Early birds might get all the praise, but night owls stay sharp longer.  So says one study that seems to contradict the social approval for people who wake up early.

A study at the University of Belgium suggests that night owls and early birds do equally well on tests in the morning, but 10.5 hours into the day, early birds slow down. In fact, night owls pulled ahead by 6 percent.

According to [Old Link Removed], the human day is governed by the circadian rhythm of the body’s master clock. That clock is in tune with the earth’s 24-hour cycle of light and dark. But exactly what time we go to sleep, depends on sleep pressure, not the master clock. Sleep pressure is all about how long we have been awake. The longer we have been awake, the more pressure to sleep.

People can have sleep-wake cycles that are slightly longer or shorter than this period, and it is those with longer cycles that identify most closely with the night owl moniker.  This cycle can also change over time as a person ages.

Belgium researchers initially speculated that it didn’t matter if we were night owls or early birds, they thought both test groups — who took the test on their own schedules — would do better right after they woke and do less well as the day wore on. Not so.

In fact, night owls were equal with early birds upon waking and got better as the day went on. Researchers concluded that sleep pressure seems to build faster in early birds.  Even if night owls are more productive longer, they still have to cope with a world that goes to work at 8 a.m.

Entrepreneur magazine highlights a few strategies that night owls can use to adapt to the mainstream:

• Follow a disciplined night routine: Plan to take care of all essential activities, such as family time, by a certain hour and then plan to be productive during your hours of inspiration.
• In the early morning, do just enough: Don’t get discouraged by your lack of work in the morning by remembering what you accomplished the night before.
• Execute during the day: Daytime is the time to complete mundane and practical tasks that don’t require the dynamic creativity present in the later hours.
• Follow inspiration at any hour: Staving off sleep is not always the healthiest idea, but don’t be afraid to stay up for that extra half hour if lightning strikes.

Happy Easter! 2017 is just hopping along. Looking out my window I can see our Redbud tree beginning to bloom. My neighbor has a beautiful  cherry tree and the lettuce is beginning to come up in the garden. It’s a wonderful time of hope and renewal!

Then there’s the tree in the middle of the yard that was struck by lightning a few years ago.  It managed to survive, but after a big chunk fell out of it, the shape was never quite right. It was also killing much of the grass in our backyard so… a couple of weeks ago we took it down. It was so sad to see it fall. I’ll miss the beautiful yellow leaves this fall – although not raking them!

This past week the stump grinder came and left us a big pile of wood chips. It needs a little cleanup now and some ruts will need to be filled. The grass that did exist is now starting to green and we’re looking forward to the dirt patches filling in with soft green grass.

Do you find yourself in a similar place whether in work or in your personal life – there’s been a tilling, some changes and now there’s some rough patches in view?  Maybe things have been slow or difficult and you’re waiting for the grass to green and fill in the icky spots. Thank goodness for spring and the hope it brings!

If you’re looking for a boost of energy, let me put a few “eggs” in your basket  that might be of interest to you. Some of these are answers to our most common FAQ’s. Some are tools you might find useful:

• Do you have any clients who keep you hopping – who have lots of changes and updates that affect their retirement plans? Did you know that you can purchase a Couples or Personal edition from us that you can, in turn provide for them that allows them to make small changes to their plans between consultations? That way, when you get together for your quarterly, semi-annual, or annual meetings, they can bring their current file so you start your meeting ahead of the game. Give us a call if you would like more information. 888.333.5095.
• Make sure you’ve updated to the 2017.2F for PC and 2017.3 for MAC. Almost all our”issues” calls are due to a previous version of the software.
• Double click! In the new version, when you are entering information into the Investments, Cash Infusions and Special Expenses, you will need to double click.
• Would a little extra income be a welcome treat as you go into spring and summer break? Here’s how we can help with that – by referring someone to RetirementView Software. Use the following links and we will credit your next renewal as well as giving them a discount on their first purchase. You can use THIS link for referring a Personal or Couples edition user. Refer an another advisor to THIS link.
• Have you taken advantage of our  Instant Authority Program? You can increase your visible authority to your clients and prospects by having your practice featured on major news networks: FOX, ABC, CBS, Wall Street Journal and more.  Your name and practice can be picked up on the wire of several major news organizations allowing you to be able to carry those logos on your website. Give us a call at 888.333.5095 if we can help you increase your authority.

Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you this Spring.  Wishing you all a Happy Easter!

Learning how one’s credit score is determined is essential for many because Fox Business explains that around 30 percent of Americans have a credit score that falls into the poor and bad credit groups, below 601 on the popular 300-850 scale. These people will often have a difficult time obtaining credit, and the ones that do will suffer from higher interest rates.

The Formula

The best way to go about fixing a poor credit score is to learn about the different categories that make up a credit score and how to improve all of them. The Wall Street Journal highlights the categories that impact credit score in order of importance.

• Payment History — 35%

Missing a payment is one of the worst offenses in the credit world, and according to Experian, the missed payments will affect the score for up to seven years.  To be clear, late payments are those made after 30 days, and there are high penalties for payments 60 or 120 days late.  Keeping current on your payments and contacting creditors before a missed payment is key.

• Amount Owed — 30%

The amount owed is the current credit balance compared to the total credit limit. So, if someone has $100 of credit and has a current balance of $30, then they owe 30%. Importantly, the report views this as a percentage of the credit limit, so a higher limit will allow for carrying a larger balance. CreditSesame, a top credit management resource, says that individuals should aim for no more than a 10% debt-to-limit ratio.

• Extent of Credit History — 15%

The length of credit history makes up 15% of the total score, and reports favor those with a longer track record of credit. Establishing credit at an early age is key and parents with college-age children can help them get a jump start by cosigning a low-limit credit card.

• Diversity of Credit and Recent Credit Applications — 20%

These two areas each represent 10% of the score, and they provide another snapshot to lenders of credit activity. Too many recent applications can make an individual look desperate or impulsive, but having a wide-array of credit instruments such as store cards, credit cards, auto loans, and a home loan shows that the individual is capable of managing different types of credit well.

Meetings have become so systemic in the workplace that a host of names have arisen to describe the frequent

gatherings. Here are some steps to increase your meetings effectiveness. Whether you call them a stand-up or huddle, a meeting’s success depends on how they are styled.

• Keep meeting lengths to no more than an hour. Think of it in terms of how much per/hour the employees are being paid. Sitting through meetings that last more than an hour is a costly venture for the company.
• Limit the number of attendees. Michael Mankins of Bain & Co. told The Wall Street Journal that “for every additional meeting participant over seven, the likelihood of making a sound decision goes down by 10 percent.”
• Often, too many people chiming in at meetings can overwhelm the topic at hand. Also, you run the risk of too many people drowning out each other with their points. Small groups can foster more interaction, and more results
• Ensure the meeting includes a group of employees whose projects and departments are being affected by the subject, says Mankins.
• Have a prepared agenda. This may be a no-brainer, but Mankins says many meeting holders try to wing it. Prepared agendas help you keep your meetings short and effective. Follow-up with the meeting’s minutes, and assign tasks to complete any project goals.