Introducing Brighton Restorative Dentistry to Brighton! Dr. Mark Ehrhardt has been providing excellent dental care to the community for decades and Dr. Mike Womack has recently joined our team to partner with Dr. Ehrhardt in continuing excellent care.
With the expertise that both Dr. Ehrhardt and Dr. Womack provide, Brighton Restorative Dentistry not only offers the most up-to-date technology, but also exceptional results. We are thrilled to be a part of the Brighton Community as we are one of the few dental offices in the area that use a state-of-the-art laser. This laser not only provides better quality, but also provides dental work for our patients without having to go through the numbing process.
Dr. Mike Womack is dual specialized in prosthodontics and periodontics, one of the few dentists in the country with this unique dual specialization. Prosthodontists specialize in enhancing your smile, offering services such as veneers, implants, and dentures. Periodontists specialize in advanced gum treatment.
To ensure a beautiful smile, cosmetic factors such as the symmetry and spacing of teeth, the spectrum of shapes and shades, and many other artistic aspects are applied to the process. Both Dr. Mark Ehrhardt and Dr. Mike Womack strive to restore your smile!
Complimentary consultations are offered to new patients at Brighton Restorative Dentistry. This provides Dr. Mark Ehrhardt and Dr. Mike Womack the opportunity to create a personalized treatment plan for any complex procedures such as crowns, veneers, implants, and dentures.
Please call our office at 303-659-1825 to schedule an appointment and learn about the many services we offer. Whether you’re interested in cosmetic veneers, dentures, advanced hygiene treatment, or general dentistry, we are here to help you with your smile. We also have members of our team that speak both English and Spanish for your convenience.
“My math grade dropped to a ‘C’, but the teacher just didn’t explain anything” exclaims one kid to another. “That’s right,” continues the friend sitting nearby, “that teacher doesn’t do a good job.”
As I listened to the exchange, I thought about how many times I have heard similar stories of woe at every level: “I was late, but it was because of traffic.” “I missed the deadline, but it was because my coworker didn’t do his part.” “Times are tough, but it is the fault of the previous president, governor, mayor, boss, CEO, co-worker, etc.”
I guess that as a matter of self-preservation, we try to avoid being blamed when something doesn’t go well. But by doing this, we admit that we were never able to do any better. Something or someone out there was, and is, truly in charge of my success (or failure), and if I fail, it’s their fault!
On the other hand, in his book, “Extreme Ownership” (one of my recent favorites), former Navy Seal commander Jocko Willink states that you must “own everything in your world”. You must be truly and ultimately responsible for every success and failure. There is no one else to blame. One must take ownership of everything that impacts the mission and develop a plan to win. That is extreme ownership. (Now stop and read that again.)
Imagine if your employee, your child, your co-worker, and yes, even our politicians took extreme ownership of everything within their reach. What if you did too?
Try practicing extreme ownership in everything you do. For example, even our youngest beginner Karate students, know that there are 3 general rules at the Dojo:
Be Prompt (Do things immediately and quickly),
No Whining (No complaining, moaning, or mumbling at any time),
No Excuses (Do your best, prepare well, execute, and take responsibility for the outcome).
We believe that instilling a no-excuses mentality (extreme ownership) in our students, makes them more solution-focused, and less likely to become a victim of the circumstances.
So the next time you are tempted to shift blame and say “it was not my fault,” “not my job,” or try to make an excuse for anything large or small. Stop yourself, and take ownership of it all. You will be surprised how empowering it feels to finally take charge of your future and your success.
October is National Retirement Security Month. But what does retirement security mean to you? And how can you work toward achieving it?
Here are some suggestions:
Build your resources. While you’re working, save in tax-advantaged accounts such as your IRA and 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan. In your 401(k), contribute at least enough to earn your employer’s match, if one is o ered, and increase your contributions whenever your salary goes up. Remember, especially early in your career, time is often your biggest asset. Be sure to save early, since the longer you wait, the more you’ll need to save to help reach your goals.
Look for ways to boost retirement income. When transitioning to retirement, you can take steps to align your income with your needs. For example, consider Social Security. You can start collecting it as early as 62, but your monthly payments will be much larger if you can wait until your “full” retirement age, typically between 66 and 67. (Payments will “max out” at age 70.) So, if you have su fficient income from a pension or your 401(k) and other retirement accounts, and you and your spouse are in good health with a family history of longevity, you may consider delaying taking Social Security. You also might want to explore other income-producing vehicles, such as certain annuities that are designed to provide a lifetime income stream.
