The extension deadline will be here before you know it! As you are preparing your taxes, here are a few things that taxpayers tend to overlook: Medical Expenses I would say the biggest deduction not included is medical expenses. It is almost impossible to itemize medical expenses on the federal tax return because of the income limitation on the Schedule A. However, if a taxpayer can itemize, Arizona allows these expenses to be 100 percent deductible. Included in these medical expenses … [Read more...] about Keeping Deductions in Mind
Columnists
Five Estate Planning Questions to Ask About Real Estate
Preparing your estate in advance is one of the greatest gifts you can give your family. Many estates include real estate in the form of a primary home, vacation home and other family properties. While inheriting a property can be a wonderful legacy, it also comes with obligations that heirs may be unprepared or unable to fulfill. If you intend to leave real estate to your heirs, ask yourself these five questions to help avoid creating problems for your loved ones. Will the Property Have a … [Read more...] about Five Estate Planning Questions to Ask About Real Estate
How to Have a Great Job Interview
It has been an interesting last 30 days. I find myself answering the same questions from my son, Ross, as I’m getting from my students that are graduating this semester: “What should I do during my job interview to make sure I get the job?” Ross has started interviewing with various police departments in hopes of starting his law enforcement career. The majority of my students this semester are graduating in December or May and they have started getting calls and requests for face-to-face … [Read more...] about How to Have a Great Job Interview
What is the League of Arizona Cities?
There are 91 incorporated cities in Arizona, from giant Phoenix to tiny Tusayan. Flagstaff is 13th in population size. As you can imagine, most cities have common issues. We all have police departments, roads to maintain, utility services, zoning laws and building officials. When mayors get together, they always end up asking each other, "What is your city doing about ..." We are looking for the best ideas to deal with everything from tight funds to economic development. And when there is a … [Read more...] about What is the League of Arizona Cities?
Change is Inevitable When Flying
Change is inevitable in life and in business, and especially at the Flagstaff Airport. The Flagstaff Airport sees change daily in security and the convenience of flying. If you haven’t flown out of Flagstaff this summer, you should be aware of some important traveler information for the next time you do. Travel by air is still one of the best values in regards to price and convenience. Flying can sometimes seem harder than it used to be but there are reasons for the extra precautions our … [Read more...] about Change is Inevitable When Flying
Understanding the Importance of a Primary Care Provider
You may not think about seeing a doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant when you’re feeling healthy. However, there are many reasons to establish care and build a relationship with a primary care provider, or PCP, before you need one. Five great reasons to ally with a PCP: He or she will help coordinate your health care. If you use one office for preventive services and screenings, treatment for chronic conditions and acute illness and injury care, you’ll need fewer … [Read more...] about Understanding the Importance of a Primary Care Provider
Supporting the Increasing Number of Unpaid Caregivers
Recent literature reviews report that there are 65.7 million unpaid caregivers in the United States. This number reveals the explosion of older adults needing the care of family members. Unpaid caregivers account for 90 percent of the people providing long-term care. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, 85 percent of the unpaid caregivers are taking care of a friend or relative: 49 percent are taking care of a parent, 15 percent are caring for friends and 14 percent are caring for … [Read more...] about Supporting the Increasing Number of Unpaid Caregivers
Resistance Training: Strength, Endurance, Weight Loss
It’s my favorite time of the year. It’s still summer, but the monsoons have brought delightful relief and cool nights. If you’re like me, you’ve spent most of the last few months outside biking, hiking and running, and you’re probably in pretty good shape after all that fun. But with the changing of the seasons comes a change in activities and the challenge of how to maintain that fitness through the winter, especially when the holidays arrive. We Flagstaff folk tend to be a pretty healthy … [Read more...] about Resistance Training: Strength, Endurance, Weight Loss
Effective Ways to Manage Arthritis
Today, 50 million Americans are suffering from arthritis, and half say that it can put a block on their daily routines. Arthritis can make you feel like there is not much you can do to manage or treat it, but fortunately, there are exercises, natural remedies like massage therapy and beneficial foods that can assist in managing arthritis. Exercise: One of the most rewarding results of working out is endorphins. The body produces endorphins in response to exercise, which leaves the body … [Read more...] about Effective Ways to Manage Arthritis
Looking Ahead with a 2017 Health Insurance Marketplace Preview
During the past 60 days, insurance carriers have had to show their cards in terms of what they will and will not be offering during the annual open enrollment for marketplace individual coverage for next year. Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans begins Nov. 1, and runs through Jan. 31, 2017. This will be here before we know it! For those of us who live in Coconino County, we have one returning insurance carrier: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCSAZ). … [Read more...] about Looking Ahead with a 2017 Health Insurance Marketplace Preview