Matt Johnson
Wealth Advisor
Banana Ball
Many of you know that my first love when it comes to sports is hockey. I love to play, coach, and watch the game. It is my favorite.
What you may not know is that I also love baseball in all its forms. I enjoy watching the Salt Lake Bees, the big leagues, and little leagues. When the College World Series for baseball and softball is on, I try to catch as much as I can. To me, baseball is the ultimate strategy sport. Every pitch has a purpose. Players move around the field based on the hitter and number of outs, and managers constantly try to determine the right time for a pitching change. Yes, it can be slow, and the pitch clock has helped, but I enjoy the relaxed pace.
A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I had the chance to experience baseball in a completely different way when we went to see a Banana Ball game between the Party Animals and the Firefighters.
If you haven’t seen Banana Ball, it is baseball at its core with a party atmosphere added. Players don’t sit in the dugout, music plays throughout the game, dance routines break out, and some of the traditional rules have been changed to create a faster pace and more action. Trick plays are encouraged, and some of the players are incredibly athletic and creative, including doing backflips while catching a fly ball! There is also plenty of interaction between the players, staff, and fans. It is a fun experience, and all the games are streamed on YouTube if you want to see what it’s like.
Since it was a party, we had to dress the part. My wife loves fascinators, decorative headpieces often worn for special events, and she wanted to make a baseball-themed one for the game. She created an amazing Banana Ball fascinator complete with small baseballs, a bat, the team colors, and even a 3D-printed banana peel. She wore a pink dress, while I wore a bright green button-up shirt, tie, suspenders, and, because it was summer, pink shorts. We matched the Party Animals’ colors, and it was a lot of fun.
At one point, my wife caught me straining to see what was happening on the field and said something like, “That’s cute that you are trying to watch the baseball game.”
I laughed because she was right. I was more interested in the game than the party. But in Banana Ball, baseball is really just another reason to have a party.
I’m still firmly an “old-school” baseball fan, but if I’m going to a party, it’s fun to have a little sports mixed in.
“Nothing’s ever been as fun as baseball.“
– Mickey Mantle
September Reset: Wellness Routines Worth Trying this Month
There’s something about September that feels like a fresh start.
Even as adults, many of us still carry that familiar back-to-school feeling. Summer winds down, schedules become more structured, and we naturally begin thinking about what we want the rest of the year to look like. While January gets all the attention as the traditional time for resolutions, September can be its own kind of reset.
Psychologists sometimes refer to this as the “fresh start effect,” the idea that we are more motivated to make positive changes at natural transition points in our lives. September gives us a chance to pause, reflect on the first eight months of the year, and make a few adjustments before the holidays and the end of the year arrive.
Rather than making a long list of resolutions, why not use September as an opportunity to refresh a few simple routines?
Wellness Routines Worth Trying This Month
Start your day outside.
A morning walk, even a short one, can be a great way to get some natural light, move your body, clear your mind, and start the day with intention. September’s cooler mornings make this especially enjoyable.
Create a phone-free evening.
As routines become busier, it can be easy to spend the end of the day scrolling instead of winding down. Try putting your phone away for the last hour of the evening. A little distance from our screens can create space for conversation, reading, or simply relaxing.
Build in a weekly check-in.
Take a few minutes each week to ask yourself: What is working? What isn’t? What do I want more of? It doesn’t have to be complicated. A quiet Sunday morning, a walk, or a few minutes with a journal can provide an opportunity to reflect and reset.
Enjoy the season.
September brings a change in pace and a change in what is available around us. Take advantage of the cooler weather, fall produce, farmers markets, hikes, and time outdoors. There is something refreshing about embracing the season rather than rushing through it.
A Reset, Not a Restart
The September reset isn’t about starting over or deciding that everything about your life needs to change. It is simply an opportunity to pause and make a few intentional adjustments.
Think of it as a seasonal edit. Keep what is working, let go of what isn’t, and make room for what matters most.
With only a few months left in the year, September may be the perfect time to slow down, reset your routines, and finish the year feeling a little more intentional.
Adapted from “The September Reset,” published by Unplugged on September 1, 2024.
Landon DeCoursey
Associate Wealth Advisor
Bob, Bobbleheads, and the Next Chapter by Landon DeCoursey
Meet Bob. For the past 35 years, Bob has built a successful bobble-head doll company from the ground up. He has weathered changing trends, supply chain challenges, and probably more than a few questionable bobble-head designs along the way.
Now, Bob is ready to retire. He’d like to spend more time traveling, enjoying his family, and finally pursuing a few hobbies he has been putting off. His goal is to sell the business in the next three to five years.
There’s just one problem: Bob hasn’t actually planned how to get out. He knows what he’d like to happen, but he hasn’t determined what his business is worth, who might buy it, how much he will need after the sale, or what taxes might look like.
Fortunately, Bob has something many business owners don’t give themselves enough of: time.
Three to five years gives Bob an opportunity to prepare. He can work with his wealth manager and other professionals to understand his options, strengthen the business, determine a realistic valuation, and develop a strategy for transitioning ownership.
Bob spent 35 years building his business. Taking a few years to plan how he leaves it is worth the effort. And maybe, just maybe, his retirement will involve fewer bobbleheads and a lot more golf.
If you own a business and think you may want to sell in the next few years, don’t wait until you’re ready to sell to start planning. The decisions you make today can have a significant impact on your eventual exit.
We’ve included a Business Exit Planning Checklist with some important steps to consider as you begin the process.