Prepare for unexpected costs. During your retirement, you can anticipate some costs, such as housing and transportation, but other expenses are more irregular and can’t always be predicted, such as those connected with health care. Even with Medicare, you could easily spend a few thousand dollars a year on medical expenses, so you may want to budget for these costs as part of your emergency savings, and possibly purchase supplemental insurance. You may also want to consider the possibility of needing some type of long-term care, which is not typically covered by Medicare and can be quite expensive. The average annual cost of a private room in a nursing home is more than $100,000, and it’s about $55,000 per year for a home health aide, according to Genworth, an insurance company. To address these costs, you may want to consider some form of protection, such as long-term care insurance or life insurance with a long-term care component.
Do your estate planning. It’s hard to feel totally secure in retirement if you’re unsure of what might happen if you have an unexpected health event, become incapacitated or die earlier than expected. That’s why you’ll want to create a comprehensive estate plan – one that might include documents such as a durable power of attorney, a will and a living trust. A review of your insurance coverages and bene ciaries can also help protect your assets and ensure they are distributed the way you want. In creating your plan, you will need to work with your financial advisor and a legal professional, and possibly your tax advisor as well.
Thinking holistically about your retirement security and developing and executing a strategy aligned with your goals may help free you to enjoy one of the most rewarding times of your life.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC
As I watch the statistics on the housing trends reports and then read the various commentary and projections from national experts, I’m reminded of the lyrics to Bob Dylan’s “ The Times They Are A-Changin’. That song was originally released in 1964, yet the lyrics seem as relevant today as they were then, on a variety of fronts, including the current housing market. What is, wasn’t, and what will be is not…
Because the trend of working from home doesn’t seem to be lessening all that much for many industries, the necessity of close proximity to the office has continued to wane. This has allowed home buyers to expand their search, venturing further out to the suburbs and beyond, including different states.
Colorado continues to rank in the top ten percent of the most expensive of the 50 largest metro areas, yet active listings for the metro Denver area are down nearly 40% over last year, and average days on the market has also decreased. The national median price is up more than 10% year over year but growing at a slowing pace because an increasing percentage of smaller starter homes is becoming available as buyers upgrade to homes with more than two thousand square feet in order to allow for separate office and more living space to fit changing lifestyles as a result of Covid.
In a nutshell, numbers can be very deceiving and context, like location, is most definitely important. Likewise, timing and expertise can make a bigger difference than you might think! For proven expertise in establishing your home value and/or searching for a new or existing home, please call Jan at (303) 520-4340.
October is the beginning of the Medicare fun! It’s the Annual Enrollment Period, lovingly referred to as AEP. This is the time of the year when people on Medicare can shop around for plans that might suit them better for the following year. AEP runs from October 15 – December 7 each year.
If you’re on Medicare, you may have a Medicare Supplement with a Prescription Drug Plan or you might have a Medicare Advantage Plan.
It’s always a good idea to check the prescription drug coverage of your plan to make sure you are not paying too much in premium or copays. There are a lot of options out there.
In the Medicare Advantage Plan world, there are a lot of new things coming in 2022. I highly recommend you look to see how your plan is changing and compare that to what other plans are doing.
In fact, I will be hosting a few webinars and in-person seminars in the next couple of months. You’re welcome to attend. Please visit my website to see a list of dates and locations where you can learn about the different plans and what’s new for 2022. You can also call or email me if that’s easier for you.
