Beck BodeIn this issue
- Curious About Cold Plunges?
- May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
- How Your Workout Routine May Hold The Secret to Building Wealth
- Financially Fit in Traverse City
- Meg’s Corner: What A Week Away From The Pool Taught Me About Market Timing
- What’s Up, Beck Bode?
- May Recipe: Fast – Delicious – Nutritious: Garlicky Ramen Noodle Salad With Grilled Chicken
Curious About Cold Plunges?
Cold plunges—immersing your body in cold water (typically between 50–59°F or 10–15°C)—offer a range of benefits, from reducing inflammation and easing muscle soreness to improving circulation and speeding recovery after exercise. The cold triggers vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels), followed by vasodilation as the body warms up, which can boost overall circulation. Mentally, the shock of cold water can release endorphins, enhance mood, and activate the sympathetic nervous system, increasing alertness and potentially improving stress resilience and sleep quality over time. While generally safe for healthy individuals, cold plunges may pose risks for those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or respiratory issues, so it’s important to consult a doctor before attempting this exercise.
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month—a timely reminder that wellness comes in many forms.
First established in 1983 by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, this national observance was created to highlight the critical role that movement plays in our long-term health. The Council, formed decades earlier, emphasized that “physical fitness is the basis for all other forms of excellence”—a sentiment that also rings true when it comes to financial health.
As your financial partner, we see a strong connection between the habits that support physical wellness and those that promote financial well-being. In both cases, success stems from discipline, consistency, and a long-term mindset. Whether you're training for a 5K or building a retirement portfolio, it’s not about drastic changes—it’s about small, intentional steps taken regularly. The same patience and persistence that help improve cardiovascular health also help grow a healthy investment account.
This month, we encourage you to consider how your physical and financial routines support your broader goals. Staying active in both realms can boost resilience, reduce stress, and enhance overall quality of life. And just as we're here to support your financial journey, there are many resources to help you stay physically strong too.
Let’s continue building strength together!
Breaking Free—How Your Workout Routine May Hold The Secret to Building Wealth
Speaking of healthy financial routines, in our next episode of the NoBondCast, Ben and Jim speak with (fitness) entrepreneur and Client Success Manager, Ashley Cotler, at Beck Bode about the lessons we can apply from fitness to finance, including
- How the right mindset is key to navigating the way toward a potentially daunting goal
- Why a support system and the right coach is critical to your success
- How a few fundamental habits can make a huge difference on your financial path
Financially Fit in Traverse City!
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Women in the Traverse City area looking for community and guidance around the topic of money can celebrate the kickoff of Financially Fit with Tammy & Beth, a monthly meet-up that launched last month.
We had a great turnout for our event, with a range of women attending, ranging in age from 20s to 70s. The engaging conversation touched on questions about market trends, the economy and retirement planning.
Our next meet up is happening this Thursday, May 15 at 5:30pm at The Bonobo Winery. If you'd like to join, get in touch with Beth.
Meg’s Corner: What A Week Away From The Pool Taught Me About Market Timing
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Director of Financial Planning
As you know, at Beck Bode, we’re all about healthy living as well as financial fitness. Last year, I shared my story about my cycling adventures. If you missed that issue, I talked about how starting small and building up gradually—something I learned from training—can also be applied to investing success. This year, I was reminded again how fitness and finances are connected in my life. One of the greatest gifts I received from my mom was her love of swimming. She made sure all of us had swimming lessons as kids. In my 30s, I got into swimming regularly—2 to 3 times a week—and I even tracked my progress with a “lap ring,” a device I wore on my finger that I pressed every time I completed a lap to track my time. I still remember feeling pretty good about my progress when I went on vacation and didn’t have access to a pool. Was I ever shocked when I got back and saw how much I had regressed—in just one week off! From a financial perspective, this reminds me of something Vinny Savio recently discussed on our NoBonds Cast: market timing. Now, I didn’t stop swimming because something was wrong with the pool—but let’s say I did. If I had been able to keep swimming on vacation, I wouldn’t have lost the momentum I’d built. Just like a single week off swimming made a difference in my performance, time out of the market can be costly for your investments. When it comes to finances, success comes from time in the market, not timing the market. "Swimming At Walden Pond in the Summer” Photo Credit: Meg Curry, CFP® You’ve heard us—and many other financial professionals—say that no one has a crystal ball. We can’t predict exactly when a declining market will recover or when a rising market might fall. That’s why it’s so important to stay calm, trust the process, and stay invested. For those in or near retirement, you’ll know we recommend having 12 to 18 months’ worth of expenses in cash. This way, you won’t need to withdraw from your investments during a market downturn. It’s a cushion that gives your portfolio time to recover—and gives you peace of mind knowing you can still meet your needs. Whether it’s fitness or finances, consistency is what drives results—and staying the course makes all the difference |
What’s Up, Beck Bode?
