Page 22 - Abacoa Community News - Decembe '23
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      Financial Focus                          ®




      Can You Make Charitable                            those that qualify as 501(c)(3) organizations – can generally   charitable organization, possibly satisfying your RMD,
                                                                                                           which then may be excluded from your taxable income. You
                                                         be deducted, up to 60 percent of your adjusted gross income,
      Giving Less “Taxing”?                              although lower limits may apply, depending on the nature of   must start taking RMDs at 73 but you can begin making
                                                         your gift and the organization to which you’re contributing.   QCDs of up to $100,000 per year as early as age 70½. (This
      By Sally Sima Stahl                                   Other, more long-term avenues also exist that combine   amount will be indexed for inflation after 2023.)
         Once again, it’s the season                     charitable giving with potential tax benefits. One such      Establishing a donor-advised fund and making qualified
      of generosity. In addition to                      possibility is a donor-advised fund, which allows you to   charitable distributions are significant moves, so you’ll need
      considering  gifts  for  your                      make an irrevocable charitable contribution and receive an   to consult with your tax advisor first. But if they’re appropriate
      loved ones, you might want                         immediate tax deduction. You can give cash, but if you donate   for your situation, they may help you expand your ability to
      to think about charitable gifts                    appreciated assets, such as stocks, your tax deduction would   support the charitable groups whose work you admire.
      as well. But what should you                       be the fair market value of the assets, up to 30 percent of your      This article was written by Edward Jones for use by
      know before making gifts to                        adjusted gross income. Plus, you would not incur the capital   your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Edward
      charities? And what impact                         gains tax that would otherwise be due upon the sale of these   Jones, Member SIPC.
      might these gifts have on your                     assets. Once you establish a donor-advised fund, you have      Edward Jones is a licensed insurance producer in all states
      financial and tax situation?                       the flexibility to make charitable gifts over time, and you can   and Washington, D.C., through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P.,
         First, you may want to                          contribute to the fund as often as you like.      and in California, New Mexico and Massachusetts through
      create a gift budget by deciding just how much you will give      Another possible tax benefit from making charitable   Edward Jones Insurance Agency of California, L.L.C.; Edward
      to charitable organizations over the rest of the year.   contributions could arrive when you start taking required   Jones Insurance Agency of New Mexico, L.L.C.; and Edward
         Next, look closely at the groups to whom you wish to   minimum  distributions,  or  RMDs,  from  some  of  your   Jones Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, L.L.C.
      contribute. You can find many reputable charities, but some   retirement  accounts,  such  as  your  traditional  IRA  and      Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot
      others may be less worthy of your support. One of the red   401(k). These RMDs could be sizable – and distributions   provide tax advice. You should consult your qualified tax
      flags of a questionable organization is the amount of money   are  counted  as  taxable  income.  But  by  taking  what’s   advisor regarding your situation.
      it spends on administrative costs versus the amount that goes   called a qualified charitable distribution (QCD), you can      Contact us at (561) 748-7600, Sally Sima Stahl, AAMS,
      to its stated purpose. You can check on the spending patterns   move money from a traditional or Roth IRA to a qualified   1851 W. Indiantown Road, Ste. 106, Jupiter, FL 33458.
      of charitable groups, and find other valuable information
      about them, on the well-regarded Charity Navigator website    Dyslexia, ADD/ADHD,
      (charitynavigator.org).
         Once you’ve established a gift budget and are comfortable
      with the groups you choose to support, you might turn your               Gifted Testing
      thoughts to another key issue connected with charitable giving:
      tax benefits. A few years ago, changes in the tax laws resulted in a
      large increase in the standard deduction, which meant that many            NOW OFFERING:                 Dr. Jim Forgan & Associates
      taxpayers found it more favorable not to itemize – and lost the            • Jupiter & Stuart Offices
      ability to take charitable deductions. But if you still do itemize,                                             Licensed School Psychologist
      your charitable gifts or contributions to tax-exempt groups –              • Testing for Processing            www.JimForgan.com
                                                                                   Problems, Anxiety,
        Stop Yelling At                                                            Defiance                          (561) 625-4125
                                                                                 • Weekend and After
                                                                                   School Appointments
        Your Kids                                                                      “Helping Parents Help Children”



        By Jim Forgan, Ph.D.,
        School Psychologist
           “Here  we  go  again,
        mom’s  rocket  launcher
        went off and she’s yelling
        at  me.” This  statement
        captures how kids I work
        with often describe how
        their mom or dad deals
        with them when they are
        not acting right. “Yelling
        is the only way I can get
        him to listen and behave,” is a common parent response.
        All agree, yelling does not contribute to a peaceful home.
           Yes,  at  times  we  parents  must  raise  our  voices
        and make it stern and serious. But yelling, shouting,
        screaming, and threatening is parenting by instilling
        fear into your child. Unfortunately, fear and intimidation
        don’t produce lasting behavioral changes. Sure, your
        child  might  behave  when  you’re  around  but  leave
        them with relatives or a sitter and prepare yourself for
        a bad report. When you yell at your child to get him to
        do what you want, he is learning that’s how he should
        treat his peers or friends when he encounters someone
        who doesn’t do what he wants. You are the example he
        looks to for learning how to interact with others.
           Do you yell at your child when he asks you to read
        an unknown word from his homework? No, you teach
        him how to pronounce the word. Try to maintain this
        teaching mindset when it comes to his behavior. Keep
        teaching him over and over how to behave appropriately.
           Perhaps  ask  him  questions  instead  of  yelling
        commands. “Are you being helpful? Is this good for the
        family? What will happen if you don’t stop?” People
        often tune out yelling, but a question has an implied
        response requirement. Being asked a question requires
        reflection and thought, and this helps your child’s mind
        to shift and transition. Parenting requires us to modify
        our behavior just like modifying our child’s behavior
        so keep learning and practicing.
           Maybe  you’ve  thought,  “Why  does  he  act  like
        that? Maybe there is something wrong with him. Is
        he ADHD  or  maybe  autistic?”  Our  testing  process
        provides information to help answer your questions.
        Call  to  discuss  your  child  as  we  test  for  autism,
        dyslexia,  dysgraphia, ADHD,  depression,  learning
        disabilities, and anxiety. Visit JimForgan.com or call
        (561) 625-4125.
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