Mission Hills, KS April 2024

Investment Issue

Investment by definition is the act of devoting time, effort, energy or finances to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result. We can invest in a lot of things such as our community, our relationships, our finances, and our health with the hope that the effort will have a positive impact. We can invest in our community by supporting our local businesses, schools and local organizations. We can serve the community through volunteerism and investment in future generations. On a larger scale, we can participate in public surveys and stay educated and involved with future city planning. Investing in our finances helps create wealth, meets long-term financial goals and secures our retirement. On a personal level, we can invest in our families and enrich relationships by giving time and effort to the people in our lives that mean the most to us. This type of investment has the most meaningful impact to not only ourselves but to the people closest to us.

There is no resource in our life that is more important than our time. Money - we can make more. Talents - we can get better or create new ones. Materials - there is always newer and nicer. Time however is the only thing we can invest and not earn more. So the question becomes, how are you investing your time? Into yourself, family, friends and community? We budget our finances, our talents, and how to get the new car, but we don't budget our time. Maybe as we consider this investment issue, we reevaluate our time budget from month to month and place it where it matters most.

In this issue, we wanted to share about some of the ways that we can invest in our community, our finances and with those that we love.

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city scene

business monthly

Prairie Village's Story Restaurant celebrates 13 successful years

Story will celebrate its 13th anniversary on Sunday, May 26th with a special prix fixe dinner. Owners Carl and Susan Thorne-Thomsen are grateful to the community for its support: “We are appreciative of our loyal guests, hard-working staff and dedicated suppliers. This is a tough business and we are proud to still be going strong. We realize how fortunate we are to have such a wonderful community." For reservations and more details, please visit storykc.com

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Downtown Overland park welcomes trendy new bookstore

A new boutique bookstore is creating quite the buzz in Downtown Overland Park. Monstera’s Books opened its doors the first week of March, and as its name implies, offers much more than simply new books. This unique, locally-owned shop sells new, used, and vintage books with potted plants looking for a home on every shelf. Just around the corner from Homer's Coffee, you can plan your visit by through their website monsterasbooks.com/

Popular local ice cream shop announces new location

Kansas City's Betty Raes is opening its fourth ice cream shop and second in Johnson County. In addition to selling local favorite flavors, the new location in Merriam, Kansas will be home to its first-ever test kitchen, giving customers the chance to sample flavors before they are scooped for sale. The shop is projected to open in the Merriam Town Center in May. Learn more by visiting bettyraes.com/

AVOID THE TICKINGTIME BOMB IN RETIREMENT

REMOVING THE TABOO IN TAX TALK WITH INDEPENDENT FIDUCIARY BARBARA GULIN

“Committed to providing a pressure free environment to achieve your retirement goals.” This company motto is proudly displayed on one of the main walls in the BG Wealth Management and Safe Harbor Financial Planning Office. An adjacent wall boasts dozens of client pictures– a purposeful arrangement reminiscent of what it would feel like to walk into a family home. Not only are these items on display, but they are lived out by owner Barbara Gulin, whose care for her clients goes far beyond what they have to offer.

“I am not trying to meet a sales quota to keep my doors open. That's a big difference between me and my competitors.”

“When people come and work with us, it's not a transactional event. It's a relationship event,” Gulin said. “You look at how our office is laid out and you feel like you're sitting in my living room, not in my company.”

As someone who has walked through the death of a child and medical scares of her own, Gulin has faced the reality of hard financial conversations. Her experiences not only give her an empathetic approach in her business, but one that is honest and realistic for every situation.

“I saw such a need for people to get honest, unbiased advice, where a commission doesn't hang in the balance,” she said. “There are too many people out here that have gotten wrong advice, poor advice or gone through some sort of life-changing event that they weren't adequately prepared for financially.”

A passion of hers is helping people avoid a potentially life-changing situation sitting in their bank accounts now. Gulin does not pull any punches when entering into a tax conversation, saying much of the money set aside for retirement might not be completely in the clear.

“You don't want to mess with the IRS. Nobody wants to find out the hard way that they did it wrong,” she said. “Part of what I do as a fiduciary is help people figure out how to pay the taxes they owe but not pay too much.”

