Safe Money Strategies Newsletter

Issue 216
September 2026

Fall has Fallen

The “Dog Days of Summer” are behind us now. Soon we’ll see temperatures dropping and leaves beginning to fall. School is back in session, and football is in the air. Marching bands are also filling the air with music and excitement again. What a refreshing and enjoyable time of year!

The labor day weekend is fast approaching. I hope you enjoy the time with your family as we celebrate one last gasp of summer. Maybe a trip to the lake would be in order, or a dip in the pool. Do you like hot dogs? I think they are in season right now. I also fondly remember watermelon feasts. Homemade ice cream? Yum.

Are you a teacher? If so, how much to you really know about your retirement system? As you probably know, that’s our specialty. As retired educators we have first-hand knowledge about how TRS works and how to get the most from it. Maybe you know someone who is going to retire soon. If so, I’ve got great news….. On Tuesday evening, October 20th I’ll be hosting our annual KNOW YOUR RETIREMENT FORUM at Region 16 Education Service Center. The event is free, and will start at 7:00 PM. We’ll be covering how TRS works, what options are available, how to compute your benefit, and lots of other valuable tidbits of information you can’t get anywhere else.

More information about the event in next month’s newsletter.

Health in the News…..

Surprising body parts humans can live without…

1. Appendix. Many people live normally after removal
2. One lung. A single healthy lung can still support life.
3. One eye. Vision changes, but survival is possible.
4. Stomach. Parts of the stomach can be removed if medically necessary
5. Wisdom teeth. Often removed without major problems
6. Kidney. Many people live health lives with just one.
7. Fingers/toes. The body can adapt surprisingly well.
8. Spleen. You can survive without it, though infection risk increases.
9. One ear. Hearing changes, but life continues normally for most.
10. The human body is incredibly adaptable and resilient!

….health path

Animal Quiz

1. What is a female deer called?
2. What is a female elephant called?
3. What’s the lifespan of a bald eagle?
4. What is the fastest creature in the ocean?
5. What are the smartest farm animals?

(Answers found on page 3)

Social Security Mistakes

At 62 you get roughly 70% of your full benefit
At 67 you get 100% of your full Benefit
At 70 you get 124% of your full Benefit
Every year you wait past your full retirement age, your benefit grows 8% guaranteed, and it adjusts for inflation every year for life.
For couples the math matters even more. There is a 47% chance at least one spouse lives to 90.
The higher earner should delay as long as possible.
When one spouse passes, the survivor keeps the larger check.
The smaller earner can claim earlier to bridge the income gap.

SOCIAL SECURITY IS NOT JUST A BENEFIT. IT’S LIFELONG INCOME PROTECTION.

“Who Wants to Win Free food at Sonic?”

The average nursing home fee as of today is….

A. $4,000 per month
B. $5,000 per month
C. $6,000 per month
D. $7,000 per month

The 4th person with the correct answer to the Question of the Month will receive a gift card to Sonic – just for reading this newsletter. Text or email responses only.
The August winner was Shane Perkins.

Thought for the Month

“Stay away from negative people. They have a PROBLEM for every SOLUTION.”
…Albert Einstein

Answers to Quiz

1. Doe
2. Cow
3. 20-30 years
4. Sailfish
5. Pigs

Organize your Home

Respect the boundaries of the space you’re living in.

Set up a regular closet-purge schedule.

Clean out the kitchen pantry and fridge before restocking.

Designate a storage spot for bulk purchases.

Generate space in your garage.

Stop storing other people’s stuff.

Repurpose rooms.

Maximize closet space.

Put an end to piles of paper.

Create a drop zone

Research ways to dispose of unwanted clutter.

…..from The Bottom Line

Recipe of the Month

Sugar-Free Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup flour (whole wheat or regular)
1 cup oatmeal
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp allspice
¼ tsp cloves
½ cup raisins
¼ tsp nutmeg
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
¼ cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
¼ cup chopped nuts

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Beat well. Drop by spoon onto lightly-greased baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

Makes 48 cookies
---American Diabetes Association

Are You Prepared for Long-Term Care?

As we age, do we get healthier? Probably not. So…. What can you do to be sure your golden years don’t turn into something less? Most of us don’t want to be a burden to our children or our families. What options are available to see that doesn’t happen?

The average nursing home fee is now $6,000 per month. The average nursing home stay is now 2.78 years. That bill adds up to about $198,000. Do you have that much saved for that event? And what if you decide to stay at home and have professional nurses come in and take care of you? You’ll still be looking at an expense of $150,000 or so.

Long-term care insurance is expensive. If you are young, it’s affordable. But if you are 60 plus in age your premium could be $1,200 a month or more. Are there other options?

Here’s an idea. Let’s say you’ve saved $200,000 or more for retirement and you want to use that money in case you need long term care. You can “earmark” that nest egg for long term care, and put it aside for that purpose. The money could grow nicely in a fixed-indexed annuity until needed, at which time the value could be many times that original $200k. You could use those funds to pay for your long-term care, but if you never needed it you could leave it to your family! No burden on family if needed, but a big windfall for family if not needed. It’s a win-win.

What if you don’t have the $200,000 right now? Start a flexible premium annuity with a monthly deposit (whatever you can afford) and let it grow with interest. Time will then solve your problem for you. I have a fixed annuity guaranteed at 6.25% for 5 years to help you get started.

The Jim Hutson Agency, LLC

Jim Hutson, Manager
6607 Roxton Drive
Amarillo, TX 79109

Websites
www.jimhutsonagency.com
www.texasretirementcouncil.com

Email:
jim@jimhutsonagency.com

Phone Numbers:
806 358 2137 home/office
806 654 6834 cell
806 358 6117 fax

Carmen Pennick (432) 631-7503
Fidelis Fetsch (806) 647-6123
Jim Hutson (806) 654-6834; Charlie Peters (806) 676-0569
Ron Knoy (806) 236-5761 Leslie Lee ((806) 670-4201
Ronnie Wood (806) 662-9089 J. Frank Davis (806) 676-8697
Joel Olson (806) 674-6996