1. Eyes On Two Things Next Week 2. How Do You Exercise Your Brain? 3. What Can Writing Do For You? 4. Where Are My Tax Documents? 5. Emerging Markets, Owning Gold, Buying At Market Open, After Market Trading 6. “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” 7. The Biggest Money Mistakes By Decade

1 | Week In Review

Eyes On Two Things Next Week

Markets closed up after a week of earnings that saw some winners – like Tesla – and some downward pressure – like Intel. Now, analysts will study two things next week. Annex Wealth Management’s Dave Spano and Danny Clayton discuss.

2 | Poll

How Do You Exercise Your Brain?

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3 | Client Exclusive

What Can Writing Do For You?

Pick up a pen, and start writing!

When most of us envision a writer or our favorite authors, we find it hard not to think of someone huddled up in a quirky little office with paper everywhere and perhaps a cat napping in the sun coming through the one window in the room. And that these are the only people who can write. But the truth is, we’re all writers. Writing is putting thoughts on a page. Maybe not all of us can spin a story to last 400 pages, but most of us write in some form on a daily basis.

There are two types of people out there: the ones who actually enjoy translating thoughts into words, and those who, well, don’t. For some people, it comes naturally, and words flow out easily. For others it feels forced, or they just don’t want to put much into it and it is what it is.

For those who are in that second category, or even people in the first who are looking for even more reasons to write, research shows that writing has benefits for the mind and the body that can outweigh the sinking feeling you might get when you have to write up a presentation or write an email to a relative who wants to know how your last six months has been.

Writing can help clear your mind. Writing things down, whether it’s day- to-day thoughts, things you want to learn about, or your to-do list for the weekend, can help to unclutter your mind. We’re busier than ever these days and our attention gets pulled in enough directions to split our concentration and ability to focus. Take some time to pour everything that’s running through your head onto paper. With each stray thought you put onto paper, you can close one “mental tab” (like on a web browser!) and help declutter your mind.

Writing reduces stress. Writing, whether it’s the next great American novel, or your grocery list for the next week, allows your mind to focus on one single task. Taking the thoughts swirling around in your head and putting them on to paper requires concentration, and we all know it’s difficult to be thinking about multiple things at the same time. When we feel overloaded with thoughts, it causes stress from jumping from one thing to the next without resolution. Giving your brain the chance to focus on one thing only, and one thought as a time as you write, will give your brain the break it likely needs. You may get double the impact if you directly write about things that do stress you out. Writing out how you’re feeling and what the situation is can help bring you awareness and perspective to the situation once you see it with your eyes rather than just thinking about it.

Writing helps you practice communicating clearly. A lot of us could use practice honing our communication skills, whatever level they may be at. In the spirit of continual improvement, writing every day can help to sharpen your skills. Whether it’s expanding your vocabulary, honing grammar skills, or getting creative with metaphors, all these things can help to improve how you communicate in everyday life, outside of the journal you keep in your bedside table. Writing consistently can also help the “it sounded better in my head” syndrome, where your thoughts are well formed internally, but struggle to come out fluidly on paper when you need them most. Like every skill, it becomes better with practice. The good thing about this is reaping the other benefits at the same time!

Writing causes you to slow down. This may be our favorite reason. Writing takes longer than thinking – our hands can’t move as fast as our brains think and sometimes that’s okay. Sitting down with a pen and paper is such a novel concept in today’s technological world. It can be a breath of fresh air to take an hour to write a well thought out letter to a friend. After that hour, you’ll likely be able to think more clearly, feel better and less stressed, and also satisfied in your accomplishment. Slowing down allows you to refocus your mind on what’s important, what should be taking up your time and mental capacity and gives yourself a break.

We may be biased, but we’re all for more writing. The benefits it provides as well as the creativity it can enhance are reasons enough for us. We hope you try it out, and can experience some of these great benefits that help to bring life back into focus and give your mind a beneficial way to recharge. Have an idea you’d like us to write about, or a story to share? Send us an email at cl************@*********th.com.

[1] https://www.sparringmind.com/benefits-of-writing/ 
[2] https://www.thisiscalmer.com/blog/benefits-of-writing-for-depression-anxiety-stress#:~:text=A%20study%20by%20APA%20showed,the%20positive%20as%20a%20result. 
[3] http://www.edutopia.org/blog/writing-executive-function-brain-research-judy-willis 

Where Are My Tax Documents?

Your custodian will gather all the required data from all fund companies and create your 1099 statements. A 1099 statement is generated if you have one of the following: sales proceeds in a non-qualified account, or a distribution from a qualified account (IRA).

These statements are generated throughout January and February, and the custodian (TD Ameritrade, Schwab or Fidelity) mails the statements to our clients at that time. You can also view your 1099 statements once they are available if you have online access at TD Ameritrade, Schwab or Fidelity. Most clients report receiving their 1099 statements in late February.

If you have any questions please contact your Wealth Manager or Client Service Manager.

Thank you!

Annex Wealth Management

5 | Ask Annex

Annex Wealth Management’s Sarah Kyle and Matt Morzy answer several Ask Annex questions.

Do you have a question for Annex Wealth Management? Drop it here: annexwealth.com/ask

6 | Quote of the Week