Earlier this week I was watching a conference on brain balancing. The speaker was talking about how different behaviors affect different parts of the brain then said how different parts of the brain can create different behaviors. He then went on to talk about the top 5 behaviors that drive HAPPINESS. I was curious about this and got my pen out to take notes. He shared them in reverse order:
5. Exercise – happy people tend to be more active
4. Volunteering – happy people do service or kind deeds for others
3. Spirituality – whatever your belief, it helps people feel that they are not alone
2. Social Interaction – giving AND receiving input from family and friends creates happiness
1. Sleep – people that feel refreshed and rejuvenated after sleeping tend to be happier
I wish he would have shared the reference for this research poll he mentioned and forgive me for not getting the source for this conference, but I found it very interesting that SLEEP was the #1 driver for happiness. I know my day goes much better when I’ve had a refreshing night’s sleep. I had a patient this week come in and tell me that she had the best night’s sleep that she’s had in a long time since starting care here. The funny thing is that she came in because of headaches related to her tight neck. The body is an amazing thing when you remove the interference to the nervous system and allow it to heal and function as it was designed. This makes me happy. Let’s see what miracles can happen by getting your spine properly aligned! 303-993-6092.
September has raced by as we’ve been busy preparing for our October issue.
As compared to a year ago, both businesses and activities are gearing up with great Autumn enthusiasm to help you enjoy this fabulous month!
What’s in store for us in this Northeastern Metro Area in October? We’ll enjoy beautiful colors of changing leaves, “all things pumpkin” will soothe our souls, tantalize our tastebuds, and bring wonderful color to our interior and exterior decor. There are many exciting events coming in October and their ads are spread throughout the magazine. Save the dates on your calendar so you can stay close to home and have fun with friends and family throughout the entire month!
We have a number of new advertisers in our October issue as well and we encourage you to learn more about them. Our business community is growing right along with our desire to turn the page from our restrictive Covid days and welcome Autumn with open arms Read through the entire issue and find out what’s new in the area!
Offered by: Scott and Lora Nordby, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Innovative Real Estate
With as little as 3% down payment required, Freddie Mac’s Home Possible Mortgage loans are ideal for low to moderate-income borrowers with few savings, first-time homebuyers, borrowers with shallow credit histories, or retirees on a limited budget.
The benefits to borrowers are more flexible sources of funds for the down payment that can include gifts, grants, employer assistance, secondary borrowing, the borrower’s money, and other approved sources. Because the down payment is lower than the benchmark 20% down, you’ll pay private mortgage insurance. This protects the lender should you default, and the cost is based on your loan-to-value ratio and credit scores. Expect to pay $40 to $80 per month for every $100,000 you borrow. However, Home Possible mortgages have reduced mortgage insurance for loan-to-value ratios greater than 90 percent.
Other benefits include flexible property options, including condos and 1-4 unit homes, caps on credit fees, mortgage flexibility including 15-to 30-year fixed-rate loans and some adjustable-rate products, income flexibility and refinance options.
Required credit scores depend on the type of loan product you want and whether or not you’re buying a single unit or up to four units in the same building, but you should have a credit score of at least a minimum of 660 to 680 for single occupancy.
If you’re hesitant about getting into a low-down-payment loan, don’t be. These loans are only available through your lender if they meet Freddie Mac’s underwriting standards. Freddie Mac wants you to build wealth and security through homeownership.
If you’re considering buying or selling a home, call us at 303-905-8850. We’ll make sure you talk with someone who is knowledgeable about real estate and your neighborhood so you can make the decisions that are best for your family.
There’s a good reason so many athletes, entertainers and business people who made seven figures and higher suddenly find themselves filing for bankruptcy. Money mismanagement can eat through even the biggest bankrolls. Here are some specific threats to financial stability that people can avoid to help effectively manage their wealth.
No Budget In 2019, CNBC reported that even though 93% of Americans¹ believe everyone should have a budget, only one in three actually does. Budgeting does not have to mean skipping co ffee and driving a jalopy for the rest of your life. It does mean paying close attention to how much money comes in and where it all goes. Use your financial goals to guide you in steering your money in the right direction.
Too Much Debt If you have a lot of debt to pay o ff, a budget is all the more important. It helps reduce the likelihood of relying on more credit to fill the gaps. A budget also helps you to collect all those extra dollars and cents that you could put toward paying more than the bare minimum on debt. When paying off debt, start with the higher-interest accounts first and work your way through to save money.
No Protection Insurance can be expensive, but going without insurance can be even more so. Renters, homeowners, auto, health, disability and life insurance policies are the main ones you should consider. If you have a business — especially if it is your main or only source of income — getting business insurance can protect your livelihood in the event of a mishap with a client or customer.
