If you're at the beginning of your career, you might not be thinking too much about the end of it.

But even younger workers should be aware of — and saving for — their eventual retirement.

And since you've got many years until you do retire, you've got a lot of options to consider — one of which is whether an IRA may be appropriate for you and, if so, which type.

Essentially, you can choose between a "traditional" IRA and a Roth IRA. (Other types of IRAs are available if you're self-employed.)

With a traditional IRA, you contribute "pretax" dollars, so your contributions are generally tax-deductible, depending on your income limits and whether you also have a 401(k) or other retirement plan at work.

In 2016, you can contribute up to $5,500 to your traditional IRA, although the limit rises once you reach 50.

You can fund your IRA with many types of investments — for example, stocks, bonds and government securities — and your earnings grow on a tax-deferred basis.

A Roth IRA has the same $5,500 annual contribution limit and can also be funded with many types of investments.

But there are some key differences.

You can only contribute to a Roth IRA if your income is below a certain threshold, but that threshold is quite high, especially for younger workers starting their careers. So you'll likely be eligible.

However, your contributions are never tax-deductible, so you're basically funding your Roth IRA with money on which you've already been taxed. But your earnings can grow tax free, as long as you don't start taking withdrawals until you're 59 1/2 and you've had your account at least five years.

Assuming you can contribute to either a traditional or a Roth IRA, which should you choose?

There's no one right answer for everyone, but as a younger worker, you may be able to gain two important benefits from contributing to a Roth.

First, since you're probably earning much less now than you will later in your career, you're likely in a relatively low tax bracket. So it may make sense to pay income taxes now on your Roth contributions, rather than pay the taxes later on withdrawals from a traditional IRA.

And second, a Roth IRA may provide more flexibility than a traditional IRA. Usually, the only way to get money from a traditional IRA before you retire is through a short-term loan; otherwise, you can get hit with both taxes and penalties on early withdrawals.

But with a Roth IRA, you can withdraw your contributions (not the earnings) penalty free to help pay for your first house or to go back to school.

Still, as mentioned above, there's no hard and fast rule as to which IRA is better for younger workers.

For example, if you are certain you'll be in a lower tax bracket when you retire, you might be better off by taking the yearly tax deductions from your traditional IRA and then paying taxes on the withdrawals when you retire.

But that's a hard prediction for anyone to make.

Your tax adviser may be able to provide some guidance on whether a traditional or a Roth IRA is better for you — but either one can be a valuable resource for that day, many years from now, when you say "goodbye" to work and start a new phase of your life.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SHANKLIN: Which IRA is better for younger workers?

Nonie’s Ark Animal Encounters, a hands-on show, provides a wildly educating, entertaining special family event. If you love animals and like to be up close and personal with them, this event is perfect for you!

Nonie’s Ark sails into the Crestview Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19.

Nonie, an “edutainer” — part educator, part entertainer — has an extensive background in zoo animal technology and wildlife education, and her fondest joy is helping children learn about wildlife.

This event, free to attend, is sponsored by the Okaloosa County Recycling Office. You must be age 4 or older and register to attend.

Seating is limited to the first 40 children who register, and their adult(s). Call 682-4432 or come in to register.

Heather Nitzel is the Crestview Public Library's youth services librarian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: NITZEL: Hands-on animal presentation scheduled in Crestview

Now that spring has officially sprung, you might look around your home and decide it's time for some sprucing up. But you don't have to confine your efforts to your house and yard – you can also engage in a little "spring cleaning" in your investment portfolio.

Here are a few suggestions for doing just that:

●"Dust off" your investment strategy. Dusting is a big part of spring cleaning. Light fixtures, shelves, windowsills – they can all acquire layers of dust and grime that need to be whisked away. And if you've left your investment strategy unexamined for a long period, it too may need to be "dusted off" and reevaluated. Over time, your financial goals, family situation and even risk tolerance can change, so it's a good idea to review your overall strategy to make sure it's still appropriate for your needs.

●Get rid of "clutter." Once you start tidying up your house, you might be surprised at all the "duplicates" you find – a broom in a bedroom, another broom in the laundry room, a third in the garage, and so on. Just as you probably don't need multiple brooms, so you may find that you have many versions of the same type of investment in your portfolio. If you own too many of the same investment, and a market downturn affects that particular asset, your portfolio could take a big hit. You may be better off by selling some of the too-similar investments and using the proceeds to diversify your holdings. (However, while diversification can reduce the impact of volatility on your portfolio, it can't guarantee profits or protect against loss.)

●Remove "stains" on your portfolio. As you clean your carpets and furniture, you might notice some stains that should be removed. And when you look through your portfolio, you might find some "stains" in the form of chronically underperforming investments. Instead of holding on to these vehicles with the hope that they will eventually turn around, you might consider selling them and using the proceeds to purchase new investments, which can help fill any gaps you may have in your holdings.

●Consolidate your accounts. Have you ever discovered a stapler in one drawer, a roll of tape in the linen closet and a bunch of marking pens on your desk? All these items may be useful, but for the sake of efficiency (and to cut down on frustrating searches), you might want to consolidate them in one place. And you could do something similar with your investments. Specifically, if you have some stocks here, a couple of certificates of deposits there, and some IRAs at still another place, you might consider consolidating them with one financial services provider. With all your investments in one place, you could possibly reduce the fees and paperwork associated with maintaining your accounts. And when you eventually start taking withdrawals from your IRA and 401(k), you may find it easier to calculate these required distributions if they're coming from just one place. But just as importantly, when you consolidate your investments with one provider, you may find it easier to follow a single, unified investment strategy.

