What Are Your Favorite Spring Activities?

Have you been anxiously waiting for spring to arrive? For everyone who was affected by the winter storm that just swept across a large portion of the U.S., the answer to that question might be a resounding yes. Since we’re getting close to flipping the calendar to March, why not start thinking about some spring activities?

The beginning of spring is typically a busy time at Modern Wealth since it’s also the home stretch of tax season. But this isn’t the only time of year that taxes have our team’s full attention. We look for tax planning opportunities year-round for our clients to try to help reduce their tax burden over their lifetimes. We believe in taking a forward-looking approach to financial planning as a whole and that includes your goals. So, as we look forward to spring, we want to share five spring activities so that you’re ready for spring when it arrives.

5 Spring Activities

Birdwatching
Spring Sports (Playing and Watching)
Gardening/Landscaping
Grilling/Eating Outside
Sign up for meal trains (or pursue outdoor volunteering opportunities)

1. Birdwatching

If you’re into birdwatching, it’s getting even easier to do from the comfort of your own home. Instead of looking out your window and guessing what kind of bird is on your birdfeeder, there are now birdfeeders with built-in video cameras that identify the birds for you. That also makes birdwatching a lot easier year-round.

Whether these fancy birdfeeders are of interest to you or not, the sound of birds singing is sometimes one of the tell-tale signs of spring. If birdwatching is a spring activity you’re interested in, maybe it’s time to buy some birdwatching binoculars or to download a birdwatching/bird-identifying app.

2. Spring Sports

With football season in the rearview mirror, many sports fans might be gearing up for March Madness (or March Matness or you’re a wrestling fan). But even if your brackets don’t get busted after the first weekend of the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, what sports do you plan on watching (or playing) after basketball season ends?

Do you have kids or grandkids that will be competing in spring sports such as baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, golf, track and field, lacrosse, or even beach volleyball? Reach out to your family so you can get their schedules and not miss one of their games/tournaments/meets.

Golf, tennis, pickleball, and running/walking are spring activities that could be fun to play with your friends as well, no matter your level of experience. Start thinking now about what spring sports that you want to partake in, whether you’re actively doing so yourself or as a spectator.

3. Gardening/Landscaping

Birds singing and the crack of a baseball bat might be sounds that are associated with spring, but what about smells? We’ll address some of the smells on the rest of our spring activities list. Remember the age-old saying, “April showers bring May flowers?” If you’re into gardening, get ready to plant your favorite flowers and enjoy the aroma this spring.

If you’ve been tired of working on indoor house projects this winter, start thinking of some potential landscaping and other outdoor projects that you can do outside of the house. If you’re looking for some inspiration, go for a walk around the neighborhood or your local park, community garden, or nature center to see if any ideas come to mind.

4. Grilling/Eating Outside

Winter is a great time to bake some tasty treats, but are you ready to take the cover off the grill and grill outside for a few months? Hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, and bratwursts are oftentimes some popular and easy options to throw on the grill. If you want to take your grilling game to the next level, start looking up some other recipes that you want to try.

If cooking isn’t your thing, visit some of your favorite restaurants that have patios that you can eat outside on. Also, don’t forget to check and see when your local farmer’s market will be open.

5. Sign Up for Meal Trains (or Pursue Outdoor Volunteer Opportunities)

If the roads around you have been snow-packed or icy for much of the winter, are you ready to get out and about and visit your friends and family more often this spring? Whether they have or not, don’t forget about the people who might not be able to easily get outside to enjoy the spring weather. If you know someone who has had health issues, lost a loved one, or welcomed a child, consider bringing them a meal or starting a meal train for them.

Our advisors enjoy learning about the different ways many of our clients like giving back. Spring is a great time to pursue outdoor volunteer opportunities. Maybe you want to help with gardening/landscaping at your church. Or maybe you can check and see if your city has any events/projects coming up that you can help with that focus on improving the environment. How can you lend a helping hand this spring?

How Can We Help You with Building/Updating Your Goals-Based Financial Plan?

Most of these spring activities don’t have huge expenses associated with them. That being said, don’t be afraid to dream big. If there’s a big spring vacation trip that you’ve always wanted to take, let’s start planning for it. It might not work from a time or expense perspective this spring, but it can be something you’re already looking forward to next spring. If you’re a Modern Wealth client, contact your advisor here to discuss how to incorporate your favorite spring activities and current goals into your plan.

One of the biggest obstacles people have with planning big vacations or making other big expenses is knowing if they can still be OK financially afterward. If you want to go on a dream trip, can you do it and still have a high probability of success to get through retirement without significantly adjusting your spending?

We want to make sure you have a comprehensive financial plan that prioritizes your needs, wants, and wishes. If you aren’t a Modern Wealth client and don’t have a financial plan that’s tailored to your goals, add that to your list of end-of-winter or early-spring activities. Think of it as doing some financial spring cleaning, but our team is ready to help you with it. Start a conversation with our team below to discuss your wealth management and life goals.

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Investment advisory services offered through Modern Wealth Management, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser.

The views expressed represent the opinion of Modern Wealth Management a Registered Investment Advisor. Information provided is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. Modern Wealth Management does not accept any liability for the use of the information discussed. Consult with a qualified financial, legal, or tax professional prior to taking any action.