoy retirement properly;
however, that is not the
norm. Most of our clients are
having a blast in retirement.
That is the norm around here!
What are some of your
interests? Do you want to
travel, learn a new skill, or
expand an existing skill?
Nurture your curiosity and
creativity. That will mean
different things for different
people, but the result is all
the same: fulfillment!
STRATEGIC PLANNING GROUP 6

Balance
By Tom Craner
Tom engages in life-long client-advisor relationships, utilizing long-tested financial strategies
that are focused on consumer protection.
T hroughout the world’s
cultures and religions, the
concept of balance is one of the
most prominent. From the
metaphysical yin and yang in
eastern beliefs to the more
corporeal day and night in
Judeo-Christian theology,
balance is prominent for a good
reason. The brilliant scholars
and philosophers of humanity’s
past understood that there
exists a balance in all things.
We all know intrinsically that we
must balance work with home
life and wants with needs. From
our minds to our bodies, balance
is a daily activity. However,
there is one aspect of life in
which, as a wealth management
advisor, I often see people
struggle to understand how to
find balance, and that is in
gratification.
Many times, I have heard
prospective clients argue that
they would prefer to spend
their money on their lifestyle
now, rather than save for their
lifestyle later, and fair enough.
That is a sensible position. I
have also seen the opposite,
where the fear of financial
difficulties in the future
compels one to save every
penny, and deal with the
proverbial “holes in their
shirt” for a few more years.
These two examples are at the
far ends of the balance beam of
gratification. On the one hand,
immediate gratification, and on
the other, deferred gratification.
What I would like to acknowledge
is that there is a way to have
what you need now, while still
preparing for the future; but, as
is always the case, it requires
balance.
When being asked if they
prioritize paying off their home,
most people will answer yes.
While that is a reasonable
answer, it begs another
question; as opposed to what?
Annually, if your mortgage costs
you 3% and your investments
earn you 10%, then it only takes
some simple math to realize
where you should put extra
money. This is not to say you
should never pay off your
house, it is simply to say that
you must balance paying
exorbitant payments on low
interest debt with making
substantial contributions to
high rate of return investments.
In another scenario, one might
be challenged with affording
their current lifestyle versus
ensuring that the same quality
of life will exist after they retire.
Once again, this requires
balance. You have all heard the
rule of thumb on this; save 10%
first and live on the rest. By
striking this balance you can
ensure that you do not
jeopardize your future self for
your current self.
Another point of balance is in
how you treat your money
sources, both savings and income.
You all understand that you
cannot spend more than you
make, and you take careful effort
each month to ensure you do not
out-spend your income. However,
in the interest of balance, you
should be equally careful of how
you are “spending” the money
that you have saved. For example,
if you have a lot of money sitting
in cash or have bought into a
bad investment, you are
effectively diminishing what your
future self will rely on for income.
The bottom line here is that
planning for retirement requires
balance. It is not that you should
save everything, but to save
enough. It is not that you should
never pay off debt, but to ensure
you are saving for the future as
well. You can balance your
lifestyle with your savings, your
debt with your investments, and
thereby balance your present
with your future.
At Strategic Planning Group we
have learned that by balancing
the various incomes, savings,
debts, and spending, people can
have enough for now and later.
This can eventually amount to
you being able to live in your
Perfect Calendar in retirement.
STRATEGIC PLANNING GROUP 7

S T R A T E G I C P L A N N I N G G R O U P | 8

The Strategic Planning Group Team (back row, left to right): Jackie O’Shea, Tom Craner, Alex Craner, Ryan Craner, John Park, Heather
Cunningham (front row, left to right): Rebecca Young, Maribel Ortiz, Fran Paxton, Angeleah Jensen, Kelsie Hanks, Becky Park
Retirement Word Scramble
UNSCRAMBLE THE RETIREMENT RELATED WORDS BELOW.
1. rtenteiemr
2. eaorianltx
3. reofmed
4. avrlte
5. pneinos
6. yflaim
7. sepnispah
8. smittsennev
9. ecutkb sitl
10. gnndciraedlrh
1. retirement 2. relaxation 3. freedom 4. travel 5. pension
6. family 7. happiness 8. investments 9. bucket list 10. grandchildren
S T R A T E G I C P L A N N I N G G R O U P | 9

MEET THE TEAM
The people of Strategic Planning Group work closely as a team to foster an unambiguous and
clear path forward. Our team is integral to ensuring that our principles towards investment
planning and management of your estate are effectively implemented. You can trust that the
combined decades of experience shared by our advisors will always be utilized by our staff to
ensure success in your Strategic Plan.
R Y A N C R A N E R
President & CEO
Ryan founded Strategic Planning Group to help consumers
avoid piecemeal planning and simply buying products and
instead create an all-inclusive written Strategic Plan. A
Strategic Plan is to your financial life what a blueprint is to
building a home. This custom approach, which began as a
simple idea, has grown Strategic Planning Group into a
trusted and established firm.
JOHN PARK
Wealth Management Advisor
TOM CRANER
Wealth Management Advisor
S T R A T E G I C P L A N N I N G G R O U P | 10

JACKIE O'SHEA
Client Services
HEATHER CUNNINGHAM
Client Services
ALEX CRANER
Client Services
KELSIE HANKS
Client Services
ANGELEAH JENSEN
Client Services
MARIBEL ORTIZ
Client Services
"Great things in
business are never
done by one person.
They're done by a
team of people."
FRAN PAXTON
Client Services
REBECCA YOUNG
Client Services
BECKY PARK
Client Services
S T R A T E G I C P L A N N I N G G R O U P | 11