CONTINUED >

A point of emphasis for Gulin is that it is never too early or too late to start the conversation, no matter your age.

“Everybody walks their path in life. You've gotten to where you are by doing what you've done. If you want to make changes, you need to do something different.” she said. “You don't necessarily know if you need to make changes until you talk to an expert about it.”

Choosing that expert can seem daunting and complicated. With so many options in the world, Gulin has built a reputation that stands tall above the rest.

“As somebody who is completely independent, I'm not beholden to a specific company to market a specific product, and I am not trying to meet a sales quota that somebody says I have to meet so I can keep my doors open,” she said. “That's a big difference between me and my competitors.”

Sitting down with any client and walking them through the difficulty of life or the joy of financial stability is important to Gulin and her team. It’s an opportunity they do not take lightly, and one they welcome, no matter how good, bad or ugly the situation may seem.

“We've had the honor of helping several families as their loved ones pass away, to make sure they've got all the assets accounted for, transfer the ownership of everything and continue the legacy the way those people wanted it to go,” she said. “It's an honor to be entrusted with something like that by another human being.”

“When people come and work with us, it's not a transactional event. It's a relationship event.”

WHAT BARBARA WANTS YOU TO KNOW IN YOUR 20S AND 30S:

You can start now to set up a tax-free income source for yourself, as well as secure the legacy for your family, just by planning ahead. They don't teach you this in school. They teach us that we need the latest iPhone. They teach us that we need the biggest house. They teach us that we need the latest car with all of the bells and whistles, when in reality you're spending yourself into oblivion. I want you to have nice things and enjoy them, but you have to learn to pay yourself.

Since we anticipate that taxes are going to go up at some point, there are ways that you can leverage your savings in your favor so that you have a bigger bucket of money to dip into when you retire that is tax-free or that you've already paid the taxes on.

WHAT BARBARA WANTS YOU TO KNOW IN YOUR 40S AND 50S:

Hopefully, you're working for a company that offers some sort of retirement plan. Taking advantage of a Roth retirement account can reduce your taxes in the future, but it’s important to talk to an advisor- preferably a fiduciarybefore you make the switch. A Roth 401k or a Roth 403B or a Roth TSP doesn't have the same income restrictions on it that a Roth IRA does. It's about paying the taxes now. We know what we're paying now. We don't know what we're going to be paying in the future. The name of the game is to build your taxfree bucket as big as possible.

“We’re talking about your lifestyle and your nest egg for the rest of your life. That deserves a second opinion.”

WHAT BARBARA WANTS YOU TO KNOW IF YOU ARE RETIREMENT AGE:

If you're getting ready to retire and even if you've got somebody you've been working with, your financial future deserves a second opinion. If you get a critical medical diagnosis, you're going to go get a second opinion. We're talking about your lifestyle and your nest egg for the rest of your life. That deserves a second opinion too.

What I want you to understand is there's a chunk of money that already belongs to the IRS sitting in those pre-tax retirement accounts. The question is when are we going to do it and how are we going to do it efficiently? I want to tell you it's not too late to put a tax plan into effect. There are things that we can do, even post-retirement to help reduce that future tax liability and help give you your own tax-free bucket of money that you can access in a few years.

THE ART OF COLLECTING

DISCOVER YOUR "ART PERSONALITY" WITH PRAIRIEBROOKE ARTS OWNER MEGAN

AS CONSUMERS, WE ARE CONSTANTLY BEING ENTICED TO BUY. Whether it’s the jewelry we can’t live without, concert tickets to a show we don’t want to miss, or that favorite pair of shoes that’s calling our name. We buy what we love, and art should be no different.

If you are new to acquiring original art, you may find it daunting, but it shouldn’t be. It is a special purchase that forces you to dig deep and discover a bit more about yourself. At first, many people shy away from buying original art because of the commitment. It’s a big decision after all, and how do you really know when it’s the “perfect” piece? Since art is subjective, part of the process is learning what style of art is the best fit for you.  Is it colorful and energetic abstracts, or soothing landscapes that catch your eye? Maybe you are drawn to local photography, or even figurative works. There is no wrong

answer, and maybe it’s a mix of several styles that create your unique collection. The best way to find out your “art personality” is to get out and visit your local galleries. Consider making it a tradition to visit galleries while traveling or buy a piece of art as a gift on special occasions. In the gallery setting, you can explore various art styles, mediums, and even learn more about the talented artists who create those works.