We’ve all been up to a lot of activity as a team! Ben Beck, Erik Beck, and Vinny Savio recently traveled to Nashville to participate in a CrossFit event, staying true to our commitment to personal wellness and team camaraderie. In Boston, Jim Bode and his wife, Crista represented Beck Bode at the 43rd Annual Breakthrough T1D Greater New England Gala, where the firm proudly sponsored the Martini Bar—featuring the fan-favorite "Regen-a-tini." Jim and Crista remain deeply involved in the leadership and fundraising efforts of the organization, championing its mission year-round. Karen O'Donoghue, Sr. Client Advisor, and Sara Daly, Senior Portfolio Operations Associate, attended the Invest In Women conference in Boston, which isn’t just an industry-leading event—it’s a powerful commitment to understanding and serving the unique needs of female clients. Lastly, the Financially Fit event in Traverse City, Michigan—led by Tammy Stoerkl, Client Advisor and Beth Price, Director of Operations and Advisory Operations Team Lead—was a success, equipping attendees with practical tools for building long-term financial confidence.
Here are some photos!
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| (from left to right: Jim and Crista at the T1D Gala. Karen and Sarah at the Invest in Women Conference. The Beck Bode Regen-a-tini!) |
Fast – Delicious – Garlicky Ramen Noodle Salad With Grilled Chicken – For Your Next Picnic!
This bright, crunchy noodle salad delivers bold heat, tang, and texture with minimal prep—especially if you start with store-bought grilled chicken breast. Adapted from a recipe by Epicurious (original here), this streamlined version serves about 4–5 people as a main dish and is easy to make vegan with a simple substitution.
Ingredients
Store-bought grilled chicken breast, sliced (Veg. substitute: firm tofu, cubed, tossed in 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and lightly sauteed or grilled.)
Dressing
- 2 large red chiles (such as Fresno), thinly sliced
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar
- 2 Tbsp. light brown sugar
- 2 tsp. fish sauce (Veg. sub: use 2 tsp. soy sauce + a few drops of mushroom soy sauce or a dash of seaweed-based seasoning)
Crispy Garlic
- 5 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
Noodles
- 5 (3-oz.) packs instant ramen, seasoning packets discarded
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced
- 4 cups thinly sliced romaine lettuce
- ½ cup coarsely chopped cilantro
- ½ cup chopped unsalted roasted peanuts
- 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt
- Extra fish sauce or vegan substitute to taste
Assembly
- Make Dressing: In a jar, combine chiles, vinegar, brown sugar, and fish sauce or vegan substitute; shake well and set aside.
- Make Crispy Garlic: Gently fry garlic in oil over medium-low heat until golden and crisp (about 3 minutes). Strain immediately; reserve garlic and oil separately.
- Cook Noodles: Boil ramen until just tender. Drain, rinse with lukewarm water until it runs clear, then toss noodles with the garlic oil in a large bowl.
- Assemble Salad: Mix in dressing, scallions, lettuce, cilantro, salt, half the peanuts, and half the crispy garlic.
- Serve: Top with grilled chicken breast (or tofu for veg version), then finish with remaining peanuts and garlic.
Featured Podcast: The Three Stages of Retirement Planning
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Catch the replay! Meg Curry, CFP®, our Director of Financial Planning joined Ben Beck, CFP® and Jim Bode to break down how to navigate each stage of your retirement planning journey—from early career foundation, through your peak earning years, and into the retirement transition phase.
That wraps up our May issue of The Long View. Until the next time, take a look at more of the latest articles on our blog.
Thanks for reading, and for following us. If any part of this month’s topics suggests a question or concern you may have, or if you need anything else, please contact us — we look forward to speaking with you!
From all of us at Beck Bode.