There are few things more daunting than facing a blank tax form knowing that you will be required to fill it out for yourself. It doesn't matter if that form is literally a page sitting in front of you with a pencil and calculator as your trusted companions or a computer screen, both are scary and … [Read more...] about Six Common Tax Myths
Columnists
The Over-the-Hill Gang
Increasingly, old age is considered a disease to be treated by pharmaceuticals. Not just conditions like Alzheimer’s, but also normally occurring complaints: increased fatigue, wrinkles, hair loss, menopause, and – dare I say it – low T. You know what I’m talking about, guys. Low testosterone and … [Read more...] about The Over-the-Hill Gang
Employer Health Care Options
We have been working with many local businesses that are evaluating the pros and cons of offering group health insurance in the wake of the individual mandate of health care reform. Let’s go through some of the options, concerns and opportunities the new law has raised. For many businesses, … [Read more...] about Employer Health Care Options
The Cage of Assumptions
Recently I was reading an interesting book (Stoic Pragmatism) by John Lachs, a leading proponent of practical philosophy. Lachs stated, “If you take a bird out of its cage, it will resist. If you open the door to the cage, on the other hand, it will find its way out and try its wings.” Although … [Read more...] about The Cage of Assumptions
Tourism Creating Economic Vitality
Between the federal government shutdown in October and the loss of Arizona Cardinals Training Camp in August, the Flagstaff tourism industry tackled many challenges during 2013. However, when the BBB tax revenues were tallied through November and added to the total receipts for the year, those … [Read more...] about Tourism Creating Economic Vitality
Shifting Your Shopping Habits
There are several grassroots organizations focused on keeping Flagstaff unique by supporting locally owned businesses that contribute economic stability, pizzazz and personality to our town. There’s the Flagstaff Independent Business Alliance (FIBA), Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3), and the … [Read more...] about Shifting Your Shopping Habits
Medicare and Hearing Aids
If you are a Medicare recipient and are in the market for hearing aids, you need to do your homework. You may want a professional to sit down with you and go over the various options. Medicare basically has three plans: hospital coverage, medical coverage and a combination of hospital and medical. … [Read more...] about Medicare and Hearing Aids
Passwords: The Firewall to Your Identity
I remember a time when identity theft was a rare occurrence, something that happened only to the very few (and extremely unlucky) people. Now, almost anyone you talk to has experienced some sort of ID theft, usually stemming from hacked passwords or credit card usage, both online and offline. ID … [Read more...] about Passwords: The Firewall to Your Identity
Council Striking Balance
Since getting elected to the Flagstaff City Council about a year and a half ago, I have made it a priority to focus on economic issues, the cost of housing and our infrastructure, most notably, our streets. The last half of 2013 saw some strides toward these goals while continuing to factor in … [Read more...] about Council Striking Balance
County Increasing Energy Efficiency
Coconino County is always evaluating the latest tools and methods to increase customer service, efficiency and to enhance how we deliver the best possible services for our citizens. It’s something we are getting pretty good at – we’ve even received recognition nationally. But for some jobs, such … [Read more...] about County Increasing Energy Efficiency