With the purchase of original art comes other considerations. Often, we have clients who need direction in figuring out what size of art they need and its placement in the design of their space.  If you find a piece of art you love, you will always find a spot for it. Ask the gallery if they offer in-home art consultation services to see the piece in your setting. Great custom framing is key and well-designed framing is the jewelry to a great piece of art. Quality archival framing protects your art from UV rays that can damage a piece over time. Original art should last generations.

I’m often asked, should I buy art for investment? There is a place for investment art, but I don’t believe in buying art with the pretense that it will go up in value. There is no guarantee it will and to me, good investment art brings different riches to your life. Art that brings you joy, adds personality to your space, and makes your home original is an investment in you. The best art investment should be the feeling you experience gazing into an oil painting that perfectly captures a warm sunset over the prairie, or the texture created by a palette knife on the abstract that seems to pop off the canvas. That is what makes investing in original art priceless.

INDOOR PLANT GUIDE

Investing in indoor plants can not only spruce up your living space, but also bring numerous health and well-being benefits

Bringing the outdoors in with the use of house plants is a great way to add color and dimension to your space. We sat down with Jesse Nelson at Family Tree Nursery, based in Kansas, and discussed the benefits of incorporating plant life into your home.“There are plenty of studies on the health benefits of plants, and the evidence suggests that being around plants and caring for plant life increases overall wellness,” explains Nelson. “Anytime you bring a plant into a home or work environment, it’s going to make you feel better. It is going to beautify the space in a way that art cannot, and they also have the added benefit of  purifying the air.” There are a wide variety of indoor plants that work for any space and light situation that you may have. Regardless if you have a green thumb or a black thumb, there are plant varieties that fit your lifestyle. Here are a few of our favorite indoor plants to incorporate into your home.

SNAKE PLANT:

This plant goes by many names such as Snake Plant and Mother-in-Law’s Tongue and is one of the most popular indoor plants. The Snake Plant is for anyone from a green thumb to a black thumb because anyone can grow it. These hardy plants can adapt to any environment and can live in both high light and low light. Snake Plants are great for countertops and tabletops because they grow tall, not

wide. They are great bedside plants because they help purify the air as they go through photosynthesis at night. They only need to be watered about once a month. These plants can also be outdoor plants and can acclimate during the summer months. Be sure to spray the plants three to five times before bringing them back indoors to get rid of any bugs that could have made the plant their home.

Anthurium has gorgeous, colorful flowers and is the easiest indoor flowering plant to care for. It comes in a variety of colors including red, white, orange and purple. Anthurium likes to be dry, so let it go bone dry before watering. Fertilize every so often, especially when blooming. These plants do not like direct sunlight and can be repotted every three to five years.

HOPE PEPEROMIA:

This cascading plant is gaining popularity due to its succulent-like leaves and also because it is fairly easy to care for. The Hope Peperomia likes medium to bright direct sunlight. It does well as a tabletop plant or a hanging plant. Watering is only needed one time a month regardless of plant size.

“Anytime you bring a plant into a home or work environment, it’s going to make you feel better. It is going to beautify the space in a way that art cannot, and they also have the added benefit of  purifying the air.”

This is a slow-growing variety that is architectural and compact. This plant is a great statement piece and looks great in an entryway or by a chair. There are a lot of varieties and colors of the Dracaena. They are very resilient in low light and are great for an office space with little or no light. They like to stay on the dry side, so they like to be watered when they are about ½ to ¾ of the way dry. When watering, give it a good soak. Protip: A moisture meter can be purchased and used to determine how dry your plant is to help determine when it is time to water again.

ZZ PLANT:

The ZZ plant, which its formal name is Zamioculas Zamiifolia, is a very easy plant to care for. They like anything from low light to bright light. These plants are hard to kill and can go a long time without being watered. Their bulbs hold a lot of moisture, so they only

need to be watered once a month. This is a great plant to give as a gift due to its ease of care and versatility. They are slow-growing and are great for counters and tabletops. There are new varieties coming out such as Lucky which has round leaves and Raven which is black.