No Retirement Planning Forbes estimates that roughly 25% of Americans have nothing saved for retirement². This may be forcing some people to continue to hold stressful, low-paying jobs well into their retirement years. It is never too early to start planning for retirement, no matter how small your contributions are. Remember to take advantage of matched contributions from employers whenever possible.
Too Much Risk There is no investment that is 100% without risk. If there were, the returns on that investment would be negligible. Even so, taking on too much risk at the wrong time can lead to big financial problems. Taking on high levels of risk is appropriate for young people who have more time to recover and is not advised for people nearing retirement.
Shady Investments Even worse is when risky investments turn out to be fraudulent or shady. In fact, the more risk-free an investment sounds, the more you should do some digging. This holds true whether the business or individual you plan to invest in is a stranger or your brother. People who miscalculate or fail to do enough research can cause you just as much financial damage as fraudsters.
Poor Tax Management No matter how much or how little money you make, tax management is a great way to help keep money in your pockets. This is especially important after a large windfall, such as an inheritance. For instance, if you inherit an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and choose to cash out, you may lose a portion of this in taxes. Divorce is another time of life when tax management is key.
Mismanaged Assets Stocks are often traded frequently, making them active investments, but you still need to ensure your portfolio stays balanced. Similarly, if you have a home, keeping up with repairs and improvements maintains and grows its value. Unmanaged assets also pose a problem, such as when people allow large sums of money to sit in accounts with low to no interest rates and high fees.
For some people, money management is a talent and financial literacy is almost an inborn skill. Many other people, however, could use a little help making financial decisions.
Contact T. Lloyd Worth at 303.558.0214 or Lloyd.Worth@LPL.com to help to steer your finances in the right direction.
This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specifi c advice or recommendations for any individual. There is no assurance that the views or strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. This material was prepared by LPL Financial, LLC
Offered by: John Wilson, B.S., BC-HIS – Blue Ribbon Hearing & Tinnitus Center
For the last year and a half, we have seen significant economic changes that have impacted all of us in our daily lives. The price of fuel, housing, vehicles, and pretty much everything has gone up. There are numerous reasons why this is happening. One happens to be related to shortages of computer chips and other parts that make up many of the products we use.
The hearing industry has also been impacted by economic changes as components for some accessories and even some vital components have become difficult or impossible to get. So far, the greatest impact has been on assistive listening devices and other accessories that work in conjunction with hearing aids to improve communication. Global shortages of components have directly impacted every hearing aid manufacturer and indirectly every hearing aid provider in some capacity.
In addition to technology-related shortages, we have also experienced price increase in many supplies we use including gloves and cleaners. Currently, we are paying 4 to 5 times as much for gloves than we did prior to the pandemic. Even with these increased costs of doing business, we have managed to avoid raising prices at any point during the pandemic.
If you are considering treating your hearing loss for the first time, or are in need of improved technology or replacement hearing devices, now is a good time, before prices inevitably go up. Even during these uncertain times, we have been able to help every individual who chose to hear better and will continue to do so. We are dedicated to not only finding the best solution for our patients, but to providing that solution at the best price.
Offered by: Jan Hepp-Struck, Hepp Realty As I watch the statistics on the housing trends reports and then read the …Read More »
Testimonials
December 31, 2019
I got a call from Susan at the Brighton Buzz asking if I wanted to
advertise n the next issue. My response was that I either needed to keep
my ad running or fold the business.
About 90% of the calls that I receive include a comment like, ”I
saw your ad in the Brighton Buzz…. . “
The majority of my calls take me inside a home, it is not unusual for somebody to pick up a copy of the Buzz and say they found me right there. The Buzz that they show me is frequently not the latest issue. The Buzz has great holding power! At the same time, I can always tell when The Buzz has hit mailboxes. My phone starts ringing. A lot of people seem to look through it right away.
The cost per home is low, the cost per response is
reasonable. Am I going to continue to advertise in the Brighton
Buzz? You can count on it!
Roome Paget
Gray Guy Handyman Service, LLC
Brighton, CO
July 19, 2015
Wonderful! Well written! Informative! Susan is Superb!
July 19, 2015
Susan is Amazing! Thanks for all your had work. We all appreciate it.
July 19, 2015
Advertising process was flawless! The ad looked great, the responses are already coming in and Susan was terrific to work with. Thank you! We'll definitely be working with you guys again!