So, there you have them – some spring cleaning ideas to help you update and energize your investment portfolio. And you won't even need a dustpan.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SHANKLIN: Give your investment portfolio a 'spring cleaning'

April showers may bring May flowers, but March is National Umbrella Month.

While ranking high on the list of truly obscure celebrations, this “month” can still teach us a few things — especially if we think about “umbrellas” that can help us protect our financial goals.

Consider these key areas:

Your vulnerability to emergencies. It’s a good idea to maintain an emergency fund containing three to six months’ worth of living expenses.

Without such a fund, you may need to dip into your long-term investments to pay for unexpected, and unexpectedly large, expenses such as a new furnace or a big bill from the doctor.

You’ll want to keep your emergency fund in a liquid, low-risk account.

Your family’s financial situation. If something happened to you, how would your loved ones be affected?

Would your family be able to stay in your house? Could your children eventually go to college? Would your surviving spouse have enough retirement income to maintain the lifestyle he or she has envisioned?

Having adequate life insurance in place can help ensure all your hopes and plans don’t fall apart upon your passing. Different types of life insurance offer different features.

For example, “term” insurance, as its name suggests, is designed to provide a death benefit for a certain number of years.

On the other hand, “permanent” insurance, such as whole life or universal life, can be kept in force indefinitely. This type of coverage may also offer a cash value component.

Your current income. If an illness or injury keeps you out of work, even for a little while, the loss of income could disrupt your family’s ability to pay its bills, leading to potentially big problems down the road.

Your employer may offer some type of disability insurance as an employee benefit, but the coverage may be insufficient. So you may want to consider purchasing an individual disability policy.

Your ability to live independently. If you’re fortunate, you may never need to spend time in a nursing home or require any other type of long-term care. But no one can predict the future — and it pays to be prepared, because long-term care costs can be catastrophic.

In fact, the annual average cost for a private room in a nursing home is more than $90,000, according to the 2015 Cost of Care Survey produced by Genworth, a financial services company.

A financial professional can help you find an appropriate way of paying for these types of costs.

Your capacity to protect your biggest assets. Your home is probably going to be the biggest asset you ever own — so you need to protect it properly, with adequate homeowners insurance.

It’s also important to have sufficient insurance for your other major assets, such as your car, boat and so on.

Your exposure to property loss or liability. You may someday face costs associated with repairing or replacing your home, auto or boat, or even liability-related expenses.

Additional liability insurance — known as an “umbrella” policy — is designed to kick in when your standard coverage on other policies, such as home or auto, has been exhausted.

The sun may be shining in your life today, but it’s always wise to be prepared for the proverbial “rainy day.” So have your umbrellas ready.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SHANKLIN: Do you have a financial umbrella in place?

There may be no game bird more enjoyed or more studied than the bobwhite quail.

Hunters, bird watchers, farmers, suburbanites — it seems everyone likes to see a covey of quail and hear the distinctive “bob…white” call.

But the bobwhite population has been on a downward spiral. In the past 35 years, the northern bobwhite quail population has plummeted 70-90 percent in some areas, according to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Wildlife Habitat Management Institute.

What happened?

Wildlife experts point to degradation and loss of quail habitat as major factors.

Farming methods changed rapidly after World War II — fences and hedgerows were eliminated as fields grew larger. Pastures that had been choice quail habitat were cleared of brush and resulted in crops that don’t provide the food or cover quail need.

Herbicides and insecticides became widespread control methods for weed and insect pests on agricultural lands. But those same insects and weeds are essential to quail’s diet.

So, for the past 40 to 50 years, as brush was cleared and weeds were controlled, fields became larger, pasture makeup changed, forest became denser and quail lost much of their prime habitat. Gone was much of the diversity of “early successional” (grasses and herbs, shrubs and young forest), and once-common fringe or “edge” habitat.

But this bird’s revival is promising.

A southeast study group has developed a habitat restoration plan to restore populations to 1980 levels, with a goal of improved habitat on millions of acres to help produce 2.7 million new quail coveys.

Congress included in the previous and current, 2014 Farm Bill provisions to improve northern bobwhite quail habitat on privately owned working lands.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has locally awarded cost-share contracts over the years to qualified landowners to install conservation practices on cropland, forest and pasture lands.

In addition, conservation practices such as prescribed burn, fire-breaks, brush management, planting native, warm-season grasses and reducing agriculture pesticides and herbicide use help with quail habitat management.

Darryl L. Williams is a district conservationist with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, 938 N. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview. Call him at 682-3714, extension 109.

Male and female bobwhites select a nest site and build a nest together. Both sexes are known to incubate eggs and brood young chicks.

UPCOMING

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and partnering agencies will host a free quail management workshop.

Registration starts 8 a.m. March 31 at Gum Creek Lodge, 5899 Buckward Road, Baker, and the workshop ends at 3 p.m.

Lunch will be served, free of charge, to those who register by March 25. Call Billie Clayton, 767-3634, to sign up.

DID YOU KNOW?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: WILLIAMS: The plan to save the bobwhite quail