CALATHEA ORNATA:

The Calathea Ornata has a ton of varieties and is a very artistic plant. This one is a little finicky and temperamental, so it can take a little bit of a green thumb to care for them. Faucet water can be hard on these plants, so they prefer distilled water. If brown tips appear, this means it is being over-watered or the water is hard.  They like medium to bright indirect light. They can grow to 1 ½ feet to 2 feet maximum.

The Ficus Ruby is in the Rubber Tree family and can come in a variety of colors. These plants like either direct light or bright indirect light. These can grow three to four trunks in a pot and can take on the appearance of a bush. They grow six to eight inches a year. This plant can go dry so watering about once a month is sufficient.

PHILODENDRON LICKETY SPLIT:

This plant comes in many varieties, but the lickety split is known as the most pleasing. They can get to be between four to six feet and grow both tall and wide. These houseplants need lots of space to grow. They like to stay about half dry and can be a little forgiving if they go a little dryer than they like. This plant likes medium to bright light and can acclimate to an outdoor plant during warmer months.

When choosing an indoor plant, call your local professionals or go to a local garden center to get the best information. They will be happy to help you decide what plant works best in your space and with your plant-abilities.

eat kind

EMBRACING A PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUR BODY

Wellness isn’t about restricting — it’s really about giving. Giving to yourself and to your body in a way that allows them both to thrive. The cool part? The things that give to your body naturally give to your mind, your hormones, your earth, your relationships, and so on — it’s all beautifully interconnected in that way.

Work in partnership with your body. Listen to it, support it, give to it, forgive it — and I promise it’ll give back. Repeat after me: I love myself as the most important and committed partner I will ever have

Eat your greens, cook at home, choose local produce and quality meats, don’t be scared of healthy fats — but also support local farmers, move in a way that makes your body and mind feel good, prioritize times of mindfulness and stillness, fuel your body in a way that is sustainable for both you and the planet, practice gratitude and empathy, give yourself grace when you lose routine, don’t try to make changes overnight, ditch the guilt, and always always be kind to yourself.

simple

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 6 oz. filets of wild caught salmon

• 1 Tbsp. avocado oil

• 1 Tbsp. coconut aminos

• Zest and juice from one lemon

• 1 Tbsp. stone ground mustard

• 1 4 oz. container coconut yogurt, unsweetened

• 2 Tbsp. fresh dill, minced

• 2 Tbsp. capers, drained and minced

• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. Marinate the salmon in the lemon juice, coconut aminos, and stone ground mustard for up to two hours.

2. Drizzle salmon with avocado oil, sprinkle with salt and ground pepper, and broil on high for five to seven minutes, until cooked to desired temperature.

3. Mix coconut cream, lemon zest, dill, capers, and ground pepper together.

4. Top salmon with coconut cream, serve with roasted or sautéed veggies, brown or cauliflower rice, or fresh greens. Enjoy!

spicy thai coconut curry

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 head broccoli, cut into florets

• 1 medium onion, sliced

• 1 medium zucchini, sliced lengthwise, then sliced into crescents

• 1 red pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into slices

• 2 cups carrots, sliced

• 2 cups mushrooms, quartered

• 1 large boneless, skinless, pasture raised chicken breast, cut into cubes (omit to make vegan)

• 2 cans coconut cream

• 1 container curry paste or 3 tablespoons dried curry powder

• 2-4 cups bone broth, chicken stock, or vegetable stock

• 1 Tbsp. fresh ginger, minced

• 1 Tbsp. fresh garlic, minced

• 4 limes, 2 juiced and 2 quartered

• 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

• 2-4 Tbsp. avocado, olive, or coconut oil

• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. Season the chicken with ¼ of the curry powder/paste, salt, and freshly ground pepper. Sear on medium heat in 1 tablespoon desired oil. Once browned on each side, remove from pan, and set aside.

