July 2019
Work Smarter —Not Harder!

Reclaim your time and energy to live your best life.

Each of us has just 168 hours per week to accomplish our tasks and goals—at work, at home and out in the world. If you feel like you spend too much of that time on things that don’t add value to your life, you’re not alone.

The good news: It’s easier than ever to generate stronger results, both personally and professionally, while actually making less effort.

The key: Work smarter, not harder, by taking steps that can make you significantly more efficient and effective—freeing up precious hours each day that you can reclaim to live a better life.

So says Ari Meisel, founder of Less Doing and a world-renowned productivity consultant to businesses and individuals. Meisel highlights a three-part framework of optimizing, automating and outsourcing to achieve better results faster.

Secrets to Pocketing Cash by Renting a Bedroom in Your Home

The Airbnb revolution is here.

This means you might be considering renting out a bedroom in your home with Airbnb, another company, or on your own.

Doing so could entitle you to some nice tax benefits. But be careful!

The IRS rules governing bedroom rentals are complex, and if you don't handle everything correctly, your visiting guest could wind up being an IRS agent!

In this article, we'll tell you:
 
1. How the IRS treats your bedroom rental. Depending on the length of the rentals and the people to whom you rent, the tax code places your bedroom into one of five categories. It is vitally important that you learn which category your bedroom falls into.

2. Why tax code Section 280A is so tremendously important. The first thing you should do if you're considering renting out a bedroom(s) is check out Section 280A. It will tell you if your rental is tax free, or subject to/or exempted from Section 280. This is a complex subject that needs a comprehensive explanation.

3. About other important issues as well. We'll cover whether or not the IRS considers your rental activities a "hobby," the impact of the passive-loss rule, three IRS-defined bedroom rental types, deducting losses, and lots more.

Want to stay on the right side of the law and get the best possible after-tax cash result? Read the full article now and give me a call so we can set a time to review your bedroom rentals.

I currently contribute 4% to my 401K, but I would like to up that to 8% in 2019. Where should I put that money?
I recently lost my husband. We had our lifetime savings in an IRA he rolled over from his 401(k) that has a lifetime income benefit that we use every month as income. Now that he has passed away, can you please explain my options and make any recommendations and my situation?
The Health Benefits of a Meat-Free Day

There's no denying the overwhelming health benefits of a plant-based diet. But going completely vegetarian or vegan isn't realistic for everyone. Luckily, you can still enjoy the many health benefits by going "meat free" for just one day a week. Here are some of the main benefits of this healthy lifestyle swap:
 
  • You'll be cutting out potentially dangerous processed meat - According to the World Health Organization, processed meats rank alongside cigarettes as a major cause of cancer.
  • You'll be decreasing your risk of heart disease - Coronary heart disease is linked to a meat-based diet, and the majority of cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by switching to a plant-based diet.
  • You'll be getting more vitamins, minerals, and fiber - When you don't turn to meat on your meat-free day, you'll likely turn to other foods such as veggies, fruits, whole grains, and other plant-based products. This variety helps you round out your diet!
 
These are just a few of the many benefits of going meat-free for a day. Want more inspiration? Just Google "Meatless Monday" for recipe suggestions.

Tip adapted from Hello Magazine:
Strawberry & Barley Summer Salad

Serves 4

Ingredients: 

Salad
  • 1 cup quick-cooking barley, quinoa, or other grain
  • A pinch of salt and pepper
  • Edamame (soybeans)
  • 5 oz. (or more) of spinach
  • 1 lb. of strawberries, sliced
  • 2 Tbsp. of Parmesan cheese
Dressing
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • ¼ cup buttermilk
  • 1 tsp. Dijon or honey mustard
  • 1 tsp. poppy seeds

Directions: 

Embrace the warm weather with this summer salad. Going vegetarian for a few meals a week helps both your health and the environment, and salads, like these, make it easy and delicious!

  1. Cook the quick-cooking barley (or other grain) according to the package.
  2. Cook the soybeans according to the package. 
  3. Whisk together the sour cream, buttermilk, mustard, poppy seeds, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper until mixed thoroughly.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the barley, soybeans, dressing, spinach, sliced strawberries, and Parmesan cheese, then toss.


Recipe adapted from Woman's Day:
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