The Value Of Staying Active In Your Community In Retirement

You may have noticed that we have a different advertisement on the back page of this newspaper. We have donated the page to the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation, or BWMC Foundation, to promote the “Retire Well — Health and Peace of Mind” seminar, which will provide free estate planning and wealth well-being support for the public.

This is intentional, and it is important to me and everyone at LaBarge Financial. Our vivid vision is to transform the lives of the families we serve, our staff and our local community. That last note matters to me.

It is UM BWMC’s 60th anniversary, and in the spirit of its decades of dedication to the public, I want to discuss how you can remain active in supporting your community in retirement.

As a retirement planner, I work with people nearing retirement who suddenly have a lot of time to do what they would like. They want to dedicate time to activities that they may not have had the freedom to do during their working years. That’s a perfect opportunity to support your fellow neighbors. It keeps you engaged in your community and helps make the world a better place. Find something you are passionate about and support the mission.

One cause that is close to me is supporting patients with Alzheimer’s disease. I assist families with their finances in retirement, and whether it’s a close relative who suffers from the disease or themselves, it can have a devastating impact on their lives.

Because of this, our team is participating in Baltimore’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s by walking a 5K to raise money for Alzheimer’s research. Support for people with this disease is important to me and the people I work with every day, and that fuels our passion to support this mission.

Support doesn’t have to include a donation. You can also donate your skills to stay active in your community. One way that people are doing so is through the Art in the Park event in October. The day will feature local musicians and artists showcasing their skills to entertain the audience, with some of the proceeds being donated to local nonprofit Bello Machre. This nonprofit provides loving care and support for children and adults with developmental disabilities. We are proud to be the sponsor of the event.

Even if you aren’t a musician or an artist, everyone has an opportunity to help one another using their unique talents. Do you enjoy cooking and could volunteer time at a local meal center, or are you good at managing money and could help people create a budget?

If you can’t think of a specific talent, organizations are always looking for people to support them through manual labor, like building homes for Habitat for Humanity. Even at the October 5 Art in the Park event, volunteers are needed to help set up and tear down.

Any task, big or small, can make a difference. At LaBarge Financial, I’m proud that we live up to our goal to support many local organizations by simply donating our time. If you can support the community through donations, I encourage you to do that as well.

As you enjoy flexibility in your retirement, consider how you can use part of your open schedule to support your neighbors. What are your passions, and how can you use them for good? You hold the power to make our local community a better place.

Jason LaBarge, financial advisor and president of LaBarge Financial
7 Riggs Avenue, Severna Park, MD 21146
443-647-4321
www.labargefinancial.com

Securities offered only by duly registered individuals through Madison Avenue Securities LLC (MAS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management LLC (AEWM), a registered investment advisor. MAS and LaBarge Financial are not affiliated entities.

BWMC Foundation and Art in the Park are not affiliated with LaBarge Financial or AEWM.

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