I hope summer is going well for all of you! For me, summer has always meant good sunshine and happy times with friends and family. Thom and I, as educators, were fortunate to have some vacation time with our two girls as they were growing up. Now, as retired grandparents, we cherish the times we can capture with our college-age grandkids in San Diego, as well as our little grandsons who live in Fullerton.

Our Village calendar remains full of options throughout the season. Tierrasanta Concerts in the Park have proven to be a fun and a great way to socialize with other Village members. Our Summer Speaker Series is bringing knowledgeable professionals to share their expertise and resources. We are fortunate to have social events that keep us connected as well as educational opportunities to keep us informed on many issues. Be sure to check the Village calendar and take advantage of all that is offered.

After a year of talking about hiring a part-time staff member to provide additional Member Services, such as transportation, we are finally moving forward. Cassandra is writing a job description for an Administrative Coordinator to be approved at our next Board meeting. Hiring a part-time staff member to take over many of the Administrative Duties, would allow Cassandra time to work on a Member Services Implementation Plan. Eventually, the Administrative Coordinator would work with Cassandra to provide orientation and training to new volunteers and would be handling and fulfilling member services requests. They would both be available to support our members as we continue to provide ways to learn, stay active and connected with friends. The Board of Directors, considering member input, has put a great deal of thought into the feasibility of hiring a new part-time staff member. I will share more information at the general meeting on Monday, and you can expect a letter from the Board soon that will go into further detail.

Enjoy the rest of your summer. May it be filled with sunshine and happy times with friends and family.

Ginny VanBenthuysen

TVSD Board President 

There are three remaining presentations in the 2025 Summer Speaker Series.

August 1st – Estate Planning Seminar, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Discover the four key components of a well-rounded estate plan and find out whether a will, a trust, or both are right for protecting your family and securing your assets. Estate Planning Attorney Steve Wedeking will break down how your trust functions after your passing. He’ll also cover important information every senior should know about wills, estate planning, healthcare directives, and asset protection. Register here.

A second presentation is available online via Zoom on August 1st 5:30-7:00 p.m. To register for this online event, go to https://wedekinglaw.com/thevillage2025/.

August 6th – Amanda Huerta Benefits Consulting, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Amanda Huerta is a local Medicare Agent who lives and works in Tierrasanta. During her Medicare presentation, Amanda will explain the different parts of Medicare, Medicare costs and what Medicare does and does not cover.  She will also walk you through signing up for Medicare for the first time or making changes during Open Enrollment and Special Enrollment periods.  After the presentation, Amanda will answer any questions you may have and be able to set appointments to go over your individual Medicare Options. Register here.

August 25th – The Four Pillars of the New Retirement, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Financial Advisor, Robert Farwell, and Care Coordination expert, Jonathan Schwartz, have designed a workshop to help older adults plan for their care as they age.  An extensive study by Edward Jones and Age Wave uncovered four essential "pillars" that can impact your quality of life in retirement. Join us to investigate "The Four Pillars of the New Retirement" to learn about these essentials and other eye-opening insights that can help you thrive in this chapter of your life. In this workshop Jonathan Schwartz will also help to answer the questions: What do I need to age independently in my preferred residence? How do I avoid burdening my children with my care? Which planning opportunities are available to help make my goals a reality? Attendees should bring their questions. There will be plenty of time for Q&A. Register here.

The next opportunity to take part in the Honor Flight letter writing campaign is September 3rd, 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Clubhouse.

 

One of the highlights of the Honor Flight is “Mail Call” where there is a surprise distribution of cards and letters showing appreciation for all that these veterans have done for our country.

Our Village is going to hold a letter writing campaign to add to the hundreds of letters needed. We are asking you to come and spend some time writing messages of appreciation. The cards and stationary will be provided; we just need lots of volunteers to generously give of their time to pen some thank you notes. This is an opportunity for some of our “one time” volunteers!

 

Please register if you can plan to volunteer.

 

PSA: Does the 4% rule still make sense?

You may have heard of the “4% rule” when it comes to retirement. After you retire, you withdraw 4% of your retirement savings each year.

The truth is, the 4% rule should be viewed as a guide — not as a strict rule. For example, the rule is based on retiring at age 65. If you retire earlier, you may want a lower withdrawal rate.

Your lifestyle also matters. Are you planning to travel the world or spend more time at home?

Consider inflation as well. A well-built strategy usually includes small annual increases in withdrawals. But you don’t need to take a raise just because the calendar says so.

So, stay flexible and revisit your plan of withdrawals regularly. That will give you the best shot at a secure, fulfilling retirement.

This content was provided by Edward Jones for use by Robert Farwell, CFP®, RICP®, your local Edward Jones financial advisor. If you haven't had a chance yet to meet Robert, one of TVSD's newest Supporting Partners, plan to attend his upcoming presentation "The Four Pillars of the New Retirement" on August 25th. He will also be visiting a monthly member meeting soon. If you'd like to connect with Robert now, he can be reached at 858-514-8876.

 

As we age, we can expect changes in our vision. Please plan to attend for an overview of vision problems; diagnosis, treatment options, and assistance available to assist with low vision. Registration for this event on September 19th, 1:30-3:00 p.m. will be open soon. Stay tuned!