2. Add 1 tablespoon oil and sauté the onion on medium heat until softened and translucent, roughly 2-3 minutes

3. Add the garlic, ginger, broccoli, zucchini, red pepper, carrots, and mushrooms. Sauté on medium heat for 5-7 minutes.

4. Add the chicken back in, along with the coconut cream, remaining curry powder/ paste, and broth.

5. Bring to boil, reduce to low heat, and simmer for 10-20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.

6. Remove from heat and finish with lime juice.

Serve with quinoa, cauliflower rice, or add extra broth to create a healing soup. Garnish with sliced avocado, cilantro, and lime wedges.

Spring

APRIL 2024

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

APRIL 11TH

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in Concert

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts | 7:00 PM

Immerse yourself in the final battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world in Kansas City Symphony's final stop along the Harry Potter Film Concert Series. Book a ticket for your journey through Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 and prepare to be amazed by every note of the epic score performed live: tickets.kcsymphony.org/ harrypotterdeathlyhallowspt2/20690

APRIL 12TH—14TH

Kansas City FilmFest International

AMC Ward Parkway 14 Theatres

Lights. Camera. Action! In its 28th year, the KC Film Fest International is taking over the big screen at AMC Ward Parkway for a weekend of celebrating independent films from around the country and the world. After viewing is complete, a winner will be declared in each category. Tickets are available for purchase now! Reserve your seats online at kcfilmfest.org/

APRIL 16TH

Fountain Day

Firefighter's Fountain and Memorial | 1:00 PM

Spring is officially here, and the City of Fountains is ready to welcome the season! Join city officials and City of Fountains Foundation members for Fountain Day, a celebration unique to Kansas City for the return of fountains citywide. Kansas City Parks and Recreation will kick off the day at the Firefighter's Fountain and Memorial located in Penn Valley Park.

APRIL 20TH—21ST

Apple Blossom Festival 2024

Cider Hill Family Orchard | 9:00 AM

Take a day to venture out of the city and visit Cider Hill Family Orchard for a weekend of family fun during its 7th An nual Apple Blossom Festival. Tour the ap ple blossoms on a hayride and pack your poles for free catch-and-release fishing. Yummy treats and sweet memories await! Learn more from their Facebook page: facebook.com/ciderhillfamilyorchard

APRIL 27TH

Brunch Walk

Kansas City Power & Light District | 11:00 AM

Starting your weekend with brunch is never a bad idea! Sip, taste, and ex plore downtown Kansas City during the Downtown Brunch Walk in the Power & Light District. Live music will set the mood on 14th Street as guests enjoy vendors, brunch cocktails and small plates at each participating ven ue! Select either General Admission or VIP tickets online at  events/1380299232858073

APRIL 27TH

Barnyard

Babies Family Festival and Kite Show

The National Agricultural Center & Hall of Fame | 10:00 AM

Keep your eyes on the skies! The mesmer izing sight of life-sized kites will be one of many during a farm-tastic day in Bonner Springs! Test your ability to be a farmhand by milking cows and harvesting honey, or relax on a train ride around the property. Tickets are available on site. Visit  facebook.com/events/1815113435583377 for more information about the event.

Building The Perfect Flower Bed

How To Build Your Spring Time

Flower Beds

With sunny skies upon us, it’s time to start planting flower beds! The colorful flowers and fresh floral scents mark the beginning of Spring. It can be hard deciding what you’re going to do so we put together a guide to give you a little gardening inspiration. With everything you need to know including plant necessities and tastefully decorating your garden, we have you covered!

TAKE COLOR INTO ACCOUNT

Decide on a color scheme that includes 2-3 colors that complement each other.

CONSIDER PLANT HEIGHT

When choosing which plants you will use, take into consideration how tall the plants will grow and place the tallest in the back.

USE THE RIGHT SOIL

Different flowers have different soil requirements. Make sure you check what soil will fit your plants' needs best.

SUN AND WATER REQUIREMENTS

Look at the location of the flower beds.

Is it in a sunny area or a shady area? Depending, make sure you choose flowers that will thrive in that area.

INCLUDE A FOCAL POINT

Create a centerpiece with some fun decor. You can use a bird bath, fountain, or even an antique wagon filled with more flowers.